Where have I been?

I hardly ever have time to blog anymore.  I look back over the past few months and wonder how on earth has time slipped by so quickly?  But when you're a busy girl, it just happens.

We've worked hard this spring; built a new deck, put in our garden and helped my Mama with outdoor chores at her home (she lives out of state).

The one, big thing, I am most excited about this spring...

... we now have a working well!

Our neighbor kept telling us he thought we had a capped off well on our property, and he was right.  Mr. C purchased what we needed and discovered we do have well-water, and it's good water!  Crystal clear and very cold!!!  We are very excited!  Now we can water our garden during the dry times, and not have to cause our water bill to increase dramatically.

What a wonderful blessing it is!  It's so refreshing to pump fresh, clean water out of the ground.  And it does remind us of the lesson of our Living Water.

From Charles Spurgeon- this is perfect!

Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely." --Revelation 22:17 

Jesus says, "take freely." He wants no payment or preparation. He seeks no recommendation from our virtuous emotions. If you have no good feelings, if you be but willing, you are invited; therefore come! You have no belief and no repentance,--come to Him, and He will give them to you. 

Come just as you are, and take "Freely," without money and without price. He gives Himself to needy ones. The drinking fountains at the corners of our streets are valuable institutions; and we can hardly imagine any one so foolish as to feel for his purse, when he stands before one of them, and to cry, "I cannot drink because I have not five pounds in my pocket." However poor the man is, there is the fountain, and just as he is he may drink of it. 

Thirsty passengers, as they go by, whether they are dressed in fustian or in broadcloth, do not look for any warrant for drinking; its being there is their warrant for taking its water freely. The liberality of some good friends has put the refreshing crystal there and we take it, and ask no questions. 

Perhaps the only persons who need go thirsty through the street where there is a drinking fountain, are the fine ladies and gentlemen who are in their carriages. They are very thirsty, but cannot think of being so vulgar as to get out to drink. It would demean them, they think, to drink at a common drinking fountain: so they ride by with parched lips. 

Oh, how many there are who are rich in their own good works and cannot therefore come to Christ! "I will not be saved," they say, "in the same way as the harlot or the swearer." What! go to heaven in the same way as a chimney sweep. Is there no pathway to glory but the path which led the thief there? I will not be saved that way. Such proud boasters must remain without the living water; but, 

                               "WHOSOEVER WILL, 
              LET HIM TAKE THE WATER OF LIFE FREELY."

Quiet Days of April

The only noise around here these days...

the tapping of hammers, the whirrrr of saw-blades, 

and the scraping of mortar onto bricks.  

A young family is having a home built next door.

  

But here inside, quiet fills my days.

It seems Spring was a little slow in coming this year.

And I've tried to enjoy all of the different blooms, 

once they finally decided to burst forth 

in their mighty splendor!

Finding I have more time than ever

to dig into the Word and let it

feed my hungry soul. 

As well as time to indulge

my creative side. 

I need to finish fine details.

Thought I'd try something whimsical

for a child's room. 

What a good reminder for each of us,

each and every day!

"Rise and Shine 

and 

Give God the Glory!"

 

The Story of The Dress

A few years ago, more than a few actually...I was visiting with my Grandma.

My cousin had just given Grandma a gift, a beautiful dress.  Grandma loved the dress, but preferred it be just a little longer.  Since I sew, my cousin and her Mom, my Aunt, asked if I would take the dress home with me and see if I could find some nice black fabric, and figure out a way to make the dress more to Grandma's liking.

So I did.

I took the dress with me.  I searched for the perfect fabric.
BUT
I couldn't find anything that would work with this very elegant dress.  The material it was made out of was very nice and expensive, I knew the wrong fabric paired with it, would only ruin the dress.

So, the next time I visited my Grandma, I explained my dilemma.  She told me not to worry.  And she simple said, "Just hang onto it..."

And so I did.  I have hung onto the dress through two moves.  It has been in my closet, protected under a plastic bag.  Brand new with tags, never worn.  I've had several garage sales, but never once considered selling this dress.  I just kept hanging onto it as Grandma had told me to do.

A couple years passed and dear Grandma was taken home to be with the Lord.  The dress at the back of my closet still, I was still hanging onto it, just like she had told me.

Fast forward a few years.

My precious Papa's health took an extreme turn for the worse just a few short weeks ago.  My little Momma, cried out for help to her family.  She could no longer care for him all alone.  We had thought...it is time, Dad needs to be placed in a home.  Momma has done all she can, she is not a quitter, but she has done all she can and she has to have more help.  She has pressed on, even when we ourselves thought she couldn't do this anymore a few years ago.

And so as it always is, God's ways are not our ways.
God had a different plan in store for these two precious saints of His.

He knew how heart-wrenching it was to our little Momma, to have to consider this option.  She did not want him there, with the onset of Dementia we all would worry about him, "will he get everything he needs?"  "Are they going to honestly take good care of him?"  We know, nursing homes do the best they can, but for a person who cannot even push a button to ask for help, where would that leave him?

Late one night, Momma couldn't sleep.  She went in, to check on Papa.  Our little sister, who is also an RN, was there, staying with them.  Jen and Papa were awake and had been talking.  Papa had told her, he knew Momma was tired, and that she needed help.  Not long after, Momma came into the room.  She and Papa talked heart to heart...she explained how she is not a quitter, that she loved him dearly and she had to have help in order to continue to care for him.

Papa then told her and our sister, "I am so tired...I just want to go home.  I want to go home and be with Jesus."  Tears were shed.  Hearts were torn.  Papa's life was coming to an end.

A Doctor's visit revealed that a nursing home was not what Papa was in need of.   Instead...the Doctor explained all of the health issues our Daddy was dealing with, his body was shutting down.  Papa was placed under In-Home Hospice Care.  He would get to stay home.  He would go home in dignity, surrounded by the love of his family and beautiful bride of 55 years.

Our times by his bedside were bittersweet.  We knew the glory that awaited him, but saying goodbye was and is so very hard.

Ever since our little Momma cried out for help, our God comforted her in the most amazing ways.  Every time a need arose, God provided.  He proved His faithfulness over His little saint time and time again.

One morning, when we knew Papa probably only had hours left, Mom wanted to discuss what we should consider for his burial attire.  That was hard, but it was something we needed to discuss.  That was when I knew, she was thinking ahead and did not want to be caught off guard, not prepared.

I asked her to sit down, and proceeded to tell her the story of this dress.  The dress that Grandma had told me to hang onto, the dress that was exactly her size.  Tears filled her eyes, when I brought the dress to her.  God had provided a need for her, something she didn't even have to worry over or try to go and find for herself.  A gift given to her through the years from her own Mother, at this very difficult and hard time of her life.  Her own Mother had experienced God's tender care in her own life when Grandpa went home to be with the Lord.  And now our Momma was also experiencing the preciousness of our Father's gracious hand in so many little details as He poured out His love and grace during these very hard days.

He is faithful.  He is trustworthy,
He is kind and He is good.

There is no other god like our God!

Our Papa went home to be with his Lord and Savior-
March 6, 2013.

He is now resting...he is at peace,
experiencing perfect joy, love, grace and mercy.

He is home.

The night of our Papa's passing, we were in the room with him, singing his favorite gospel hymn's and praise songs.  We witnessed a saint going home.
The heaviness in our hearts was immediately replaced with sweet peace, the peace that passes all understanding.

God let us taste just a bit of that true joy,
that our dear Papa was experiencing...
the moment his faith became sight.
      

Good Choices!

I am so excited!

A friend taught me something new.

And now I know how to brew!

I brew our own Kombucha!!!

It's so delicious, and it's full of good probiotics.

And this winter I flavored ours with dried elderberries to 

pack in even more good, healthy benefits!

Elderberry is antiviral, naturally. 

Our winter has been good here in 

Our Little Town.

So far, no one in our family has suffered from

any of the nasty flu bugs that have been going around.

This is our flu shot.

What's yours???

And last but not least...

   Ms. W's orchids.  

I just had to share these beauties.

Such beautiful, delicate blossoms.

They bring so much joy to our home

on these 

cold, dreary days.  

I am really looking forward to Spring, 

how about you?

While we live out the last month of winter, 

make good choices for your health now, 

so you'll be ready to get out and play in the dirt 

as soon as it's warm enough,

the Lord willing.

May God bless you and yours with joy unspeakable

in your hearts and homes! 

ps- If you've never heard of Kombucha
here is a good place to start learning-
Kombucha Kamp by Kombucha Mama

Little Dreamer

When our youngest was just a toddler,

she loved to sneak off,

and scribble on the walls.

And I suppose that has been 

her life dream...

to create art on really big canvases...

WALLS!

  

Our approach to homeschooling

allowed our girls the time to pursue

and develop their 

God-given talents.  

And we've always been so very thankful

that God allowed us this privilege.  

Going Back

This past weekend, here where we live, 

was just a bit of discombobulated mixed up weather. 

One day it was warm & muggy,

the next icy cold and downright frigid!

As I was trying to dress one day, 

I mentioned in not so despairing tones,

"I just wish I could call the time and temperature guy.

You know, back in the day, we'd just call him up, 

he'd tell us what to expect for the day, the forecasted

highs and lows, and the current temperature.

I hate looking up the local weather online, 

or turning on the tv and waiting to see our 

current weather conditions.  

I want it like it used to be!" 

(no, I don't have an iphone, don't need one) 

I left the dining room, 

went to our room to dress for the day.  

Our house felt cool inside but Mr. C kept warning

me that outside it was muggy and warmer than usual.  

I forgot something, ran back to the kitchen passing the 

dining room on the way... and there lay this note.  

My darling man had found that 

Mr. Time & Temp was still in business, 

and had even called him for me!  

He even wrote the number down for me,

so now I can call him anytime I need to.  

Going back to a trusted way, 

the old way, before laptops,

iphones, ipads and smart phones.  

That's what I prefer.  

Especially when it comes to books.

The trusted, tried and true authors.  

The ones who have stood the test of time.

The ones who we do not have to wonder about, 

why they said this or that?

Unlike so many authors today who make us wonder...

why are they mixing false in with the true?

If I'm going to read anything besides my Bible, 

I prefer sticking to those who have been proven

to be sound in their doctrine. 

We live in precarious times.  

Be careful friends who you trust

when it comes to your choice of authors,

who you are learning from.  

Also,

it is important to remember,

 that it is ok for trusted teachers to warn us 

of those who are faltering in their teaching.  

It's sad to say, but more and more once trusted teachers 

are slipping.  

Compare what others are saying with the Word of God.  

As long we keep to scripture, know it, live by it,

and let it be our guide, we will not slip.  

Below, a very excellent video clip featuring Justin Peters 

and the duty of discerment.  

http://www.worldviewweekend.com/worldview-tube/play.php?id=cwnVideo-4539

I pray for my sisters in Christ, especially the next generation.  

I pray they learn to stand on the solid ground of God's Word, 

always going back to where God first taught us His truth
for our daily lives

4th Day of Christmas...

We're still celebrating...how about you?

Nothing elaborate, just keeping the Christmas decor

up for a little longer, and actually enjoying 

the glow from the lights now that things have

settled down around here...

Just a few sights from around the house this Christmas...

We pray that all families were blessed with

time to love and cherish the gifts 

God has given us,

 in one another!  

2013 is just around the corner...

and my decorations will probably still be here

after the New Year!

Our eldest asks each year, if the lights can stay up

just a little longer, and this year especially...

I will do as she asks.

Looking forward to what God will teach us 

in the coming days,

Merry Christmas and a Blessed New Year

to you ALL!!!

  

Days Gone By

The picture in my header is of our home out in the country,
where we lived prior to this home.

We lived 13 years in that place,
my girls were 7 & 5 when we moved there,
it is the place of their childhood memories.

The first time we drove by, before purchasing it,
I told Mr. C I didn't want a house on the corner.
No privacy in the yard... I thought.

We kept looking, praying,
and coming back to that particular place.
It was right more than it was wrong.

We purchased it after our previous home sold,
and went to work making it our own.

And while out there one day, all alone,
painting all of the sky blue trim
(throughout the entire house)
I realized...
"It's so quiet!"
The only vehicle to pass that day was the mailman.

It continued to be a quiet place.
Every now and then one of the local farmers
would drive by, and always, everyday
('cept Sunday)
the mailman.
My concerns about that corner lot quickly vanished.

That place held so much for us, so much living
right there in the yard, inside the house.
Long walks along field roads, and down along the river.
Seeing so much wildlife, often times
right in our own yard.  Finding arrowheads in
freshly plowed fields, the places where Native
Americans hunted and lived, long ago.

So many birthday cakes baked, parties planned,
and friends to share in the celebrations.

That home was our schoolhouse, and so many
discoveries were made during the learning years.
Me the teacher, learned so much right along with my pupils.
I remember, I was once again excited about learning,
muck like when I was as a child.

Our favorite living room...
the screened-in back porch
with a porch swing for our sofa.
Flowers upon flowers, blooming in as many
places as I could get them to grow.
And one great big old pecan tree that
showered down bucket loads of pecans
almost every single year.
Grape vines that produced grapes
that actually tasted like grape candy.
Have you ever tasted a grape like that?

White baby bunnies, a chicken and one too many roosters.
An old chocolate lab, and too many cats.

Hot fires in our fireplace, warm meals on our table.
Early morning meteor showers,
and late night bonfire chats with dear friends.
Flashlight tag with Dad,
and chocolate gravy and biscuits
on snow days with Mom.

We've been away from that place for three years,
and it's strange,
I haven't missed it at all really...
until today.

And today, I notice the quiet.
It's not because we live in the country,
it's a different quiet.
Most of my days are spent alone.
and it's ok, but it is very quiet.



PS- a tour of the old place



    
      

The Sound of Silence

I think that is a good description of this blog lately, 

it's been too quiet around here, and I do apologize.

Life has been happening and sometimes I just plain forget

to stop a moment and share...

and catch up with all of my dear blog friends.

With the change of seasons, it was time to change my blog look.

I was trying to go with an old fashioned feel, but I don't know...

is it creepy?
The picture is of our old house out in the country before we had made some major improvements on it.
It was a good snow scene, so I thought why not???

AND 

I wanted black/white/gray color scheme, with a touch of cardinal red...

because we always see so many bright little cardinals
during our winter months.  Does this work?
Or is it kind of depressing?

I almost feel depressed just talking about it!

Please share your opinion, it won't hurt my feelings.  

Any and all suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

Thank you!!!

Now I'm off to catch up with all you wonderful people 

out there in blogland.

Have a blessed day my friends!

After Jean's comment
I edited the picture on PicMonkey...
I think I like this better...

You like???

Are You Sleeping?

I can't tell you all how many times,
early in the morning, I've heard those words.

Mr. C, whispering,
thinking he had heard me stir, and wondering,
"...is she awake yet???".

The other morning,
he whispered those words,
and I was awake to hear him.

Wanted to know if I wanted to head out to the edge of our little town,
out into the darkness,
to see if we could catch the last of the meteor shower.

He knows how much I love getting up,
in the wee hours of the day, to see such things.
And this was the first time in 25 years that
he was the one to ask me.

And so we did.

We dressed, carefully tiptoed out of the house, headed to the edge of town, parked underneath the star-filled sky and watched.  

It was closer to dawn, and so we knew our chances would be few.  

The peak time had already passed.  

He spotted two, and just before I gave up, I spotted one...

it blazed from high in the sky, right toward the morning star, 

and disappeared into the first glow of the morning sunrise.

SO spectacular!

Sunrise would be soon, why not stay and watch that?

And so we did.

As we sat there, in the chilly cab of the truck, 

I could hear an old familiar sound.

He turned the key on, pressed the buttons 

to allow the windows to roll down, 

and there they were, wild coyotes on the run, 

yipping, yapping and howling not too far away.

I'm not sure why, but I love hearing them.  

Reminds me of the many times at the old house, 

out in the middle of nowhere, where the wild things roam freely.  

They do on the outskirts of our little town here, 

where we live now, but...

we don't get to see or hear them as often anymore.

Seemed like it was taking forever for the sun to rise.  

So we drove while we waited.  

I've never really paid attention to how long of a time span there is 

between first morning light, and the actual appearance 

of just a tip of the glowing orb of the sun, on the horizon.

Finally...

it made it's grand entrance for the day, 

right there over the harvested cotton fields.

We drove a little longer, enjoying our little, surprise escape, 

early on a Sunday morning.  

Just a little further down the road and we spotted a young buck 

right before he headed back into the woods.  

After this we headed to a spot along the river, 

spotted a beaver swimming, and scared up a flock of wood ducks.

BUT, all I captured with the camera was this tangled mess of roots, 

along the far bank of the river.  

The beaver and ducks were much too quick for me.

We looked at our watches, realized we needed to head home, 

especially since our tummies were calling for breakfast.

We stopped by the small grocery store, so that Mr. C
could pick up a couple of items for breakfast
and just before he got out of the truck

 he mentioned the music they usually play in our local grocery store.  

"I hope they aren't playing any of their strange music, 

I always feel like I've stepped into the twilight zone...when I go in here."

We often feel that way when shopping in this store.  

I'm not sure why, how or where they select their music from, 

but we usually come out laughing because of the songs we hear 

and the sights we see.  Often times our grocery clerk gals are 

doing "the twist" on a good day, 

or the stock boys are singing in falsetto voices 

along with Frankie Valli-  

"She-e-e-er--ry ba-ya-by, Sherry baby!!!"

The music is so much a part of the atmosphere, 

they want to be certain you get the full experience, 

so they are kind enough to broadcast it out into the parking lot 

for those of us waiting on our loved ones.

And they did not disappoint, our morning ended like this...

"I've got the rockin' pneumonia and the boogie woogie flu...!!!"

Mercy!

I'm so glad I wasn't sleeping, 

I would have been severely disappointed 

to have missed out on this 

extremely memorable morning out with my guy.

 

ps-This may have been the first time he asked me to go watch
the meteor shower, but there have been other mornings
when he has asked me to join him outside
very early, just to stargaze.
The darkest part of night, is right before the dawn,
best time to see the stars at their best.
I do love my Mr. C!

Being The Light

 Often times in our lives, God gives us opportunities to shine. 

(stock photo)

I'm not speaking of "being in the limelight" kind of shine.  

I'm talking about being that beacon of hope to another, 

someone whose difficult circumstances 

are casting dark shadows over them.  

They perhaps feel trapped, 

and aren't sure that anyone can help them.  

Being available to others, sharing a smile, 

a hug, a pat on the back.

Words of LIFE from scripture, 

walking by their side...

always reminding them of God's constant love. 

That His love does not end when we make mistakes.  

He loves us despite all of our ugly flaws.  

His love is constant, and never changes.  

It is eternal, for those who are His through Christ Jesus.

"There is now therefore, no condemnation 

to those who are in Jesus...

YOU'RE NOT GUILTY ANYMORE!  

YOU'RE NOT BROKEN ANYMORE!

I LOVE YOU! 

MERCY IS YOURS!!!"

(Mercy Is Yours by Aaron Keys)

Speak truth into the lives of those

 who have believed lies.

Give hope to the hopeless.

Share love with the loveless.

Shine light into the darkness.  

^{John 8:12 "}Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. 

He said, I am the Light of the world. 

He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, 

but will have the Light which is Life."

Table for two please...

Those words did not come out of Mr. C's mouth 

on our most recent date.

No, it was more like, tree for one please...

and then another one, please.

He needed a tree, I needed a tree.

You see, 

he had asked me to accompany him 

on his bow-hunting trip.

And this is what it looked like from my seat

when I looked straight down.

He has graciously taught me

how to use a 

climbing tree stand,

so that I can see what it's like

to sit quietly in the woods, 

waiting for deer to appear at hopefully

just the right time.

And this was the view straight out in front of me.

Oak trees, and a hay field that had 

recently been cut.  

To my left, you can spot 

Mr. C, perched on the side of the tree,

if you look very carefully. 

It was such a fun date.

And I even got to wear

CAMOUFLAGE!!!

Sorry, no pictures of that.

What types of fun dates do you share

with your husband???

Anything unusual or 

out of the ordinary?

Whatever you and your husband do,

be pleasant, agreeable,

relax and enjoy yourselves.

He needs time away from all of the 

busyness of life, 

just as much as you do,

maybe even more so.

Dates do not have to be big, 

expensive or impressive so we 

can brag to others what we did.

Dates are for just the two of you,

to do what is uniquely fun,

 for you and your spouse.

Let your husband plan something for the two of you,

that you have no say in, 

and go have some fun!

Linking up with-
A Wise Woman Builds Her Home


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