Saturday, September 22, 2012

Overcoming Wreath Fears

 
 
For as long as we've lived in our home, we've
never had a front door.
The door we used all the time was out back and inside
the porch.
But once the front porch was enclosed and made
into our main entryway, a new
found pleasure was found.
 
Decorating the front door.
 
 
I began looking on Pinterest for different
autumn wreaths.
 
This totally intimidated me.
Flowers, fresh and fake scare me.  I've
never mastered the look of arranging them!
 
While out with a friend, I mentioned making a wreath
to her.  I knew she did NICE work on wreaths, as
I saw some of her wreaths.
 
We went to the local craft stores and picked out
the supplies I needed.  HOW MUCH FUN!
But I thought I had it made as we were going to
work on the wreath
together.
 
Our schedules didn't work to get together this week.
I really wanted to get it done as I'm having some
ladies over Monday to sew and Bible study.
 
So I tackeld it today!
 
First I gathered my supplies and sent the boys
outside.  I wanted peace and quiet.
 
 
 
 
The first thing I did was to wire the garland of
leaves to the grape vine leave base.
 
 
So far it was pretty easy. 
I think I could do this!
 
I started to place the other fall decorations
on the wreath.
 
The two youngest boys and I went up the road
to a cemetary where there are tall pine trees.
We gathered some pinecones, but I also
had to buy some as there weren't enough.
 
 
 
 
Slowly I added more and more.
 
I really liked how it started to look.
Each time a boy would come in, they'd comment
how good it looked.
They really know how to make me more motivated!
 
Two hours later, it was done!
 
 
 
I just love it!
 
Stop in for a cup of tea.
 
 
 
Note:  The wreaths I was looking at were in
Hobby Lobby.  They ranged from
$50-199!  I had NO idea a wreath cost
that much.  The nice ones were not any better
than the one I made.
 
My supplies cost $25.  If you have
access to grapevine, you could save $5.
 
Thankyou, my friend, for the encouragement
and confidence you gave me,
  to try this project!
 
 


Friday, September 21, 2012

Birthday Blessing

 
As my Birthday was approaching, I commented
that I would like to get a fish tank for our
new family room.
 
We've been working on the additions alot lately.
Tile flooring in the front entryway, new drywall
on the walls, mudding and painting.
 
 
The family room gets the most traffic. It's
the middle room that leads to all the other rooms
on the first floor.
The woodstove is in this room.
So, I would like to make this room more cozy
and comfortable.
 
I picture warm evenings by the stove, the
fire crackling and my boys quietly reading
(HAH!!  Maybe one of them quietly reading!!!)
 
Fish tanks are always so cozy to me.  Gurgling water and
the dim light in the tank.
 
 
My fella and boys were helping an older man move last month.
He had oodles of stuff and was down sizing into a
smaller place.
The boys were beginning to bring home
piles and piles of "treasures."
My sweet fella saw a treasure he knew I would enjoy.
 
While I was away at the lake, he set it up for me.
I was SO happy when I came home to it!
He had cleaned it out
and it was peacefully gurgling when I
walked into the room.
 
Last night, my younger guys all picked out
some fish for my gift!
 
What fun and coziness!!!
 
God is so good with the special things He gives His
children.  A hard working, thoughtful fella is SUCH
a wonderful blessing too!
 


Friday, June 8, 2012

Blessings in Old Age


Children's children
are the crown of old men;
and the glory of children are their
fathers.  Proverbs 17:6


I've been thinking about this for some time.
Finally, I'm going to actually put this into words.

I'm in no way criticizing either situation,  it's just total
observation.

I've observed two widows.
One widow is a dear friend of mine. 
A few years back, my fella and I stopped at her home
for a visit.
It was right before she was going to have a surgery.
I volunteered to come clean for her during
her recovery.
During my visits cleaning, we became
friends.  I enjoyed sitting and listening
to her and she listened to me.
We'd laugh and cry together.


Recently another lady in our church became
a widow.  She lost her best friend after
many, many years of marriage.
I stopped over to visit her at her home
a few times.

I instantly noticed something about her home.
It was busy.
Although there was sadness for this widow,
her home seemed happy.
Siblings, children, and grandchildren filled
\each corner with memories, pictures and cards.

The second widow has five children and many
grandchildren.
She also has her siblings around her.

The first widow only has one child and one
grandchild and the grandchild is not on this earth anymore.
She has one brother.
Her home is cheerful with her neat, clean memories, but
there were no colorful drawings from young children.
No recent pictures on her frig.
There was no box in the corner, filled with
toys for the visits with the grandkids.

The only voice was from her television.
Quickly I noticed the very striking difference.

Children.
Even in older years, children continue to be a blessing
to one's home.



Each time I've visited my dear friend (the first widow),
she'd share how lonely she is.
How sad to see such sadness.

I stopped to visit the second widow, she was busy
packing up to spend the week with her youngest son
and his family.

Sometimes things in life can't be helped,
such as the amount of children you have or the
length of days you  spend on earth
with your spouse.

But I have noticed that one of the
biggest blessings in life, is the relationships
you have with people.

Parents, siblings, spouses and other loved ones
can fill the space around us with love and dear memories.





Tuesday, May 1, 2012

Changes

I can't believe it's been almost six months since
I've written.
I was thinking this morning of all the changes in that amount of time.

At Home

Yesterday I began Brendan's high
school scrapbook.
He will be graduating from high school next month.  Of course,
this brings lots of changes for him and our home.
How quickly time flies and brings changes into one's life.



Addan and Titus are now becoming better with their reading.
Addan has been a bit slower to catch on, but
Titus sure has made up for Addan's slower
pace.  In a way, this is nice, I can see days of doing
school together.  What joy each day bring
as I hear the two of them sounding words
out as they see words around them.





The additions slowly are becoming a cozy
part of our home.
I'm so very thankful for these. I never thought
these would ever happen.
God is so good!



Two "new" cars sit in the driveway.
Jordan purchased his first
"new" car and so did Brendan.  Our driveway is starting
to look more and more like a parking lot.

It's the little changes I notice each day that bring sadness
and smiles at the same time.
No more standing on tip toes to reach onto the counter.



No more booster seat at the kitchen table.



Huge grocery bills, huge laundry piles and
huge blessings!


I'm beginning to feel rather short!


At Church

Our church is a huge part of our lives.
I've seen some changes.

I teach a teen girl Sunday School class.
I've seen so many changes in the girls' lives.
One young lady had a prayer request that was very
important to her.  Each week we pray together
for special requests.  Together we
prayed for her request.
The Lord was very gracious in answering this request.
This past Sunday night, she gave testimony to the whole
church about God answering that request.
The Lord is so good and personal to us!


Our church just "hired" an assistant Pastor.
He and his family will be coming this weekend.
We are so excited about this change.  One of his main
responsibilities will be working with the music in our
church.  My fella and boys are involved with the music program.
They will soon have another good man in the lives!

Jordan continues to teach a young boy's Sunday
School class.  He is changing from one of the young
boys to leading the young boys.

Silas joined the men's softball team at church!

Hunter began helping with Jr Church the last few months.

*********


Hunter was just looking at the calendar of all the upcoming
events.  He commented, in his matter-of-fact way,
"Time is flying, this year is flying
already!"

It's so true.
Time flies and changes happen.
Some are good and some are unexpected,
but all are part of His plan.
I'm so thankful for the security of that.

For I am the LORD, I change not.
Malachi 3:6

For what is your life?  It is even a vapour,
that appeareth for a little time, and
then vanisheth away.
James 4:14


Tuesday, January 3, 2012

Through the Bible

It's the beginning of  another year.
Another year to begin again.
Another year to begin challenges.
One challenge we were given was to
read through our Bible this year.

Our older boys have read through the Bible each
year since joining the youth group at our church.

The church gives the teens devotion books
that go through the Bible; each day
giving them the chapters to read with a little
fun lesson, along with some questions.

I check the books each week at church to help
keep the teens accountable.  

Our bookstore at church also sells
the devotional books for kids.
All the books work together.
The adult, teen and kids each read the same chapters.



A friend suggested having the younger kids
listen and follow along to the Bible on CD.
What a great idea!
(Thanks Sam!)


Tim and Luke were excited to get new books but
I thought it might be too much for them.
But following along is perfect.
They're seeing it and hearing it!




The CD's we have are nice because they have a bit
of animation with great sound affects too!
What a fun challenge to do together and start out our
day with!


The devotion books we're using can be
ordered from,

Mercy and Truth Ministries
http://www.heritagebaptistchurch.cc/

Another friend of mine also infomed me
that you can find the Bible being read on Youtube.