TAG SALES.....AND PRESENTS FOR PENNIES

THIS IS THE "HAT BOX" I TOLD ABOUT
WEDNESDAY THAT I FOUND A USE FOR.....
A PRESENT TO SOMEONE FULL OF SURPRISES
I FOUND THE PLASTIC GOBLETS AT WALMART
AND SMALL CANDLE HOLDERS TO BE USED
OUTDOORS THIS SUMMER FOR A WONDERFUL
FESTIVE DINNER.............
I FOUND THIS LITTLE BASKET AND ADDED
A TAG AND RIBBON . PERFECT FOR MY DESK
OF THINGS THAT ENCOURAGE.............
ITS JUST THE RIGHT SIZE TO FIT SOME
SMALL BOOKS OR PAPERS...................
I PUT THIS POST ON BACKWARDS ( SORRY)
BUT FOUND THIS NICE BASKET FOR A FEW
DOLLARS. I ADDED A TAG... AND CAN USE IT
IN OUR BEDROOM FOR SUMMER STORAGE...
I LOVE THAT IT WAS ALL LINED AND READY
TO GO...............
IT WAS ABIT ROUGH AROUND THE EDGES
BUT I LIKE TAKING SOMETHING OLD
AND GIVING IT NEW PURPOSE AGAIN....
I FOUND THIS NICE CAKE STAND . I SAW
THIS LAST WEEK AT THE SAME SALE AND IT
WAS ABIT PRICEY BUT WENT BACK TO THE
SAME ONE THIS WEEK AND IT WAS FROM $5
MARKED TO $1. .......
I SAW THIS LITTLE BABY BUNK BED SET RIGHT
ALONG ROAD OF A BEAUTIFUL HOME...
FOR "FREE"......MY GRANDDAUGHTER LOVES IT!!
I WAS LOOKING FOR A SMALL TABLE TO
USE FOR A "GARDEN CENTER" NEAR OUR
BACK PATIO.....I FOUND IT FOR $2 AND
BROUGHT IT HOME....I WILL FIND SOME
SMALL LITTLE CLAY POTS TO FILL IN;
AND I MAY TRY AND PURCHASE SOME PRETTY
OILCLOTH PIECE TO TACK ON THE TOP....
HERE IS THE TABLE AFTER I PAINTED IT
AND MY GRANDDAUGHTERS BENCH I
FOUND A MONTH AGO.....THE COLOR IS
REALLY MORE WHITE THAN BLUE BUT
THIS IS WHAT WAS TAKEN.............
HERE IS THE TABLE WHEN I BOUGHT IT
HOME TO BE PAINTED.....I PAINTED IT AND
THEN ROUGHED THE EDGES TO GIVE IT
A DISTRESSED LOOK...........
I LOVE WHEN GOD HELPS ME FIND THINGS
WITHIN A BUDGET TO MAKE MY HOUSE
A HOME.......

JUST A NOTE: I HAVE LEARNED MANY POINTS ON HOW TO SAVE AND DECORATE MY HOME THROUGH LIBRARY BOOKS; OTHERS BLOGS; AND THOUGH RESEARCHING WHAT I WANT MY HOME TO BE FOR OTHERS..... I LOVE A COMFORTABLE; CLEAN; AND INVITING HOME.

IF YOU FEEL YOU HAVE TROUBLE ENJOYING YOUR HOME SWEET HOME TAKE INVENTORY OF WHAT YOU WANT YOUR HOME TO BE:

1. DO YOU NEED TO CLEAN OUT CLUTTER?

2. DO YOU NEED TO FILL A BUCKET WITH HOT SUDSY WATER AND SCRUB AREAS THAT HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED?

3. DO YOU NEED TO SIMPLIFY YOUR HOME WITH A FEW GOOD THINGS THAT ARE FRESH AND CLEAN AND EASY TO MAINTAIN?

4. FIND WHAT YOU ADMIRE IN A HOME AND THEN LEARN AS MUCH AS YOU CAN IN THAT AREA.

SPRINGTIME PROJECTS AND SWEET THINGS...

THIS WEEK WE HAD THE LAST OF OUR MISSIONS
LADIES MEETING FOR THE YEAR.... MY SWEET FRIEND
PAT HOSTED THE "BRUNCH" AT HER HOUSE OUT ON
HER BEAUTIFUL DECK... SHE HAD TABLES DECORATED
WITH BEAUTIFUL LINENS OF LILAC AND YELLOWS AND
SETTINGS WITH THE COLORS OF SPRING. SHE HAD
A DELICIOUS MEAL OF BISCUTS AND GRAVY; TEABREADS
FRUIT SALAD; AND A HASH BROWN CASSEROLE. SHE
ALSO HAD JUICE; COFFEE OR TEA IF WE WANTED.
THE MEETING WENT WELL AND WE TOOK CARE OF
BUSINESS WE WOULD DO FOR THE SUMMER FOR OUR
MISSIONARIES. WE THEN PRESENTED PAT WITH A NICE
"PINK" BASKET FULL OF GIRLY THINGS TO ENJOY AND
SAY THANK YOU..... I LOVED JUST SITTING ON HER
BACK DECK THAT MORNING WITH THE BIRDS SINGING'
SUN SHINING AND THE SMELL OF LILACS.....IT WAS A
GRATEFUL TIME INDEED. ....WE WERE ALSO ABLE TO PUT
TOGETHER ONE MORE LARGE BASKET FOR AWONDERFUL
LADY IN OUR CHURCH TO SHOW OUR LOVE..........
MY DAUGHTER CAME HOME FROM HER JOB ONE
DAY AND SAID "HERE MOM" SOMEONE GAVE ME
THIS FOR FREE IF YOU WANT TO USE IT!! I LOVE
FREE THINGS SO MY MIND WENT TO WORK WITH
WHAT I COULD USE THIS FOR....... I REMEMBERED
A WEDDING I WAS TO ATTEND THIS WEEKEND AND
THOUGHT HOW PRETTY THIS WOULD BE TO FILL
WITH NICE THINGS......** I WILL TRY AND SENDPICTURE
WHEN I AM FINISHED PUTTING IT TOGETHER...
WE HAD SOME REALLY NICE WARM DAYS HERE...
SO I GOT OUT TO DO SOME YARD WORK......
MY "LITTLE RED CHAIR" MAKES IT SO MUCH
EASIER ON MY KNEES ( I HATE TO ADMIT IT BUT
IT DOES) AND THE FLOWERBEDS LOOK SO MUCH
NICER.................
MY HANGING BASKETS ARE FLOURISHING
...BY HUSBAND BOUGHT ME. I LOVE ALL
THE PRETTY COLORS AS THEY HANG ON
MY PORCH................
MY GRANDDAUGHTER'S AUNTIE RUTHIE
BOUGHT HER THIS CUTE LITTLE OLD
FASHIONED OUTFIT....WE LOVED SEEING
HER PUSH HER LITTLE BABIES AROUND
IN HER LITTLE BONNET.............
MY GRANDDAUGHTER AND I ENJOYED
WORKING TOGETHER IN THE YARD...
SHE PLAYED QUIETLY WHILE GRANDMA
WEEDED AND SANG WITH HER...........
WE WERE SOOO TIRED LATER THAT WE
WENT AND SAT ON MY FRONT PORCH
WHILE I ENJOYED SOME COLD ICED TEA
AND SHE ENJOYED SOME ICE COLD MILK!!
I LOVE BIRDS SO I PUT OUT THIS PRETTY
STONE FOR THE SUMMER GIVEN BY MY
MOM............
I FOUND THIS LITTLE METAL SHELF THIS
PAST WINTER.....SO I BROUGHT IT OUT
OF THE GARAGE TO PAINT...THIS IS THE
TOP OF IT............
AND..........THIS IS THE BOTTOM OF IT.
I THINK I WILL PUT SOME PRETTY SMALL
POTS OF HANGING FLOWERS. I AM ALSO
LOOKING FOR A TALL THIN OLDER TABLE
THAT I CAN PAINT AND SET THIS ON.
THEN I WILL PLACE IT ON MY BACK PATIO
THAT I AM ARRANGING FOR "SUMMERTIME"
SUPPERS".................


God gives us so much each and everyday............for this I am thankful. I am thankful for the blue skies; the sunshine; the rain; work for my husband; a husband that works hard even when ill; family; His provision; health to work; green grass; birds that give song; laughter....... and I could go on and on............

Sometimes you have to look for the "gold" glittering and it may be hard but life can be hard.
When I get out in my flowerbeds digging; pulling; sweating; knees hurting; getting those tiny weeds out I wonder is it worth it? Does anyone even notice that weed hiding behind the bush?
That weed will probably grow back again next week or another one in its place. But...........I think
its worth it. Why?? Because its a job well done. It helps my heart to work. It looks nice. Or because I was just suppose to do it. I want to do my job whatever it is that God needs me to do
for Him and His glory..........of gold!

CELEBRATING WITH LOVE.................

WE WENT OUT OF TOWN FOR "MOTHERS DAY"
MY SISTER CARES FOR MY MOM AND SHE
MADE A DELICIOUS DINNER OF "LIME WINGS";
POTATO SALAD; CUCUMBERS AND ONIONS;
VARIOUS SIDES AND TWO NICE DESSERTS
WE BOUGHT........... IT WAS SO FUN!!.....
SHE MADE MY 89 YEAR OLD MOTHER FEEL
LIKE THE "QUEEN" SHE IS TO ALL OF US....
WITH A CORSAGE.............
ALL FOUR GENERATIONS WERE THERE TO
HELP CELEBRATE....SHE LOVES HER NEW
GREAT GRANDDAUGHTER.....................
GETTING READY FOR OUR MEAL........THIS WAS
OUR THIRD MEAL. NOW LEFTOVERS...SHE HAD
THE FIRST ONE SO PRETTY IN BEAUTIFUL WHITE
LEAVES BOWLS AND PLATES............ALWAYS FLOWERS
AND THE PRETTIES PLATES.....

MY HUSBAND ENJOYING HIS TIME WITH
MY SIDE OF THE FAMILY AND HIS SWEET
GRANDDAUGHTER..........


I pray you all had a wonderful weekend..... Time to get back to the norm in life..........
The birds were singing high up in the trees this morning and the sun just peeking its self
through the new little leaves............I was so thankful for the time spent with those I love this past weekend.......

I am blessed by my family . I had many expressions of love and my son even sang me a song he made up on his guitar. He also sang a song that he was singing in church on Sunday.

I spent Friday running errands...........and as I went about my day my heart was saying: "Find some pretty flowers on sale" and go take them to the nursing home in town. I looked and looked that day and to no avail. They were just abit too pricey and would not do.

Later.......that day I went to pick up my daughter from her job and she said " Mom you know what I did today?"..........I was curious as always about her day and said "Yes please tell me"............ Well I spent most of my day tying little red ribbons on single carnations with a note saying' "Happy Mothers Day"..... Someone had donated them!! She also took care of them and took many an older lady to the beauty shop there to get either a FREE haircut or a FREE manicure!

I was so surprised!! WHY you ask? Because God knew the desires of my heart and took care of it himself in even a greater way!!!

MOTHERS DAY .......1956-2009

I LOVE "MOTHERS DAY"!!! I LOVE WHAT
IT REPRESENTS...........LOVE, SACRIFICE;
TIME; TEACHING; FEEDING; ROCKING;
KISSES ON THOSE LITTLE BOO BOO'S ON
YOUR KNEES; PRAYER; LAUNDRY; FUN;
TEARS OF PAIN; TEARS OF JOY..........



I LOVE TO LOOK AT OLDER PICTURES
OF MY MOM WHEN SHE WAS A YOUNG
WOMAN...RAISING 6 CHILDREN ; HELPING
MY DAD AT HOME AND IN OUR DRUGSTORE.
CARING FOR HER HOME; CHILDREN AND OTHERS.

MY MOTHER-IN-LAW RAISING HER 3 BOYS
(I MARRIED ONE! ) AND 1 DAUGHTER ( MY OTHER
SISTER); WORKING HARD; TAKING CARE OF HER
HOME; HER FAMILY; HER HUSBAND WHEN ILL AND
HER MOTHER IN HER LAST DAYS AND WHO EVER
CAME ACROSS HER PATH SHE LOVED.........
MOTHERS...............SOME MOTHERS DO NOT HAVE
CHILDREN OF THEIR OWN; YET THESE MOTHERS, CARE
LOVE; AND CHERISH THOSE IN THEIR CARE!!
I WISH I COULD GIVE OUT A LARGE
BOUQUET OF FLOWERS TO EVERY MOTHER
I SEE................TO TELL THEM THANK YOU
AND GOD WANTS TO SAY "HE LOVES THEM"
FOR CARING FOR THE CHILDREN.....
I AM NOW A GRANDMOTHER AS WELL........

WHAT A PRIVILEGE I THINK ESPECIALLY
AS I HAD A HEALTH SCARE A FEW YEARS BACK
AND GOD HAS GIVEN ME MANY DAY TO ENJOY
THESE PRECIOUS MOMENTS...........I LOVE BEING
A GRANDMA!! I DONT CARE IF I SHOW A FEW GRAY
HAIRS OR WRINKLES ; I JUST WANT TO HOLD OUR
GRANDCHILDREN AND TELL THEM I LOVE THEM
AND HOW JESUS LOVES THEM THIS I KNOW.....
I PRAY YOU ALL HAVE A "RELAXING"
MOMENT FOR "MOTHERS DAY" ... I SAY
MOMENT BECAUSE IF TRUTH BE KNOWN
MOTHERS ARE BUSY PEOPLE... THEY RARELY
HAVE DAYS OFF BUT THEY HAVE "LITTLE
MOMENTS" IN WHICH TO "RENEW" THEIR
LIVES TO GO OUT AND GIVE AGAIN.....
THEN..........ITS BACK AGAIN TO
CARING; TEACHING; TRAINING
THOSE OF WHOM WHERE PUT IN
OUR CARE ....SO THEY CAN GROW UP
AND BECOME RESPONSIBLE ADULTS
WHO WILL LOVE; TEACH AND TRAIN
THEIR OWN............
I THANK YOU IF YOU ARE A MOTHER
IN ANY WAY TO SOMEONE...FOR YOUR
TIME; LOVE AND CARE............

If you do not have someone to wish a "Happy Mothers Day" to I encourage you to go by a nursing home and take some flowers or balloons; find a neighbor who is alone;
visit someone in the hospital; ask your church if there are those in need; or do something anonymously in kindness of heart.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY..........

MOTHERS DAYS .......THIS AND THAT

I WORKED ON A CARD FOR A FRIENDS
BIRTHDAY..............SHE LOVES "MARY ENGELBRITE"
THIS LITTLE CARD GOES TO MY MOM
THIS WEEK........THE BEST MOM IN THE WORLD!
NOT REALLY TOO FANCY......THIS IS THE
INSIDE BECAUSE SHE LOVES BLUEBIRDS
AND GERANIUMS................
THIS LITTLE MOTHERS DAY CARD GOES
TO THE WORLDS BEST MOTHER IN LAW!!..
SHE GAVE ME MY HUSBAND AND I THANK
HER FOR ALL SHE DID FOR HIM AND ME
AND LOVING HER GRANDCHILDREN..........

MY DAUGHTER AND SWEET GRANDDAUGHTER
AS WE WERE HEADING OUT TO OUR
MOTHER-DAUGHTER BANQUET. MY SON IN
LAW AND HER WERE GOING TO HAVE A FUN
TIME TOGETHER WHILE WE WENT ON OUR
WAY..............
A QUICK PHOTO OF MY GIRLS AND I AS
WE PREPARED TO LEAVE FOR THE
MOTHER DAUGHTER BANQUET........
A SWEET FRIEND AND I BEING TOGETHER
AT OUR MOTHER DAUGHTER BANQUET...
I LOVE HER FAMILY SO MUCH.........
MY DEAR FRIEND AND MY GIRLS AT THE
BANQUET.......SHE HEADS UP OUR MISSIONS
CIRCLE AND DOES SOO MUCH FOR OUR
MISSIONARIES DAILY. SHE HAD US AS
GUESTS AT HER TABLE AND MADE THE
NIGHT SO SPECIAL... FOR EVERY ONE THAT
SAT AT HER TABLE........
MY FRIEND BOUGHT THIS CAKE ALONG
PLUS OUR DESSERT SERVED TO CELEBRATE
ONE OF THE GIRLS BIRTHDAYS.......... IT
WAS CALLED AN" ATOMIC CAKE" AND IS FILLED
WITH FRUIT AND CHOCOLATE STRAWBERRIES...
WOW!!! IT WAS INCREDIBLE!!
WE WERE SERVED GRILLED CHICKEN WITH
A DELICIOUS SAUCE; GRILLED NEW POTATOES;
FRESH GREEN BEANS WITH TOASTED ALMONDS;
A SIDE SALAD AND SHERBET DESSERT....


Mothers Day is fast approaching. We had our annual mother daughter banquet last evening.
It was held in a gorgeous hall with sparkling chandeliers and beautiful music played during the
meal from some wonderful ladies from our church.

Each table was set beautifully with white china; starched white tablecloths; and scrumptious food! Even though that was very special my friend had each person she had invited to her table made to feel even more loved. She had made a treasured card for each person of something that they felt to them personally told them that God loved them.
Mine was a Blue Heron and she had a small picture of a Heron and my favorite color laminated on my card. She had bought a special cake for a young girl that sat at our table because she knew it was her birthday that day.
She had extra butter and bread brought to us to keep us full and she had us laughing and having a good time all evening.

The dinner was wonderful but then 2 awards were given out. One for being a servant in a special way called the Dorcus Award. The other was the Mother of the Year. The latter award brought the mother and her family to say a few words. It was very touching indeed and well deserved!

The latter part of the evening brought a play put on by our college called "Love Letters Home". Oh my.........the music; costumes from the Civil War; singing and the teaching behind it was incredible. All in all it was a sweet evening .

DO YOU HAVE SUNSHINE OR RAIN IN YOUR LIFE??

WHAT A BEAUTIFUL MORNING I AWOKE
TO THIS EARLY EARLY MORNING...........
MY NEW HANGING BASKETS MY HUSBAND
BOUGHT ME OVER THE WEEKEND....
I LOVE INPATIENTS !! THEY WILL BLOOM
AND BLOOM AND HANG DOWN OVER THE
BASKET ALL SUMMER LONG..............
I ENJOY GETTING THESE MAGAZINES
"FOR FREE" FROM MY LIBRARY TO ENJOY
FOR A WEEK.....................
ITS NICE TO TAKE A "BREATHER" AFTER
A HARD DAY WORKING IN THE YARD
AND SIT IN MY WHITE ROCKERS ON THE
FRONT PORCH AND THUMB THROUGH THE
PRETTY PICTURES AND IDEAS FOR THE HOME....
A SWEET FRIEND GAVE ME THIS "NICE TEA"
TO ENJOY MAYBE ON A "RAINY DAY"
I FINALLY BROUGHT OUT SOME OF MY
"POTS" TO GET READY FOR PLANTING........
HOW DO YOU LIKE MY "GARDEN GLOVES"
I PURCHASED FOR $1? MOST OF THE TIME
I WAS USING MY HUSBANDS OLDER HEAVY
ONES :) WHICH REALLY HELP OUT WITH
STICKS AND HEAVY BRUSH..........
I TAKE OUT MY LARGE BASKET AND MY
LITTLE RED CHAIR TO SIT ON SOMETIMES
WHEN WEEDING....
THESE ARE MY HUSBANDS "SPECIAL"
"WHITE TOMATOES" TRYING THEIR
BEST TO GET READY FOR THE GARDEN"

I have been so thankful these last couple of days for the sunshine we have had. It helps to be able to get out in the yard and get things done such as mowing; weeding; or planting.

Sunshine makes us feel good. The sky is blue and bright and the birds sing and fly through the skies. The neighbors bring out their lawn mowers and work on their lawns. Some walk their dogs and some walk or run down the sidewalks. The sunshine just makes them happier and they wave as they go by and their is a spring in their steps...

But.........the rain!! Oh my it floods the grounds. It brings gray skies. It makes us run to and fro to our cars covering our heads with whatever we have. People begin to grumble and say things like " I wish this rain would stop"!! : ).............

I began to think thats how I can get so easily..........I wake up to sunshine but soon my day begins. You cant find enough time in the morning for this or that to be done. You go to fill your hummingbird feeder with sugar water and then pick it up only to have the whole bottom burst and cold; sugar water spills all over you and your clothes. The laundry waits to be started.
The ironing falls out of the basket. The phone rings with negative news. ..... AND before you know it..........

YOUR DAY of sunshine begins to turn to rain...............

Do you know that God brings the rain to turn our grasses green; to grow those beautiful flowers; to give drink to the thirsty land and animals..............

SO WHAT SHOULD YOU DO? Run .....quickly to God and tell Him all your troubles and then leave them there..... THEN...........Thank Him for the sunshine and the rain in your life.

I then can go back about my day and bring His sunshine into my life and into others around me!!

"Let them shout for joy, and be glad, that favour my righteous cause:yea, let them say continually, Let the Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure in the prosperity of his servant."

EASY CHICKEN TORTILLAS WITH MANGO SALSA

EASY CHICKEN TORTILLAS WITH MANGO SALSA


WE HAD THESE TONIGHT FOR SUPPER AND MY HUSBAND LOVED THEM!

MARINADE:
1 1/2 t BROWN SUGAR
2 t CUMIN
1 t GINGER
1/2 t SALT
1/2 t RED PEPPER FLAKES
4 BONELESS CHICKEN BREAST

. PUT ALL IN SMALL BOWL. TOSS WITH CHICKEN AND LEAVE FOR AN HOUR OR SO OR ALL NIGHT.....

SALSA
1 CUP DICED MANGO
1 JALAPENO CHILI PEPPER MINCED
2 T MINCED ONION ( I USE SOME OF THE RED)
1 T LIME JUICE


SAUTE:
2 t OIL
2 RED PEPPERS
1 LARGE RED ONION SLICED THIN

add:
1/4 C CHOPPED CILANTRO
4 WHOLE WHEAT TORTILLAS

1.MARINADE /THEN PLACE ON A FOIL LINED BAKING SHEET AND BAKE AT 350 FOR ABOUT 45 MINUTES OR DONE./ COOL/ SLICE INTO STRIPS.** ( THIS CAN BE DONE AHEAD OF TIME)

2. SAUTE ONIONS AND PEPPERS
3. MAKE SALSA
4. SERVE IN TORTILLAS AND ADD SALSA FOR A SIDE OR ON TORTILLAS

SERVES 4 ...OR MAY ADD MORE CHICKEN OR MANGO FOR MORE....

DELICIOUS!! AND HEALTHY