HELLO MAY I HELP YOU.........A DAY AT THE HOSITAL

Today my husband was scheduled to have outpatient surgery..........I woke this morning thinking to myself..........Lord I love you.........Thank you for loving me........I have been
thanking the Lord many times a day lately............

He is so good to guide my footsteps and today was so different........We checked in and waited
until his time of surgery........As they took him down to his area they sent me to a Waiting Room
for surgery patients............As I entered I noticed a nice lady at the desk ( of whom I remebered
from before) and smiled and told her my name and my husbands name. I took my seat and
pulled out a book I was working on.......After a moment we began to chat and she said " Excuse me would you mind answering the phone for me while I slip out for lunch?

I looked around and thought to myself " But I am waiting on a patient".....she said " I trust you
all you have to do is answer the phone from the nurses and call a person or persons in the room
and write down a message. I then realized she was a volunteer and thought it would be fine
for me to help.........So I sat where she had sat and soon as she left the phone rang. I was able
to answer the questions and encourage a lady who's husband was in a particular surgery that was taking a long time...We chatted and I prayed I encouraged her.......

Then the phone rang and it was for me.....The nurses laughed to my husband in the waiting
area he was in that his wife was now the receptionist for them.......His surgery was going to have to wait a little longer so I could go be with him....Just then the original lady returned and thanked me and I was able to go be with my hubby until his surgery......

Soon they came to give him a little rest medicine and he sang the most beautiful love song
to me.......( he doesnt remember but I do :)............He is fine and now home but in somewhat pain but will better soon....and me

I am thankful and Thank the Lord for His mercy; grace and goodness to me.........

God helps me..........to help others...........and I thank Him........

SEASONAL DECORATIONS.............

Fall is in the air............The Farmers Market is filled with beautiful mums but I will not
purchase mine just yet due to the fact that they do not last too long........so I will wait.......and
enjoy them later in September..........
Ive only begun to bring out some Fall decorations........my husbands surgery comes this week
so that is number one on my mind.........But here are a few seasonal porch decorations..........
I covered a few pillows in orange fabric and a pretty cream ribbon from Pottery Barn...to
sit in my rockers.....
I am working on my wreath....I took last seasons items off of this wreath and added some berries and such. I kept the ribbon for now......I may change this if I find some pretty ribbon elsewhere....but for now it brings in Fall.........
I really enjoy the aroma of Fall candles.......This one sits in my foyer alongside a tall standing
stalk of straws..................
Back outside...........I hang this up on a sidewall...........Welcome Fall
My rocker sits in the cool of the evening........my husband and I have already enjoyed cool
mornings with our coffees........enjoying each others company before he leaves for work.......

I hope to bring out the rest of my items soon.......Isnt God good to give us so many blessings?

ALLOWING THE BREEZES TO BLOW IN.........LEARNING TO ADAPT

We had beautiful crisp cool breezes flowing through the windows the last two days....I just
enjoy the Fall season coming through.............

Our days are alot like the breezes as they flow through.............good days will come; bad days
will come; and change will come about...........thats part of this wonderful life! And........if our
trust is in God and His hand of guidance we have to trust it is for our good. Romans 8:28

My mom (now in heaven) lived 91 years and much of those years she learned to adapt....
I saw many changes come about in her long life ; some not always easy but she learned one
very big thing ADAPTING....

As I was working on my laundry and taking my wash out to put into the dryer.....I stopped and sorted some things that I would hang dry on hangers....I remembered back years ago when
my dryer had quit and I had gone to a launder mat..... to get the wash done. I had only so much
money to spend. I had only so much time. I quickly would wash; dry and fold and take home.
Things didnt have to be so perfect then. Why? I was adapting to what was needful then....

Sometimes we can get so set in our "perfect lives" that when our husbands are late for supper; or our children dont make their bedrooms perfect; or someone throws a football across the room and it breaks one of our pretty things we become.........like a cold icy wind blowing unkind icy
words throughout their lives........

We are not perfect; and I am so glad that I can rest in that and know God can use me still
to be a happy wife; joyful mother; and a kind friend...........Our lives our precious ..........and
given to be used for His plan..............

A family member awaiting a heart transplant sitting now in a new state waiting; a tiny baby
waiting to be transported to a hospital far away as the parents wait........a man or lady sits in a
nursing home once full of many great things and life now waits and adapts to a nurse to help
them day to day; a lady who greatly wanted a child sits and adapts to a life without children;
a woman taking care of a disabled brother through his adult life after losing both her parents..

You dont know where your breeze will blow..........but you can take it and BE THANKFUL for
where you are and what you have........You may bring a cool breeze across someones path......and joy into your day and into theirs.........I realize I must quit waiting for things to change and get better......and change for this or that.......but ADAPT and flow again with His joy and life!

TIP for Today: Spray your bedsheets with a pretty lilac spray and it will make your room smell
nice......

GIVEN TO HOSPITALITY...........

I found this sweet little book a few weeks ago at my local thrift shop on Hospitality....
It was chocked full of good ideas....but as I was reading along I thought to myself .......
"these are all nice ideas" but at this time in my life I dont always have an open home in which
to "invite" ladies over for nice lunches; coffee or treats........

Just then God reminded me.........(you are willing and I have chosen you many times to be
given to hospitality dont you remember?)...........I then thought a moment and looked through
His eyes and saw how God has had so many people come into my home on a weekly basis.
I almost laughed .........when I began to think about this . I thought of how I hear a knock at the door and.......... all of a sudden we have
extra guest for suppers; lunches; treats; visits; ladies mission circle group; showers; overnight guests and those just stopping for a moments time...........

You may think how can God use me to care about others?..............Be willing..........I remember
many a neighbor stopping by our house for my dad to fix something such as a lawn mower;
another small appliance; or for a taste of my dads famous fried chicken!..........They would
always be willing to be a neighbor who cares.

I also remember my mom always sending "treats" home with us or someone else to enjoy...

What are some simple ways we can be ready to receive those who come to our homes....

. Keep things simply clean and ready.

. Have an open heart.

. Have some cookies in a jar or in your freezer.

. Dont worry about being perfect or if you have a big enough or decorated enough or any other obstacle you may worry about....God knows if you have a willing heart and he will use it....

. Bake an apple crisp or purchase a pie and add whipped cream

. Send a guest home with a goodie...(I sent a young mother home with already baked cookies
for her to use and enjoy)

. Add more water to soup..........(as they say..) but you can stretch a meal to feed more

. Offer something cold to drink or warm hot chocolate.......

. If you have something scheduled........be discreet and let them know you care but you must
keep this commitment and send them along with a hug or a time you can make again.

. Have extra sheets and blankets kept aside for overnight. Keep a small basket of
toiletries in a closet for overnight guest to use...

. If you are having someone staying for a few days maybe a fresh bouquet of flowers
or a nice little basket of goodies can be placed in the room........

. If you are on the receiving end .....make sure you say Thank you or send a nice
note..............

A SIMPLE DAY FULL OF BLESSINGS..............

What a beautiful day God has given...........I awoke to a crisp cool breeze fluttering the white
curtains throughout the diningroom...........I made a hot cup of coffee for my hubby and I and
I looked at the bright blue sky and the bluest waters on the pond out my kitchen window...
I thanked God for so many things including this beautiful day He gave..........I even saw my
white heron gathering fish by the side of the pond.......God does love me huh?
The cool weather prompted me to make a good hearty breakfast. I donned my apron and
asked my hubby if he would enjoy a nice fried green tomato sandwich. Is there anything better???.......... He agreed so I went
to work getting things assembled.........I had found some Oscar Meyer Bacon (precooked) for
.99 markdown and used a coupon and it was only .50 a box! I looked at the regular price and it
ran almost $5. Oh my! So I was able to use my blessing bacon also.........
I love the smell of fried green tomatoes cooking in a skillet....I then took two sandwich rounds
and one egg white; some bacon strips; and horseradish ........It was so yummy! It made for a good
morning.........I then busied myself with things of the day while my hubby ran to get his haircut....
When he returned.......I had worked on Fall decorating the front porch........(this isnt it but I will post pictures later)........We then gathered my daughters and our grandbabies and went
to ride on the merry go round........What a fun grandpa they have wanting to ride up and down
two times .......( dont forget he is still fighting that big kidney stone until this week when he
has outpatient surgery)..........but he loves those grandgirls just like he loved our children....
A great beautiful day full of good things......dinner is over............dishes washed up; kitchen swept; clothes ready for Sunday church; and later my 1/2 cup of my favorite ice-cream....
and time with my hubby..........I know that life can bring us many heartaches.........but if
you stop...........and just begin..........thanking Him one by one..........you can find His love surrounding your life.....................

SIMPLE APPLE CRISP................A WARM TREAT

This is a comfort dish that smells like Fall..................
I bought a bag of apples for one dollar on the discount rack..........and my married daughter said " oh mom do
you think we could have some apple crisp?".........I love making this treat in the Fall ; but
so it was a bit early...........My daughter; granddaughter and I whipped this treat together quickly and all enjoyed a small plate full over lunch.........
Just take some apples (whichever you prefer)........and butter ( or other).......
Peel then; then slice and cut up into bite size pieces........or thin slices.......
Pull in a granddaughter with her apron on...........place some apples in the bowl and (snack on
the rest)...........Top with topping and bake...........Enjoy.......The Recipe follows:

Simple Apple Crisp

Preheat 350..........serves 4-6

3 Large Apples
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 quick cooking rolled oats
3/4 cup flour
1/2 c softened butter ( I cut up the stick)

Directions

. Spray or butter a 9" round pie pan or pyrex dish

1. Peel and slice apples ........Place in bottom of pan
2. Make topping :
Mix together sugar; oats; flour and add in bits of butter by using a pastry cutter or two
forks until this resembles peas throughout the flour ** thats what gives it the buttery top
3. Bake 350 .........20-30 minutes or until golden brown

***May serve with whipped topping or vanilla ice cream

END OF SUMMER PICNIC.........LIFES FULL OF BLESSINGS.......

My daughter asked me if I wanted to go on a picnic with my grandgirls the other day....The weather was so crisp and pretty.....My two daughters and grandgirls all pulled together some
salads with chicken; some pretzels ; some shortbread cookies we had made and some ice cold
iced tea and set off for the park.........
At the end of the day...........all was tired but we made memories..........Memories for the day!
The warm sunshine kept tiny one sound asleep.................
A lunchpail was so fun grandma....and the swings and running and laughing..............
Simple food; times of being together....................lifes beautiful blessings............
Take someone you love for a picnic........it can be so fun.............
And....................swing ................swing so high!!! Life is full of great blessings if we will look for them..................

PS..........The picture of the pretty desk yesterday was not mine but its such a pretty one dont
you think?........to the comment left (somehow it didnt publish) I will put on my lemon tea
bread recipe)