I LOVE MONDAYS..."SHHHH ...WHAT'S THAT i HEAR???

Do you ever hear a sound amist the other noises going on around you? You cant quite hear it but then once again there it is...........Faintly........ The business of the day of phones; music; others voices filled the room but I walked closely towards the front window and there it was again..........

The sound of a beautiful song from some birds singing their song so clearly outside this busy window.... I peeked around the bare branches covered again with the whitest snow and there they stood Mr and Mrs. Cardinal......bright red and singing their songs to the fullest.........I just sat there mesmerized as if at a outside concert listening to their songs......

.I then saw them flit from one branch to another as if they were having fun chasing each other........... A whisper from God through them.......saying "I love you" after a very long week of illness. These sounds can come in the form of a giggle from a sweet baby girl..........in a prayer from a toddler "Jesus help my Papa feel better"; in excitement from a sister who just saw 6 deer wander into her yard while you were on the phone with her; music from a church radio station playing a song to fill your heart; even the quiet sounds of heaven through His Word.........
I want to take time to "be still" and listen to the sounds given to me........I want to be a sound of joy and encouragement.............and to say "Shh Whats that I hear?"

* How can I "hear" from God?....

....Listen in the brightness of a morning sunrise
....Listen in the quietness of the night when you cannot sleep
....Listen as you work hard each day and the steps you take one by one  of strength from Him
....Listen as someone who is ill struggling for a breath...but the heart beating and giving life
....Listen to laughter....and the joy it brings
....Listen to the wind blowing through the trees 
....Listen for the waters like an ocean tide
....Listen for a "voice" saying "good morning" to her class
....Listen Listen Listen

OPEN THE DOORS....THE WINDOWS...LET THE FRESH AIR IN....

Last Thursday my husband came home from work with a bad cough and feeling pretty exhausted......( with his immune system I am getting used to things attacking him so we started on some nice warm chicken soup and he went to rest).....By Friday I was feeling achy but being a wife and mom I kept plugging on thinking I was just overtired..( my husband seemed to get worse) .........By Saturday I was really feeling exhausted and couldnt hardly take steps without feeling the heaviness throughout my body..........By Sunday the fever had hit us both and we
had the worst flu both of us had experienced in a very long time.........

I was used to caring for my husband.........and could barely lift my head from one side to another without pain....My married daughter came and brought us soups and toast and Lysol
and gather what she could to keep our room comfortable........I remember waking up one night
and the "pain chart" that my husband would have in the hospital came to my mind and I thought "Lord this is a 9 for sure!"........I would barely wake up and then sleep again.....(during one of those times I remember whispering to the Lord" I know what you have given is what I am to go through and I thank you for even this!") I couldnt help remembering those of whom I have been
praying for going through their own "trials" in life and how to them this was like a heaviness
that they could hardly bare.............

So what did I do? Oh I just got up and took care of things.......NOOO .....I couldnt. It was out of my control. I had to go through the timing of this "time" and let it run its coarse..........

I stayed in bed for days. Took sips of drinks. Slept and slept.....until it passed..........When I got up the first day I was still achy and needed some rest. I am still sore from coughing and abit weak but on the mend.............

God always shows me a lesson.................Sometimes we have to stop and go through the trials of
life to become stronger and take time with Him! ...............I am careful now to take my vitamins
and get my strength back ....why? Because He has others that have been put in my path to care for.........I need to take care of myself to be a help to myself and others..........

Im not the first one to have this "bug" . There are many in are area and other areas across the country.........Im not the first one to go through ___________........but when we are going through it it may seem like it!

I have now lost both of my parents......I miss them dearly. It was hurtful to lose someone you love but you know what ? Now I can "feel" for others that are going through the same thing and
can maybe do some things I know I needed during that time..........
I say .........Open the doors...........let the fresh air in..............and the warms breezes flow again
through our lives..............

I love that Spring is coming.....I love the sunshine I can see peeking through my windows...
It gives me renewed strength..............

So today I am for being Thankful..........Thankful for the little things such as the red cardinal
I saw in my big tree out my picture window......thankful for a husband who has regained his strength and returned to work.......thankful for a daughter who was willing to take care of her two parents ( and now has two sick little ones with this bug); a son in law willing to go to get "drugstore" items needed" and ..........for Gods goodness.............

TAKE THESE BROKEN WINGS AND LEARN TO FLY....

I love New Beginnings.....
Mondays are the beginning of a new week.......a time to start again.....

I love watching our little snow birds hopping on the bare branches this morning ...I saw one; then two ; and then the third coming to our snowy feeder to enjoy their morning breakfast...

I noticed the huge snow mounds that filled the yard were quietly melting little my little and
heard the birds singing high in the trees ....and my mind began to think of Spring (maybe thats why I put up a new header)..........Springtime is coming...........Springtime in life..........

Maybe you have had a hard "winter" in your past. Maybe an illness that has taken you over day by day...maybe something or circumstances have prevailed and "broken your wings" in
life...........But as God always promises " He will never leave thee or forsake thee".........and
He gives you the strength to fly again.............

The harsh cold winds have blown through our area; the icy trees and mounds of snow have
blanketed the land yet........the birds fly above it all and continue on to continue their journeys
in their lives.........

I try and focus on the positive (even though it can be easier to focus on the negative) of life....

Look for the "beauty " as it peeks it way up through the snow......and take your broken wings
and learn to fly again.........

SPRING IS COMING SOON..............

This winter has been one of the mildest I can remember...........Even though I know winter is here with occasional snow days....Spring is in the air!
A few weeks ago we had a nice day that the sun began to shine...the snow began to melt and
even at 35 to 40 degrees everyone thought Spring had come...........

So I began Spring Cleaning.......pulling out some Spring decorations...........placing away some winter items in boxes.........ONLY to pull out the warm sweaters and warm blankets again.........

My sister even reminded me I keep talking about Spring! Finally........I stopped and listened to myself............Was I not being content? Maybe I had even been complaining......? I love the change of seasons...but even I need to learn to WAIT ....on things.........

God sends His timing in things...sometimes it may be in an illness we have and the wait for
us to get better........sometimes its watching someone you love grow into a new level in their life..
sometimes it may be our weight and wanting so bad to loose 20 lbs in 2 weeks..........

So I concluded..........I could HOPE............I could anticipate..........I could PRAY........but I could wait and see..........
Oh how fun it is to see the budding of a tree......just a tiny little bud.........then the first flower...
then the bloom!!!.........The first Robin..........*I used to call my mom and we would be so excited over seeing the first Robin of Spring!.................

Anticipation of a bride and groom.........of a new baby coming........the start of of school.......the end of school and graduation.........

All........to come.........As I sit at my kitchen table I cant help but be thankful for all that has been
and all to come.............
Yes I will continue to look forward to Spring; but be thankful for the snow that feeds the grasses to turn so green in the months ahead..........I look forward to the seasons ahead
and celebrations and bringing with it joy and encumbrance ahead................

There are times in our lives when we cant see the "Springtime" coming; we are clouded with
the heaviness of the cold dark days.........but God can always give us His sunshine and Springtime to come...........Here are a few ideas to bring Spring into our days.............


. Plant some paperwhite bulbs or purchase a beautiful pink ; white or lilac hyithics 


. Bring our colors of Robin Egg Blue in pillows for your sofa; Lime Greens and Whites for your bathroom; touches of Spring yellows in your kitchen....


. I love the "change seasons" in my bedroom....find a comforter or duvet on sale or at a second hand store in Springtime colors;...such as Blue and White; Black and Whites; Lime Greens and Whites; Grays and clean blues.....So many ways....I love to bring a freshness to the room.


. Plan your garden...Maybe order seeds. 


. Plan your canning or freezing for the garden and ways to save money.


. Plan outdoor activities with your family...such as kite flying; walks in the woods


. March....kites; springtime jackets...April...Easter...May ...Mothers Day


. Rid out of un needed clutter.....purchase a few totes and label these and organize what you have .


     Springtime is Hope to come...I think God gave these seasons for us to know that New Beginnings are always around the corner in our lives....So enjoy the warm comfort of winter for a little while longer ..........because Spring is in the air...........

BAKING "VALENTINE COOKIES " WITH GRANDMA

Yesterday, I planned on making my cut out Valentine Cookies....There is something about baking; the smell of shortbread; and then pink icing with sprinkles that makes you think Valentines......
I use the same recipe for every holiday "Moms Everything Dough" on my sidebar......
The fun begins by mixing butter; eggs; sugar.............all mixed together....I sometimes use a mixer at this point but then
sometimes I mix it by hand with a fork and they turn out fine..............
My granddaughter came along and we put on her apron and I gave her a little bowl with her own flour; stir; mix; pour out and ( I think she even added the pepper that was sitting on the counter nearby!) and before you know it she had flour head to toe.........But we were having FUN!
There is something simple; traditional about mixing flour; sugar; eggs; in a large white bowl ; following my mother; her mother; and her mother before her................
Memories that will sustain through the years.........Love that pours out between a grandchild and her grandma.............Precious times I will not forget................
Standing on the back of a chair ; up to the countertops; matching aprons; Sprinkles to put over the cookies; simple FUN........and oh so good...............

I love cut out cookies................I love to purchase a "Design Shape" to use for about $1 and make so much fun out of it!!!................
Little hands...........precious hands ; pink frosting.................and Sprinkles of heart shapes in red; pink; and creams......................
Even when they "stick" all over everything............................
We made trays and trays of these and then Grandma set the trays on the front porch to cool
and let the cookie set up.................
I put some in "little baggies" to take to my ladies meeting next week for a treat to all...........
and the rest..........."Oh they are half gone from guests who came by that evening and
Sweetest Girl and I enjoying some together.

Proverbs 31: 31 "Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own works praise her in the gates.

ARE YOU A PRINCESS??

I love spending time with my granddaughter...........Its something given special by God......
I remind her of how God loves her; Grandpas and Grandma love her; her daddy and mommy
love her; Aunt Ruthie; Uncle Josh; Aunt Jenny; great-grandma's ; her Preacher loves her;
and on and on...............
Precious time "being a princess" in my eyes and in Gods eyes............Do you know you are a "Queen" in Gods eyes and He loves you!!!..................Oh we may think no one really loves us and with Valentines Day coming up.......you may be like "Charlie Brown" and your mailbox
will be empty BUT..............God loves you and sends His love to you in a very special way by sending His Son to dye on a cross for you and me and taking away our sins; and taking us to heaven someday to walk on streets of gold"..............** Read more on my sidebar**down towards the bottom


Precious love ........."We loved our granddaughter" even before she was born...........We prayed
for her and her parents gave her a name with honor...........Just as God has....
He knew every part of her as with me even before she was born..............

Precious are are days.......full of joy..........full of goodness........Psalm 139:1 "O Lord, thou hast
searched me, and known me. 2: "Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, though understandest my thought afar off.
Psalm 139: 14: "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.


God loves the little children....and He loves His children....I believe He teaches us sometimes
through the eyes of children to believe; trust and know you are loved.........

WHAT IS LOVE TO YOU?

WHAT IS LOVE TO YOU????

I Corinthians 13
1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing. 3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing. 4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up, 5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil; 6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth; 7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.
8 Charity never faileth: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away. 9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part. 10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away. 11 When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things. 12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 13 And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

This next month ....I am thinking about love....What does love mean to you?

Could love mean someone doing the dishes for you just because they love you?....Could it be someone who drives many miles in a cold little truck to provide for you?.....Could it be someone who opens your car door; carries in your groceries and makes sure your all safe and sound?...

Could it be someone who sacrifices something they want so you could have would you need?..

Could it be someone praying for you faithfully?............Could it be someone that is precious to you?

Love isnt all about me........In fact, when you talk of me me me all the time love begins to sound loud and noisy.......

So then, could love be...........sitting besides someones hospital bed and just being there is saying "I love you"; could it be the prayers and tears of a mother; could it be "placing that scribbled coloring picture so proudly upon the front of the refrigerator............

I plan on enjoying doing "little things" of love all throughout the month of February.....

Here are some simple little ideas to show someone you care..........

. Send them a Valentine

. Send an E-card

. Bake some Valentine cookies and give them away **(USE MOM'S EVERYTHING DOUGH ) **MY SIDEBAR * these are easy and so good

. Do someones chores for Free

. Smile

. Pray for them

. When you feel like you may want to "tell someone what you really think"...Keep Quiet and let it go.......

. Make a special meal for Valentines Day or before....a special breakfast or dinner made

. Cut out Valentines and put them up all over the house

Whatever you choose this month .....say it with Love..........
** Today I received a beautiful Valentine in the mail from my mother in law , Sandy.
Thank you " I love you too"!