A NEW DAY

I love the end of the year past and taking ....moments to remember....the good things and maybe lessons and strengths learned.

But life is about today....and walking toward tomorrow with Him..

HOLIDAYS....

HOLIDAYS COMING.....

I love the scurry of the holidays...the.the change of seasons and the cool wind that softly blows across my nose..it makes my soul happy

Its a time to think of Others....this doesnt have to be expensive..or a fancy gift..it seems if I ask God who needs encouragement from Him...He easily sends them my way...A box or simple brown bag of homemade cookies...a pretty hand sanitizer...sitting a bag of holiday baking supplies out in a corner of your church...lunch room at work or elsewhere and placing FREE on it will make someones day. A pay ahead Starbucks coffee or any $5 gift can buy a quick treat.

I love making my home festive and bringing aromas of the holiday in...But im also for making this time Simple. Soups on the stovetop...Crockpots of Stew or Roast..Italian Meatballs and a cheeseball and crackers...Shortbread cookies...Simple Pies fill the air..

My everything dough on my sidebar..

Cranberry Salad

Lead me Lord

Old Linens

These are a few of my favorites things

FALLS IN THE AIR...A DAY MAKING MEMORIES

 I could hear the ducks flying overhead..I began to see the days getting shorter...the sun had moved oh so slightly did i miss it?  Fall was in the air!

As i grow older...i seem to STOP and take notice of His beauty..of simple things
A trip to the country....down the road...i pulled the window down to feel the cool wind against my face....a turn to a farmhouse...with the names of apples printed out on its red shed. Bags given, boxes to fill....my grandgirls jumping out on the van with sweatshirts and boots running through the talls grasses and beautiful trees filled with apples.

I pause..and an old barn now half torn down stands against the blue sky in a reddish brown tin with memories of families that have run these grounds before...off to home ..baskets full of fun. Apples fill the air with the aroma of a new season to come. Memories to be made..

Apple pies, apple crisp,  memories for a new generation.
**recipe on my sidebar

Thankfulness for A Day...for a time to enjoy..make new memories

WELCOME FALL...............

                                                         

Welcome..........Starting again with my blog....a little time off ......but I will begin again .
   I hope to bring encouragement to those who read or use this blog for ideas on meals; your home or everyday life....
   Its the start of Fall season here and I cannot help but LOVE the beginning of a new season.
   I love traditions.. Some old. Some new. Frankly as we grow....life changes and we need to add
   add "new " traditions as well as the old.
   I also realize FALL isnt the same all over the country. For me the leaves change colors...the temperature begins to cool... the birds and ducks begin their journeys down south......
   But the many...the climate stays the same but FALL is still in the air....

   Some of the things we have enjoyed is decorating for Fall.
You can use just a few items to make a room ready for FALL. I love BERRIES and bittersweet on wreaths or stuck around any item in the room. I bring in pretty throws * I find at thrift stores ....in warm colors. I change a few pillows around to sing Fall is here.....
I add candles or use tarts of Fall aromas to fill the house...
 I even bring up a pretty chair * had for years I bought for a few dollars that is just for the season...
  I may add a few inexpensive hand towels in the bathroom and even a wax plug in and some nice smelling hand soap * $1 at the dollar store.
  I have wreaths on my door all year...so I may use the same one... add something to make it match the season...
  I also add mums for color on my front porch.....
  Decorating is celebrating....and enjoying the beauty of the seasons!

I  love Twinkle lights.....

You can use an old pillow and cover it in a pretty Fall fabric....

A simple mum and pumpkin 

WHO'S MINDING MY NEST?

WHO'S MINDING MY NEST???

MY NEST.....

My hubby and I love watching birds.........in fact, about a month ago (when I was visiting with
my sister) I kept my eye on her little wooden bluebird house out in her yard. We were praying
for a new little family to come and make it their home for the summer.......this past week those little bluebirds came to my mind..........

This past week I had several things that kept me on the go.........I was home; gone again; home; gone again; and home for a short time again..........Sometimes we just cannot be aroundour homes all day long and life calls for us to care for many things.........But.........at the end of my week I looked down in my laundryroom and thought to myself..........looks like I need to some extra effort in my ironing pile and that evening I did........ It frustrated me to have to do "pressing" late in the evening. My physical body did it but my heart wasnt..........

.But then I thought " Who's minding this nest?".............

It wasnt others fault I was having extra things to do all week. In fact, it was the time I was allotted in life to use as I saw fit. I just needed to STOP and think about my schedule and time

. Our pastor just taught on Time Management.I pulled out the paper I had written my notes on and reviewed.Time is a Matter of Pursuit. - God is my pursuit. Give Him my time. He will extend your time.

Time is a Matter of Purpose. - What is it that you want to accomplish in your lifeWhat is your Focus - My God; my husband; my family Dont allow anything to take you away from that focus - phone ; TV; too much chatting

Does what I am doing help me toward my purpose in life?- Negative things

What can I do that no one else can do?- for my husband; my children; those in my path

What can you do that you can train someone else to do?- need help; train someone 


I tried this and it was very helpful.
I put things that were a matter of purpose first. I tried to keep focused on what each day brought........

. This is a formula that I will keep working on day by dayAs I was watching the little bluebirds come back and forth to build their nest; I waited in anticipation for them to settle and live in the "wooden feeder" but they were gone too many times and you know what? ............another bird came in to live and the "little bluebird" never came back.........They lost it! I want to remember who's minding my nest?

TALKING WITH MY FRIEND....

  I remember a few years ago....i loved going to a friends front porch. She had a swing and a couple of old chairs sitting on her white screened in front porch. Upon arrival I was always greeted like she was glad I came and she would go into her kitchen and return to the porch with ice cold lemonade. We would chat, laugh, and visit about our lives..  I loved our time together and always felt good when I left with a happy outlook on life. My friend has since moved from that old house but when I drive near it somedays ...I remember!   Now a days my best friend can sit with me anywhere...anytime! I love to chat with Him about anything...I love that He is always there ready to listen. He even sends me notes and things to encourage me along life's way.  
Im thankful for friends God sends my way but truly more thankful for His Love and friendship everyday!

JUST AN ORDINARY LADY WITH AN EXTRA ORDINARY LIFE.....

AN ORDINARY LADY WITH AN EXTRA ORDINARY LIFE

I M JUST AN ORDINARY LADY WITH AN EXTRA ORDINARY LIFE

IM AN ORDINARY LADY LIVING AN EXTRA ORDINARY LIFE.....

   Have you ever thought of your life as just plain Ordinary? I can remember going tot the salon to get my haircut many times.... and as the lady would begin to wash; cut and style my hair she might begin some "small talk" as they say.... such as "So are you getting ready to go on vacation?"; "Whats your week like?"or you going out to dinner later ? and on and on......Soon I got quiet and began to hear other ladies in the chairs that were getting their hair done. Some said..."Oh we are leaving soon for a cruise". another might say..." Oh we are getting ready to host a huge party"...maybe another getting ready for a big event....

  I just sat there...not wanting to say:.......Well ...um ....I am going to go home and fix supper for my family; or Im going to go work in the garden tonight. or I just came from cleaning the house and doing the laundry......no big vacation; no parties...just ORDINARY LIFE.....I was just enjoying getting my hair done!
 But in the midst of all this.......I have to admit..... there were times when I would Try and think of something exciting just to tell them so I could be a part of what I thought was .......this exciting and...wonderful LIFE!

  Frankly , I had gone to the salon to get a nice cut and style that I could work with for everyday.........I really have to laugh now thinking of how very foolish I was.....Now adays when I go to a salon....or even get my nails done I chat abit to be nice but I tell them I am going to just relax and enjoy this time...and they let you do just that ...and it becomes a spa moment for me....to enjoy!

  I LOVE that God has given me this ordinary  life to enjoy....and I mean enjoy!....Yes I have gotten to go some really nice places through the years and have enjoyed nice things to eat and see ...... but its theORDINARY....DAYS...   I love most!

  Its waking up....enjoying coffee with my husband. Reading my Bible in my chair and having God show me He loves me....
  Its making a Breakfast of oatmeal or egg omelet and toast for my husband each morning...Ordinary? Maybe but I enjoy it.

I enjoy my grown children and cherish the times when they were young but look at them now and stand proud and even learn new things from them......
I enjoy our grandbabies so much...more than I could ever know...They bring JOY to my husband and I and its so fun to see how they grow and we enjoy being grandparents and giving them M and M's!

  Its keeping my home....clean; ; fresh; well decorated.....I love a small garden to tend and enjoying its benefits in the summertime....I enjoy flowers in my flowerbeds or pots . I enjoy my bird feeders and watching Gods nature quietly feeding outside my window.........Ordinary.Things...Yes...and .....hard work? Yes but I enjoy keeping it. Its my job and I like to do my best at it. Then when its done there is such a satisfaction.

  To think this is a Nothing Job comes from someone who maybe doesnt know how hard it is to keep up with a home or business.. ..I have worked at home and beside my husband in our business and in other small areas.of business. and even though those were good times...they were abit hard because my heart loved being at home.........

   I enjoy planning meals; cooking and baking...I really do...and enjoy making meals to share with others as well.

  This ORDINARY LIFE.....  is not really ORDINARY> at all...in fact...ItsEXTRA ORDINARY..

    Because God has planned it................I cannot believe the people that come through our front door or stop by....and meals shared......I cannot believe how our family is used to maybe encourage someone..or how many wonderful things I have been able to cherish.....God seems to use what you enjoy and what your good at not what you think you need to do....
    I have a busy life filled to the brim and overflowing ....but take I take the  the times to BE QUIET....and enjoy my front porch; or rock a grandbaby; or have coffee with my hubby dates.....
     Laughter; joy; hard work; planning; my new booth; dates; yard work; church; church work; others ; family; LIFE.....all make this life so Precious!

     Last week when I got my hair done..."She asked me ...anything special coming up?  ........I said Nope ..just going home after this ...my husband loves when I get my hair done! And you know what ? She smiled...and I think she liked it.........(because I think she gets off work she goes home and makes supper just like Ordinary me!