Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Tea Cup Exchange Reveal



What a joy it has been to participate in 
For the past several years

Each time I participate I am blessed beyond measure
By the kindness and generosity of those
Who have received my name

Before I share what I received
I will share what I sent out and to whom
I have had the pleasure of 'knowing' (in cyberland)
Deb for a couple of years
We have exchanged Pocket Letters 
And other fun goodies over time
She has been a blessing to me
And I truly have enjoying getting to know her over the years

You can check out her blog for her reveal post



 This year I was especially blessed to receive a package from

She sweetly put together a delightful fall package
Because we don't get much true fall weather
Here in the desert southwest
It was a treat to receive such a gift

  
Everything was wrapped so beautifully


So many lovely treasures that I am enjoying daily
Well, not daily any longer because the cookies are gone


Adorable tea cup and saucer
Love the colors and the warmth


Beautiful pumpkin which has fit in nicely with my décor 


Lots of pretty smells 


And Decadent Tastes



Thank you Michele
For Blessing my so 
With love and generosity 

Thank you Stephanie for putting so much love and time
Into these fun and friendship forming parties
I have truly enjoyed them
And thank you for allowing me participate

May you all be Blessed 
Until we meet again


Monday, September 4, 2017

A Few Favorites



Hello Sweet Friends
It's been a long while since I last posted
No sense in trying to catch you up
Let's just say
Summer in HOT in Arizona
And my body is revolting

I had the Huge Blessing 
Of traveling to San Diego
With my Dear friend
It was much needed for both of us
Here are just a few of my favorite moments



It was a joy to watch a couple of ships
Come in to port the first night we arrived


Enjoyed spending time at this cute Light House
'Old Point Loma Lighthouse'





Tried on some Conquistador Juan Cabrillo body armor
I'm wise enough to NOT share the full body photos - LOL


Visited the Beautiful and Peaceful
'Fort Rosecrans National Cemetary'



Blessed



Tuesday, May 16, 2017

Some Years and Better Than Others



This year has been tough
Well, This Day


Today would have been our 36th wedding anniversary
But God saw differently
And I'm sad


Today, I'm lonely and tired of being so
I Never thought I'd be a widow
Never thought he'd be gone so young


I am thankful for good memories
But also and honestly bitter for all that
Could have been, but wasn't
Is that wrong?
I feel angry today
And, let down
And, abandoned
And, unworthy
And, sin~filled
And, tired
And, unloved


Nothing is different today than yesterday
But today...I just feel off
I want to scream and cry and pout
But, I had to work and be up and be mom
And, I didn't want to be


Honestly, I just Don't Want To Be



Tuesday, April 18, 2017

Tea Cup & Mug Exchange Reveal




Hello Sweet Friends

It's time for a very special Reveal
One I look forward to twice a year


For the past three events
I have participate in Stephanie's
Tea Cup & Mug Exchange
And OH What Fun It Has Been

Stephanie Joyfully and Prayerfully
Matches participants for the exchange
You send to one person
And receive from a different person
It is Always a JOY to participate


This time my recipient was


I will let her share about her package
But it has been delightful getting to know Marilyn
And I found great joy in putting her package together 


I was SO surprised when I received a lovely
Thank you package from her
How sweet are all of these delightful goodies
Thank you Marilyn for blessing me so


You never know where you will send a package
Or where your package will come from
This time both sent and received packages
Went/Came from ladies in Idaho
How Fun Is That


My package came from


Oh My how she blessed this momma heart
I opened the package to find a gift for Madi
I was shocked and blessed
A beautiful hand made tea matt and a 'to color' book mark


What a sweet surprise and blessing


The rest of the package was stuffed FULL of beauty
With an Ocean theme, everything was had picked and made
By Tilda and her two daughters


Hot Cocoa, note pad, tea towels,
fragrance sachets for home and auto
Napkins, flower seeds and a hand sewn tea matt and book mark


The Tea Cup is a lovely shade of Aqua with white
Beautifully scalloped edges that remind me of sea shells
Absolutely Perfect

I feel so spoiled!
Thank you Tilda and girls
For your kindness and tender hearts
I am enjoying getting to know you and your family

Some day I plan to go visit my brother and niece/nephews in ID
I will make sure to visit BOTH of the beautiful and kind ladies

I never know how to thank Stephanie for hosting this wonderful
Tea Cup & Mug Exchange twice yearly
She certainly could be doing many other things
But has chosen to bless each participant

Thank you Stephanie
You are A TREASURE

Blessings to ALL




Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Happy 81st MOM



Hello Friends

I haven't blogged in such a long time
I almost forgot how to download, edit and upload photos

Hopefully, in the weeks ahead
I will blog more and fill you in
On where I've been and life in general

Today
I want to SAY
Happy 81st Birthday to my Mom


In the past 10+ years
This sweet lady
Has endured a
Whipple surgery
Broken Hip
Mini Stroke
Valley Fever
And something that has eaten a good bit
Of her skull away
Yet, we celebrate 81 years
With Great JOY

She has
4 Children
11 Grandchildren
12 Great Grandchildren


We had a delightful Celebration at my home on Sunday
I'm sharing just a few of my favorite photos


Cousins and Braces


Cousins and 2nd Cousins


Laughter and Silliness


Which pretty much describes our lives


Why would this be a favorite photo?

It is a reminder of:
Family, food, fellowship
Joy, blessings and Happiness
And Celebration of a life well lived

Remember that messes
Are a Symbols of LIFE

Happy Birthday Mom




Sunday, February 12, 2017

Prayers for a Friend




Dear Sweet Blog Friends

Sometimes there are few words
That can express our pain
We've all felt it and been there
But I cannot imagine the pain
My Dear Friend Leah is feeling today

Leah became widowed about the same time I did
That is how we met
She was very blessed to find true love again
She married Joel and together they blended their families
Within the past 2 years they have
Added 3 siblings fro Bulgaria to their family
As well as a child they had been fostering
Together, in a few short years
They have 9 children
4 of whom were orphaned and still young

Last night
My Dear Leah
Became a widow again
Joel succumbed to complications after emergency surgery

I am at a total loss for words
And especially for understanding

Here are Leah's words:

There are no words to express my thanks for the outpouring of love and prayers concerning my precious Joel! He is now in the arms of Jesus! We hurt so badly but are so thankful this "goodbye" is only temporary until we will one day be reunited in Heaven. We will still need your prayers for a long time to come but especially in a few hours when I have to share this heartbreaking news with his 4 youngest babies. #Godisstillgood



Please, if you are so inclined,
Pray for and remember Leah and her family
In the days and weeks ahead!

God Be With Them






Wednesday, February 8, 2017

GOD had a Plan




Hello Sweet Blog Friends


Although I've been fairly sporadic in blogland of late
I have a little anniversary memory to share

10 years ago today, I announced and acted on
The most difficult decision I had ever made
Up until that point in my life

Although settling on that decision was a
Long and arduous process
I knew it was the right decision

After spending 11 years at our home church
Working as the Church Administrator for 7 years
Serving as the Women's Ministries Director for 4 years
And spending about 80% of my waking hours at the
Church for many years
The Lord directed me to quit my job

On this date 10 years ago
I thought that was all the decision would entail
I would quit my job and continue the rest of life
However, others also get to make decisions
Once I announced that I was quitting my job
Everything else was taken from me

I was asked to step down from Women's Ministries
Within 12 hours my family and I were no longer members
Of the church we had loved and served for 11 years

I spent a week in bed
Cried for hours and days
Didn't answer or take calls
This isn't the way it was supposed to be


BUT GOD
Had a Plan

'For I know what I have planned for you,' says the LORD.
'I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you.
I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.'
Jeremiah 29:11

YES!
His plan walked out over the past 10 years was
Definitely filled with hope.
Heartache and loss as well, but I see His hand in it all.

The future was not clear to us 10 years ago
The perfect job opportunity that would open up for me
Which allowed me time to truly enjoy life with Mark
Our sons and our oldest granddaughter

We didn't see the weeks and months that
Mark would spend in the hospital
My ability to be with him so much of that time
Never would have happened had the changes not been made

God had a Plan that we could not see
But stepping out in Faith solidified our walk with HIM
And strengthened our commitment to each other

Yes, there have been some very difficult and life altering
Moments in the past 10 years
Moments I'd love to change or forget
I've faced loss, sadness, loneliness
And washed my fair share of tear stained pillowcases

Yet, I would not change a moment of it
To go back to where I was 10 years ago

Being married to your job,
Your church, your ministry or
Anything else that pulls you away from
God's heart and His Plan
Is not healthy or beneficial


My heart and life are more balanced today
Because
God Had a Plan
Even though I couldn't see it at the time

Be Blessed My Friends
Enjoy 'Heart' Month




Wednesday, February 1, 2017

Saturday, January 14, 2017

My One Word




Happy Weekend Sweet Friends

I started this post on January 3, 2017
I believe I have already failed my Word



Accomplish is the word that has been
bombarding my thoughts for the past several weeks
So far, I have one project accomplished with
Many, Many more to go

It seems I Love to start projects but I am a
Procrastinator by nature
(Ouch)

This is the year, for numerous reasons,
I need to accomplish projects and set aside the
procrastination trait

For the first time since Mark's passing
(6 years)
I truly DO have goals and plans
Lists and desires
This is the Year to rejoice in today

The necklace I wear says: Embrace The Moment
The ring I wear says: Nothing is Impossible

With those reminders
It is My Year to Accomplish and move forward

I even went to church last weekend
For the first time in more than a year

Yes, it's a new day
A new year
A new attitude
And a new WORD

God is Able
Even in Me

Blessings~~~