There's just something about....

your adult children telling you that they love you.
Most days I speak with our girls and always our conversations end with "I Love You".
Even though I don't speak with our son as often, I hear those special words at the end of
our phone conversations too.
It always makes my heart glad and some days it brings tears to my eyes.
It takes me back to their "growing up" days. I SO enjoyed our children and I was the mom who never wanted vacations to end. I was never ready for them to go back to school.
And yes, I told them that I loved them... daily, maybe even several times a day.
We always had a special bond and I'm so thankful that we still do!

Afternoon Repose

There's nothing like a rainy day for a good book, a comfy chair and a soft, fuzzy blanket...ummm.
That's how I spent yesterday. I even succombed to a refreshing nap!
As I awoke, the sun began to peek through the grayish clouds and bright yellow rays painted designs on the back of my sofa. I remained and closed my eyes to let the sunshine bathe my face.
Warming me, I just smiled and enjoyed it for quite some time and then realized I needed to get ready for a bridal shower.
Had just enough time for a lavendar soak in the tub accompanied by beautiful classical music
before I needed to leave.
What a wonderful afternoon! Everyone needs an afternoon like this every once in a while!

March!

Well March seems to be living up to her reputation! We've had several days of wind. In fact one of our trees on our porch has spent more time on its side leaning into the fern rather than upright as it should.
March also brings many family birthdays...our Anna, my Nannan, our Emma and my Mom, a nephew Blake, a niece Allison and Anna and Dan's anniversary, which is today! Happy 10th!
Thinking of our nephew, Blake, always reminds me of our first real encounter. He was a newborn just home from the hospital...the first grandchild for my parents! How I loved being around him!
I went to change his diaper with the help of his Father and I knew I needed to also clean his cute little belly button. I was attempting to get some alcohol on a Q-tip by tipping the bottle toward me and I found myself a bit wet. I thought I had spilled the alcohol on myself and my brother-in-law was laughing and then I realized my precious little nephew had "christened" me!
Needless to say, I learned a very important lesson about baby boys that day!

The Painting

This is a painting of an old farm house in Unionville which was painted by a very dear friend.
I have several of her paintings and I treasure each one of them! In fact there were a few more that had I had the "funds" I would have grabbed last night.

Mike and I love paintings/pictures of old houses...country, rustic, the kind that exude great character and we have quite a few numbered signed prints that we've collected over the years.
Most of them adorn our den, the place where we "live" and one does hang above our country oak sleigh bed.

Our new piece now has a place of honor over our sofa in the den. I had grown quite tired of the dark country red curtains, the dark red accent pillows and decided to pull out the blue that was in our pillows that had come with our furniture some years ago. Found the coolest blue curtains and pillows at Target for a very good price and was going to bring in a few other accent pieces as I came across them! Just "Springing" up the homeplace!

Last night we had dinner with our friends and I noticed some new paintings around. I so enjoyed "touring" and ooing and ahhing over each piece and then I came across the house! I fell in love with it immediately! I asked her if she was selling it and she said she was. I showed it to Mike
who said "you want it for your birthday?"
Yes!!! Of course! (You remember me, the one who has countless Christmases each year and birthdays too!)
Praise God I was able to pull out a check and write it. She, at first, didn't think I was serious.
She did say that when she had painted it she thought of me. (Don't you love it when your friends know you SO well!)
I practically drooled over it the rest of the evening and after trying to find the perfect spot, it came to "rest" late this afternoon.
Now as I enter the den, I just glow and smile at my new treasure.
I'll get pictures later of our den's new look but for now, here's a glimpse of the picture I will cherish always!
Oh and by the way, my "picture" doesn't do it justice!

"Through our God"

Came across this the other day...

"God will bring you through, not somehow,
but triumphantly!"

Dean Kerns


"Through our God, we shall do valiantly..." Psalm 60:12

ANTS...

in my pants, literally!!!

What a day I had this week! Actually it WAS a really good day with the exception of getting into a fire ant habitation.
The day began well. I was filling in for my Pastor's wife Bible study teaching and I was all prayed up and had studied carefully; I was totally prepared, with the help of the Holy Spirit!
I opened up the building and never thought to really look where I was standing. I made coffee, set up my "stuff" and then the ladies began coming in. This was the first time I've ever filled in for her and I was quite focused.
Opened in prayer and began. While I was teaching and asking questions I began to feel these "stings" and bites"...on my legs, my back. Thoughts going through my head were "what's that?"
I never verbalized any of it and only "scratched" when I had to.
We finished and cleaned up; put my ladies in my Xb and took them home. By the time I got home I couldn't wait to get out of those clothes. I turned my jeans inside out and yes! You guessed it...fire ants...on my pants! I KILLED those little buggers and proceeded to itch the rest of the day! Soaked in Lavendar oil later on and emerged with bites appearing!
No more itching but I've got some nasty looking bites!

Was sharing all this with Mike and he said that the incident had developed character in me!
You know, he WOULD say something like that!
Well, actually... I do believe it did!

Happy Birthday Anna!

Happy 27th, sweet Anna, our youngest...wife of Dan, mother of Emma, Kylie, Duncan and Kellan... "Chia" to Christian, Makenna, Elliott and Camden... sister of April and Bill!

We love you!

Daddy and Mom