There went August, and there went Summer!
Now it's September. It will always be bittersweet for me now. There will be 9/11, our grandson's birthday and our son's wedding anniversary. For their sakes and for future generations, I post this with prayers of gratitude that my children have been spared the personal horrors of war, and that peace will reign first in hearts and then on Earth. Please, Father.

I know I'm stepping on some toes by posting this; however, I must be honest with you all. This is what I've come to after 35 years of watching current events, studying scriptures and listening for the voice of the LORD. I, too have loved "God's people", and I still do. I have accepted and "believed" that it is God's will that none should perish while at the same time accepting that His "people", including some in His ecclesia could support the slaughter of millions. I've almost always leaned towards being a "peacenik". The mama bear in me came out as my children were born, and I certainly believe in self-defense. 9/11 disturbed me as much as it did anyone; BUT now I have to ask myself, "WHO are God's people if He wishes that NONE should perish?" Please do not take this as a judgement of anyone who has or continues to serve in the military. I am so grateful for the peaceful life I and my children have lived. I give God all the credit for it, and maybe He has used some of you to provide us with it. Maybe not. I pray that swords will start to be beaten into plowshares more and more. My disclaimer about the following...I would have used the name "Churchians" instead of "so-called christians". Remember, that "Christian" was a derogatory name given by their enemies. He still says it almost exactly as I believe to be true. I pray that we will all be strong and of good courage, full of love and wearing our shoes of the gospel of peace in the days to come.

"I have realized that It baffles me how many so-called "christians" are in support of Israel when it comes to the coming war on Syria... there are 2 million christians in Syria who will be murdered by american and Israeli weaponry in a contrived war that only benefits the Cabalists that control Israeli & US foreign policy...
This is where the rubber meets the road... Do folks really believe that Christ-rejecting jews are more important in God's eyes than the 2 million christians in Syria... or even more valuable than the millions of arabs who haven't heard the Gospel as of yet...?
Dominion Theology has poisoned your minds and calloused your hearts if you believe that any military action in Syria will benefit Christ... in fact, attacking Syria will bring such a severe blowback against Israel that ALL the jews, arabs and gentiles that currently live there will be in the crossfires...
How can you support an US/Israeli "interventionist" foreign policy that pre-emptively attacks a nation that is struggling to stay upright amidst US/British/Israeli supported "rebels" that are murdering entire villages and cannibalizing the victims..?
This isn't a "civil war" happening in Syria... it is foreign mercenaries and religious islamist zealots being exploited by western powers to justify invasion as a "response"... Wake UP and realize that your sentimentalities are being exploited by sociopaths...!"
Elliot Ridgway.

The Big Reveal!!

After last week's excitement with our Erin being in the hospital (she's home now and we're believing she's on the mend), I was drained in every way, so finishing our bedding was pushed back.

Today's the day!

After many Pinterest and other decorating site visits, the bleach pen with our initials won for the pillows. The little plum one was made from a Goodwill Ann Taylor blouse (not my size!) with the cute ruffle cut off to make the flower. I have some left, and plan to make at least one other pillow using it.

There's a much lighter and cooler feel to our bed with the natural colored linen...so much more comfortable for summer!

I

am

moving

in

slow

motion.

Ugh, the heat!  Most everyone in the northern hemisphere is under the same oppressive electric blanket; but I still feel the need to connect with you all. Misery loves company much?

I know you will forgive me for slacking on posts. Last night was a visit to the ER with daughter and SIL. Now that she's slowing her every-20-min visits to the "throne room", I can breathe and give thanks that she was told it's a virus. Poor, young hubby was really worried!

Thursday and Friday were not the best days for Michael...thankfully, meds really do work, but we need to start getting ahead of the pain more now. Although he slept a lot off and on, I was too distracted to do anything too productive, so still just one pillow finished. Having an old phone that takes pictures, but not very well makes getting out the real camera, uploading with the cable...well, blech.

Thank you for your patience, although I'm sure you haven't been holding your breath unless it's to dive underwater! I wish you popsicles, water balloon fights, slip n slides, Marco Polo and tasty concrete. ;0)

Today Michael and I heard an ad on talk radio with a lot of information about vitamin D. I've known for a while that most Americans are deficient in it, but hearing the numbers that we need to be healthy was a bit of a shock...we're talking from 1,000's to tens of 1,000's. Getting sunshine every day doesn't even bring us up to proper levels. Soooo, I'm thinking...could that be another reason why I'm so sleepy lately? My friend joked recently that "at our age, the new Happy Hour is a nap". Well it's no joke! Yes, I have the Type II Diabetes, I'll be 60 next year and being Michael's caretaker is draining sometimes; but I decided to order the "free" bottle ($5.95 S&H) and give it a try. It was advertised that I should notice a difference by the time I'm finished with the supply. I'll do my best to get back with a report.

The duvet cover is almost finished. All that's needed is the closure. I decided on velcro, and should be able to finish it within 1/2 an hour. My excuses for not having it done are that I had a sad day which also made me sleepy/tired, I've had to make sure and water our plants more, and had to prepare our guest room for a friend who came for an overnight visit. The thing is, the duvet is already working great! After filling it with the duvet, of course I had to try it out on the bed just to see, and there it's stayed for a few nights. One more run to JoAnn's or Hancock Fabrics for pillow forms, and I'll be ready to whip them up. I also got a bleach pen to experiment on the scraps with designs. Photos to follow.

Praying abundant blessings on us all tonight.

I'm waiting for my linen and muslin fabrics to air dry before starting to make my own duvet cover.



If you dare, look at the price...and we have a King!

http://images.neimanmarcus.com/ca/1/products/mx/NM+3755_mx.jpg

Not so many pillows or so much lace. BEAUTY!

Got my fabric for under $100 with a JoAnn Fabrics coupon. JOY!

SUPERSHOPPER! SUPERSEW-ER!

Praise!

Our Father, YOU are the Most High, yet the most humble, the Healer Who allowed Yourself to be injured and killed for us, the Provider of every good and perfect gift from Your storehouse of riches both material and spiritual, Who gave it all up to live in poverty, surrounded by hate and all evil, yet Yourself, pure Love, the Lover of our souls when we ignored, even rejected You. Thank You for hearing our childlike, even our childish prayers. Thank You for eyes to see even the invisible, ears to hear both the sounds of creation and Your still, small voice...too many wonders to name!

SoCal Vacation 2013 - Part II

Oooohkie Dohkie!

I just know I had some captivating, thrilling, heartwarming things to say in Part II. That was 3 months ago. As I hint in Part I, here is my attempt to wow you with tales of the rest of our 11-day vacation.

Pure joy was seeing Aly happy and healthy and having fun with us. One evening in Laguna Beach, we celebrated her 24th birthday with her, boyfriend Chris and his parents, Sandi and Craig. Yes, it's love!

What an awesome morning we shared with Aly at the beach the next day! Then on to San Clemente  to her favorite burger place for lunch. The afternoon found Michael a bit worn out, and by the time we got to my sister's in San Diego, he had developed a fever and chills. :0(

Good thing her neighbor couple are both doctors in the E.R. at the nearby Grossmont Hospital. Dr. Jay called ahead and got him right in where they diagnosed cellulitis in his leg, prescribed antibiotics and sent him home. This far out, the rest of the trip is a kind of blur, but I do remember Michael's macho, independent streak rearing it's head at the airport when he refused to let me get him a wheelchair! grrrr. Gotta love him, he never quits. TRUTH!

Here's beauty, because we all know there's no place like home...

SoCal Vacation 2013 - Part I

I've been busy having so many adventures, that I haven't had time or energy to blog about them! I hope you've missed me, because I really enjoy sharing with all of you.

We've had a fantastic vacation the last couple of weeks, except for 2 days with little glitches for Michael. Each day since we've been back, he's been getting a little better, and in my opinion is going to beat ANOTHER enemy with extreme prejudice! What a fighter he is!!

Here's some beauty, some joy and some love

Some of the beauty is obvious. Some of it is just noticeable to me in the story of my amazing family and friends.

So too, the joy of 35 years of prayers answered is best appreciated by our family; but the story is too good not to be shared. Beautiful children from different parentage and those parents coming together for their sake are rare gifts. The elevation of love above all else is the only explanation for the miracles we've witnessed.

More joy came with feasts to the eyes and mouth!

Truth is, friendship has been maintained, spiritual and physical new life begun, marriage preserved, health and long life provided (Can you believe that Michael's Aunt is 90?!). One of the new lives only came (back) into ours late.

One last shot I hope you'll find beautiful and brings you as much joy as it did me. Then, I think this adventure needs a Part II!  xoxo

Just tryin' to stay warm here! Down to single digits tonight. Beautiful, but brrrrr!


 

What does your pebble represent? Have you tossed it?
 

Yesterday was Adventures in Back Pain and Unemployment Renewal. blech

Today was more of the same...inching toward feeling better and completion, but I also added Adventures in 2012 by going back over my prayer journal. If you don't keep one and use it, you are missing out on one of life's "zip lines". Besides my prayer journal, I had some "To Be" and "To Do" goals for last year. I accomplished 4 out of 5. The one that didn't get done was related to my job, from which I was laid off exactly a year ago.

That's OK. 2013 HERE I COME!



 

Found this recipe on Pinterest. Of course, you know what that is! If you really don't, please ask me. If you saw my earlier post and know that one absolute I live by is to find the easy way to do things, you'll understand why I tried this. Hubby is standing over it saying, "Come on! Cool off!". He is a toast junkie, so I don't expect it to last long. www.simplysogood.blogspot.com is where you'll find the recipe. Thank you, Janet!

A few adjustments were needed for whole wheat flour and altitude.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What a beauty if I do say so!



Every day, but especially the last few, it's all about this...

 

A kiss hello, a kiss goodbye, a kiss for Godspeed

The Name Game

When you were young, were you like me and did you write your name as Mrs. (insert crush's name)? Maybe guys didn't, but maybe you did! Who's brave enough to comment about it? Well, I'm no longer young, but the thing with names is, I've been thinking of some I like. I don't see any grandchildren in my near future, and kids, if you're reading this, there's really no pressure at all! Just in case I get hit by a meteor though, maybe you'd be interested in my opinion. I'd love to see what names anyone else likes.

 

Girls

 

Whimsey

Flynne

Morgan

Madeleine

Skye

Chanson

Irelyn

 

Boys

 

 Dublin

Flynn

Finn

Skye

Morgan

Grant

 Ireland