Cottages dreamed about.....

OK cottage loving friends I found THE cutest blog this week and have been traveling around the world - looking at CUTE cottages.This girl does things like we do - She drives by a house and slams on the brakes for that Ah moment. She has featured cottages for the past 2 years and has them all on her blog to look at! What inspiration we can all get from peeking inside. When you go to her blog just click on the right side of her blog where it says painted cottages and you will enter a world of darling houses-inside and out.Click on www.theoldpaintedcottage.blogspot.com and it will take you there. Sorry to give you instructions -but we are all new to blogging so I thought I would save you the headache of figuring it out.

The Cooks...

What a wonderful weekend I had - no work - nothing really to do ,but take a walk,take a nap or two and enjoy the wonderful Texas winter!! I am happy to report Bella made it all the way down Riverside Blvd. with out doing a belly flop in the middle of the street, she waited till we got back home! Sunday night Joe and Sarah invited Me out to supper. Joe cooked steak and Sarah made homemade potatoe salad, and buffet beans. It was wonderful - I was so amazed at the cook Sarah is turning out to be and is not at all afraid to try new things. It was funny Josh and Erica called Sunday and they were making Chicken and Dumplings and needed a little instruction. They were very succesful and said it tasted great - I hope it was as good to Erica as Josh built them up to be. He loved dumplings growing up. While we were out eating at Sarahs- Will called and wanted to know how to make cream gravy to go with the chicken fried venison he was cooking for his friends. We laughed at all the kids cooking that day. How wonderful it is to be on the other side of the fork - enjoying someone elses cooking . I couldn't help but think how proud their Gan-Gan would have been at the cooks they are turning out to be - they learned at the apron strings of a master cook! One of the Gifts God gives us is watching our Children grow up and turn into these wonderful people you love hanging out with. It makes the empty nest easier to bear.

Check out my Slide Show!

This is the Day...

On my recent trip to Chicago for our annual Bernina Sewing Center Sales meeting. I borrowed a book from my sister Brenda ( which is kinda funny - since she does not read much) but the book was "Mosiac" by Amy Grant. Now Amy and I go back alot of years - I feel like we grew up together and no I have never met her but I own every 8 track/cassette/CD she has ever recorded. So I was excited to read her book and get a better insight into her life. One thing that she talked about doing every morning ,I have now started doing myself and I would like to share that with you. Every morning - for me that is about 7:00 -Bella wakes me up to go out and we go to my back yard. I start my day by saying " This is the Day the Lord has made,WE will rejoice and be glad in it"! Standing right in the middle of my yard looking to the East and the sun coming up. What a difference saying that every morning has made. Isn't it funny how God brings people or dogs into our lives to make changes for the good. If we stop to think that God has made every day for us - even the bad days- it makes the day much better. Once again Amy has touched my life and she doesn't even know it. Isn't that great! If you are a Amy fan , read her book .I found out I had a lot in common with her and we both love to go to Destin, Florida with our families! Maybe someday I will be sitting on the beach early in the morning and Amy and I will welcome the day together!

Happy Heart Day......

Today is the day to tell the special people in your life you love them. Its a day we should celebrate every day - don't you think? I remember the wonderful Valentine boxes I use to make as a child in school and wait for all my friends and boyfriend hopefuls to put their special valentine in my box. I remember running home from school and spreading them all out on the floor to look at- and giggle over! Those days are long gone but the fun of making Valentines and giving them still make me happy and its just plain FUN.I have some wonderful friends in my life. I don't tell them enough what they mean to me. They have stood by me on the happiest of days and the saddest and lowest of days. They are a group of women that love the Lord above all else, And Love their families only second unto him.. They are the most creative women I know and inspire me to use my creative gifts every day. We are Kindred Spirits in every way. They know by now I am not a High maintenance friend - If we have not seen each other for a while its like we never ended the last conversation - taking up where we left off. It seems we never have enough time for each other these days - even now that our children are grown and gone -but when we do get the opportunity to get together we never hush up! So my dear kindred spirits -Melinda, Beth, Amy, Kaye, Rhonda , Jana & Lavon-My oldest Friends, My forever friends, because of your love, I will never, ever be the same. Thank you

Happy Heart Day !

Some people come into our lives and quickly go.
Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts.
And we are never, ever the same.

The Lord is my refuge...

Yesterday in Sunday School we discussed one of my favorite Bible verses. Psalms 46:1-2.God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear. This verse probably means more to me than any other - it has been a constant promise to me in my life. My friends that know my story know my life has been one stressful happening after another. A few years ago I was reading a magazine and the headline read something like " You are at the brink of a meltdown if you have any of these things happening in your life" I am proud to say they went on to list about 10 things and I checked everyone of them! CV the teacher Sunday ask us something I had not thought about -He ask us if God would have told us 5-8 years ago what was going to happen in your life what would you say to him? Have you ever thought of that? I would have said "You have got to be kidding- I can not live through that and I don't want to! It is better we do not know what comes our way -we take it one day at a time or sometimes one moment at a time. The one thing I have learned about life is to have the attitude that no matter what happens I WILL GET THROUGH IT- Of course ONLY with God as my refuge. A few years ago on a really bad, sad morning my Mom ask me if I needed to talk about a certain situation that had happened in my family and I looked at her and without a doubt in my heart all I said was "Mom I just need to talk to God about this - he will be my refuge and help" I had such a faith in his promise and peace about it all. Recently I have discovered a song by Point of Grace that talks about the wounds of life and how God leaves the scars so you can see where you have been and how God has led you out of those times. The scars are a constant reminder of how merciful God is. I am very proud of the scars of life- would I have wanted a life without them? You know it - but I know without a doubt God will get me through whatever comes my way. I feel very Blessed that God gave me the opportunity to live this life that needs a constant refuge .

My friend Bella

I have a new friend that has come to live with me and share my little cottage. She loves to eat all my wonderful decorating magazines or maybe she is getting some ideas for the next project around the house. I have looked and thought about getting a new dog since our Lab- Deacon went to live with Josh and Erica. One day one of my favorite customers told me she raised and sold Laspo Apso and she had some ready for a new home just around Christmas. One night I looked up and there was Bobbi with this darling puppy looking at me - who could refused those eyes!! Bella has grown so much this past month or so and has become such a fun addition to my home. I have tried to take her on walks and she makes it a block and lays down right in the middle of the street , and looks at me like what is up with this? I told you she fits right in ! We are not giving up on the walks either one of us-she just doesn't know it yet. I have decided that it is time to get with the puppy training program this week. It is so hard to leave them in a crate and see those precious eyes looking at you. But my sister Brenda (being the teacher she is) told me Bella needs Puppy Kindergarten!! So I guess we better get with the program.I will keep you posted on the comings and goings of Bella,