"One day at a time--this is enough. Do not look back and grieve over the past for it is gone; and do not be troubled about the future, for it has not yet come. Live in the present, and make it so beautiful it will be worth remembering."

Ida Scott Taylor


Thursday, April 29, 2010

Road Trippin for a few Days!


Tomorrow morning hubby and I
will be leaving bright and early to travel
7 hours away to our
oldest daughter's home.  We couldn't miss going
to our granddaughter's 4 year old birthday party!
I cannot wait to wear the pointed birthday hats and
blow the birthday blow whistle thingies and sing to our 
sweet Ella.   I will be back to posting once again next 
Monday. Yes, it's a quick trip, but so worth it for all of
the hugs and kisses waiting on us.

I'll leave you with the cutest video 
of my granddaughter's recent preschool program. 
We decided that she is no
longer shy, nor does she have stage fright! 
You will see what I mean once you view it. 
She is the one in black and white
and is doing a lot of her own dance steps
to the music.  Oh and if
you watch at least three fourths the way through
 you will see where she decides to add
her own dynamic ending
to one of the songs with the splits!!
This kinda mortified mommy
since she was in a dress. 
I just love her innocent and spirited enthusiasm
for life!

I had some trouble getting this to download
where you could view it well. The best way to watch it is to
double click anywhere on the video and it will take you to the
video on You Tube. You can see it in full there. 


See you in a few days.  Have a great weekend!

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

I'm Doing the Hula Thanks to Farmgirl Paints!


WOO HOO !!!
I am so excited!
I just won a give away 
from Becky  at Farmgirl Paints! 
She and her family just came back from
a vacation in Hawaii
and she packed this in her suitcase
to bring back as the prize......

A special Hawaiian Banana Bread and...


Chocolate Covered (I'm in heaven!) Macacamia Nuts
 and Maui's Famous Cookies.....and...
..Yes there is more....

a wonderful Maui scenery filled Calendar!!!!
It's my dream for hubby and I to go there someday!
WOW!
What a wonderful prize package I've won!
Thank you so much Becky!
You are one great girlfriend
and a good picker outer of prizes!!!!


Now to all of you,
please go over and  meet
 Becky at Farmgirl Paints!
Not only is she a great gal but she is also
a wonderful artist
and a great mommy and wife.  You will love
getting to know her.


I hope a little slice of Happy 
comes your way too!
Hugs,

Sunday, April 25, 2010

This Is Addicting!


Last evening I decided to try painting some more
watercolor flowers.  I tell you what, 
these are so much fun
and I believe I am addicted to 
this little process that I learned from
Martha   last week.
The combinations are endless that
I am coming up with.


I am working on coming up with a set 
of these to put on note cards. 
Once I have my note card sets ready,
I will host a give away.
  Please keep checking back....
It will happen soon!



"Every day, celebrate a personal victory-
no matter how small.
You must have done something 
to make yourself proud.
Go ahead-
shout out loud!"
Cheryl Hawkinson



I am listening....
  Be sure to shout so I can hear YOU!

"I have called you by name -
you are mine."
Isaiah 43:1


 

Friday, April 23, 2010

A Wake Up Tune

I love waking up to music like this
playing on my radio.
It starts my day off on the right note.
There is no better hiding place than this to get refreshed.



Have a wonderful Friday.



Monday, April 19, 2010

28 Years Ago Today


I was in the hospital 28 years ago today delivering
a precious baby girl who we named 
Jaymie Lee....
Her father and I were so excited
to be given the blessing of being her parents.
Our little princess grew ....
and grew......

and grew......

 ....into this beautiful, on the inside and out,
special woman that she is today.


Happy Birthday Jaymie!

We love you to the moon and back,
MOM and DAD

Sunday, April 18, 2010

This Was Fun!

Tonight I decided to try these watercolor 
flower paintings that I learned from
Martha    and the tutorial she so kindly shared 
on her Art Du Jour blog at
http://marthalever.blogspot.com/
She is one very talented woman that you must
go over and meet.
To paint these I used watercolor paper postcards
that I had on hand.
These would be wonderful to paint
onto note cards.  I am so excited!

My blending needs some work
on the pots but for doing
this in front of the t.v. and without my glasses,
I am pleased with the outcome.
Truly, her instructions are great and even if you
don't think you can paint,
you must try this.
You will be surprised what a good teacher
can help you do.


Thank you Martha
You Rock !!


Thursday, April 15, 2010

Name My Flower Bandit


My tulips are just about ready to bloom and 
I get so excited seeing something I've planted
the year before actually produce 
a flower.  I say this because ....


...in the past two years, just when my tulip flower 
buds were about to open, this little critter
decided to make them his dinner!


I've tried sprinkling red pepper flakes around
the plants, as someone suggested, but
this little guy must wear shoes because it didn't 
make one bit of difference in keeping him away. 
I think I should name this little guy, because
I am certain he is the same squirrel 
every year that comes around
to frustrate 
the daylights out of me!
I sure hope in the next few days, that I get
to see my tulips bloom. 
 If I don't, you may hear me screaming.....
Can you feel my frustration?

Any suggestions?
 How do you keep critters away from your flower beds?

Oh and if you think of
 a good name for my bandit,
 please let me know in the comment section.
 I will come up with a prize for whoever
comes up with the best name.

I think I'm gonna camp out in my flower bed tonight!


Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Sailing

First, some grandmother vacation pictures
to show you
from my trip a few weeks ago.

She loved her face painted!
She is a butterfly!


My oldest daughter and her momma.



Two of grandma's favorite little sweethearts.


Here are some words to ponder for your day.
I find that sometimes I play it too safe in life and would 
rather run to comfortable instead of stepping out
in faith and taking risks.
  We were not meant to stay comfy all of the time
and we can never experience our dreams in full if we 
are not willing to take the sometimes scary steps.


"A ship in harbor is safe- but that is not
what ships are made for."
John A. Shedd


Sail your ship out into the unknown today!
-Enjoy all God has planned for you-

Saturday, April 10, 2010

SHOW SOME CREATIVITY SATURDAY #12

I haven't done a 
SHOW SOME CREATIVITY SATURDAY
for awhile.  I decided to pull
out an old still life drawing that
I did a few years ago.

 I think eggplants are so interesting.
I also really love eating
Eggplant Parmesan at Italian restaurants.


Now if you have a creation, please
share with us.  Be sure and mention it
in the comment section 
so we can come over and see!

"We are not cisterns made
for hoarding;
we are channels made for giving." 
 Billy Graham

Have a wonderful weekend!

Thursday, April 8, 2010

Thank You!

Recently, two sweet blogging friends passed some
lovely blog awards my way.  I feel so badly that I am
just now getting them posted,  but my life over the
past few weeks has been filled with many things that
had to be done before I could blog again.

 Thank you so much 
to my creative friend Tina from
The Artful Life
who bestowed this joyful award on to me.
  She is a wonderful artist and lovely lady and
I love how she passes on her very creative ideas. 
This is what one is to do when you receive this sweet award-

* Put the logo on your blog or within your post.

* Pass the award onto 12 bloggers.

* Link the nominees within your post.

* Let the nominees know they have received this award by commenting on their blog.

* Share the love and link to the person from whom you received this award.

I will gladly pass this award on to some special gals
who inspire me with their CREATIVITY and
who bring SUNSHINE into my  life with who
they are.  Thank you girls!


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~


Tonya from Beholding Him passed on
this Beautiful Blogger award.  Thank you
so much Tonya for thinking of me.
I especially enjoy reading Tonya's postings about
eating nutritiously and her dedication to her family.
I must also thank Andrea from Arise to Write
who also passed this same award my way.
I am amazed at the caring prayer warrior
Andrea is. Thank you Andrea!



With this award I am to tell you some interesting things
about myself.  hmmm...I think you already know alot
about me.  What can I tell you that might surprise you? 

*  I am the firstborn child with one brother and two
sisters and was blamed many times for leading them all
into mischief.
     
I am the one at the end of many jokes that has
to say, "I didn't get it", but I love laughing.

* To this day, I still tear up watching old episodes
of Little House on the Prairie!  Crazy huh?

*  When given the opportunity, I can spend hours
in a bookstore or coffee shop with a chai, journal 
and books in hand. I will always love learning new 
things.


*  If I had a do over, I would go to college to become

a  counselor/ therapist.


*  Music is like a second language to me.  To me it
helps make the world a so much better place. 
I hope to always keep a song in my heart.
In my family, we all sang growing up. I've
always wished I could play a violin or a guitar.


*  I met my hubby at a blood bank where we both
went to donate blood 35 yrs. ago.  My car broke
down that day and he gave me a lift back to my 
work.  I don't think we missed a weekend of seeing
each other from that day on.



I am to pass this award on to 7 other bloggers.
Here are the names of the people
who inspired me to start a blog
of my own back in August 2009. Thank you so
much girls for giving me the courage to be like you.

Jessica (my daughter) at jessicasheets.com 

Sharon at Joy In the Truth

Becky at Farmgirl Paints
(I know I've mentioned her twice, but
truly, her blog inspired me in the very beginning)

Tracie at Tracie Miles

Lissa at Humble Pie

Kat at Heart to Heart


Pass on the joy!




Saturday, April 3, 2010

I Know For Sure


I love the words to this song ...and
I know MY REDEEMER LIVES.....
He has changed my life..
He is the one that fills the voids
that nothing else can.
He is the one who gives me HOPE and the
most AMAZING love that I could ever imagine.
He gave His life for ME and for YOU!
I am so grateful.



"For God loved the world so much
that he gave his one and 
only Son, so that everyone who believes in him
will not perish but have eternal life."
John 3:16 (MSG)



May you and your family have a blessed Easter.

Thursday, April 1, 2010

You Didn't Know?


I am so sorry that I haven't been able to get a post
up since coming back from vacationing last week.
It seems there have been so many things I've
needed to attend to first before posting and my
time has been so limited.
Here is a quickie something for you, that a friend
sent to me.  I loved it and  I hope you will too. 




FOOTPRINTS......A new version  
(author unknown)

Imagine you and the Lord Jesus are walking
down the road together.
For much of the way, the Lord's footprint
go along steadily, consistently,
rarely varying the pace.

But your footprints are a disorganized stream of
zigzags, starts, stops, turnarounds, circles,
departures, and returns.

For much of the way, it seems to go like this, but
gradually your footprints come more in line with 
the Lord's, soon paralleling, His consistently.

You and Jesus are walking as true friends!

This seems perfect, but then an interesting

thing happens: Your footprints that once etched
the sand next to Jesus now walking
precisely in His steps.

Inside His larger footprints are your smaller ones,
you and Jesus are becoming one.

This goes on for many miles, but gradually you
notice another change..
The footprints inside the large footprints seem to
grow larger.

Eventually they disappear altogether. 
There is only one set of footprints. 
They have become one.

This goes on for a long time, but suddenly the
second set of footprints is back.

This time it seems even worse! 
Zigzags all over the place. Stops. Starts. 
Gashes in the sand.  A variable mess of prints.
You are amazed and shocked.
Your dream ends.  Now you pray:

"Lord, I understand the first scene,
with zigzags and fits. I was a new Christian.
I was just learning.  
But You walked on through the storm
and helped me learn to walk with You."

"That is correct..."

"And when the smaller footprints were
inside of Yours, I was actually learning
to walk in Your steps, following
You very closely."

"Very good.... You have understood
everything so far."

"When the smaller footprints grew
and filled in Yours,I suppose that I was
becoming like You in every way."

"Precisely."

"So, Lord, was there a regression or something?
  The footprints separated, and this time it was
worse than at first."

There is a pause as the Lord answers, with a
smile in His voice...

"You didn't know?
It was then that we danced!"








"He turns our mourning into dancing!"
Psalms 30:11 
 
Begin to dance with the best dancer of all time.
He will take the lead.