Birthdays, New Year, and Letting Go

 

 

Hello Sweet Blog Friends

 

Can you believe that it is time

To Celebrate A New Year

And New Beginnings

 

Isn't the saying true:

 

The older I get

The faster time goes by

 

Today would have been my hubby's

66th birthday

He has now celebrated 5 birthday's in heaven

(if they do that there)

But mostly

I have remembered him

For 5 birthday's here on earth

 

This year

My heart is ready to let go

Not of the precious memories that we created together

But of the 'holding on'

 

J. C. Watts once said:

"It doesn't take a lot of strength to hang on,

It takes a lot of strength to let go".

 

I believe that is very true

 

 

As I have prayed my way through

The past 5 years

And especially this past Christmas season

 

My heart has been strengthened

And is ready to 'Let Go'

 

My dear Mark,

I will always carry the precious memories

Of your smiling face, your silly grin

And your quiet voice

The 30 plus years God blessed us with

Are treasured and tucked away

In the depths of my heart

The tender moments

The crazy adventures

And even the silly disagreements

 

Our secrets are held together by God's love

Our hopes and dreams for the future

Securely locked in His Plans

 

You my Love

Will never be forgotten

But it's time to let go of the

Pain and Grief that have held captive my

Earthly future

The plans I know God still holds for me to take

 

You my Love

Are safely in your eternity

And now it is time for me

To live out God's plan

 

I have no clear view of this road ahead

I know that I have challenges to face

But I also know

I do not walk this journey alone

 

"The Lord has gone before me

And He will be my read guard".

Isaiah 52:12

 

I trust in Him

 

Happy Birthday My Love

 

Happy New Year to You

My Sweet Blog Friends

 

I'm letting go

I'm trusting God

I cannot wait to see

What HE has planned

 

Prayers to you All

For a Wonderfully Blessed

Creative, Healthy and Happy 2016

 

 

 

 

 



December ~ Reflections

 

Well Sweet Friends

 

We have come near to the end of

This Holiday season and

The day is approaching toward a new year

 

As I reflect on December and 2015

I am thankful for the many new blog

Friendships I have made

And the on going ones that have been

Created over the years

I have been so very blessed

 

 

God has touched my heart in new ways

While guiding me through a season of change

2016 holds many unknowns for me

And possibly for you as well

 

However

I Know that my God Never Changes

His Love and Faithfulness

Will continue to guide our lives

 

 

I pray that as you navigated all the

Hustle and Bustle of the Christmas Season

You were able to take time to

Focus on the ONE true meaning of Christmas

Christ Himself

 

 

And as you pack away the décor

And prepare for a new year

May you Keep Christ front and center

In your life and heart

 

I know that is the goal for my year

To focus on Him

His Love

His Promises

His Faithfulness

His Sovereignty

His Tender Mercies

His Total Forgiveness

HIM

 

May YOU Be Blessed by HIM

 

 

 

 



{24} December Daily ~~ Mark

 

 

 

My Mark

 

 

 

December 31, 1949

 ~~~

December 24, 2010

 

5 Years

 

Missed Every Day

 

 



{20} December Daily ~ Linens

 

 

Hi Sweet Friends

 

Thank you for taking the time to stop by

 

I happen to Love linens

Mostly table cloths and quilts

But linens in general

Usually catch my eye

 

 

Although I cannot recall where or when

I purchased this piece

It's a four foot square table cloth

In my favorite colors

 

 

I don't know how old it is

Or what type of design it is

But I absolutely love it

And it's in the center of my Christmas table

 

 

This piece is a lap size quilted piece

It has all of the seams turned out

Which adds a fun texture to the piece

 

 

I found this a week ago at an antique mall

For only $15

I'm using it this Christmas season

On the back of my big black chair

 

 

I haven't been to Stein Mart in years

As they closed the one near my home

But I happened to see one the other day

So I decided to stop by

 

 

They had what was left of their Christmas items on sale

I spied this queen size Christmas quilt

Since it was the only one left in the store

And had to be removed from the bed display

I snatched it up for only $25

Yay

 

 

I also picked up the only sham they had left

I love that it is reversible with a red/white stripe

So I can use it any time

Not only at Christmas

 

I've been really under the weather the past few days

I guess it's the Christmas time yuck

I'm hoping to feel better tomorrow

Have a busy schedule

 

One good thing is that since I didn't really

Go any place this weekend except to work

I was able to get most of my wrapping done

And feel like I'm more ahead of the game (for me)

Rather that behind

 

I am going to attempt to get by your blog this week

My lap time crashed so I have to do

Everything in my office with my PC

 

Christmas Eve is nearing

The most difficult day of the year for me

I'm working so hard at focusing on others

Yet, my heart is tugging

 

May you enjoy all that is Christmas

This year and in the new year to come

 

Blessings

 

 

 

 



{17} December Daily ~ Selfless

 

 

Hi Sweet Friends

Selfless
Not me
But my oldest son

The man who sits with his precious family
 

Gave
Twelve years ago today
A kidney
To his adopted father

I've shared the story previously
How he had left home
Never wanting to see us again
So we began to pray

"God whatever it takes"
To help him realize that our family
Is exactly where you planned for him to be 
 

 

Three short weeks later

Mark was diagnosed with complete kidney failure

His only hope of survival

A transplant from a perfect match

 

God had a plan

For 9 months later

Our sons perfectly matched kidney

Was transplanted to Mark

Which gave him

7 years and 7 days of new life

 

And our son

Well, he heard directly from the Lord

This IS the family I've chosen for you

 

Yes

God heard our prayers

Through trial

He brought our family back together

Never Give Up

 

And Now

 



 

K~Baby

 



 

K~Bel

 



 

K~Bug

 



 

Have a Hero for a Father

Who selflessly saved a life

And gives of himself daily

For his precious girls

 

Mr. A

Your momma will Always love You

And will Never forget your Gift of Life

 

And so it is with God

Who selflessly Gave Jesus

His precious Son

For us to have

Life Eternal

 

If you don't know this Jesus

Please allow me to pray with you

I'd love for you to meet Him

 

Blessings

 

 

 



{16} December Daily ~ Personality Counts

Hi Sweet Friends

A Special Night for my Nieces' Children
They each had solo's in their church's 
Children's Christmas Program

I'm thankful that I was able to attend

First though
I found this vintage {1967}
Piano music book that I purchased for my sister
I gave it to her tonight
And told her she needed to have all the songs
Prepared for Christmas day singing
 

Then

My Niece in Love

Volunteered to 'play' one of the ice breaker games tonight

She's a brave and fun soul

And now

It's the personality that counts

Here are my nieces three children

Each with their own personality

And their own solo in tonight's performance

Little Miss 'E'

The sweetest donkey ever

Mr 'Z'

The happiest kings attendant

The outfit he is wearing

Was made by my sister 

When her now 38 year old twins

Were very young

They worn them as did my boys

When they were young and in 

Church programs

Now our grandchildren are wearing

These same costumes.

Lot's of shepherds and kingsmen

In our family over the years

Miss 'G'

Better known as 'Mary'

 

During the most difficult of seasons
I'm so very grateful for these precious 
Memory Making Moments

May you see Jesus 
In the Moments God Allows

Blessings


{14} {15} December Daily ~ Volunteer

Hello Sweet Friends

Another busy week has kept me

Away from my daily post

I have purposed in this season

To stay very busy focusing on others

And keeping my mind from wondering where it doesn't belong

Last night I went to 

The Neighborhood Christian Clinic

With my employer

She has been volunteering there for several years

A few months ago she invited me to go with her

And now I am going to become a full fledged volunteer

I have my application packet

And am ready to be official

 

It is a wonderful clinic

That sees low income families

For medical and dental needs

We will be going once a month

My employer volunteers her pediatric expertise

I will volunteer with the 

Non clinical aspect of the exam (computer documentation)

I am actually quite excited 

This is my first 'official' volunteer position

And I'm looking forward to it

You can read more about this great place

HERE

The days ahead are filled with activity
They are also filled with
Emotional anniversaries and challenging moments

Yet,
God is faithful, loving 
And very gentle with my fragile heart

Believing He is Revealing
His Presence in These Days

Blessings


 

{11} {12} {13} December Daily ~ Catching Up

Hi Sweet Friends

It amazes me how quickly the days fly by

Here I am 3 days behind

On my December Daily

And

We are nearly half way through the month

As well as only 12 days from Christmas

I've been a busy girl

Friday night I went to 

Foothills Baptist Church

Where my niece and her family attend

They held their annual

Living Christmas Tree

My niece sang in the tree choir

Her hubby worked lights/sound 

And all three of their children sang

With the children's choir

Their oldest daughter Gabby

Had a solo 

She did a fabulous job

And has a beautiful voice at only 10

 

I love that the story of Christmas

Is Always told and the highlight of the show

This sweet baby had recently had surgery

However, you would not have known

Given it's beautiful temperament

Saturday took me to my mom's for the morning

I worked on her feet

Since breaking her hip several years ago

It's difficult for her to take care of her feet

So, I spent 3 hours on the floor tending to them

 

After a little break 

I got my little snowman buddy

So we could meet up with a couple friends

To take in a Wonderful night of dance

 

We went to the Chandler Center for the Arts

And saw The Spirit of Christmas

Performed by Christian Dance Company

3 joy-filled hours of beautiful dancing

And wonderful music

As well as great fellowship

Although I am supposed to go back to FBC tonight

It is 5PM and I have yet to get out of my pajamas.

I'm feeling a bit under the weather and have a busy week ahead

SO, I think I'm staying home tonight

I have been working around the house 

To clean, do laundry, decorate, and wrap some gifts

I am also enjoying my tiny Christmas tree

And the other decorations around the house


And because I am nothing if not honest
My desk is A Mess
And I don't really care
It is driving my nuts

So, that's where I'm heading now
Tackle the mail and bills
And maybe a quiet night of football and NyQuil

I'm hoping to stay caught up with my December Daily
Between now and Christmas

May you be blessed This Season

 

{10} December Daily ~ Winners

Hi Sweet Friends,

The Big day has arrived
The winners revealed

After I share a couple of little cuties
 

I found the above ornament last year after Christmas

But forgot I had it until the other day

I put it on my desk

I think it's cute and makes me smile

Although I have pierced ears

I found these cute nativity earrings

And even tho they are clip on

I still think I will enjoy wearing them 

Over the next couple weeks

And Now

I set these three gifts out on my dining table

As I prepared to draw names 

For the GiveAway

I am So happy to announce the winners are:

Carol from Oasis in the Desert

Won the first prize

Lorraine from Flower Lady

Won the second prize

Rose from Musings, Meanderings and Merriment

Won the third prize


Ladies, I will have your packages in the mail Friday
I hope you receive them quickly
And in time to enjoy them over the next few weeks

It is always a pleasure to read your comments
And know that you have visited my blog
You all bless my heart
And I wish I could give every one of you a special gift

For now,
Please accept my cyber hugs and wishes
For a Merry and Bright Christmas

Blessings to All