Searching For Fall

Hi Sweet Friends,

First I would like to thank each of you
For your comments, prayers, texts
Private messages, emails and phone calls
On my last post
I have no understanding of how this will turn out
But I do thank my God for Prayers and Encouraging words
 I'll keep you updated if anything major happens

For Now
I'm just searching for Fall
I worked in my garage and yard some today
But it was 106 degrees and far too hot
To accomplish much at all
It's supposed to be 102-108 all week long

Yet, I still wanted to attempt to get a bit of fall started

I've had these little straw dolls for a few years

I think I can definitely get another year out of them

They are so cute and make me smile

Last week I planted some new Vinca's

I'm hoping that as fall takes hold, 

The flowers will really begin to bloom out

I think they will look great 

With the bits of fall I have places by the front door

I decided to keep the front door simple

I love this cross and it just adds a tiny bit of color to my door

So, these are the bits of fall I added to my front walkway

It's not much but when it's 106 outside

It difficult to really get into 'fall' decor

A couple of years ago 
I came home and found this funny 
 Little ducky sitting in my empty planter
I later found out that my sister brought it over
It always makes me smile
And smiles are what I'm looking for
While searching for fall in the desert southwest

Find JOY in the simple things this week
I know I Will be Seeking JOY


Written With Permission

Hello Sweet Friends,

"Consider it all joy, my friends, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

That is the scripture I based my blog on when I started it in 2008, 745 posts ago.  Since that time I have striven to find joy in the everyday things of life. I don't always succeed but I do attempt.

However, this week I have struggled to find one moment of joy.

I have been faced with one of the greatest challenges of my life.

Second only to my husband's passing on Christmas Eve 2010.

In 1985 I began praying for an unborn child, 
One that was sure to have a challenging life.
There was no way to know, at that time, that Mark and I would end up raising that little child as our own through foster care and later adoption.  I've shared previously that he had a fragile prognosis at the time but has thrived in the nearly 30 years we have loved him.

 
He is kind, compassionate and funny,
Strong-willed, independent and loving.
He has brought joy to my life and I love him dearly
And I Always will

However, 96 hours ago he announced to me
That he wants to be a girl and go through transgender treatment

I am still in Shock
I do not know how to do this
I love him and will always love him

But honestly friends
This is not something I am prepared to accept or support
It goes against everything I believe
It is breaking my momma heart
And I have been Honest with him about this

Why do I share such a private and personal trial?

1. In hopes that you will pray for us.

2. In hopes that there is someone out there who has walked this path and will reach out to this momma.

3. Because someday, when we've walked a bit further down this path, there may be one person who is just hearing those words, whose heart will be broken, who wants to do it right, and who is scared, numb, angry, sad, broken and just needs support.

I am not a victim!!
I am a woman, a momma, a widow who will 
Attempt to walk this new path
With grace, dignity, love and somehow find JOY in the midst

I won't always do it right
I will make mistakes
But, with God's grace and guidance
I will do my absolute best
As a Christian and as a Momma
To walk this path and bring Glory to God

 

If you need me, you can find me here:

Source 

Thank you for allowing me to share
Thank you, in advance, for your prayers

Back to regular postings next week

Blessings
Looking for JOY
 



Because He Is Not Here

There are days that I would give almost anything
To be able to lean on his shoulder

However
Since I cannot do that
I would Greatly appreciate your prayers
For strength and God's Grace
As I face a trial in my life
That seems More than I am able to bear

Peace and Blessings To You



A Raging Storm

Hi Sweet Friends,
 

For the past 26 hours 
I have had the words below running through
Both my head and my heart

I first heard them sung in the 1970's by Evie Tornquist
And I still love them today

They also mean more to me today
Than any other time in my life

 
Part The Waters, Lord
Charles F. Brown

When I think I'm going under, part the waters, Lord.
When I feel the waves around me, calm the sea.
When I cry for help, O hear me, Lord, and hold out Your hand.
Touch my life, still the raging storm in me.
Knowing You love me through the burden I must bear,
Hearing Your footsteps lets me know I'm in Your care,
And in the night of my life You bring the promise of day,
Here is my hand, show me the way.
Knowing You love me helps me face another day.
Hearing Your footsteps drives the clouds and fear away;
And in the tears of my life I see the sorrow You bore,
Here is my pain, heal it once more.
When I think I'm going under, part the waters, Lord.
When I feel the waves around me, calm the sea.
When I cry for help, O hear me, Lord, and hold out Your hand.
Touch my life, still the raging storm in me. 

May God heal any broken place
And any raging storm
In your life today

Blessings
 

Hi Sweet Friends,

There are days we are Desperate

To Know We Are NOT Alone

May you KNOW His Presence Today

What I've Been Doing

Hi Sweet Friends,

It's been a busy season in my life
If any of you work in the medical field
You know that ICD-10 is only days away
Enough Said :)

I haven't had much time to decorate for fall
Or even read blogs
However, I thought I'd share a few photos from the past week
 

This is a very sad photo

My nephew lived in this beautiful Ahwatukee 

neighborhood for many years

However, the homes are being torn down over the next few weeks

To make way for a freeway

This is all that was left of the beautiful corner home

In the same neighborhood I spotted this beautiful gate

And this one as well

So thankful these homes aren't being torn down

The diversity of the gates

Is a clear view of the diversity of the desert Southwest

Happy Mail arrived the other day

Every time I receive an order from Celeste

I am giddy over the beauty of her packages

It's like receiving a gift in the mail from a dear friend

Everything about her shop/items

Is beautifully designed and 

Created with love

This vintage thread spool

Turned sweet Fall decor piece

Is no exception

I Love it

And it will add personality and beauty

To the many other pieces I will use as I begin to decorate for fall

Thursday is my happiest day
As I get to spend time loving on and playing with this
Precious K~Baby
Whom, by the way
Doesn't want to be called baby, she's growing up too fast

May you have a beautiful weekend ahead
Find Joy in the Simple Things
 
I think I will be locked into an ICD-10 book

Blessings!


Because It's Almost Christmas, Right?

 Hi Sweet Friends,

I just Had to share

I know, I know

It's not even really fall yet

And we are all just getting our fall decor out

BUT

I just had to share

A friend from work was going to take this cute set

Of plates/bowls to the Good Will but thought

Maybe, she should ask if I wanted them

Because I LOVE Red so much

Are You Kidding Me?

YES PLEASE!!!


Four plate
Four bowls
Perfect for those warm bowls of soup and chili
This Holiday season

Are they just not the cutest ever?!?!

I'm in Love!

Find JOY in the Simple things

Sharing at Have a Daily Cup

Days of Labor

Hi Sweet Friends,

I hope you have all enjoyed a wonderful 
Labor Day weekend
I hope you have had plenty of relaxation with family and friends

I have been SO busy the past few days
That I haven't really taken many photos
Of the list of tasks I completed during my
Not so relaxing Holiday Weekend

Saturday had me working in the morning at the office
After I came home, I had promised my son
That I would take he and his friend to Bookman's
Of course, they wanted to go to the store in Phoenix
A much longer distance than the one in Mesa
So, off to Phoenix we went
Once we left there, we went grocery shopping
And I came home to prepare dinner for them
My sister called so I met her at Hobby Lobby
Was so nice to visit while shopping
We don't get to hang out together very often
We promised to do it again next year - LOL

Sunday had me at my mom's 
I took her shopping (2 1/2 hours in Target)
She doesn't get to shop very often
Then we got lunch and headed back to her house
I came home in the late afternoon
Picked up my oldest granddaughter and took her shopping
I had promised to take her to Michael's 
To get all of the supplies she needed for her art class
I love spending time with her
We were talking about community service
So we decided to go by the office to feed the fish
I had her do it, her 5 minutes of community service for the day

Monday - today - was my day to get my yard cleaned up

The weed eater got a full workout

As did my arms :)

Three large black trash bags were filled

And taken to the curb

I'm so thankful that it was only about 

100 degrees today

And that the skies were a bit cloudy

And it was rather humid

Because, it could have been so. much. worse!!

We have bulk trash pick up this week

So I knew I really needed to get the yard taken care of

I gave away a patio table with a fire pit

To my dil's sister - so nice that someone can use it

Some of the other items we are not using

Were put out to the curb as well

I'm hoping someone will come by and get the bigger pieces

Otherwise, they will get picked up with the garbage

I am realizing how tired I am
Even while typing, my arms are starting to ache
Must be all the weed whacking I did

So my Labor Day Weekend
Hasn't offered any rest or relaxation
But it did offer some time to help a few people Shop
Hmmm....Maybe it was relaxing after all :)

Praying you have been blessed
And have found bits of JOY in your day

Blessings



FALL: Here I Come

 Hi Sweet Friends,

Happy September to you all

It is a tad bit cooler today
It only made it to about 99 and it is cloudy and windy
We have endured two dust storms today
There is a chance of a thunderstorm tonight
We'll take any rain we can get

Although fall is not really in the air here
I'm hoping to help it along by getting
Some of my fall decorations out

I must have been in a hurry when I put everything away last year

Because my shelves look a mess

As soon as the weather cools off a bit more

I am going to have to redo my garage shelving units

And get more organized

It seems I have way more fall decor than I realized

But I am excited to get it all out

And start putting together some fun vignettes

I'm hoping to find my light/neutral items

They don't seem to be showing themselves so far

I found these four plates at a thrift store on Tuesday

They only cost me $3 - score for me

If I ever receive my DecorSteals items

I will be using it with the small desert plates

(Have you ordered from DecorSteals?

Does it take a long time to get your order?)

I am loving getting out my fall dolls

At least I put these away nicely


But then it looks as though I just put a few other items
In large fall bowls and stuffed them on a shelf

Anyway,
I am getting ready - to get ready for fall

If you missed my fall Pocket Letter Post
Go check it out here - so much fun!!

Have you started your fall decorating yet
Please do share!

Blessings to All