Tea Cup Exchange Reveal

What a joy it has been to participate in 

Stephanie's 

Tea Cup Exchange

For the past several years

Each time I participate I am blessed beyond measure

By the kindness and generosity of those

Who have received my name

Before I share what I received

I will share what I sent out and to whom

Deb at Garage Sale Gal

I have had the pleasure of 'knowing' (in cyberland)

Deb for a couple of years

We have exchanged Pocket Letters 

And other fun goodies over time

She has been a blessing to me

And I truly have enjoying getting to know her over the years

You can check out her blog for her reveal post

 This year I was especially blessed to receive a package from

Michele at The Nest at Finch Rest

She sweetly put together a delightful fall package

Because we don't get much true fall weather

Here in the desert southwest

It was a treat to receive such a gift

  

Everything was wrapped so beautifully

So many lovely treasures that I am enjoying daily

Well, not daily any longer because the cookies are gone

Adorable tea cup and saucer

Love the colors and the warmth

Beautiful pumpkin which has fit in nicely with my décor 

Lots of pretty smells 

And Decadent Tastes

Thank you Michele

For Blessing my so 

With love and generosity 

Thank you Stephanie for putting so much love and time

Into these fun and friendship forming parties

I have truly enjoyed them

And thank you for allowing me participate

May you all be Blessed 

Until we meet again

A Few Favorites

Hello Sweet Friends

It's been a long while since I last posted

No sense in trying to catch you up

Let's just say

Summer in HOT in Arizona

And my body is revolting

I had the Huge Blessing 

Of traveling to San Diego

With my Dear friend

It was much needed for both of us

Here are just a few of my favorite moments

It was a joy to watch a couple of ships

Come in to port the first night we arrived

Enjoyed spending time at this cute Light House

'Old Point Loma Lighthouse'

Tried on some Conquistador Juan Cabrillo body armor

I'm wise enough to NOT share the full body photos - LOL

Visited the Beautiful and Peaceful

'Fort Rosecrans National Cemetary'

Blessed

Some Years and Better Than Others

This year has been tough

Well, This Day

Today would have been our 36th wedding anniversary

But God saw differently

And I'm sad

Today, I'm lonely and tired of being so

I Never thought I'd be a widow

Never thought he'd be gone so young

I am thankful for good memories

But also and honestly bitter for all that

Could have been, but wasn't

Is that wrong?

I feel angry today

And, let down

And, abandoned

And, unworthy

And, sin~filled

And, tired

And, unloved

Nothing is different today than yesterday

But today...I just feel off

I want to scream and cry and pout

But, I had to work and be up and be mom

And, I didn't want to be

Honestly, I just Don't Want To Be

Tea Cup & Mug Exchange Reveal

Hello Sweet Friends

It's time for a very special Reveal

One I look forward to twice a year

For the past three events

I have participate in Stephanie's

Tea Cup & Mug Exchange

And OH What Fun It Has Been

Stephanie Joyfully and Prayerfully

Matches participants for the exchange

You send to one person

And receive from a different person

It is Always a JOY to participate

This time my recipient was

Marilyn at Mountain Top Spice

I will let her share about her package

But it has been delightful getting to know Marilyn

And I found great joy in putting her package together 

I was SO surprised when I received a lovely

Thank you package from her

How sweet are all of these delightful goodies

Thank you Marilyn for blessing me so

You never know where you will send a package

Or where your package will come from

This time both sent and received packages

Went/Came from ladies in Idaho

How Fun Is That

My package came from

 Tilda at Huckleberry Stitches

Oh My how she blessed this momma heart

I opened the package to find a gift for Madi

I was shocked and blessed

A beautiful hand made tea matt and a 'to color' book mark

What a sweet surprise and blessing

The rest of the package was stuffed FULL of beauty

With an Ocean theme, everything was had picked and made

By Tilda and her two daughters

Hot Cocoa, note pad, tea towels,

fragrance sachets for home and auto

Napkins, flower seeds and a hand sewn tea matt and book mark

The Tea Cup is a lovely shade of Aqua with white

Beautifully scalloped edges that remind me of sea shells

Absolutely Perfect

I feel so spoiled!

Thank you Tilda and girls

For your kindness and tender hearts

I am enjoying getting to know you and your family

Some day I plan to go visit my brother and niece/nephews in ID

I will make sure to visit BOTH of the beautiful and kind ladies

I never know how to thank Stephanie for hosting this wonderful

Tea Cup & Mug Exchange twice yearly

She certainly could be doing many other things

But has chosen to bless each participant

Thank you Stephanie

You are A TREASURE

Blessings to ALL

Happy 81st MOM

Hello Friends

I haven't blogged in such a long time

I almost forgot how to download, edit and upload photos

Hopefully, in the weeks ahead

I will blog more and fill you in

On where I've been and life in general

Today

I want to SAY

Happy 81st Birthday to my Mom

In the past 10+ years

This sweet lady

Has endured a

Whipple surgery

Broken Hip

Mini Stroke

Valley Fever

And something that has eaten a good bit

Of her skull away

Yet, we celebrate 81 years

With Great JOY

She has

4 Children

11 Grandchildren

12 Great Grandchildren

We had a delightful Celebration at my home on Sunday

I'm sharing just a few of my favorite photos

Cousins and Braces

Cousins and 2nd Cousins

Laughter and Silliness

Which pretty much describes our lives

Why would this be a favorite photo?

It is a reminder of:

Family, food, fellowship

Joy, blessings and Happiness

And Celebration of a life well lived

Remember that messes

Are a Symbols of LIFE

Happy Birthday Mom

Prayers for a Friend

Dear Sweet Blog Friends

Sometimes there are few words

That can express our pain

We've all felt it and been there

But I cannot imagine the pain

My Dear Friend Leah is feeling today

Leah became widowed about the same time I did

That is how we met

She was very blessed to find true love again

She married Joel and together they blended their families

Within the past 2 years they have

Added 3 siblings fro Bulgaria to their family

As well as a child they had been fostering

Together, in a few short years

They have 9 children

4 of whom were orphaned and still young

Last night

My Dear Leah

Became a widow again

Joel succumbed to complications after emergency surgery

I am at a total loss for words

And especially for understanding

Here are Leah's words:

There are no words to express my thanks for the outpouring of love and prayers concerning my precious Joel! He is now in the arms of Jesus! We hurt so badly but are so thankful this "goodbye" is only temporary until we will one day be reunited in Heaven. We will still need your prayers for a long time to come but especially in a few hours when I have to share this heartbreaking news with his 4 youngest babies. #Godisstillgood

Please, if you are so inclined,

Pray for and remember Leah and her family

In the days and weeks ahead!

God Be With Them

GOD had a Plan

Hello Sweet Blog Friends


Although I've been fairly sporadic in blogland of late
I have a little anniversary memory to share

10 years ago today, I announced and acted on
The most difficult decision I had ever made
Up until that point in my life

Although settling on that decision was a
Long and arduous process
I knew it was the right decision

After spending 11 years at our home church
Working as the Church Administrator for 7 years
Serving as the Women's Ministries Director for 4 years
And spending about 80% of my waking hours at the
Church for many years
The Lord directed me to quit my job

On this date 10 years ago
I thought that was all the decision would entail
I would quit my job and continue the rest of life
However, others also get to make decisions
Once I announced that I was quitting my job
Everything else was taken from me

I was asked to step down from Women's Ministries
Within 12 hours my family and I were no longer members
Of the church we had loved and served for 11 years

I spent a week in bed
Cried for hours and days
Didn't answer or take calls
This isn't the way it was supposed to be

BUT GOD
Had a Plan

'For I know what I have planned for you,' says the LORD.
'I have plans to prosper you, not to harm you.
I have plans to give you a future filled with hope.'
Jeremiah 29:11

YES!
His plan walked out over the past 10 years was
Definitely filled with hope.
Heartache and loss as well, but I see His hand in it all.

The future was not clear to us 10 years ago
The perfect job opportunity that would open up for me
Which allowed me time to truly enjoy life with Mark
Our sons and our oldest granddaughter

We didn't see the weeks and months that
Mark would spend in the hospital
My ability to be with him so much of that time
Never would have happened had the changes not been made

God had a Plan that we could not see
But stepping out in Faith solidified our walk with HIM
And strengthened our commitment to each other

Yes, there have been some very difficult and life altering
Moments in the past 10 years
Moments I'd love to change or forget
I've faced loss, sadness, loneliness
And washed my fair share of tear stained pillowcases

Yet, I would not change a moment of it
To go back to where I was 10 years ago

Being married to your job,
Your church, your ministry or
Anything else that pulls you away from
God's heart and His Plan
Is not healthy or beneficial

My heart and life are more balanced today
Because
God Had a Plan
Even though I couldn't see it at the time

Be Blessed My Friends
Enjoy 'Heart' Month



We Need To Remember ...

That's All ...

My One Word

Happy Weekend Sweet Friends

I started this post on January 3, 2017
I believe I have already failed my Word

Accomplish is the word that has been
bombarding my thoughts for the past several weeks
So far, I have one project accomplished with
Many, Many more to go

It seems I Love to start projects but I am a
Procrastinator by nature
(Ouch)

This is the year, for numerous reasons,
I need to accomplish projects and set aside the
procrastination trait

For the first time since Mark's passing
(6 years)
I truly DO have goals and plans
Lists and desires
This is the Year to rejoice in today

The necklace I wear says: Embrace The Moment
The ring I wear says: Nothing is Impossible

With those reminders
It is My Year to Accomplish and move forward

I even went to church last weekend
For the first time in more than a year

Yes, it's a new day
A new year
A new attitude
And a new WORD

God is Able
Even in Me

Blessings~~~