Showered With Much Love.......

As most of you know by now.......Kara is getting married in May and a couple of weeks ago, she was showered with love, kindness, good wishes, prayers, and laughter plus gifts at an English Tea at the Belle Meade Plantation by family and friends!  Kristen, Kacie, and B'Donna worked so hard to make it a lovely and special day for Kara! The details of everything were perfect! We loved these precious little gift bags, filled with messages about how afternoon tea began in England and delicious teas to enjoy.  "Every good thing bestowed and every perfect gift is from above....." James 1:17

Restoration

"The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want.  He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul.  He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name sake." Psalm 23:1~3

Daily restoration of the anxious, weary soul is a  basic human need.  We wander from God and from the paths of righteousness~from following Him beside the still waters~till we lose the way, lose  our joy, and we lose the sound of His Voice.  It happens to everyone, now and then...... But as we take the time to be quiet before Him and listen for His Voice, He has an amazing way of bringing us back into His way as He restores us and brings us back from wandering, just like straying sheep and He leads us and refreshes us in the light of His presence!

Once, we restored a home that had originally been built in 1877.  The first time we saw it, we thought it had been frozen in time and only minor changes would be needed to restore it and to bring it back into all its original glory.  But once we purchased it and began the work of restoration, it took more money and time than we had anticipated.  It's because the outside looked so much better than the inside.  Day after day, we worked on projects eventually bringing it back as a place of beauty.  We loved it there, AFTER THE RESTORATION!!!  When God knit us together in our mother's womb, He had an original design and  so often,  we  have wandered from that path and plan and we don't always act or look the way He intended. He doesn't shame us though....... His grace calls us to trust Him fully  and completely as He begins the process of making us into a vessel that He is more than able to SHINE through.  His love is all about  restoring us daily and eternally to live with Him right now and forever and forever!

It is my prayer that you are able to find time in your day to spend with the Lord.  Your day will be a better day and you will find it amazing that a few minutes of quietness with Him will transform your life and I promise, because He promises in the Scriptures, that He will shine in your heart The Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ! 

The photograph above is of a little teapot that I found at an antique shop!  Tea time is meant to relax us and slow us down a bit from the cares of the day........and hopefully, with God's blessing, restoring us to a path of joy!

Happy Birthday........Kristen

"Behold, children are a gift (to be treasured) of the Lord; The fruit of the womb is a reward.  Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, so are the children of one's youth.  How blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them...."  Psalm 127:3-5

In the Bible, God's Words speak to us of His goodness in allowing us to be given the gift of children and He shares His wonderful promise that they are from Him.  On a beautiful Sunday morning, around 8:28 a.m., April 20, 1975 in Chattanooga, Tennessee God did indeed bless Steve and I with a beautiful gift we named Kristen.  She was beautiful from the beginning and good and she still is.  Her heart is so full of love for those dearest to her.  She is blessed with a loving husband, three precious children, and a family she grew up in who hold her in the highest esteem.  She sees the good in everything, everyone and in every situation.  She is cut out of the mold of her Dad.  She has leadership qualities, she is bright, articulate, dilligent, fun loving, creative, kind and a continual student of knowledge.  She loves the Lord and it radiates from within her heart.  Yes, I am a mother speaking but these things are true about her.  God has called her to be a woman after His own heart and I believe that the best is yet to develop in her life.  Happy Birthday, Kristen......we love you!!!

When I think of her home and how the way she decorates it, I see her love of beauty in every detail.  She has developed into a wonderful artist and her paintings are beautiful. Her favorite color is blue and I understand why......Blue is a calming color and gives a sense of peace.  It dissolves tension and promotes tranquility.  Light blue (her favorite) especially brings ease into the home and harmony into relationships.  Wearing or surrounding yourself with it helps calm aggressive tendencies and eliminates discord.  That is Kristen.......calm, fun, gracious, and lovely in every way!  I hope she enjoys a special day........

Drawing Near

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God."  Psalm 42:1

As the life of the deer depends upon water, so our lives depend upon God.  In His care is such a peaceful place to live.  Just like a garden that has been cultivated, it doesn't grow fully until the water from rain supplies its thirst for the garden to grow.  As we go about our daily lives, we CAN live WITHOUT an awareness of God and His endless supply of wisdom and glory but when we stop and think about the wondrous blessings we receive when we walk with Him, it is a powerful moment!  This doesn't mean we have to always be walking around on a cloud but it's just a joy that comes out when you love the Lord! Get a few people together who has His love and look out!!! You might ask where does this illuminating quality come from........it comes from trusting God with the concerns and worries you might be tempted to carry along.  He is available to work in your heart and with a purpose that will be changing and productive.  That stream will cause your heart and soul to pour out love, kindness, patience, goodness and joy overflowing!!  Expect God's Spirit to give you clear guidance every day! He will care for you and keep you safe.  You can call to Him and He gives you strength.  He gives you rest because you depend upon Him and not on yourself.  Be comforted knowing He knows your cares and concerns and He loves you.  "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you!"  James 4:8  Blessings to you today dear one!

Shelly's Savannah Home

All of my "girls" have their own style......whether it is in their dress, hair, personality or the way they decorate their homes.  Each one has a beautiful place and what I see most in their homes are what they value and that is the comfort of others.  Recently, Kara, Phil, and I took a short trip to finish up some wedding planning for their upcoming wedding in Jekyll Island, Georgia.  After we finished we drove up to Savannah to visit with Shelly and Jeremy.  Shelly always greets you with a big beautiful smile and she always has fresh roses.  Her house is a love of her books, pieces from her worldly travels, her design studio, and comfort.  Her main piece is a nice sofa and she has built a beautiful place around it!  Enjoy the pictures.

Rest

Rest is important in our lives.  Many times, we do not have opportunities to receive the rest that we need.  Fortunately, I am at a place in my life where my life is full doing things that for me personally are important bringing lasting value, I pray, for our family.  When I rest at night, I am able to sleep contently and most mornings I wake up very grateful for the blessings of life.  Exercise plays a key role also in a life that is healthy.  Most days, I jog three miles before breakfast which is a remarkable avenue for me because when my husband I first got married almost 37 years ago, I could not run around the house. TRUE!  He motivated me to be fit. Today, we try to eat healthy and rely on a gentle way of life.  It keeps us balanced.  I am inspired by people who accept others of both ethnicity and age.  Value should be from within a person's soul and heart.  I pray for you that you will take time to be aware that the people and "things" that you surround yourself with over time make you who you are.  A truly beautiful person is beautiful because they have sought to fill their heart with beautiful thoughts and inspirations.  They are rare souls. I hope you are blessed to know some of those people.  God bless those people in my life who have shared their beautiful lives with me.........

An Angel of the Ressurrection

On the third day after Jesus was crucified on the Cross the Bible says, "And behold there was a great earthquake; for the angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat upon it.  His countenance was like lightning, and his raiment white as snow:  And for the fear of him the keepers did shake, and became as dead men"  Matthew 28: 2-4

As Mary looked into the tomb she saw "two angels in white sitting, the one at the head, and the other at the feet, where the body of Jesus had lain"  John 20:11-12.  Then one of the angels who was sitting outside the tomb proclaimed the greatest message the world has ever heard:  "He is not here, but is risen"  Luke 24:6  Those few words changed the history of the universe.  Darkness and despair died and hope and anticipation were born into the hearts of men and women!