Monday, November 18, 2013

Show N Tell! I've Got Some Goodies for You & Your Family!

My youngest daughter and I were talking and she mentioned that it would be nice to find some new fresh music to listen to in our kitchen...perhaps something perky with the Andrew Sisters etc?  That sounded like a most beautimous idea to me don't you know?  So I've been a-lookin'.  ...and a-lookin'

I found this!  Yippee!  This is So. Great.  This is a 5 cd set of WWII radio broadcasts with that loveable Bing Crosby!  The  radio programs include a wonderful variety of actors, singers, stars of that era...Not only does it have pretty music (even Roy Rogers! love that guy)  ...but it has Kraft dairy commercials speaking of ration points etc.

One part of the series really got to me...Bing is talking about not wasting in our kitchens.  He reminds homemakers to save their kitchen fats from the kitchen in a smooth lipped can to turn in to the grocery for a ration points and 4 cents per pound!  It really touched my heart because now a days you see go-go-go and more go as in moms driving thru for sup, even go-go grandmas. It just doesn't seem right does it?  I'm so very thankful for a mom who still cooks for herself and is content with her quiet and peaceful life, that's a huge Praise the Lord!  I don't know about you but I love being in the kitchen preparing for our family's supper, it's the greatest thing ever - the supper table!  : )

... But back to the broadcast, you may wonder why the fat to be turned in?  It was used in making bombs.  Isn't that interesting?  There are also other admonitions and exhortations throughout the broadcasts to be patient with your grocers because the troops are in need of the dairy products and that is why the grocer is out of what you may need on certain days.

This really is the sweetest radio series, it has put such a cheerful old fashioned atmosphere in our home. There are even some gospel songs as well.  There may have been a couple of teensy things we didn't give a nod to, but it's so small in comparison to the 5 cds it's easily overlooked and fast forwarded a few seconds.  We're very particular too.  : )



These magnificent and reminiscent broadcasts start on Oct. 7, 1943.

Another little treasure I recently discovered is this darling, darling movie!

A Christmas Wish (1949 In Color) Amazon Instant Video ~ Jimmy Durante, http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001LRMJKU/ref=cm_sw_r_pi_dp_CLsIsb01VBMH3

I've embedded the youtube version below but I purchased the colorized version!  I plan on surprising the family with this after Thanksgiving!  Mar and I watched most of it to preview while the others were at a church service yesterday, we were so thrilled with this movie!  There are some beautiful and poignant prayer scenes mixed with humor sweetness as God uses a little squirrel to answer prayers.  I spy some good old fashioned romance too....So. Darling. We didn't finish the movie, we have third to go, but I can tell... This is a delight!!!  A real keeper.



I hope you too will enjoy these treasures.  I think it's so important to keep a sweet spirit in the home and so much of what is out there really does not have that sweet spirit.  If we give our kids the real deal they won't want the cheap.  And you know what else?  When they are old enough to court for marriage? Those who are also attracted to the things that are more pure and sweet will be attracted to your young adults.

In closing...Today at the Forest Cathedral it's a foggy enchanting day, warm outside. I'm fighting a blasted cold...Yesterday I just finished reading a Grace Livingston Hill book,  'The Street of the City'.  Another WWII delight! (written in the 40s) The gospel is woven through as well as historical fiction of spies, a materialistic meddling young woman... and a pure, most sweet little romance with a sweet pretty girl and a handsome soldier.

I would venture to say this book would be appropriate to read to your family.  Darling book.

The Street of the City, No. 47 by Grace Livingston Hill,http://www.amazon.com/dp/0553234293/ref=cm_sw_r_pi_dp_xVJIsb0ZVVSQPNZK



Apart  from my Bible devotions I'm now starting on 'The  Bells of St. Mary's".   so fun!  Also, I will start nibbling away at Ann Voskamp's new Christmas devotion too. Michelle bought it for me wasn't that sweet?!

Tonight for supper I think I'll make some kind of veggie soup, Italian style.  Yes-siree-bobbie!  That's Italian! : )

"What happens when we live God's way?  He brings gifts into our lives...things like affection for others, exuberance about life, serenity.  We develop a willingness to stick with things, a sense of compassion in the heart, and a conviction that a basic holiness permeates things and people."    Galations 5:11 (summarized)

Have a sweet week, enjoy your families, K.I.S.S.  Keep it simple sweeties.

Love in Christ,    Amelia


Monday, November 11, 2013

God Bless Our Vets, Thank You. Two Movies to Help Celebrate our Vets, Our Country

Yesterday we attended a downtown church...oh so refreshing the tradition and old feeling from that WWII era that still lingers in that place. Our veterans were honored and encouraged to wear their uniform. The choir sang beautifully in all of God's glory.

Below are two of some of our family's favorite patriotic movies, keep in mind, our family consists of Jem, myself and our four daughters so these two movies would definitely be suitable for girls too, both very poignant and well done movies:



Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo  (1943)  a grand old movie  that beautifully covers The Doolittle Raid

"The amazingly detailed true story of "The Doolittle Raid" based on the novel of the same name. Stunned by Pearl Harbor and a string of defeats, America needed a victory - badly. To that end, Colonel Jimmy Dolittle, a former air racer and stunt pilot, devises a plan for a daring raid on the heart of Japan itself. To do this, he must train army bomber pilots to do something no one ever dreamed possible - launch 16 fully load bombers from an aircraft carrier! Remarkable in its accuracy, this movie even uses film footage from the actual raid."

Another movie great from those glory days gone past is:  Destination Tokyo (1943)




Oh my goodness, this is another good one.  The young men on the sub along with Cary Grant's part as a dedicated and loving father and husband is just so wonderful.  Will pull at your heart strings.  The fella that plays the appendicitis victim on the sub was a darling actor who actually replaced Jimmy Stewart as Stewart was away at war!   

Facts:

...The appendectomy surgical operation done by the pharmacist and med student underwater in the sub actually happened!

....All men on the subs were strictly volunteer according to The Nation Museum of The Pacific War.

There is one part that I would give a little heads up on, at Christmas John Garfield opens a gift and it's a ladies nightgown, he remarks he wishes it was filled.  It's only a few seconds and easily preview-able.  So be ready for that.

On a most positive note, the prayer scene as the operation is getting ready to be performed is beautifully poignant.

These are wonderful most beautiful movies that capture that patriotic and God fearing spirit that our country had back then.  I hope you too will enjoy them as our family does!

If you are ever in the Texas Hill Country I would strongly suggest the National Museum of The Pacific War.  Jem and I visited this museum and couldn't get enough!  Oh such a well done museum!  Fantastic!  

God bless our Veterans, you are heroes to our family.  To say our hearts are filled with grattitude by what you did and do for us is an understatement.  


Destination Tokyo



Wednesday, November 6, 2013

We Are So Preciously Loved by God

We are so preciously loved by God that we cannot even comprehend it.  No created being can ever know how much and how sweetly and tenderly God loves them.  ~Julian of Norwich

I think about this one particular photo a lot...many times as I am doing things around home, puttering, thinking as only this introvert with extrovert tendencies can do not to mention a sensitive, merciful artist, with that pepper speck of prophet mysteriously mixed in...

To me, this photo shows God's love to His Children in such a sweet way, a candid shot that captures God's Love so very vividly.  Isn't this the way it should be?

The photo above is of Rebecca holding our sweet buddy's hand at the nursing home. Love, concern and a "You are safe with me" expression is conveyed here.  Michelle looks on with that same love as only God can give.

Jesus with skin on.  

Sometimes when we'll visit a church and we try to enter in, join in as little girls who would like to also play the ball & jacks game with the other little girls, we miss the Jesus with skin on, instead we feel like outsiders and it is very disturbing to me as well as my family, I think it makes Jesus sad too. I don't understand why they feel as they can ignore people.  My daughters wonder if people are intimidated, I don't know why because to me?  I'm just a little girl, I'm a Scout of sorts but not so tough.

An artist-Scout who needs a gentle touch. In these times I think of my sweet nursing home friends, their attitudes are of angels to me...Perhaps this is Church?  : )

Some may say, "But I'm just not a sensitive person."  Well, as I've said many times over in our Vision for a Godly Home workshop we had done for years:

 Perhaps you should pray to BE more sensitive.  

I'll admit, I'm not an anointed housekeeper, I'm clean sanitary-wise and I can cook a whirl, but you will find things out of place etc. in my home major.  You will find dust here and there, or laundry baskets with clean clothes or towels in them, perhaps I didn't put my clean clothes from a days wear up, my theory is, I'm wearing them again tomorrow!  But they are clean in a laundry basket that sets on top of my dirty towel hamper, it's the way I roll.  A little clutter really doesn't bother me, nor do dishes in the sink.  I have to have help in the way of wisdom from others to keep up in a gentle balanced way, I have to pray about that little thing, I try hard and I find people like flylady who have the same tendencies to help me.

Sometimes I wonder if people who just sulk-off saying with a flip of the curls, "I'm just not sensitive"...maybe it's they who need help of the heart.

We must always remember no matter what, no matter how we are treated and made to feel, We are preciously loved by God.  : )