tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14699624853601704332024-03-17T22:03:40.295-05:00My Forest Cathedral"...out here in the stillness, I find my house of worship
with column trees and canopy of stars,
Here in my cathedral." ~Chris Rice from the song, My CathedralAmeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.comBlogger357125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-65965401496753020222024-03-05T07:48:00.009-06:002024-03-06T17:10:48.877-06:00Oh my Heart...Four Generations, Lovely Sayings, Truly Precious Things, My Mom<p> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/a8/10/78/a810785e8c54efaf9a1b31c5b82f35c2.jpg" width="230" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Four Generations <br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is a photo recently taken at our little grandson, Christopher Robin's family birthday party. You see my mom's hand at the bottom, my hand, our daughter's hand and then her little 18 month old baby girl, our little grand daughter. I loved the way it turned out, Grace took the shot.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Christopher Robin's mommy and daddy have such wonderful writings as decor in their home also in the Forest...</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This one is <b>handwritten with chalk</b> on a framed chalkboard... <br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/bd/a5/b6/bda5b64814921a1c2f24ac092a00e20b.jpg" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>We are Rich! <br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span>A pillow to lay our head</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span>Four walls to protect us</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span>A loving home</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span>Love for one another</span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span>Food on our table</span></i></span></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">Clean water</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">And a God who loves </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">us beyond measure! </span></i></p><p><i><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/5c/a7/f8/5ca7f8e0479b9fdcf8d1afb599305492.jpg" width="301" /></i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>The most important work you will ever do, will be within the walls of your home. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="244" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/91/de/06/91de06ca9b0d4fc5ccd17834d26176e4.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>If you want to bring happiness to the whole world go home and love your family </i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span><span style="font-size: small;">~Mother Teresa</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Aren't those beautiful? I loved them. <b>Beautiful Truths. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Christopher Robin had the sweetest little birthday party, </b>just immediate family and his little cousins. Vintage spider man comic book images hung from red spirals and blue and red balloons adorned everything. Our daughter, Zuzu, Christopher Robin's mommy got his old Spider Man dress-up suit and attached it up on the wall and the little cousins played pin the web on Spider man with string. So sweet.. Zuzu made a big <b>zucchini pasta gravy casserole</b> and a huge salad along with a <b>homemade birthday cake. So fun, and so good and so much love shared.<br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>One of the most cherished things in the world is to be loved and respected by a <i>child</i></b>, especially when it's our own grandchild, this is from Christopher Robin, he wrote us a Valentine, drew us a picture and picked out little gifts for us:</span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="243" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/9f/38/e7/9f38e7520021c998c939fc1aca85a65c.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Kazoos! He even wrapped them for us so sweetly in construction paper... Oh my heart!</b> We called him later and played our kazoos!<br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/22/d0/3e/22d03e1edc82c43869955c658316831d.jpg" width="334" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Oh But This One....</b> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;">"What constitutes success? She has achieved success who has lived well; laughed often and loved much; who has gained</span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"> the respect of intelligent people and the love of little children; who has filled her niche and accomplished her task; who has left the world better than she found it;...who has never lacked appreciation of earth's beauty, or failed to express it; who has always looked for the best in others and given the best she had."<b> </b> </span><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"><i>~Bessie Stanley</i></span><span style="font-size: small;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Our youngest daughter, Grace had this large print (below) done for me for my birthday</b> and I just love it, as many of you know, we lost three of our precious fur angels in 8 weeks last fall. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had little Muffie for many years, since 2008, when he found us. It's a mystery to how old our little guy was when Joycie found him in the intersection one day, he was just sitting and waiting for her.</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/cd/d6/c7/cdd6c75239aee6138ecb4f764f74becf.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">Muffie </span></i></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/6c/c6/20/6cc620bcd90000b1c8d4af324aafabf1.jpg" width="286" /><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I put the art print in<b> a grouping</b> with his little paw and nose print and precious card with a prayer that the vet and staff sent to us. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Grace, our youngest adult daughter gave me this for Valentines! </b> It's a tiny portrait of me holding little Muffie </span><img alt="This may contain: a small white dog sitting on top of a brown floor" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="200" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/fb/ca/3d/fbca3dad24277d2bdb4f18654d90b2de.jpg" width="150" /><span style="font-size: large;"> and precious Coffee-girl is on the left...</span><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="200" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/19/26/20/192620197fc48158cb5106f961c504cc.jpg" width="151" /><span style="font-size: large;"> We lost Coffee at the end of August if you recall, she was my little girlfriend and we lost Muffie in November.<br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="240" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/4d/d5/56/4dd5569219f84cb22ec7fe5f52b5ccb4.jpg" width="320" /> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>My mom.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The physical therapist said she has become much stronger and that is a blessing. She has dementia so that can be heartbreaking but our family is trying to find good natured humor in funny little things she will do, and sometimes? She will snap right back to her old self, doing far better as a whole. A Gift.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>As we go on to know Him better we shall find it a source of unspeakable joy that God is just what He is.</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">~A.W. Tozer </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I must testify to God's faithfulness!</b> He has gone before us. So many times I've been quite nervous about things (for good reason!), and Jem will reassure me,<i> don't worry, don't be nervous, it's going to work out! </i> And before the day is out he will say...<i>See? I told you so.<br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The doctor who took care of her in the rehab could not see her until June. <i>That </i>was the Lord. I prayed one morning...<b><i>Who can we bring my mom to for a well rounded checkup and wisely remove some of the unnecessary meds?</i> </b>In not much time at all, God gently put it on my heart, a doctor who is a Christian and one she had gone to 20 years before as well as me taking Janie our eldest to back when. What a blessing! Jem said that not only is he the nicest doctor he has met but probably one of the nicest persons he has met! He remembered me from 20 years ago, and quickly took her off some of the things that were not necessary at all before I even had to mention it. Hallelujah! He even loved my son in laws natural sleep aid for her! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Speaking of Dementia...<br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I would like to recommend a special program that PBS is <i>still </i>playing right now: <a href="https://www.pbs.org/show/supercharge-your-brain-maximizing-your-cognitive-abilities/" target="_blank"> </a><i><a href="https://www.pbs.org/show/supercharge-your-brain-maximizing-your-cognitive-abilities/" target="_blank"> Supercharger Brain, Maximizing Your Cognitive Abilities. </a> </i>This program is both fascinating and encouraging, this will help us all, I do believe. There are two very pleasant Italian ladies, one a neuroscientist, and one an associate Professor of Neuroscience at Cornell Medicine along with others. There are wonderful testimonies of various people in various stages of life. <b> EDIT 3.6.24 Please check your listings, the above program is still playing in our area on pbs on regular antenna television.<br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is not a special where there is one speaker on a dark stage, <b>far more interesting than that. </b> I'm so happy I dvrd it. You will see, things like a group of nuns who love to learn, a man who was diagnosed with Alzheimers who is beating it, very nice examples, all of them, it is <b>highly encouraging.<br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Jem and I are going to learn to speak Italian together,</b> there are so many resources we can get to learn, we purchased a cd for the car and there is an adorable youtube on it. I've joined a poetry site, I'm still sewing Little Dresses for Africa experimenting with trims and such. Any educational leaflet from say...Hillsdale College we receive in the mail I am carefully reading and learning from. When reading my Bible I am learning even from that in layers. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I'll close with this song</b> Jem and I will hear in the car occasionally, I think it's just...so pretty. Oh the memories, oh my heart...</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="200" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/20/3d/35/203d35714824bc5922668d9da780aa5a.jpg" width="151" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiiyq2xrSI0" target="_blank">Unchained Melody (1965)</a></span><br /><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><p></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qiiyq2xrSI0?si=_WX7NLP6SpFRG4C_" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>How we leave the world is more important than how we enter it.</i> </span><span style="font-size: small;"> ~Janette Oke </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/20/d0/90/20d0904b0f87980203cdae3f9f961e34.jpg" width="369" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Me, (a little tot) and my Mom</span></p><p> </p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/c7/91/26/c791263811c62d7908ab2a52e495fa63.jpg" width="273" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Oh how I miss my dad</b>...There are days when I say...<i>Oh Daddy, I so</i> <i>need your help. </i> The other morning when I was at the kitchen sink though...I could hear <b>in my dad's voice...<i>I'm proud of you. </i></b></span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Oh my heart... </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Take care all, praying for you all, and I always covet your prayers. I appreciate you all.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">~Amelia </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-24827294930221515112024-02-15T15:35:00.006-06:002024-02-16T16:40:20.175-06:00Update, Prayers Coveted<p> <span style="font-size: large;">I just wanted to post an update as to why I've not blogged in a while...My mother broke her hip and it has been a <i>nightmare.</i> There are many things going on with her and I just don't have the words at this time, I feel helpless, I feel scared at times and I am also trusting God who truly has gone before me. So in that respect I can rest in the Father, He has been with me. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I am an only child and I thank God for my precious husband who has been a huge encouragement to me and help, our four daughters as well. Many times I don't say much about my husband, there are many widows out there and I want to be considerate, our daughters are gems as well as their husbands who are like sons to me. Again, I try to be considerate. I try to share my life but with a caring and sensitive heart. I can be funny, I can be serious and I am<i> real</i>. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here is a wonderful shot of my husband in one of his elements...He loves to work in his barn, woodworking etc. He loves music, that is what he is doing here; he is finding some music to listen to as he works. He plays flute, guitar and many other instruments. He has a recording studio that he loves. <br /></span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/13/88/c9/1388c9e390a7ce3ff10f0fcd04e77014.jpg" width="300" /><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/e1/b2/38/e1b2385ff673ce7434c3935e80fc77fd.jpg" width="400" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our precious pets, at least the dogs of the family, they are a huge joy to me. </span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/75/2c/65/752c658f229318fbb4e4932e2966526f.jpg" width="300" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Even our pet hens bring us joy, they are sentient little creatures with much love to give. They were toodling along with me on a walk one day.<br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ef/76/28/ef762809f1bbc7b97d43069e4e3e8d78.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Just an update from the Forest Cathedral, your prayers are coveted. I write this with a gentle smile and I just need some time for my thoughts to even out a bit, the theatre of my mind is quite full, I answer prompts many times, that is fun for me to do. Sometimes I let my hair down in comments but when it comes to a totally creative blog, I'm feeling a little inadequate at this time. I hope you will understand. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I read this, this morning, the quote is from my blogging friend, Mrs. White. It is from one of her books. <i>Homemaking for Happiness, Wonderful Days at Home. </i> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>There is beauty , in trust and faith in the Lord. he knows all of our needs, in all times. He waits for us to ask and to trust in Him. This is what makes life so precious. ~Mrs. Sharon White</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6wOhVh2bct8?si=OMJvHhRbrcjOVIYP" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Please enjoy <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wOhVh2bct8" target="_blank">the above song</a> that ministers to Jem's and my heart many-a-day. </span><br /></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In closing I was just talking with my husband and he heard my blog writing here as I read it to him, he commented that it helps that we share problems that we may have because it helps others to know that we can put our trust in the Lord and He is our Helper no matter what we go through. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Resting in the Love of Christ....Amelia </span> <br /></p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-19674055798704581002024-01-03T14:45:00.003-06:002024-01-03T14:47:34.118-06:00New Years Show n' Tell, Sharing Thoughts, Including a Wowee Product: FurZapper!<p><span style="font-size: large;">I think I'll start backwards and chat about this neat product that WORKS. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We saw these at Walmart last week hanging in the plastic storage box area, one aisle over from clothes pins etc. This is a tiny Walmart, very old fashioned so your Walmart may have them in a slightly different place.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If you have pets of any kind and have a little trouble getting the fur off at times? This is GREAT. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">FUR ZAPPER</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/79/d2/64/79d2646c2483b863fa1cc9200d23e8e2.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is what it looked like hanging up in the plastic packaging. <br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/13/bb/71/13bb715fd38d4570ef3208c252ece4c7.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You get 2 in a pack. </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/6e/c1/c5/6ec1c5f8c3e9ff557119e8539fd1c38b.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/e5/07/15/e507152e8da45e9fb404eefcf6a39313.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/44/1d/5b/441d5bdc14420287953f33872e711299.jpg" width="300" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Re-usable, non-toxic, fragrance free and made in the USA.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday evening, I looked at two of my doggy bed covers. I make little removable covers for them. Let's put it this way friends, they should have been washed before Christmas. I'm thinking as I see literal sand on top of them along with a sea of fur that this needs to be done. I quickly undid the diaper pins to secure them, went on the porch to shake the sand out and popped the hairy little covers in the wash with two of the FurZappers. Put it on my normal quick 15 minute auto wash with extra rinse and my normal soap and borax. It was so nice when I looked at my covers and hardly any fur at all on them! Maybe several little hairs and that was it. No fur was in my washer barrel either! I normally have to wash that type of thing <i>twice </i>and then have to clean my barrel out with a towel too! Then popped them in the dryer with the two little FurZappers and we're pleased as punch. They came out beautifully!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The price was $12.88. So. Worth. It. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I also purchased a pet lint roller brush but haven't tried that out yet, I thought that would be good for quick pick ups off of one of my black turtlenecks. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">No, I didn't get paid for this, but I thought it was very worth sharing!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's New Years and I still have my Christmas Lights up, my mom always kept everything up until January 6. Epiphany. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I leave much of my stuff out beyond that too, perhaps later removing some icicles and putting those around cardboard because they are becoming increasingly difficult to find at normal stores! My Wonderful Life buildings stay out year round and the white lights on the trees are a comfort to my heart. I also leave my doggy ornaments on to look at. They are a little more neutral and even go with cut-out Valentine hearts or vintage Valentine cards I scatter around on trees or the kitchen area. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I Love Vintage Antique Cards... </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In our guest bathroom I put them around...It's like a little museum in there.</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/69/9f/dd/699fddbf68b70fe1bac5f6ef01c6fa78.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> The front. <br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/3a/03/89/3a03896c54d7d02f8933a8a171603786.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> Open it up and this is what you see!</span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/aa/c6/7a/aac67a77e43e44ee6b7e89f6e37091fb.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> Many of the old antique cards contained New Year's Wishes too!</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/e4/e9/1c/e4e91c113c2f2bca83fb8585645a209d.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Front</span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/a2/ed/96/a2ed9640c36966500c069498aee4117b.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Inside</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/b0/b7/b4/b0b7b4c769967bd78d38d63ebc489261.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Front</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/a8/c5/06/a8c5064bbc6bc0a24ee223acd2f3b2d9.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Inside.....We always wonder who the people were...</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/3a/c0/f2/3ac0f207eb6423ec22938f26d73bba41.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> Front</span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/22/bb/80/22bb80a467e5afbbe233923af8a4820b.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> Inside</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/d0/7d/5d/d07d5d8e87a6598566852ec809fcd2ec.jpg" width="298" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A very old Scrabble game with a Wonderful Life card, bulbs from Dollar Tree, a wonderful book on Lucy and lessons about loving God, book of beautiful photos of Shelter dogs and one of my Uncle Wesley's manners books from Rice University, probably from 1938. ...And of course my Pitbull art, we had a loving Pitbull, a gentle giant named Buddy.</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/d6/3e/e8/d63ee881ac28ca1d135eecc85822063a.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Lessons from Lucy About Loving God, </i>a wonderful little book. </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/93/78/56/93785672f5210bc705eedb52bc2891d4.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/68/03/24/680324634da9b7a96890768f43d46ac9.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/c7/2b/b3/c72bb3bef8839aafa7115e0ebd82d7b6.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Da moon..... </i> George Lassos Moon?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That is just a small portion of antique Christmas and New Years cards and old photos in our guest powder room. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I hope to show more another time and my kitchen too, it's just a fun thing for me. I love yesteryear and the joy it brings. We can make our little parts of the country just in this same way, we can go back to the 40s if we like in different ways. Why not? We don't have to buy what culture tries to tell us. Let's be like the little boy who asked <i>Why?</i> : )</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In this day and age where women seem to think they need to escape from some imaginary trap...Let's think a bit and ask, <i>Why? </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I feel truly liberated to be a homemaker and mom. If it meant I were to go without a vehicle for a time and my husband and I had to share a vehicle that was fine by me. Our children and a peaceful and sweet home were more important. : ) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I read this, this morning from one of the books by Mrs. Sharon White, <i>Homemaking for Happiness. </i>Her blog is<a href="https://thelegacyofhome.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"> The Legacy of Home.</a> This little paragraph speaks of mottoes and scripture and beautiful little pantings and things around our homes but I loved most what it referred to as in the <b>spirit</b> of the home as follows:<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> A humble home is a place where materialism is not the focus. It is a place of rest and old-time values. It is where the simple life originates. Filling our surroundings with old-time mottoes of comfort, and encouragement, is a precious way to build our courage and faith. It will bring a smile of cheer, and a nod of contented peace. <br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I hope everyone is doing well, I felt led to post this most practical but important reminder and sharing today. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'll close with two beautiful and touching pieces that mean so much to me, the first... this beautiful song and tribute to a wife and mom, Ruth Bell Graham by one of my favorite artists:</span></p><p><br /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vu2E2FUcIiE?si=1rxztJpo0yPuwrVC" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The second by Sara Groves, He's Always Been Faithful, a very, very special song to my heart, you will see why when you hear the song...</span> <br /></p><p></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cTLfQ05Otk0?si=OlLHZ9yjJMNAuyw9" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Take care Friends, </span><img alt="This contains an image of: " class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/06/4f/bc/064fbcf1c5020397ca58aa85f5553860.jpg" width="299" /> ~<span style="font-size: large;">Amelia</span> </p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-73189715541637486542023-12-23T20:00:00.005-06:002023-12-23T20:02:55.347-06:00Beautiful. This Will Bring us Back to Where we are Supposed to Be This Evening.<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes the Christmas season brings different kinds of feelings and we miss our loved ones who have gone to Heaven and we ponder things, we ponder our Savior. Maybe you have a loved one that is elderly as my mom is...She gets forgetful sometimes and it troubles my heart, I get scared. I seek God's Face desperately in these times as I know you are too dear Readers for whatever may be troubling your hearts.<br /></span></p><p> </p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aXXpJeXCJ1w?si=NEES61sdt23YrLCD" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The video above touched my heart and I simply wanted to share it with you all, one of our daughters sent this beautiful version of <i>Away in the Manger</i> by Phil Wickham to our family and I think this brings us back to where we are supposed to be wherever we are today. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">God is with us. </span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Random shots that to me, are fitting for this entry. If you have seen any recently please oblige. <br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/06/4f/bc/064fbcf1c5020397ca58aa85f5553860.jpg" width="299" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My dad when he was a little boy with his mother, my grandmother, <i>Amelia</i> who I was named after. She passed away when my dad was ten. I have her underlined Bible study book from Moody, a piece of white cloth marker is in the book from her sewing, I hold it delicately, her hands held the book too back then. She was German, her parents spoke German fluently, my other grandparents were Italian and also spoke Italian. It's very interesting, my parents went to elementary school together there in the waterfront town, both founding families, and were in the same grade and same classroom. My Italian grandma knew my German grandma...My Italian grandma always said that my dad's mother was a kind, sweet and gentle woman. <br /></span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/c7/91/26/c791263811c62d7908ab2a52e495fa63.jpg" width="273" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My mom and dad when they were first married. Probably around 1953.<br /></span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/91/b4/94/91b49458f5c2c241bab4882a7cfeb11a.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A gentle reminder of Peace and our fur angels who have passed to Heaven, this is in our guest bathroom in the corner like real kitties snuggled together on the floor. Many things to look at in there, a little museum is what one lady called it. <br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="271" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/5e/2d/d9/5e2dd9cc2b5d538066403bc0fa242e44.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our little Muffie, we so miss our little guy...He passed away in October. We've lost three fur angels in two months, just recently. It's been painful.<br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/aa/06/ee/aa06ee9252c531344c6bfbd1f0c4ae9d.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Some things don't change...Me when I was very little, my first puppy on my lap...<i>Cutie. </i>As I wrote previously I drew this in highschool. <br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/cc/b9/ca/ccb9ca46710ba57e39bb61c6bc4c8ab1.jpg" width="301" /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A very old antique Christmas card, I love the little lamb looking upon Jesus. I think this is so innocent, so precious and sometimes I grieve our culture especially when I look upon something that is supposed to be Christian in nature or secular variety 'family' show and then it screams of the world and I find myself clambering to get it off the screen and out of my home. I think to myself...This is not Christmas! <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But there are sweet things as above. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It brings us back to where we should be. May we remember that sweet manger and the true meaning of Christmas, there are many fun things but let's always head back home to the sweet manger. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'll be back soon, I hope to post some sweet decorations for Christmas, and at this point New Years but I felt an urgency to post this this evening. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">God is with us. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">~Amelia </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-19106521660889130012023-12-17T09:15:00.010-06:002023-12-17T20:33:20.654-06:00Last Minute Post with a Few RE-Post links, Music And..Don't Let the Heelots Get Ya! They Almost Got Me!!! Thoughts. <iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qiM-5CMtSKQ?si=fcKB62HlhoLKm-lB&start=60" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">I thought this was so unique, and it's so very sweet...The black and white, the 1947 music, the big moon and the Granville House...Oh my. What is there not to love on this one?</span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"> <br /></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">A Few Reposts You All May Enjoy ! <br /></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;"><b>*</b></span><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"> <a href="https://myforestcathedral.blogspot.com/2021/12/oh-my-heart-frank-capras-meet-john-doe.html" target="_blank">Oh My Heart! Frank Capra's 'Meet John Doe' (1941) ...Our Little Town Peeps are Angels Right Here </a></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large;">*</span><span style="color: #274e13;"><a href="https://myforestcathedral.blogspot.com/2022/09/love-is-not-rudethats-what-bible-says.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Love is Not Rude...That's What the Bible Says. What I'm Doing Today. A Touching Clip. </span></a></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"> </span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: x-large; font-weight: normal;">*</span><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><a href="https://myforestcathedral.blogspot.com/2017/11/silent-nightmay-your-week-be-peaceful.html" target="_blank">Silent Night, May Your Week be a Peaceful One. 'Meet John Doe' (1941) <b> ...Don't let the Heelots Get ya! GREAT CLIP HERE from 'Meet John Doe'.</b></a></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;"><br /></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">EDIT 12.17.23 This evening.....Heelots. If you are not sure what a <i>Heelot</i> is, please see the bottom of this page. Enjoy! <br /></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large; font-weight: normal;">Do you know I almost succumbed to the Heelots a few weeks ago! Horrors! Our youngest daughter had a birthday and brought home a couple of clothing items from a nice department store, one of the items, the primary item was a beautiful burgundy <i>real</i> velvet, fitted, double breasted<i> long </i>blazer, it looked like something from <i>Little Women,</i>many times my style. She handed me the hangers with the plastic covers over them for me to hang in my closet so I could wrap the birthday "surprises". When I went to my closet and innocently hung the two plastic wrapped lovelies in my closet I notice my tweed blazer next to the goodies. <i>Oh.</i> The new stuff made my poor little much loved snagged, tweed blazer look frumpy and junky. (Twilight Zone music plays here). ....But alas! I remembered the Heelots! Nooooooo! I did *not* succumb. But it really was a temptation to get into feeling that way!!! I walked away in freedom and PEACE! Yes I did! ...It was like when Jimmy Stewart in It's a Wonderful Life told Potter something to the effect of....<i>No, I don't want your help for your riches! </i> Yep, he felt himself turning into that Heelot too! ...We can turn into Heelots for many different reasons! ...Don't do it! Don't do it! *big smile* ...But it's true too! Always remember, the quote....<i>Comparison is the thief of joy.<br /></i></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d;"><img alt="Image result for baby Jesus" class="irc_mi" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/fa/fa/0a/fafa0ad004da70af1f8f1c2f4cf3ea92--christmas-postcards-vintage-christmas-cards.jpg" style="margin-top: 66px;" width="342" /> </span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Look at precious Baby Jesus on hay in a manger with the little lamb and little birds...So very sweet. It's very hard to turn into a Heelot or get snatched by one if we ponder this.</span></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I hope you all are well, just some reposts here that ya'll might enjoy. Yesterday I made my Italian grandma's eggplant and put it in the freezer for Christmas day. I'll be putting Gardein brand vegan meatballs in baked in pasta gravy out for a treat, and making a large casserole of egg pasta gravy, (eggs cooked in pasta gravy) it's quite delicious, may put some sauteed garlic simmered in-olive oil spinach in with it too, here and there. Pasta of course too. Everyone will bring sides. </span></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">My poor 93 year old mom was frantic yesterday because she realized her great-grandchildren may not appreciate money only. I told her...<i>Don't worry, Consider it done</i>. I texted our daughters and told them to please pick out a very nice gift with the allotted money and wrap it. Bring it over on Christmas for our grand children to unwrap and for my mom to see and the children to realize who it is from. I think that will work beautifully, one of our daughters, Zuzu was so thankful because there was one nice gift they could not afford for her youngest and she was able to buy that nice gift, a big red plastic toddler car that J can get in and scoot around in. Remember those? Zuzu loved hers growing up! So now her little boy will have one too! Mimi here has our grand babies gifts all wrapped, a very nice toy and an outfit for each child. Yay! <br /></span></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">This will be a nice week I hope and pray, getting our home ready and my hair dyed for Christmas and keeping cozy. </span></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">I have a few more decorations I'll try to share if I have time too! : ) I have old vintage cards in our guest bathroom that I think are very neat... </span></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d; font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Take care for now...Have a wonderful Sunday! ~Amelia<br /></span></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></h3><h3 class="post-title entry-title" itemprop="name"><span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;">Edit <span style="font-weight: normal;">12.17.23 Evening. </span> <span style="font-weight: normal;"> If you don't know what a Heelot is and haven't had time to check the reposts above, this should explain. Enjoy! </span> </span><span style="color: #38761d;"><br /></span></h3><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/i1HcJJbn_gc?si=6dbyfVf-Ezby4H_1" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-51748079012517259272023-12-13T14:54:00.008-06:002024-01-06T18:13:11.214-06:00Christmas Thoughts and a Partial Show N' Tell of Christmas Decor with Pets<p><span style="font-size: large;">Dear Friends, grab some coffee or tea and away we go!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas time is here, and it snuck up on me. I started out with a bang around Thanksgiving and now suddenly feel overwhelmed somehow. It's a fight for that Christmas spirit, I think maybe it happens every year around this time. We see how far folks have gone, what happened to the sweet Christmas's of yesteryear. It has a way of splashing cold water in my face so to speak and it feels....Well, <i>Icky</i>. <i>Yuck</i>. And I want to say, No! That is not Christmas! Christmas is when I was little and I gazed into my mom and dad's five and dime beautiful little manger scene and the Christmas tree with blown glass ornaments and icicles! It was about that special doll! Christmas cards had beautiful art on the front of them! A signature and sometimes a sweet little personal note, like...'Hope you all are doing well, Mary Ellen got married last year and we are delighted, how is little Amelia?", sometimes there would be a family photo enclosed and my mother would slip those in her photo album. .... People would display the cards. My mom always hung those we received in the slats of the white dining room doors and I remember really enjoying looking at them. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Christmas was about picking a special toy to bring to the altar at church for a poor little girl, my mother and I always picked the most beautiful baby doll we could find at the store! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Edit 12.14.23 I still to this day wonder who the little girl was who received my pretty doll sets every year, an orphange? A very poor home? Where is she today?<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Even as a mommy, our family would go to the Salvation Army shelters and help with a music presentation (Jem is a musician plays guitar etc.) and our oldest sang, Joycie played piano. That was the <i>true</i> Christmas spirit. Gifts would be given to the children, oh that would do it as far as Christmas spirit!<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Just this morning I called a nearby senior citizens center Jem and I thought about going to, to help stuff senior Christmas bags to deliver to seniors. I called for specifics and asked the head lady if she received my monetary donation for the bags (this is smalltown not a huge organization). I was sooooo excited to be able to send money to a need in my own backyard so to speak! I had spied the need in their little newsletter and thought it would be such a blessing to them! I wanted to make sure it got there in the mail okay, the mail has been very up and down lately. I'm from the old school<i>, I'm close to Pearl Harbor</i> as they used to say, we were financially strapped for most of our younger until recent married years and we're still not made of money although God has seen fit to bless, praise His name. But we've been through it, trust me. Hubs worked on commission only and we owned our own business, no perks in Real Estate. I've been acquainted with this lady for years, see her coming and going once in a blue moon...She was busy though chipper but just quick-quick...<i>Yep, I got it! </i>Oh friends, what has happened to a simple and polite <i>Thank you</i> and sincere appreciation. I don't expect muffins tossed at my feet, but allow me to say, that that was definitely a<i> cold</i> <i>water in my face</i> moment. It's as if the enemy knows when we have our hopes up high and does this kind of thing through people. It's also a good lesson to at least <i>say</i> at least Thank. You. As my husband, Jem has always said...There is not much worse than <i>ungratefulness</i>. I also think the good Lord leads by offenses many times as He closes doors and opens others. ...Oh well, enough of that! Just being an honest human. It makes me grateful for missionaries, friends and organizations who give a hefty <i>thank you!<br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When I Was Little... <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One special Christmas the nightwatchman named Tom at my dad's waterfront business, a Gulf gas station for both cars and boats and boat slips my dad would rent to shrimpers and boaters. The little nightwatchman stand was up on stilts like a tiny little house and Tom would spend the nights there watching over the property and the boats. Tom was chubby and had only one arm, he reminded me of a Fisher Price people. He had a cleft in his chin and had a light peachy complexion, light brown hair, he always looked very serious. That precious man picked a baby doll that came with a matching plastic rocking crib just for me! Do you know that man with one arm wrapped that Christmas gift for me?! I was SO touched even as a very small little girl, I doubt I was even four years old. That was such a special Christmas knowing the trouble, precious Tom went through to buy this little gal, me, a gift. I knew in my little heart and I always cherished that little baby doll, I <i>always, always </i>cherished that little baby doll and crib. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes we must get hold of ourselves and pull ourselves back to those simple times. We must not succumb to the world's way of Christmas or be discouraged, we can keep our homes a sweet and peaceful place. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There are sooo many blessings to consider and we must fight to keep our eyes on the Christ Child and what the Lord Jesus did and does for us! It's a perfect time to be that Jesus with skin on to others.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I strive to keep our home that peaceful and sweet place and especially at Christmas. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Our fur angels are so very important this time of year,</b> they are a blessing and I will start with this precious to-me photo of our little Muffie the evening before he passed away...I love this photo of our sweet Muffie as he lay next to Jem the night before he passed away. I knew he was not doing well, he looked like a little angel to me. I'm so glad I caught this beautiful image. I miss our little Muffie so much, both Jem and I look over at his little wicker bed quite often to still check on our Muffie, the blankets are still just so, gently mussed over where we picked him up and whisked him to the vet's. It will stay that way for a long while. They will not be moved or straightened, no.<br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="271" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/5e/2d/d9/5e2dd9cc2b5d538066403bc0fa242e44.jpg" width="400" /> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our trees represent our love for our pets.</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/a2/7e/2b/a27e2b282cf5de866a09777339aa4f0b.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> This ornament reminds me of sweet Liesl.</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ba/a0/9d/baa09d689db04f4c39129a64aa740575.jpg" width="231" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Liesl is that colossal ball of love. She had been passed around as a large puppy and when she was around one year old we got that baby!<span> She's so cute...She tries to talk!<br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span> </span></span> <br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/33/0f/a6/330fa632393e8e352719edb9baacb681.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is sweet Gracie, she is a hound dog, she is precious and very sensitive. She decided this day to relax in a new small kitty bed. She's a<i> large </i>dog As Liesl is, and sometimes I call her "Miss America" because she is long and leggy! lol Our daughter found Gracie on the old ranch road literally skin and bones, and no hair with demodex mange in FREEZING cold weather. Our daughter threw a tablecloth she had in the trunk over her and got her home to us where we nursed that angel back to health. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/28/4e/85/284e85d43f3857a901c6ca3a4b666032.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> Dachshund ornaments represent Atticus, our daughters, dachshund and Peanut who we lost two years ago. </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/af/a1/e8/afa1e87565a879b705e5f100627a7da6.jpg" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Atticus, our daughter's dog, but he knows his Mimi too. He's a very sensitive doggy. That is a coyote collar he is wearing for extra protection outside.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/76/e4/69/76e469b2a6744f0976b0bff8c60cdd9e.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> Kitties are represented too. We have, Howdy, Momo and Elbee (Mr. Blue Eyes). </span><br /></p><p> </p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Elbee</span><br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/eb/2e/50/eb2e50fec356114279e8ed54beb4743a.jpg" width="301" /> <br /></p><p> <img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/5a/aa/cf/5aaacf8ff1b3cac243fbce041876f221.jpg" width="301" /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is Elbee, (Mr. Blue Eyes), he will not let me get a good pic of him, that rascal. He's a sweet kitty, a little guy and loves his treats. He also likes to get in the dirt outside and gets his little nose dirty all the time! </span><span style="font-size: large;">The pic doesn't pick up on his blue eyes. He was found toddling down a busy road with hawk talon marks on his back, he was just a tiny little kitten! <br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/70/bd/58/70bd58188aed05fa2929b1c5b031ab55.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have this vintage Christmas card, probably from the 30s or 40s and this looks a lot like Elbee. </span> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Howdy <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here is one of our kitties, <i>Howdy</i>. Howdy is shy but <i>very </i>affectionate, he can be a little bossy about that too! Sometimes I call him, <i>Bossy Britches</i>! lol</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/39/59/26/395926105dd1ed83715c83c2d10c827b.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> He says,<i> pet me - pet me!</i> <i>I will sit and be in your face until you pet me! </i> haha</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/b6/84/df/b684df6ad8b571e2d65b573e8fff59ca.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Elbee and Howdy this morning. </span><span style="font-size: small;"> Edit 12.16.23 This table is hardly ever used for dinner except for holidays, I disinfect the table and placemats when we eat here! ; )</span><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/15/b5/ae/15b5aead3ee7683a234bcad851823d33.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Momo. </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="385" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/8a/8f/de/8a8fde9aad670c3666d4b3f2da17bcf5.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Momo is a feminine little thing, beautiful Momo, glamor girl. <b>She is Howdy's sister. </b> She is also very clear when she wants pets. She is also very sweet and very delicate in her walk and actions and likes her food. Howdy and Momo's mommy was Marilla, we found Marilla under a freeway overpass one dark night. <br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/c7/2c/62/c72c62bdac66133e76df87740920f443.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Momo, along with Liesl love to greet me in the morning first thing! <i>Good morning Momo!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our Primary Tree<i> <br /></i></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ed/7c/bd/ed7cbd7099317d2115f9dd2eabefd10a.jpg" width="301" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/68/9f/0e/689f0e75cf2ba11f9f7272cefd130647.jpg" width="258" /><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/af/10/05/af100597a4291a4fb6e13cf2430e2f4f.jpg" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our primary tree, it's all of 4 and a half feet and I put it on the coffee table that I grew up with. Most of our ornaments on this tree of our pets are from our daughters, or finds after Christmas. The pale pink bulbs are from Dollar Tree, the kind that comes in the long tube. These are lovely nonbreakable ornaments and I love the pale pink against the maroon wall. (So vintage!) The little silver star is from Dollar Tree as well. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i>My 'It's a Wonderful Life' Scenes<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I've been working on Christmas since Thanksgiving and some of my <i>It's a Wonderful Life</i> Village stays up year round...In the morning I say....<i>Good Morning Wonderful Life peoples!</i>..as I light it up<i>.</i></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/05/e5/c0/05e5c0bee78262055371b9246fe64ded.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"><i> <br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This section stays up year round and it's so fun and fanciful. <i> <br /></i></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/0a/cf/c2/0acfc2d48001a4ceb2edfe649f92b9ca.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/34/f6/2b/34f62babbc8d8cf0ed5f05707366ec76.jpg" width="400" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We have Bailey Bros., the Granville House, Mr. Potter's on backrow, on front row we have Gower's drugstore, the library and the highschool.</span> <br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/5d/22/e2/5d22e2c89e1a3cd2ffa70fd02e0e5edb.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ab/d4/f3/abd4f354a9011d2818d70ca1970d3b6a.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">From what I've read, Donna Reed was just the person she portrays in <i>It's a Wonderful Life.</i> Jimmy Stewart sounds very similar as well, and a family man.</span> <br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/cd/8b/04/cd8b043a245aecb1b67a91ef49efc926.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our daughter, Grace gave this angel from Hobby Lobby to me one Mother's Day, I usually put something seasonal on her lap as she watches over all the Wonderful Life peoples and buildings.</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/57/59/ce/5759ceafca856a53ee72876e950a7195.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here's George here standing in front of the <i>Bailey Bros. Building & Loan Association</i>, poor George, he's beside himself, he is <i>very</i> upset. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This scene is atop a very, very old Henty book, probably from the early 1900s. The inscriptions were usually written:<i> Merry Christmas! From Aunt Emma.</i> Or<i>: To Master Thomas</i>. The Henty books are adventure books written for young men or young women would enjoy them too.<br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="329" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/e2/4c/05/e24c0526696cc9fabc7988a267d697f4.jpg" width="400" />.</p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/56/4d/a0/564da0506be3ce177a62374db0fab10a.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here is that wonderful gal, Annie, the housekeeper here at the Granville House where George, Mary and the children live. </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/1e/f4/c8/1ef4c84205413dfc813632f04a47ca1c.jpg" width="301" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Don't worry, Annie, Bert the policeman is right around the corner. : )<br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/3a/ac/a7/3aaca7d90ff011f90c6c5de750279446.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Oh no....It's Mr. Potter! Yikes! He's got that money on his lap I tell you! That greedy meanie-boots crook! </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/07/f5/80/07f580b8eb893a8cef6875b08423885b.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here's Ernie's taxi, parked right there in front of Gower's drugstore. I'm trying to find a Target brand Ernie, and a Mr. Gower. But patience, patience...right? All of these pieces here are the Target brand from the 90s. Very good memories then, our girls were little and I remember saving my pennies for Gower's drugstore and the highschool. It was later stolen by dishonest workers who were supposed to be cleaning for mold, but thank God I've been able to restore my little collection and more thanks to patience, gifts from Zuzu and ebay. I try to be patient waiting on a good value, and sometimes use swagbucks to buy these things. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Across the room we have this part of <i>It's a Wonderful Life.</i></span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="242" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/b5/17/fe/b517fe8cca097dcf82037e9636155a96.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We have Harry in uniform standing in front of the church, city hall with the Bailey children there waiting on mom and dad who are standing in front of the train station. Many of my Wonderful Life buildings are on my old Grace Livingston Hill books, some of the books are also<i> The Bells of St. Mary's</i>, and probably Peter Marshall's old sermons too. </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/c5/a5/f6/c5a5f6d5e1e79d03c2f8500c18d7763e.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/21/17/93/211793cf12d23c65316f55456077999e.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/34/48/94/34489425be60a9fe88f3b308af15a201.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/50/3f/24/503f24496476c6d10d85081ed616c716.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Let's go Over to the Little Bookcase</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/d8/1c/28/d81c2844f4fb8f4b325fb065390be420.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/6a/22/03/6a22035d2e56f36781f139334a52e4ae.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We have a model B29 from WWII that Jem put together from a model kit I got him for Christmas a couple of years ago from Hobby Lobby. I have a fascinating stack of like-new condition 30s magazines called<i> The Farmer's Wife</i>. We have the Bijou Theater from Wonderful Life, and they are even playing: Bells of St. Mary's! One of our little trees lit up and a wonderful Cathedral from Walmart I picked up a few years ago. Do you see Baby Jesus under the tree?</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/e5/79/d8/e579d8d38123c09dee8e982c8a9148c5.jpg" width="335" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is exactly like the little Baby Jesus my Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Cooley gave me when I was in the first grade. It's made from plastic and the little Baby Jesus is removable from the hay. The original was stolen as I explained above, and thank the Lord I was able to find another one on ebay last year. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The bookcase with sliding doors is something my dad and my Uncle Bennie made together way before I was born.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/84/53/6e/84536e9c7edf1020bb12e93ce9dcca68.jpg" width="296" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ab/78/a9/ab78a90d5ad4e744a8975a3ae850465d.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/25/07/75/2507751058837ef730150280bec8a57d.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">These magazines contain the sweetest articles you've ever seen, I read one about games for college age youth, just so innocent and fun, and look at the Christmas subscription price! 5 Years for $1.00! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Let's go to the Breakfast table area!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Precious Nativity <br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/79/86/1f/79861f55a252ef98707362e247cf683a.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> I love my Nativity scene. I love to light it up in the morning and throughout the day I stop and ponder this scene. I never want to lose the true sweet real meaning behind Christmas.</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/96/45/1f/96451f5fadd3e60cd696f4f52158134c.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/cc/b9/ca/ccb9ca46710ba57e39bb61c6bc4c8ab1.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A very, very old Christmas card, probably from the 30s or 40s. Is this not so sweet? I just love everything about it.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Library Christmas Tree Area </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/20/e1/5b/20e15b69e6d5c29378e1134d86ae1dee.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/87/cd/2c/87cd2c1a2c4edf58cbdeab718573eb32.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is another little tree, this one is Grace's real tree she bought. But I do have a little 'police department' building that I thought went well with our Wonderful Life buildings. I found it reasonably on ebay. The light-up doggy always stays here atop my old cedar chest that Mr. Jeske made me when I was born. The police department building sits on top of a stack of children's Christmas books for when the grandchildren come to visit. This is near our breakfast table too.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have quite a few other decorations even in the guest Edit: 12.14.23 <b>bath</b>room, many old cards and pale pink bulbs....Another four foot tree that got scooted in the living room when Grace brought her real one home...Oh well, it works. : )</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There are a lot of memories right now...A lot of precious thoughts too. We miss those we love and those innocent years of childhood.</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/f4/b4/a1/f4b4a10d411fee3cce62e9f4f99a1452.jpg" width="301" /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Jem when he was a little boy. This abc shirt was his favorite.</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/21/33/f6/2133f69f42e4b1be50ea634fa32d5e71.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I think I was almost 2 years old here.</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/aa/06/ee/aa06ee9252c531344c6bfbd1f0c4ae9d.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is me with my little dog,<i> Cutie</i> when I was probably 4 or 5. I drew this when I was in highschool. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/58/f7/43/58f743a2763ead50a3ba38ef39c63991.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/b9/4b/ba/b94bba16989e5cc52fa335389dff4b3e.jpg" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Been to Dollar Tree Lately?</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/20/f8/99/20f899e6cd4a5e386cefea8225f5d7d5.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Last week my mom had a total ball at Dollar Tree! It was one of those very special days and it even did her so, so good, cognitively. Here she is with one of our little grandsons, he decided he would take a ride on Great-Grandma's walker!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I've been enjoying this <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Qoe7PJsISw" target="_blank">Christmas music video </a>on our tv screen<i>, </i>it's so old fashioned and sweet. Think WWII era Christmas. <br /></span></p><p></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3Qoe7PJsISw?si=2QPtrRySniLW8D0Z" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I sure hope everyone is okay this Christmas season, I know days can seem strange as well as enchanting this time of year. Many widows and widowers need our prayers, many who have an ill mate need our prayers, many who have very elderly parents as Jem and I do need your prayers. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I appreciate you all so very much! ~Amelia </span> <br /></p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-60217613234685801332023-12-07T18:06:00.006-06:002023-12-07T19:38:25.794-06:00Pearl Harbor, Day of Infamy. Dec. 7, 1941 The Greatest Generation<p> </p><p> <span style="font-size: large;">Pearl Harbor, Today is a sobering day of remembrance. The following are links to 2016 when our oldest daughter was so blessed to volunteer with our WWII Greatest Generation vets AT Pearl Harbor. These beautiful men were THERE at Pearl Harbor. I'll keep it short, but I cannot let this day go by without honoring our vets and keep a dialogue of that sobering day. We have talked to these most beautiful people at the grocery store and other places, we honor them when we see them. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of the vets, Uncle Bob (in the links below) who Janie got to know pretty well, we would call him on his birthday, he said he could see the kamikaze's face swooping down at him as he manned his gun on deck. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The below links will have other links and one is talking to a vet at the grocery store, he broke down in tears that day. It makes me cry to this day to think of that day talking with him and his wife.<br /></span></p><p> </p><p><a href="https://myforestcathedral.blogspot.com/2016/12/more-greatest-generation-greatness.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">The Greatest Generation <br /></span></a></p><p><a href="https://myforestcathedral.blogspot.com/2016/12/more-greatest-generation-greatness.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://myforestcathedral.blogspot.com/2016/12/the-greatest-generation-wwii-vets-pearl.html" target="_blank">More of the Greatest Generation </a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our daughter got to know these men who are on this video:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ptGFK8VPkhI">Pearl Harbor Video</a></span></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ptGFK8VPkhI?si=xQmkqi444Wb3STAJ&start=1" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There are quite a few movies too, <b>'The Fighting Sullivans</b>' is one of them. An entire family of brothers there fighting and every one of those young men were lost. A full exhibit of the Fighting Sullivans and the telegraph of their mother, pictures a reenactment of her calling the President is at The Pacific War museum in Fredericksburg, Texas. I <i>highly</i> recommend that museum.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Other movies are<b> Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo, Destination Tokyo </b>and<b> Best Years of Our Lives.</b></span></p><p><br /></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/c7/91/26/c791263811c62d7908ab2a52e495fa63.jpg" width="273" /></p><p></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm worn out today after taking my mom to Dollar Tree yesterday, oh how happy it made her and I totally get that. She's almost 94 now...<i>Everyday</i> is a journal page, what will we compose? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Signing off, remembering Pearl Harbor and those mighty and brave men who fought for us. God bless them. May we lift our great country up in prayer.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">God be with us all, ~Amelia </span> <br /></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /></p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-24346803743338818552023-11-14T18:06:00.013-06:002023-11-18T09:01:52.500-06:00Of Christopher Robin and Batman...Liesl too. A Wonderful Movie, Most Appropriate for Holidays Coming Up.<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes...When I watch children play...I see what is <i>right</i> in the world...<br /></span></p><p> <img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/50/ee/ea/50eeea933d3740ef8e95bdabcfe01548.jpg" width="301" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The world of two, four and a half year olds, cousins...We have Christopher Robin here, reminds me of a young Elmer Bernstein in the way he appreciates music and already composes in his own way, dancing around waving his arms to the music...Christopher Robin loves the theme to 'To Kill a Mockingbird' like Mimi. (by Elmer Bernstein). We even had one of the beautiful scores entitled, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_maR0d1VFBE" target="_blank"><i>Boo Who?</i></a> from the movie, To 'Kill a Mockingbird' played at Batman's mommy and daddy's wedding. It was played as I was walked down the aisle as mother of the bride, we even did congregational singing at the end with a famous hymn...it was surreal. Batman is an extrovert, and has the ability to be an encourager. Once Batman and Christopher were playing a game in the back on a holiday, Christopher Robin's mommy heard Batman say...<i>You can do it Christopher! I tell you, you can do it! </i>Little Batman was so funny this day...I so wish I could have gotten a shot of his feet, he had one rubber boot on one foot and a sandal on the other foot! That is just what he wanted to wear this day our daughter tells me. Little Batman is a hoot. This day, he would have made the perfect children's book illustration, the both of them would have. They cover their sweet little mouths and giggle, like two little cherubs. Mimi had bought them Christmas sticker coloring books from Dollar Tree and it was so cute them holding the books facing each other and giggling covering their mouths...Just so innocent and sweet.</span> <br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/df/84/f6/df84f63b2fce9fd7643a7f8b3ac9793f.jpg" width="269" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Christopher Robin and Little Batman having the best time every blowing up balloons! So fun. It doesn't take much for children to have simple fun.</span> <br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/da/80/af/da80afae13195ab58a037317274c0bab.jpg" width="301" />.</p><p> <span style="font-size: large;">One recent day, Christopher Robin's daddy had to go to the emergency room with a possible broken ankle and we gladly took Christopher with us this Sunday as our daughter could only handle one of the toddlers at the er understandably. We had just lost our Missy and I turned and looked at this sight in our car...And I saw what was good and right that Sunday. A Blessing.<br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/4c/a9/a7/4ca9a75b39b66fcfc27e95c9aa5a1ead.jpg" /> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes when I see our fur angels, I also see what is good and right in the world...</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/48/e3/c8/48e3c88e414c7e0ba33f33138f9a508f.jpg" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is sweet Liesl. She is half Shepherd and half Lab and just a colossal ball of love. Our daughter living at home caught this shot of her on the landing. She was very upset because it had started to rain and Mimi and Popo were <i>not</i> home yet. </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/a9/96/b9/a996b97b1c7d14dab343b77053bb845c.jpg" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She had been laying here for around an hour very upset with the situation I must say...But alas we were soon home.<br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/de/31/62/de31623e84aab22678c6b9d81acb283f.jpg" width="313" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Liesl now loves to ride in the cart with Popo (Jem). For several years when we first had her she simply would not get into any moving anything. I think she was afraid she would be abandoned again, poor thing. The cart is fun, Jem bought it used from an elderly man who fixes them and resells them. The man was so funny...He had a golf cart in his living room he was working on! </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/52/ef/e5/52efe5f3b567290f616682bbef633996.jpg" width="301" />.</p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ba/a0/9d/baa09d689db04f4c39129a64aa740575.jpg" width="231" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Sweet Liesl, when you look into her dark brown sweet eyes with those blond eyelashes, you see a beautiful soul, almost human like. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I remember what was good and right in the world when I see this portrait of my parents in a happy time that hung in our living room when I was growing up. The portrait looked lit up one afternoon as I was rather upset one day recently, after our fur angel had passed away and I looked up over the computer and saw this sight...It was as if God whispered a breath of Life shining on the portrait. Very unusual because this normally did not catch this kind of light in the afternoon. </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/af/16/c4/af16c4cb601de7414457f132b94b91b7.jpg" width="301" /></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/c7/91/26/c791263811c62d7908ab2a52e495fa63.jpg" width="273" /><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When I see little Elbee, one of our little kitties laying in front of a music station on our television, I smile and appreciate this little fur angel's quiet spirit, it too reminds me of what is good and right in this world. He has bright blue eyes and is a tiny little white cat. Joycie rescued him as he toddled down a busy road one day back when she was single, it looked as if a hawk had dropped him, there were talon marks on his back.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Elbee makes his appearances in interesting places.</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/7f/40/c6/7f40c6f12039a9ddd5789248d10ce84b.jpg" width="400" />.</p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/b3/89/b9/b389b949c002cc8adb8d58cd7408d5ed.jpg" width="400" />.</p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/70/77/94/707794b52d39c243f392cc8576016556.jpg" width="400" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Sweet Elbee. I think he likes pretty vintage music and sometimes Bossa Nova jazz too. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Walks outside are good for clearing our heads and hearts, talking to God. Sometimes I say...<i>I need to get out of my head. </i> This was taken on the day of the partial eclipse and we had just lost Muffie the day before. Do you see the little crescent moon images on the ground? <br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ac/b4/df/acb4df8bffbdb985fc15af8dd966bf11.jpg" width="301" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A distant shot of Gracie our precious hound dog. I'll have to post more of her at a later time, she's a very sensitive dog as well.</span> <br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/fd/22/71/fd22714d75b685872d18267422c123ba.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The Holiday and Christmas Season is approaching and this movie is just wonderful to keep things in check.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Meet John Doe</b> (1941) What is there not to love about Gary Cooper and Barbara Stanwyck? ...Who are the <i>Heelots</i>? Watch the movie and find out. This movie speaks multitudes of society, materialism and the beautiful common man. Oh the messages in this movie! There is one part that speaks of that Common Man, Jesus Christ two-thousand years ago... It's interesting, you will see many of the same parallels we see today going on with corruption and power. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5AGEfVr5shI&t=3s" target="_blank">Meet John Doe</a>, directed by Frank Capra, one of my all time favorite directors from Bisaquino, Sicily where my Grandpa was from. This girl is half Italian and half German...Imagine that.</span><br /> </p><p></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/5AGEfVr5shI?si=ywGt7nA6j95fnxUL" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The other day, Jem and I were riding in the car and this song came on...It really touched my heart. In these days of elderly moms and everything else this just really touched my heart. </span> <br /></p><p> <br /></p><p></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/0tYIuGpca3c?si=wbdrGqOx__mZkJ4Y&start=24" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Time to go finish up supper, I hope all is well with you sweet Readers and Friends.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">...<i>Surely Goodness and Mercy shall follow me all the days of my Life</i>... From my most read Psalm these days...Psalm 23.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Let me know how you all are too dear Friends. Signing off from My Forest Cathedral.... ~Amelia </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="200" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/18/eb/d9/18ebd922b7dc76293fa03fcffd97167a.jpg" width="151" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-55417053249086845012023-11-02T14:12:00.012-05:002023-11-03T08:23:37.577-05:00God's Comfort for Grieving Pet Parents, Sharing Some Things That may Help (Edited)<p><span style="font-size: large;">Today is a beautiful day outside, I just witnessed Jem quietly (unannounced to me), taking down Muffie's little yard where Muffie would roam around safely. Many thoughts in the theatre of my mind...</span><br /></p><p></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/PnJ7E4cCWzY?si=C1_6xMcXiwoUY-aa" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnJ7E4cCWzY" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>God's Comfort for Grieving Pet Parents </b></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="yt-core-attributed-string yt-core-attributed-string--white-space-pre-wrap" role="text"><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" style="color: #131313;"><i>Losing a pet can be an incredibly painful experience. God created domestic animals to meet a purpose in our lives. Those who have never bonded with a pet, do not understand the depth of the connection. Sometimes a grieving pet parent is trivialized by other believers, making it even harder to process our pain. God cares about our animals and expresses it in Scripture. In fact, He cares about anything that causes us pain. He is the God of all comfort; it is an expression of His nature to comfort us in any type of pain. This video will provide you with some Biblical basis for looking to God in your time of grief and loss... </i></span></span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span class="yt-core-attributed-string yt-core-attributed-string--white-space-pre-wrap" role="text"><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" style="color: #131313;">(partial description of video)<br /></span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span class="yt-core-attributed-string yt-core-attributed-string--white-space-pre-wrap" role="text"><span class="yt-core-attributed-string--link-inherit-color" style="color: #131313;"> </span></span><b> </b><b><br /></b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">This video just popped up last Sunday on my screen, of course we know it didn't just "pop up" it was God.</span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The above is a heartfelt message by Dr. Jim Richards, a pastor and operates a free clinic from what I understand. He had just lost his beloved pet when he made this video and it's one of the best I've seen as Dr. Richards is clearly grieved and explains things so beautifully and God honoring, keep with him, there will be a video within the video after the first ten minutes or so. This video is good for anyone who has lost their beloved pet, or anyone or anything...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If you read the entry below from October, you will see that we lost our little Muffie, the third one of our fur babies in two months. Yes, heartbreaking.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Last evening I passed by his wicker bed on my side of our bed and oh it tells such a sad story...Both Jem and I still go look at the wicker bed when passing through to check on our little guy. Sadly, he's not here with us any longer, as Muffie has passed to Heaven. The baby blue blankets are just as they were left on the morning of Oct. 13th as we had left for the vet's.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When our precious large dogs, Liesl and Gracie and our daughter's little dachshund, Atticus bark...I tend to wait for little Muffie to start barking too. It wasn't even a few weeks ago that little Muffie would rise up to still bark when his fur angel siblings would bark at something suspicious. Our little guy.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He would bark in his later years, sometimes I think since he was blind he was out of sorts... And I would pick him up holding him against my chest as he would stretch his little head back and then he would wiggle after ten minutes or so and I would gently place him in the living room dog bed by my feet, he knew even though blind that he was with me, he even loved laying on Jem or my shoes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The video above explains quite a bit, many don't understand because they have never bonded with any of God's creatures, many have somewhat of an emotional deficit and it affects reactions and really affects lives and that can be a sad thing. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I just bought this book for myself and one for each of our grandchildren:</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/54/42/99/544299c01a9ef70b48137f63131bb3e4.jpg" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Piggy in Heaven</i> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I purchased the books from Christianbook.com. These are sweet little books that explain our pets going to Heaven, maybe you would like the book too?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">EDIT 1.13.23 I just shared with our daughter, Zuzu a remembrance of little Muffie that is so cute. I'll write here what it is: </span> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He would roll around on his back on a carpet rug and jerk all around
on his back and then 'freeze' on his back still, perfectly still...and want us to look at him and give him
pets...He could be such a little character... He would do this often
in our room on my bedside and give out little growls playfully as if to
say..."Look at me!" "See what I'm doing?" "Aren't I funny?" </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Thoughts of Christmas and Thanksgiving...I even wrapped
our grandchildren's Christmas gifts yesterday in the quiet and
stillness...It felt strange but a good thing to do. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Pasta gravy will be simmering soon. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Just stopping in dear friends, wanted to share that timely video with you all. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I cherish your heartfelt comments, they are a Gift. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">~Amelia<br /></span></p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-18092447271018263732023-10-22T19:00:00.016-05:002023-11-18T11:48:18.092-06:00I Feel Such a Loss, Feeling Lost. Now we Have Lost Our Little Muffie, Such a Sweet Boy. Unbelievable.<p> </p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="373" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/0e/38/ac/0e38ac889cf78fdbab7c45388c226d93.jpg" width="400" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our little Muffie, taken a few months ago. He found us in 2007, election season when the debates were going. He left this green earth for Heaven this past Friday late morning at the vet's office, October 13, 2023.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The day before I was cutting one of my soft cotton flannel plaid skirts I deemed unflattering, in two pieces, they were to be blankets for Muffie. I had just ordered Muffie a package of white cotton baby onesies for the cool weather...Little did I know Muffie would be buried with one of the plaid 'blankets'....The new little package of infant onesies are one of many reminders now... <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It wasn't that long ago that our older veterinarian, now retired had told me...<i>When these dogs find your family, they've hit the jackpot. </i> That was one of the biggest compliments we could have received.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Another comforting thought was when I was holding our little Esther at our old vet's, our pudgie little black rolie-polie poodle when she was very ill...A lady with a cross necklace on who had brought her cat in for an allergy shot, came up to me and bent over to say so sweetly to me...<i>I can tell you really care for your animal.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Those messages were Godsends to me.<i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was 2007...Muffie was sitting in an intersection on a suburban road as our daughter, Joycie approached in her car, she drove past looking through her rearview mirror back then. He had turned around and was watching her as if to say,<i> You forgot about me, come back! </i>She noticed the little guy watching her and made a U-turn going back. She opened her door and in hopped little Muffie! She said he rolled on his back playfully on the floor of her car. So adorable. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She brings this little guy home, he was kind of like a mini Schitzu. His fur was quite overgrown, and his collar was <b>rusted shut</b>. A friend of ours, a Green Beret saw him on our blog back then and said..."Why he looks like a forlorned dustmop!" He really did, he was so matted but was the lovely color of a golden muffin.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Someone was <i>not </i>caring for this little angel, leaving him outside in who knows what. He looked like a little muffin! Huckabee was running for president and Muffie's eyes looked like buttons. Thus his name: Muffin Buttons Huckabee. Thus: Muffie.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>A little heartbeat at my feet...</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He was horribly fearful of <i>any</i> rain at all because of being left out in the elements, you could literally see his little face shake from across a room, I would always try to place him on my lap in those times... </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Now may I say? <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">If you are looking for a happy blog post, maybe this will be a happy life for you to read about sure enough, but my Bible also tells me to weep with those who weep. I do wish more Readers would understand that this blog is an honest blog about life and understand how very valued genuine empathy/symphathy is. If you have shared in this holy kindness, just like the holy kindness of caring for God's Creatures, especially taking in those who have no home... You know who you are and you have blessed my heart with that most holy kindness and I appreciate that so very much, you have no idea. Life isn't always happy and in this case....It has BROKEN MY HEART. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I feel Muffie took a part of me with him now that things have hit. Muffie was with us through the move to the country here, he was in our busy previous home that bustled with baking, cooking, homemaking and Bible lessons that many girls would attend, taught by our second born daughter, Joycie. Hay rides in the neighborhood at Christmas time. He was a little bit like our family mascot I guess you could say. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We have lost 3 of our fur babies in 2 months now, so yes, this chapter of my life is<i> very </i>difficult. So please oblige and be Jesus with skin on. I don't know about you but I think we need more Jesus with skin on. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Everywhere I look, I see our little Muffie. Our entire home was set up for little Muffie since he was blind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The vet is our new<i> </i>vet, another youngish man, very handsome with the most gorgeous, wide, friendly smile we have seen in a while, longish hair, now days in a pony tail. The first time we came in to this new animal hospital he was wearing a new white belted kimono wrap style vet coat. Jem said later...<i>Wow, I thought to myself...That's the coolest looking doctor I've ever seen.</i> The young vet is also a farm vet so has to visit many farms in the area in his truck. His scuffed hands tell a strong but gentle story, long gone is the white kimono wrap coat (I'm sure the senior vet owner required them all wear).<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He knew what he was doing...Very kind. I was relieved he was able to find a place for a catheter so things went smoothly and most peacefully, Muffie just went to sleep there like a little angel, our sweet boy. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I looked at the vet after he looked at me and Jem and quietly said...<i>He's passed. </i>I looked the vet in his blue eyes and with little-girl wonder, peacefully said...<i>It was peaceful </i>and he shook his head <i>yes</i>, yes, the 30 something young vet was assuring the 60 something mom. He's getting to know me and knows I'm a sensitive and thinking one. I was so relieved it was peaceful, just like little Muffie went to sleep, not even a flinch that the vet warned could happen. He looked like a very small sleeping little puppy there, little fur angel.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">There was no arguing about it...I had held him in the exam room waiting for the vet, he was uncomfortable even in my arms. I carefully placed him in his little cozy bed from home we had brought with us to the vet with that plaid blanket... He was starting to have trouble breathing it seemed. It was breaking our hearts and Jem was tearing up this time. Actually? Jem broke down as I read this blog to him. He jokes around and kids to stave off grief but I see he too is in a grieving process.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You see, it wasn't that long ago here that Muffie would sit next to Jem on the couch like a little boy...We would laugh so very hard because if we touched Muffie he would let out a gentle growl to let us know...<i>No, I'm with my daddy. Leave me alone. </i>It was so funny, it was like a push button toy that growled playfully when touched. Sometimes Jem would talk to Muffie and Muffie would look up at him just as a child would! His little button eyes and even his little mouth's expression said...<i><b>Really? I'm your buddy?!</b><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Several years ago though, his little button eyes dimmed, and he became blind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He was a little sidekick and loved to be held but then would want in his little bed. We had a beautiful wicker bed next to my side of the bed where he would be safe at night. I remember buying the wicker dog bed at a resale shop in the burbs way back when. Since sleeping next to my bedside, I would place two receiving blankets doubled; a pink one and white and gold stripe one doubled over his side of my lamp shade so my lamp wouldn't disturb him. Yes, they are still there on my nightstand as well as his wicker bed on the floor by my bedside with blankets left just as they were that morning.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had a little fenced area for him where he could walk around safely outside, and then he would climb up the little ramp Jem made to the doggy door.<i> </i>I would place lavender oil on the ramp and the doggy door so he could find those places. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">EDIT 10.30.23 He would bark and want to be held...He would just lay his little head back and close his eyes relaxed...Very sweet that he knew to do that in my arms and felt so safe.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lessons learned for me finally in this life on this green earth. The night before I held him at the supper table I knew he didn't look well at this point and was becoming extremely weak. Jem would sit with him on the couch later... That night at 2am he cried and we put little Muffie in bed with us...in that plaid blanket... </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was apparent the next morning he was losing strength not able to stand and crying periodically.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> We called the vet and got over there to see what could be done for our angel....The receptionist understood, she had just dug into her kleenex box for me a couple of weeks before when Missy passed, she has fur babies of her own.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I miss our little Muffie.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I think our big white Lab/Shepherd dog, precious and sweet, Liesl knows she needs to comfort me...She took a nap by my feet as I napped quietly that afternoon, she even pawed at the restroom door as if to say...<i>Mom? You okay?</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Seasons of life come and go...We take each loss differently and things hit at different times.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I
even took the time to gently clip some of his beautiful golden locks
perhaps for a locket, maybe our daughters may like to have a lock too,
as he lay there so sweetly before Jem buried our little angel. </span><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'll close now...I appreciate those wonderful Friends and Readers who type words of comfort and strength coupled with compassion. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You see...You are Jesus with skin on.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Please oblige, I will not be able to respond to comments most likely for the next several days or so <i>at least</i> for I will be out of pocket. So my customary replies may be a little late. Thank you for understanding. I appreciate you all so very much.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><i>Ask the animals, and they will teach you. </i></span><span style="font-size: large;"> ~Job 12:7</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">God be with us all. I covet your prayers.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Signing off for now, until the next time from My Forest Cathedral ~Amelia<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <br /></p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com22tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-7316824187394186862023-10-02T13:09:00.024-05:002023-10-08T18:53:57.617-05:00Missy Christmas, Our Little Angel. You Will be Sooooo Missed, our little Angel Girl....<p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="242" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c2/b9/99/c2b99967bb97e8e8800d4541efffbd76.jpg" width="400" /> </p><p>This is precious little Missy, last December in her new coat. </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I had just been watching Missy, just the cute way she would kind of walk around and flop down appearing to be looking around, though blind, it looked like she could see something, and oh it was so darling....Just so innocent. She loved our daughter's dachshund and would just wag her tail when she was around him...It made me wonder if she wasn't used to another little dog around her like that. She so wanted to be friends with Atticus and he was very sweet to her too. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Edit 10.2.23 4:50pm. Missy Christmas was dumped here on our street two days after Christmas in literally freezing weather for those who may not know. It was so very sad but we were so blessed to have this little angel for the far-too short time we were so blessed to have had this heart-warming angel.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> ...................................................................</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <br /></p><p> <br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We lost our little Missy last Friday. I'm severely grieved in my spirit and heart and everything else. It's very traumatic and heartbreaking for me. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She was getting up, falling over and hitting her head on the floor. She started curling her body over to the side. We had already taken our elderly little Muffie in to the vet, Wednesday before that for similar symptoms and he became better quickly. <b> </b>So I really expected for Missy too, to get better quickly. <b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">According to the vet, she had something going on that probably had to do with the way she was treated by her previous owners who dumped her in literally freezing cold weather two days after Christmas. She had had a hernia on her side already, caused by a very hard kick or hit by a car. I just don't know who the monsters were who had this little angel. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm so disappointed with many things that have happened lately, just sick at heart. I know I have blessings and I know God is watching, He's even watching the sparrow but I'm just really sad at heart, I'm mourning and God understands that. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's easy to get cynical with people even. almost everyone just starts looking like a fake to us at times...People say crazy things when we lose our pets, they'll even say crazy things using the Bible, can you imagine what God thinks of that? His heart must break too.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Many times we are already wondering who is real anymore for God's sake?! Who in God's name can sympathize and behave in a caring way instead of having their faces imbedded into their screens! Who can we find who is not so busy going to church that they can't <i>be</i> the Church? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Last Friday I looked around in the stores, Jem and I. I was so upset inside the stores and restaurant waiting for the vet to call me the first time around. I just looked at people, they seemed like zombies. I tell people my dog is at the vet's not doing well...They don't even know how to respond! What has become of this culture?! <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We pick Missy up the first time and as we waited their was a youngish lady with very frightened German Shepherd, just precious, he was shaking after his rabies shot. She had a tshirt on and on the back of it, it said...<i>Be Strong in the Lord.</i> I told her I liked her shirt and that I sure needed that message that day. She acted sheepish and quiet about it although smiling to herself, obviously a nice person but seemed a little socially inept and not too terribly empathetic to maybe what was going on with me and my pet who we were waiting for? ...And I'm just thinking...Now isn't that something? She's wearing that shirt and can't even defend the message or give encouragement. I'm just mentally shaking my head. Later Jem shared, that yes, he noticed the girl was quiet on that. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The whole world is crazy isn't it at times? Although, of course there are right things in this world too that I thank the Lord for. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In this case we had to make the agonizing decision to euthanize our little angel, and I even have questions on that, she was suffering and it was Friday evening, we brought her home from the vet's office, he said it didn't look good. We brought her home and she cried and cried...We brought her back to the vet's seeking help and wisdom.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The very young vet, a handsome, fresh-looking black young man, someone who looked like he should be an actor on pbs children's programming, was very sweet, he looked like he was about to cry too. He had recommended euthanizing but I've learned to <i>never</i> take that advice without looking into things. I've been told that twice in the past ten years and both times it was <i>not</i> needed, the animal wasn't suffering and both times the pet recovered fully! <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I told the young vet the story of the nursing home I used to volunteer at, a middle aged man who had been in a car wreck was there. He had passed away and was brought back by the paramedics. He said the first thing he saw in Heaven was all of his dogs from his life who had passed to the other side, there to greet him... There was no reason for that man to tell me that either, and I've always remembered his testimony of that. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I quietly told the vet through tear filled eyes....</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>And I believe that. <br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When they gave my angel the first shot to sedate her she jumped and flailed and I was horrified, I looked at the vet tech with fear, horror and tears and asked<i> Is this normal? </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I held my little angel and cried and told her <i>Oh Missy, I'm so sorry we could not help you more... </i></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i> </i></b></span><i> </i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>After they took her to the next room we waited on the bench in the far side of the lobby and I cried so hard, just so very<i> hard. </i> I did not care who heard me either.</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></p><p><i><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TkJGhQANjZo?si=CxPEgi_ehVpNSFzu" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></i></p><p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TkJGhQANjZo" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;"> <span><b>Pet Loss Grief; the pain explained. Sarah Hoggan DVM</b></span></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have many questions right now on how things happened. The lady above is a trauma vet and she explains our feelings so, so, so, so well. Just. So. Well. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Please give the video a listen, it's only 16 minutes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I must go now, please say a prayer for this gal. ~Amelia</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <br /></p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-18997230146529396892023-09-19T09:41:00.009-05:002023-09-19T13:07:54.807-05:00A Re-Post, Everytime I See Your Face. Photograph. Thoughts on When we Need Help! <p><span style="font-size: large;">I've been loading pics for a new post, and it is frustrating at times, our internet is not that great and I find the pics were never posted with the slow internet. Oh well, such is life and maybe God has other plans this time?</span> <br /></p><p> <span style="font-size: large;">I ran across this post of mine from '18...Oh my heart. It is entitled: </span></p><p><a href="https://myforestcathedral.blogspot.com/2018/03/everytime-i-see-your-face-photograph.html" target="_blank"><img alt="" class="_mj _25 _3v _2h" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/56/e4/27/56e427dfa037e99bc840997695aa2ae3.jpg" width="300" /></a><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><a href="https://myforestcathedral.blogspot.com/2018/03/everytime-i-see-your-face-photograph.html" target="_blank"><b>Click Here to read my re-post: <span style="color: #0c343d;">Everytime I See Your Face. </span></b></a></span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b><span style="color: #0c343d;"> </span></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>It's a recap of life on this green earth and my dad.</b> I hope it will touch your heart. The Lord had put the post upon my heart that day in '18 as hubs and I were driving down the freeway home, and <i>oh</i> <i>my, </i>God's Spirit is oh so real if we can be still and listen and <i>see.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When I read it and listened to the accompanying music by Ringo Starr, <i>Photograph, </i>and<i> </i>looked at the old photographs<i>...</i>My eyes teared. I knew this would be an immediate <i>re-post </i>and to load my pics for another day soon. <b>God's timing is different than ours yes?<br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sometimes we have troubles or uncertainties in life,</b> things look like this pic I took the other day through my side mirror on the passenger side as we see a very bad storm is looming from behind coming toward us, chasing us so to speak down the freeway from the city that early afternoon.<br /></span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="291" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/50/e0/ef/50e0effbffd964578ad0a2264dd9ccb4.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>With me? My uncertainty at this time</b> is my mom at 93. It causes great concern, the ups and downs, and sometimes? I'll just light heartedly say to my Dad who has gone to Heaven...<i>Oh Daddy what am I going to do? HELP!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I feel like the part of Sergeant York played by Gary Cooper as he cries out to God on the mountain that he needs help, an answer?!!! <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But mainly? I cry out to God! <i> HELP!</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We need <i>wisdom. </i>Not as the world gives but as God gives.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> <br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>...It is very unusual for there to be complete quiet in the soul, for God almost continually whispers to us. And whenever the sounds of the world subside in our soul, we hear the whispering of God. Yes, he continue to whisper to us, but we often do not hear Him because of the noise and distractions caused by the hurried pace of our life. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><i>~Frederick William Faber<br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">From my devotional<i>, Streams in the Desert.</i></span><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I thought this song by Twila Paris was so fitting. </span><br /><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Ljrp4iX8LAs?si=ZgRyDSUTAwxtEH2h&start=1" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p> <img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/80/3b/34/803b348174e782781446e1f0ebe83afd.jpg" /> <span style="font-size: large;">When we see this, our grandchildren, our children, our neighbors, we know all in all, all is well with our soul. Nothing like innocent children doing their little dances in life, so beautiful as they play with such wreckless abandon in such a joyful and sweet, uninhibited way. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">How 'bout we do the same? I've been doing dances in the kitchen, cooking, doing dances putting up clean clothes. Life is a dance isn't it? That's not to say sometimes I'm like Tevia in<i> Fiddler on the Roof</i> talking with the Lord when things are not going great. Trust me! </span> </p><p><img alt="" class="_mj _25 _3v _2h" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/99/77/64/997764a0220d4fe7c541dbbbaba09356.jpg" width="300" /><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I hope you enjoy my re-post: <br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Photograph. <span style="color: #cc0000;"> <a href="https://myforestcathedral.blogspot.com/2018/03/everytime-i-see-your-face-photograph.html" target="_blank"> Everytime I see your face...</a></span></b></span></p><p><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/48/04/06/480406d639903380a9b89a140cfffb77.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"><b> </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A real silver lining last week one evening...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>And in closing, a couple of makes I have managed to load:</b></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/06/ad/c3/06adc39d33f566e698eec7bb95eb4b0f.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"><b> <br /></b></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/df/82/67/df8267d7b1b1f59ee62152fcefce730b.jpg" width="301" /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Doggies, doggies, who loves da doggies? I do! Skirts are modifications of Simplicity 4881 (out of print). Both fabrics are cotton prints from Hobby Lobby.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Cute with bright colored or black/white tops. </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/b7/4e/e3/b74ee3b441c7860c60142ad799cb3f7f.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/87/00/65/870065586b61cddaf9a2b082a9a083b1.jpg" width="256" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And here ya go...What's not to love about<i> Peanuts?</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This brings visions of the Peanuts gang dancing in that iconic memory of happiness! </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ec/bf/ec/ecbfec05d1b4d313c1b476dc61b0e494.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This isn't a "make" but it is a "wear". I take this back-pack purse everywhere, it's rare I'm not carrying this bag, I receive many compliments on it. It's big and it's whimsical and I can use it as a purse or backpack and it works. I love the kitties on it. I purchased this from the Animal Rescue site. My trusty little bottle of rubbing alcohol on the strap. It works and is functional like that. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Take care all...Prayers for all, many have suffered loss this year.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">God please be with each of us in special ways as we listen for You and rest our head on Your shoulder. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="" class="_mj _25 _3v _2h" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/30/92/36/309236df91d37f98362615ae5f2aa270.jpg" width="300" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Signing off for now from My Forest Cathedral...It's me, Amelia, that little gal with a Santa Claus on her head. </span></p><p><span><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Bearing the burden of crushing weight actually gives Christians wings.</i> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
-<i>Streams in the Desert</i> daily devotional.
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span> <br /></p><p> </p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-25172405448257972802023-08-01T15:04:00.005-05:002023-09-17T20:07:33.683-05:00Coffee Belle, Oh How we Will Miss Our Sweet Girl, Our Hearts Are So Heavy<p><span style="font-size: large;">Ten to eleven years ago our daughter, Joycie was showing a home, we have a family real estate business. Out popped this energetic ball of black and brown with white to boot, running around here to there. She was a pup with mange, clearly in need of a home. The prospective renter said she deserved a home, and Joycie was it. Joycie brought this girl home and we treated her and she was brought back to health. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We named this little gal, <i>Coffee Belle</i>. For she was just like a bolt or jolt of coffee...Not to mention her coloring was like coffee! Do any of you remember the old Andy hardy movie, <i>Love Laughs at Andy Hardy? </i>A darling movie from yesteryear, a lovely girl in the movie is named Coffee Smith. If you want to smile or laugh, I recommend this movie.<i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A loving and sweet dog, running and running and playing to and fro. Jem said it would be good to have a bigger dog now. Our others were more lap dogs at that time. Jem said when he was little he had one much like Coffee but it was a boy named "Thunder". <br /></span></p><p><img border="0" height="400" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FlyCY7yS-AE/UaYSR0dkXRI/AAAAAAAACBY/gctLXy0M-QA/w266-h400/365twentyone+(7+of+10).jpg" width="266" /> </p><p>.<img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1YhODokl1kY/UaYSR7y9fFI/AAAAAAAACBc/ZaNfzurZaxc/w266-h400/365twentyone+(8+of+10).jpg" width="266" /></p><p> <br /></p><p><img border="0" height="239" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-0voeyk_ZUxA/UdQxqKoI2TI/AAAAAAAACOM/oyIcWHmD2EQ/w400-h239/365twentyfive+(1+of+9).jpg" width="400" /> <br /></p><p><img border="0" height="266" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-H05nFR9hByY/UhrC-tAbOeI/AAAAAAAAClU/U_gTIIYHwHk/w400-h266/365thirtythree+(2+of+16).jpg" width="400" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> Coffee, when she first arrived. Grace's feet. </span><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Along came <i>Buddy</i>. He was a huge colossal ball of love. He dwarfed Coffee! They were friends. Buddy had been abused and was even scared of our kitties. My son in law would pet him but couldn't look at him while he pet Buddy or Buddy would run away. Oh if these fur angels could tell us what happened to them? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Edit: Buddy broke our hearts when he passed away suddenly in '16.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Buddy and Coffee. </span> <br /></p><p><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h8FZuaVW1zU/U2Eg54Xd1qI/AAAAAAAADtU/c1E4RsMOv3A/s1600/DSCN0484.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-h8FZuaVW1zU/U2Eg54Xd1qI/AAAAAAAADtU/c1E4RsMOv3A/w400-h300/DSCN0484.JPG" width="400" /></a> <br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/7b/f4/e1/7bf4e18855de83f11587ed579010d600.jpg" width="301" /></span> <br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/32/b9/4e/32b94e76a7a9cd7f04b1d8a0b7e63b5e.jpg" width="301" />.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We had a huge scare with Coffee a year and a half ago...We almost lost her then. We were taking her to a vet who had prescribed her pain meds, making her bladder swell but she could not void. Horrible. Her eye is swollen here because it was determined she had glaucoma which we treated with drops. Can you believe vets recommend sometimes to just remove the eye? Would they say that to a human with glaucoma? When daily drops can be used? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The two above photos are of our Coffee when we got her home from a new vet we miraculously found that day rushing her from one vet to another viable one I miraculously found online right in our own backyard. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She was so very happy to be home. She is here even playing with the other fur angels after being very, very ill. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/19/26/20/192620197fc48158cb5106f961c504cc.jpg" width="301" /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/b0/a2/87/b0a287ab57d1d979014775005c51bad7.jpg" width="301" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here (above) is our happy go lucky Coffee Belle so happy just a few months ago, she and the other fur angels here were having such a happy time out in the yard as I took my walk. This is Coffee, just so representative of her sweet personality. Sometimes I would call her my 'Sweet Po-tae-ta". She was more than just plump, she was so cute, she would <i>wobble.</i>.. and would clop-clop-clop around the house when she walked...Just so adorable. She loved to plop herself in on the edge of the pond and plop and plop herself down splashing like a little toddler in a baby pool. You just had to smile watching this!<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I didn't know these shots would be the last, and I didn't know my last three bottle order of eye drops would be her last, I was already fretting that I needed more. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Week before last we noticed she was not doing that great but it was normal, just throwing up a little bit of clear matter, nothing out of the ordinary. She became worse and Sunday before last went outside. I knew we had a problem. Jem and I would go pet her and she was so precious...She wasn't feeling good but would wag her tail when we stooped down to pet our Coffee...I noticed her going to the pond and lapping up water as usual so I was not sure if she was getting better. We had to leave her with our youngest, Grace just for a little bit while we went out for an errand and I tell her "We'll be right back Coffee!" She smiled.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Later that afternoon, Grace called and said to get home, Coffee had followed her in and lay on her doggy bed progressively having a hard time breathing. We were pulling up right then and ran into the house. Our poor Coffee was having a hard time, I called the vet, to make a long story short, I did not want my baby suffering and Grace and Jem lifted her up in her bed, Grace finally losing it like a little girl (although a young woman) looking down at Coffee. We got Coffee in the back seat floor board part of the truck on her bed. We were exhausted but knew we had to get our pet to the vet in a farming community at least 45 minutes away. Our normal vet from the sister clinic was sending patients there, they were closed on Sunday. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The entire way there I just kept patting our Coffee, telling her <i>You're a good, good dog, Coffee.. We love you Coffee...</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Coffee Belle passed when we were almost there to the vet's office. We drive up to a beautiful farming vet facility to the carport. The young vet, a petite gal with a tshirt, jeans and cowboy boots came out, a stethescope was ran out to her we opened the door and you could tell Coffee had passed to the other side. The sweet vet listened for a heartbeat and I will never forget these images. She just said, <i>I'm so sorry...she's passed. </i> I just stood there in disbelief. All I could do was cry too like Grace and say<i>...My baby. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The vet and the tech looked like they wanted to cry too...I told the vet we would take Coffee back home....She is here buried on our property. I miss her. We all miss her...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our oldest daughter's neighbor who I also know texted this, it had ministered to her so much when her pet had passed away, those are tear drop marks on the page of her devotional there:</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="256" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/78/c0/28/78c028953f366434b4d21a8221a97ad0.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It says:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">"God's peace is not an escape from reality. We are not transfixed or somehow mentally 'removed' from feeling pain or struggling...Rather, peace is an undergirding rock-solid foundation so that no matter the tears we cry or the sorrow we feel, deep down inside we know with an abiding assurance that God is with us. God is in control, and the joy of the Lord is going to emerge far greater than any depth of agony we may be experiencing."</span></p><p><br /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In the days that pass, my heart is heavy, and sometimes I do cry and miss our Coffee-girl but I know Coffee is with God, either here, there or both, she is here, she is There. God's ways are not our ways...We don't totally understand the beauty of it all, but we know it's true.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">When I volunteered at the nursing home there was a middle aged man who had died in an auto accident, when he got to Heaven, the first thing he saw was his pets from his life. The paramedics brought him back as he is here on this green earth to tell his story.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In the days after Coffee's passing different things have ministered to me greatly, things from God above. </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/68/47/97/684797c6849f29f435df9d57e0a4f99a.jpg" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A pristine white feather in a historical district laying directly in my path as I walked. I took the shot with my skirt I wore in honor of our precious Coffee. When our little<i> Peanut </i>passed several years ago, a white feather was found on Grace's black jacket in our home. White feathers have special meanings when our pets pass.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/69/55/92/6955921eb06632f43591c7b8ebe571db.jpg" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This owl has visited me twice. This is a close-up in the tree from this morning.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Once he swooped down and stood on the ground as we made eye contact for a while.</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/64/77/57/647757ebde41db9bfbd9425194c5f8a7.jpg" width="301" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Do you see God's Creature up in the tree? This is the view from my kitchen window where I wash dishes.</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/32/06/cf/3206cfb1fa4a3622ed0b7d1a5d25db22.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> .</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This beautiful white dove has visited me twice too, I opened the front door and he or she was standing in front of the door on the concrete looking up at me like he was coming to say <i>Hello, I'm here. </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He is in the lilac tree not afraid of me at all in these shots. </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/8b/ab/85/8bab8534bfc4f35331105604c3707ebd.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ef/c5/8d/efc58d7afeba924613abf995de5dd13b.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/b0/1e/94/b01e942b79b38d0cee22b3b12e213d89.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/d9/f0/f9/d9f0f9370642e482fad4747add707ebb.jpg" width="299" /><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Some of our pets wonder...What happened to Coffee? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/f8/5a/89/f85a897cf72e4b9aaeb3ad5d8608f958.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Jem preparing a place for our Coffee.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I will close now...things are quiet here at The Forest Cathedral, I keep our routines and will tell you Dear Readers that the above verse from our friend from her devotional rings true. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I can't deny we miss our Coffee Belle and her sweet smile, we hold on to the Father and trust.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So many things in life to trust the Father with yes?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Listening to: <i> </i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0kAocVpuXDE" target="_blank"><i>Love is the Thing and More </i>by Nat King Cole</a>. This music is some of the most beautiful and comforting music of all...Memories of life, pets, precious loved ones past and present. For years, this album brings a peace and sweetness to our home here like not much else in the way of music. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Take care Dear Readers, I appreciate you reading here so very much.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">~Amelia <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /> </p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-56874594390879904842023-07-18T18:12:00.007-05:002023-07-18T20:29:07.407-05:00Catching Up Friends. Talking to God like a Child, Little Muffie, This and That Shots Here at My Forest Cathedral, Songs to Share<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Last Easter here at the Forest Cathedral...<br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/6a/b8/a1/6ab8a1635f1e6d10ecc19f1490eb34cd.jpg" width="301" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our third born, Zuzu and youngest daughter, Grace taking shots of grandbabies as Grace's dachshund, Atticus looks on... I thought this was such a pretty setting, it reminded me of a Victorian painting with a few modern touches.</span> <br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/52/c7/c1/52c7c11bf400db92b6bfbc433e8e6c3a.jpg" width="301" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We have four daughters pictured in these shots. I love getting shots of them getting shots. </span> <br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/4b/69/4a/4b694aa8c0d74d9ecc2f0c2699584adb.jpg" width="301" />.</p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/b9/d0/10/b9d01093792f01381a5792b7757d20a5.jpg" width="300" />.</p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/f8/60/19/f8601956ed031460d0320b84ec85dca7.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My little ivy garden was doing so good and then our cow pets came to visit. They kind of liked that ivy and messed it up a bit. Eh hem.</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/7f/38/1b/7f381b48aaea417089460f2039c34a15.jpg" width="299" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The mommies take such good care of their calves, there were more than several mommies and their calves...So sweet. <br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/b6/ce/a6/b6cea627c027877fb301744f37b33686.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Gracie is looking on. There were many, many different colored cows on our property here for a while, Mr. Lundy's cows quite like it here. </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/69/8c/bb/698cbb1d2664abdddb1ef8809abbbc45.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/24/92/8b/24928bbe2fc3ee8b6634e44d3c7c083a.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ad/84/e8/ad84e87660c928fb22630e99484d7885.jpg" width="297" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/fd/b5/d8/fdb5d872a5580791a070c5110b8de1b5.jpg" width="240" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My 93 year old mom. Always a matter of prayer.<br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="298" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/0e/38/ac/0e38ac889cf78fdbab7c45388c226d93.jpg" width="320" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is little Muffie, we've had little Muffie since 2007, he's blind and we love him and care for him, he's like a human baby many days. I'm learning to keep somewhat of a schedule for him. So we have two blind dogs now,many of you read about little Missy last December. Muffie was found in an intersection by our daughter, Joycie, it was like he was just waiting for her to arrive. He hopped in the car and rolled around on his back pleased as punch to be in her car! The poor thing had been left in the elements and his collar was rusted shut. Can you imagine?<br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/70/e0/aa/70e0aac2d7831181c648f8601562f4d1.jpg" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/62/8d/d8/628dd83971334e001d71380533af6fe1.jpg" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes Jem and I visit the city, it's nice. I love the fountains and the statue. This is near Rice University where my uncle attended in '38. My dad climbed the statue in the distance with friends here as a fraternity stunt. The police back then looked on and watched amused!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Oh my, it's been busy here lately. I've learned lately to really concentrate on being a little girl to the Father...I've been talking to God as a child would, very, very transparently and it's such a wonderful feeling to be able to do so...I do try hard to rest in that and am sometimes a nervous little lady about things especially when it comes to my 93 year old mom. We all keep an eye on her but things come up, and I'm sure any of you can understand if you have an elderly parent. But the Lord is so good to me, He listens beautifully to my concerns, big and little. No prayer is too small for the Father. </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of: Vintage Postcard ~" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/90/95/55/909555a1098319687c61a74bdc7788be.jpg" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I wish I could be at rest like this little girl *all* the time...Jem tells me to<i> stop worrying! </i>Jem does not worry.<i><br /></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here is a song that I've always loved and right now it has special meaning to me, do you remember <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keith_Green" target="_blank">Keith Green</a>? He had been a child prodigy and later wrote for a television network among other accomplishments.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I remember when Keith Green died in a private plane crash, it was horrible, some of his little children were with him. I was expecting our first baby and we had just seen Keith Green in concert the previous spring. I remember it like it was yesterday, after the concert I saw a young man I went to school with, he was the son of a famous astronaut. He had the looks of Montgomery Cliff the famous actor. Jem and I had been lifting him up in prayer, the Holy Spirit had put the young man on my heart. Who did I see? It was the young man, he was with other young guys getting on a bus, and I stopped him, franatically calling his name. He couldn't hardly talk, the drug use had done something to him. I still think of him, I hope and pray God restored him fully, he was a brilliant young man. He was in normal clothing, jeans and a colorful button down 70s shirt, the other young guys were in black pants and white button down shirt uniforms. Apparently he was the new guy. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This song by Keith Green ministers to me in a special way, it still brings tears to my eyes. I hope you too will be blessed by this special song, <i>When I Hear the Praises Start...<br /></i></span></p><p></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fIgVU_5FsqA" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Thank God my blood pressure challenge is becoming better, I study nutrition so have put the pedal to the metal on some things. Keeping my sodium count to 1000 to 1500 a day. Hibiscus tea is absolutely a Godsend and I'm drinking a cup or two of that, I love it iced too. I've cut down on caffeine, drinking a half calf blend of my own, and then refresh with decaff after a couple of cups of half. This is not meant for medical advice but just personally what I do as I do research and God leads. Stress is an enemy of mine I can see that too, one of, if not *the* biggest culprit. Did you know (according to Dr. Peter Osborne) you can take your bp wrong if you do not have your arm more in line with your heart (I place mine on a pillow now) and also resting for a few minutes first (I sit quietly for five minutes). Osborne states many doctors do not even take it correctly and it can lead to false highs. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In the meantime, with life going on I try to keep things happy and uplifting. I take walks on most days. When I get in, I try to keep my appearance a cheery one. It affects me, how I am dressed and keeping up with myself. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is what I'm wearing today, and many days. A favorite.</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/d2/2a/eb/d22aebfce3431130578dbe05e93f047d.jpg" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A colorful vintage-look print skirt I made. It's so cheery I think!<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I just finished this one:</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/08/ab/d1/08abd18c1be92840fdc72fbed13ac5da.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/c0/87/5c/c0875c27c87b6625abe737af34e95ec8.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This sweet fabric is from Hobby Lobby, I thought this would look so pretty with a black top, one of my signatures, or perhaps an off white cotton eyelet trimmed sleeveless tops. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm working on a "Peanuts gang" print one, a "fall" print and a "dog" print. I hope to post those soon!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Life is interesting, we can walk and talk with Him though. Sometimes people can even say things to hurt us, perhaps they are calling our good, evil in some-off-way, entitlement can be involved, perhaps they look at us coldly as we are shocked out of our gourd. Oh how it hurts our hearts! We're just blown away when this happens and feel sucker punched. We immediately wonder who wrongly influenced the person. But I will not be a victim. Keeping a right heart, I'm praying for the person to be convicted by God. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here's a couple of plaques Jem and I saw in Fredericksburg:</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/6d/09/01/6d0901f30819d27cd53b3415c62f7ef7.jpg" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Haha, funny and true too!</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/82/06/b4/8206b491bc1d3f3c31088b2a795a65d3.jpg" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Amen to that, I thought this was so sweet and a precious reminder.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here is another song I'll close with that ministers to me greatly, I hope you will enjoy it too. Be blessed and at Peace dear Readers, this song is by Fernando Ortega. <i>Jesus, King of Angels</i>...Just beautiful... </span></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/fWNmMmppIDQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p> <span style="font-size: large;">Signing off from My Forest Cathedral...I just asked Jem a good title for this blog, He said... "Don't Worry". (big smile) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Take care All, let me know how you all are doing! ~Amelia<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="200" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/18/eb/d9/18ebd922b7dc76293fa03fcffd97167a.jpg" width="151" /> <br /></p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-64696459790955625662023-05-27T12:55:00.010-05:002023-05-28T09:08:18.863-05:00Pondering Memorial Day. Best Years of Our Lives (1946) The Every day Challenges, Laughs and Memory. ADDED EDIT.<p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/yFq2pD_r-Ys" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Oh my heart.</span> <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of my very favorite movies for this day. <b> 'Best Years of Our Lives' </b> (1946). It was once said this movie is the most accurate of how the soldiers felt after WWII and what they experienced. I highly recommend this movie, even the music score is beautiful! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have other favorites too but thought this would be nice for starters since I'm keeping this blog entry short.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/c7/91/26/c791263811c62d7908ab2a52e495fa63.jpg" width="273" />.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My parents as many of you know; my dad went to Gulfport Military Academy in Mississippi. He was a captain there as a student. I love this portrait so much, it hangs in my home in a place of honor. I thought it spoke volumes this Memorial Day.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So much going on these days around the Forest Cathedral, just wanted to quickly put this up in honor of <i>Memorial Day.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We look at the culture and it <i>can</i> be sad to us, but we can keep our personal homes in an attitude of prayer and calm coupled with cheerfulness. God is faithful.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">For me personally, it's been a bit unusual here, I was shocked to see I had high blood pressure.<b> Me?!</b> How?! Sometimes life is stressful with an elderly parent, the concerns and emergencies than can arise etc. I've never had a problem with high blood pressure so this is very new to me. The only time I can remember having high blood pressure was one day when I was expecting our first baby and I was in my early 20s, there had been an altercation the day before and it showed the next day, but that was the last time that I know of. I've delivered four babies and my doctor would always comment, <i>Beautiful as usual!</i> when he took my bp. So you can imagine my shock!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm wired very sensitively, I'm a genuine Highly Sensitive Person, an <i>HSP</i>. A Gift but it can also be trying in life, we seem to feel things and pick up on more than the average person.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I hope to put another blog up soon! I have more I would like to share with more photos I do think you all would enjoy. Prayers are coveted as I'm trying very hard to stay away from any stress of any k</span><span style="font-size: large;">ind.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As Philippians 4:8 says, we need to think upon things of good report, things that are lovely.... : )</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>One kind of funny thing</b> that represents things, the other morning I see my devotional on the floor under the coffee table of all places. I see this strange white wad that looked like a coccoon of all things! On closer examination, the <i>wad</i> was a wad of white chewing gum! One of our precious little 3-4 year old grandsons who were here the other day decided that they would conveniently put their gum on Mimi's devotional that is on the coffee table, and then casually slip it under the coffee table on the floor! I had to smile and then just<i> laugh! </i> I told Jem and he just laughed and laughed...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">For some reason it was just the picture of how life is sometimes! I think that's pretty good....A Blessing, <b>ya just have to laugh at little things like that! </b></span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I may start writing<b> memories</b> I have that were happy ones, when I take my blood pressure I purposely think upon those things.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>One of those </b>was me taking our little girls to a Memorial Day ceremony at a courthouse...Our little girls would carry their homemade autograph booklets made out of red, white and blue construction paper so our elderly veterans there could sign them as our little girls held the booklets in their little hands. I remember being so very touched at this ceremony that I was tearing up even using a tissue ...One of the elderly vets, probably from WWII looked over at me, a baby in my lap...<b>I think he wondered what my story was...And I wondered what <i>his</i> story was. And still do...<br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">God bless and be with you all until the next time...May we lift our country up in prayer.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>EDIT 5.28.28</b> Please oblige, I must add the following song I just heard. This brings tears to my eyes, <i>beautiful, just beautiful.</i></span></p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/HnljVlueRbQ" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-51744891408497542472023-04-01T13:10:00.020-05:002023-04-04T08:15:33.335-05:00What's Been Going On? Sewing Practical Skirt sets, Desperate Decluttering...Nature - God's Handiwork and Music Suggestion<p><span style="font-size: large;">Oh me oh my, it's been so long and I feel as if I've neglected my poor little blog. But I've been so busy with the work of home and all of that entails with the grand-littles, elderly parents and cooking nutritious dinners and all of that jazz...and yes, decluttering. Not stupidly throwing away things that might be needed but giving things away that I don't like anymore or don't fit. Or putting things in an evaluation bag for a year or so. (No pressure that way) With everything that goes...I haven't been able to squeeze blogging in and have not even known what to blog about, for the theatre of my mind is so<i> very</i> full.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So this is life here, please oblige...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One sewing goal that was an immediate need in hot weather now is making two practical cool skirt and top sets. Something feminine but casual and cool for home, I don't wear skirts every day but in the warmer weather it sure is nice and it feels so feminine too. I can pair these sets with sandals, mix and match with other things in my closet and even throw tennis shoes on with these skirt sets, it's kinda cute. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Easy-Breezy<br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">These tops are from Simplicity 1690 and I made mine vneck. Both of these outfits are from very comfortable and breathable cotton lawn fabric. The skirts are Simplicity 4881. I made mine maxi length. The belts are just my made-up belts I used with the leftover fabric. The top has very small side slits on bottom but not necessary, the tops are a little shorter, almost forming a peplum appearance and I like that.<br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/66/2d/3f/662d3ffa8cf6e7565a7fdc71eaa6f2cb.jpg" /> <br /></p><p><br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/aa/8d/7c/aa8d7c3e91f023cd133117a2b5c728ad.jpg" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I added navy ric rac on this one so the outfit would compliment my fair skintone a bit better. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Last Child in the Woods </b></span><br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/2b/de/e6/2bdee6c88af8c52d62831edf3dd8750d.jpg" width="400" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is a neat shot of my son in law with our grandsons enjoying <b>God's Handiwork...</b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A good book? </b> <i> Last Child in the Woods</i>. If you are tired of all of the screen stuff? Read: <i> Last Child in the Woods</i>, it's an excellent book, the Lord used that book to help me and direct my feelings and heart before moving out here. God had been working on my heart, yes indeedie. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/0b/5a/b5/0b5ab5f5d0cf7e02d509e775edfe2da7.jpg" width="303" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>So nice when you go out to eat and you are seated across the window from that awesome old house, you whisper <i>Thank you Lord!</i></b> ....Oh the stories that home must have! When it was for sale we would walk over there and peer into the windows, you could tell there were some parties probably presented there, a few white porcelain rolling style carts on the back porch area near the kitchen. A huge glass fixture hanging over the den...<i>Huge with swirled mint green, baby blue, pale pinks and lavender in a solid glass giant fixture. </i>The town is a polite one...Have you noticed different towns and areas have different spirits to them? When we look at the history many times we see why, what kind of people founded the town, were they mannerly? Did they appreciate the arts? Were they good Christian people?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="243" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/c2/b9/99/c2b99967bb97e8e8800d4541efffbd76.jpg" width="400" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Meet <i>Missy Christmas</i>. </b> Our daughter called us late in the night on December 27, and told us about a poor dog spinning in circles out in the freezing cold. They tried to warm her with blankets and the next morning we went out, Jem and I, to get that fur baby. She's blind and has been mistreated, the youngish vet looked at us and said: <i> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>She's had one hell of a life.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">She's in good hands now...Oh my heart. What a sweet little good natured doggy...Little angel. Who dumps these precious animals, God's creatures? Who does this?</span> <br /></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/5d/a4/07/5da407603d9f895f51a1c4daf9cebe59.jpg" width="300" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Creative Touches.</b> Our oldest daughter and her husband gave us this handsome lazy susan to us for Christmas. Our kitchen island was the perfect place for it!</span> <br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/69/8c/bb/698cbb1d2664abdddb1ef8809abbbc45.jpg" width="301" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of our neighbor's cows. I <b>love</b> to see these guys and gals with the little calves...</span> <br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/31/74/20/3174208007006fcd5668c1ac3dbf21f6.jpg" width="297" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Our daughter who lives at home is mommy to this <b>little guy</b>...<b><i>Atticus</i>. </b></span> <br /></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/3f/d8/bf/3fd8bfca2545b345c2d294b94da643c0.jpg" width="313" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of the fur angels here,<b> she's so sweet</b> with her little pink nose! <i><b>Mo-Mo.</b></i></span> <br /></p><p> </p><p><b> </b><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I love to keep things old fashioned here. </b>Why not? With all the things going on in the world, I can keep this a sanctuary and play sweet things that clear the mind, make me smile and allow me to hear God's Still Small Voice.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>This</b> precious music station has just what I was looking for... </span><br /></p><p></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/SuVX3lXzBjo?start=13" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Well Dear Readers, I think of you all often. I never thought I would be away so long when I posted my Christmas post but here I am! : )</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Memory Bank This Week </b>Edit 4.4.23, our daughter sent me this pic!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <b> </b></span><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/74/9a/bf/749abf07d4861d47561efedb8a61613c.jpg" width="241" /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I played a vintage Candy Land game and Pick-up-Sticks too with one of our little grandsons...So fun! Nice memory to put in my memory bank. *big smile*</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/e9/ef/e6/e9efe64f884a77fce75b488aa0620ee3.jpg" /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">May we lift our country up in prayers and make our little homes that sweet sanctuary in attitude and prayer. They will know we are Christians by our love. We don't have to compromise on anything or be afraid to speak out, but they will know we are Christians by our love and in my opinion our <i>sincere </i>example. <br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/e2/db/fb/e2dbfb2f7a9e61b3db55815dde1e6332.jpg" /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">May we lift our country up in prayers and make our
little homes that sweet sanctuary in attitude and prayer. How will our kids and grandkids remember us? I hope a Holy Ghost smile will always be there for my family. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="200" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/18/eb/d9/18ebd922b7dc76293fa03fcffd97167a.jpg" width="151" /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Until the next time...Signing off from My Forest Cathedral</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">~Amelia <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <br /></p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-58971464657416549372022-12-12T19:52:00.008-06:002022-12-15T16:18:32.516-06:00My Little Tree Complete and Christmas Movie List, Music and Thoughts<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Here's my little <i>Amelia </i>tree: <br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/86/05/9f/86059f7b26a103df294d48bd97021b71.jpg" width="266" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's complete with true-vintage Christmas cards from the 30s and 40s and little doggy and kitty ornaments not to mention a little elephant...My husband says it's just like me...old fashioned in a good way. : )<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i><span>A balanced woman of God sees herself as valuable, gifted, responsible for her own growth and maturity--not overly dependent on anyone to get her through life or to make her secure. </span></i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> ~Charles Swindoll</span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A couple of years ago I started using a four foot tree and I'm so very glad I did. I can keep it in my coat closet and pull it out myself. I just put it on my childhood coffee table and it's wonderful.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What did I use to decorate my tree?<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">As I wrote in the last entry, I used a tube of pale pink dollar tree ornaments and little silver metal bell-type ones with old fashioned icicles too! These are unbreakable ornaments, no one wants to visit a museum with little children, they want to visit a loving home where it's okay for little hands to touch things. Of course everyone minds their manners. ; ) ....and hugs are many. <br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/80/12/c1/8012c165ac33e781b657bd4d8391e3b1.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> These two little ornaments remind me of Elbee one of our kitties and Liesl one of our doggies. Our oldest daughter, Janie just bought me the little kitty ornament recently. Blue eyes just like Elbee.<br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/84/c1/8d/84c18d49d77d69c30ab450fa5aa7268f.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ec/b2/43/ecb2438e2680c91cb71810658fcf8abc.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/b9/8f/06/b98f06ee317f292edd410471920748f8.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/6f/a1/9d/6fa19d3840373f7e9f4222dff9cb2c58.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/40/36/e7/4036e7c94538414e2ca5adc518197f13.jpg" width="375" /><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ac/79/36/ac7936613c19ba49b307cf3e7fbceedc.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> .</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/98/53/b0/9853b00de9827f49d93a1bbc4a9bac58.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> .</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/d9/e3/fc/d9e3fca38620aeb92d24b311aa3ca5a1.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> .</span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="398" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/c8/08/04/c80804ef198ff8434f8cd16986199eb1.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> This one opens up to this:</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/b8/58/0f/b8580f09b0388ad9b6e7a656934c3229.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/1a/b7/0c/1ab70c6d4f77e7e2755a6bece4020613.jpg" width="354" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/76/b1/42/76b14272fbb0877b86767592597dbfb1.jpg" width="301" />.</p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/40/36/e7/4036e7c94538414e2ca5adc518197f13.jpg" width="375" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">These beautifully old and loved cards are so telling of a very thoughtful culture back in the 30s, 40s and 50s. People treasured these darling cards, decorating with them throughout their homes and then carefully and lovingly securing them in scrapbooks to keep safe for years, many times until they passed from this green earth. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Back then a Christmas card really meant something. So very, very sweet. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><br /><p><img alt="loading ..." border="1" height="240" src="https://d3rkjd3rspyu20.cloudfront.net/dyn_images/420/60/7765500083.JPG" width="320" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Robert Stock </span><b><br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b> Looking for nice old fashioned Christmas movies?</b> Here's a partial list from a few years ago including some pics from when I was a little gal:</span></p><p><a href="https://myforestcathedral.blogspot.com/2019/12/old-christmas-movies-of-excellence-not.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><span><b><span style="font-size: large;"><span>*Christmas<i> Movie List*</i></span></span></b></span></span></span><span style="color: #38761d;"><i></i></span></a><span style="color: #38761d;"><i><a href="https://myforestcathedral.blogspot.com/2019/12/old-christmas-movies-of-excellence-not.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></a></i></span></p><p><a href="https://myforestcathedral.blogspot.com/2019/12/old-christmas-movies-of-excellence-not.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></a></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">It's peaceful here this time of year in the forest, in December there is a special <i>kind </i>of Peace...</span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/e2/ad/51/e2ad51528c33ce91abd0c941677be2d8.jpg" width="301" /><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/bc/d7/37/bcd73755bbc2c07937950e398e084a7a.jpg" width="301" /><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/df/25/c3/df25c3f39951c5cebffbc2c494c89ab4.jpg" width="301" /><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/9b/ac/e3/9bace3c000695048d4e626ff805a120e.jpg" width="301" /><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">EDIT 12.13.22 I love it when our neighbor's cows come to visit...I love to watch them, such wonderful and interesting creatures. I talk with them and they seem to understand! Once one was afraid and ran away, I quietly said: "Don't be scared, I won't hurt you...." That cow turned around and looked at me and came closer standing there eye to eye with me. I think these precious creatures know in their hearts that this is a sanctuary for them. It's been said that the cows kneel on Christmas eve at midnight for Baby Jesus. If you see the precious old movie, 'Tenth Avenue Angel' with Margaret O'Brien you</span> <span style="font-size: large;">will see what I'm speaking of.</span><br /></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/8e/1e/44/8e1e44f53fc6fe7efb807fe39d7d5782.jpg" width="350" /><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/bc/e1/56/bce1561f30c181945e086e12085b3a6a.jpg" width="297" /><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/a0/53/16/a0531615110f1ba37bd55b77bc3e46e4.jpg" width="301" /><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Our Two Eldest Grandsons Having Fun...</span><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Mimi's house....so fun. <i>Mimi buy us Captain America outfits!</i> ; ) Mimi found these on clearance. Perfect. What a fun play day. <br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ae/91/db/ae91dbb1fdfd17a4e79e7870e308cddd.jpg" width="250" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And here's our youngest little grandson saying: <i>Ya'll have a Merry Christmas! </i> This sweet little angel's eating one of those little apples I was writing about. We have Mimi (hibiscus-peach) tea, Mimi apples, Mimi little cherub oranges and even Mimi frozen banana slices. </span><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/2d/e7/2d/2de72db59713fdc7ffbeaf68675d570d.jpg" width="195" /><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">For frozen banana slices: Just get a peeled banana or two or three and<b> </b>slice width ways in circles, not too terribly thick. Place the circles on wax paper on a plate in freezer and when frozen place them in a large zip lock to reach into. It's a very nice snack for the older<i> littles.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><br /><p><i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I found this playlist </b>and thought you all might enjoy this too, it shows some touching Christmas shots of our WWII soldiers at Christmas along with the original radio clips:<span><span><span> </span></span></span></span> </p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/LeZ9Y9OMYx0?start=2" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p> </p><p><br /></p><p><br /></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">Tradition gives us a sense of solidarity and roots, a knowing there are some things one can count on. </span></i></p><p><span style="font-size: small;">~Gloria Gaither</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The following is what I listen to in my kitchen,</b> enjoy and be touched as I am every time I hear this...The entire playlist is on the site there. <b> I think of my life as a little girl as I listen to the music here:</b><br /></span></p><p><br /> </p><p></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/6GUnfLPpjLs?start=2" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p> <img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/10/08/c6/1008c6ec7aafda48b3bef1cc5454aa3f.jpg" />.</p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/c3/4a/65/c34a654e13fbc4dcdd9cc6572399a118.jpg" /> <br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>How could I forget about this darling Christmas book by Roy Rogers?</b>:</span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="This contains an image of: {{ pinTitle }}" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/eb/4e/ce/eb4ece97386bfaf915254e32de792236.jpg" width="307" /> <span style="font-size: large;"> ...Simply adorable yet so poignant and so very truthful. From 1960. I highly recommend.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">You may enjoy this past post from 2019 on the book above and the movie, <i>Meet John Doe</i>, Remember...Don't be a Heelot!: </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://myforestcathedral.blogspot.com/2021/12/what-wonderful-christmas-book-by-roy.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="color: #38761d;">*My Post Here*</span></b></a><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="color: #38761d;"><span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Take
care all, let's be alert to those around us who need a cheering up.
Maybe we need cheering up and can receive through giving? I'll be the first to admit this season can sure stir up thoughts of missing our loved ones...<br /></span></p><p>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Made ourselves a nice pot of nutritious and wonderfully Italian soup this evening. It has broccoli, lima beans, lentils and spinach with onions and garlic simmered in olive oil, lots of basil and a tomato base broth. I made brown rice to put in the soup on the side. Tomorrow I will make baked potatoes as a side to the soup. <br /></span></div><div class="poster"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="poster"><span style="font-size: large;">Take care , enjoy that good ol' fashioned Christmas music. Let's pray one for another. Let me know what you all are up to as we celebrate this sweet holy season. How can we pray one for another? </span></div><div class="poster"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div><div class="poster"><span style="font-size: large;">Fact: </span><img alt="In What World Is Donald Trump Anything Like George Bailey? | The Mary Sue" class="detail__media__img-highres js-detail-img js-detail-img-high" height="149" src="https://external-content.duckduckgo.com/iu/?u=https%3A%2F%2Fam21.mediaite.com%2Ftms%2Fcnt%2Fuploads%2F2020%2F08%2FIn-What-World-Is-Donald-Trump-Anything-Like-George-Bailey.jpg&f=1&nofb=1&ipt=25f12b559c78d044a975ea16c2d2ab9acffccb244af84251e5803a4ef253956d&ipo=images" style="display: block; height: 473px; width: 634.899px;" width="200" /><span style="font-size: large;"> Do you know that when Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey cried at the bar in "It's a Wonderful Life" that he was actually crying <i>unplanned,</i> he had suddenly thought of humanity and how lost humanity was...He had returned from WWII. </span><br /></div>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-86532125240378522232022-11-30T12:45:00.035-06:002022-12-01T13:39:06.898-06:00Blustery Days Tell Many a Tale in the Theatre of my Heart and Decorating for Christmas of Course!<p> <span style="font-size: large;">I think it was Hemingway who suggested we sit at the typewriter and bleed so to speak...So that's just what I'm gonna do here. I hope it's in a good way, something that will touch your heart and just make you and I notice life more. Here's some little petals from my heart... We could call this...<i>Zuzu's Petals.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Written yesterday... </i><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Today it's a blustery and grey day with hints of sunshine. These blustery days sprinkled with little raindrops remind me so much of when I was a little girl and attended our church mass. I attended a modern Christ-centered Catholic church then and I adored our priest, Father Laurence Connelly. Father Connelly had a way with people, he truly knew the Lord I do believe because it was so evident in his love and unbelievable care. He passed away over two years ago and people are still writing comments on how he touched their childhood and lives. That was back when there were decent people and I think there are still decent people in each Christian religion. Even back when I was a little girl, Father Connelly disappeared after one summer of our family being absent, he was moved to another parish most shocking to my little girl's heart. A horribly liberal and rude hawaiian shirt wearing priest who played john lennon's 'imagine' song in church (complete with print-outs of the song) took his place. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Tragically I never knew another Father Connelly. I now do more Bible studies and we enjoy<a href="https://rumble.com/c/PastorAllenJackson" target="_blank"> this pastor</a> and my son in love is a pastor a good distance away and I know he does the right things behind the scenes and is fighting the good fight, the real deal. I realize there are wonderful Christians in each kind of Christian church but in this day and age it's actually pretty rare to find the real deal. But that's okay, it certainly doesn't affect my relationship with Christ. I do me, I do Jesus and I certainly want to <i>be</i> the real deal. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The day was a blustery one and my mom and I attended the church mass, it was the Sunday we were to buy a special gift for a poor child. My mother and I would buy the most beautiful baby doll we could find...A big huge beautiful set-up. We wrapped the large box beautifully and my mother dressed me up in a kelly-green jumper she had made for me with a little Christmas tree pin on the strap. I had a white turtleneck on with white tights and black patent shoes. My hair was long dark brown hair down to my waist and my mom would usually style it some up and some down or a simple white hair band to match my shirt. Neat as a pin. That's how my mom was, she's 92 almost 93 and a little more easy going now..</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The church played the theme to "The Little Drummer Boy" and us children marched up to the altar with our gifts and our beloved Father Connelly was stooped down eye level, smiling and received our gifts. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Father Connelly would come out to the public sidewalk in front of the church if my mom hadn't arrived yet to pick me up from Wednesday night ccd class. He would come and make sure I was safe out on the sidewalk and braid my hair like a nice uncle. (no weird stuff you hear about) until my mom arrived, then he would chat with my mom too. There was some very amazing things he did for our family that I will share another time.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">After that mass on that blustery day we went to my dad's gas station on the bay. My dad owned a Gulf gas station for both automobiles and boats on the docks there, he also rented boat slips for the shrimpers and boaters to dock their boats...it was amazing. His gas station when you stepped into it had the feel of the place George Bailey was brought into in the movie after jumping off the bridge. My dad had quite a few, probably half a dozen or so wicker seats lined up on the wall for visiting fishermen and shrimpers, sometimes doctors from the city taking their boats for a spin and my dad sat at a desk in the corner with his coffee enjoying the chat unless he needed to serve someone's gas or ice needs. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I remember as a little girl looking out on the blustery bay from the front of that room over the vast pier...It was a dark grey sky over the grey bay...Enchanting I thought. You see, I'm an only child who lived in a very old neighborhood, our home was built in the early 30s, not a typical suburb with children running around, so I was a little thinking, observing, artist gal. My mom, dad and I ate our lunch in my dad's room there on the bay and I remember eating a little hostess chocolate cake wrapped in foil for desert...I liked the outside part but not the filling. ...I'm still of that bend...Although a person on a strict diet for health and humanitarian reasons these days I still love my chocolate moist cake but no filling please! Haha! Now-a-days my chocolate cupcakes are made with yard eggs, coconut oil, kerry gold butter and stevia, no sugar hardly at all...I made some chocolate muffins for Thanksgiving that were delicious if I may so so myself. ; ) <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">But yesterday reminded me of that very blustery day and the Christmas season ushers in now at Advent time thoughts of those dear to me, people like Father Connelly. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/e8/05/91/e805913f7c575011549a03d66ffdb20a.jpg" /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">May we be that Father Connelly. <b> Do you have any Father Connellys in your life? </b>Father Connelly people are like that light...They reflect the Light of the Lord and touch so many.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's beginning Advent and I've done a little decorating to achieve a bit of wonder here, I just love twinkle lights and am trying to figure a way to keep more year round.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">May I share?...<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Reading: 'Watch for the Light'</span><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/50/e2/f9/50e2f9d95cee0db28cc80113cd35ed90.jpg" width="240" /> <span style="font-size: large;">Excellent devotional for Advent. <br /></span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/50/9a/fb/509afb6c0a9b0f6b4bea7870c26ba132.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> This is neat. 'It's a Wonderful Life Trivia Book' Written by Jimmy Hawkins who played little Tommy in It's a Wonderful Life. Do you know that Donna Reed was very similar to her caring character in the movie? Donna Reed was also raised on a farm, the oldest of five children, a fascinating story. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Listening to: The classic 'White Christmas' cd by Bing Crosby </span><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/28/50/ab/2850ab5c34a55d1a1d4a52656294efd8.jpg" width="300" /> <span style="font-size: large;">Nothing like this for the Christmas season...Beautiful songs and some very cute ones too, very old fashioned and sweet, sweet, sweet. A wonderful atmosphere. Father Connelly actually reminds me of Bing Crosby in Bells of St. Mary's. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Yesterday I listened and watched<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=APRNe_3tzdg" target="_blank"><b> 'Bells of St. Mary's'</b> </a>as I made supper...Oh my goodness, oh my heart, what a precious, precious movie.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm decorating a little more simply at this point, more maybe like my mom did but with a little more whimsy in the end. We shall see what I have the druthers to do, I'm just plodding along not rushing, trying to only enjoy.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of the first things, first things first right?: </span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/40/fd/8e/40fd8ee0eb1511abffd135a4fd30a288.jpg" width="400" /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/85/ce/a6/85cea621dee67f99520fdf62289ce76f.jpg" width="400" /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My sweet manger scene from Hobby Lobby near the kitchen and breakfast table.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/5b/a7/ee/5ba7eebe6f61762c8e015ae19e8a1c5d.jpg" width="300" />.</p><p> <span style="font-size: large;">I'm loving my little tree purchased from Dollar Tree several years ago, I found these sweet vinyl placemats from Dollar Tree a couple of weeks ago and am happy. I love the vintage feel this set-up gives! I found the little cake stand at Dollar General last year.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/37/27/bf/3727bfde6685e8d726423e63498ae5c2.jpg" width="300" />.</p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/a1/07/d0/a107d08d1728ceb96ae97d7de1b87efe.jpg" width="301" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is my little <i>Mimi tree </i>on my cedar chest that Mr. Jeske made for me when I was a little baby! I have little books under the tree for little hands to look at when our grandbabies come over. </span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">This setting is called<i> Mimi's Coffee Shop.</i></span></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I may not be the hostess with the most-est but I do want to be that loving Mimi with plenty of little apples and cherub oranges to share and lots of arts and crafts coupled with warm hugs, care and love.</b> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/5d/de/ec/5ddeec60adb88f731df56b2955067c59.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/5a/44/a2/5a44a26ad503413238ff37d1f5393858.jpg" width="300" /><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/5a/9b/5b/5a9b5bbedc77e5d8f1505217f62a794d.jpg" width="300" /><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A children's version of 'It's a Wonderful Life' also by Jimmy Hawkins <br /></span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/3d/c7/3b/3dc73bb38740eb214783389fbed61912.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Soooo....</i>Pick up a book little ones, mommies...Enjoy yourselves with some Mimi Hibiscus-Peach tea or good ol' coffee...<i> </i>I have coconut creamer too!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In my living room within eye-shot: </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/35/96/06/35960688edcc75571c6467d41fea8a6f.jpg" width="301" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Another little four foot tree that is all lit up, I will probably add my sweet little doggy ornaments and some unbreakable pale pink bulbs and some silver bulbs from dollar tree, old fashioned icicles of course!....AND vintage Christmas cards from the 30s and 40s tucked in the branches here and there... So fun. The tree is situated on my childhood coffee table so that makes it even more special.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">On our coffee table that Jem made from wood on the property:</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/b7/1d/ae/b71dae7137d391fcb676e53377b28bb9.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Not only is this decoration but I'm reading this book too. 'It's a Wonderful Life, The Fiftieth Anniversary Scrapbook' another jewel from Jimmy Hawkins, little Tommy from the movie.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/32/8d/ed/328ded54311790fdb99597dae1ace8fd.jpg" /><span style="font-size: large;">.</span></p><span style="font-size: large;"> Pearl Harbor Day is coming up soon...I cherish this original sheet music from the movie,<b><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9V9ik07qvMM" target="_blank"> Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo </a></b>(a true story involving the Doolittle Raid) And there is my little greenhouse my daughter gave me a couple of years ago.</span><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ef/d0/83/efd083e19de27b82231c1b9ca5e9b67c.jpg" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">They are having fun in there getting ready for the holidays!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/5b/10/9d/5b109d5d0e54f7c6001f86a17f1398e0.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This is the Advent book we used for our family, it is a very nice one. I bought three copies from ebay for my three married daughters who were wanting to know about that book we used to do! They loved it. So let's just say that our family recommends this book for the Advent season. We used this every year. Oh my heart! And they remembered and want to do it too!</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I've started decorating my guest bathroom too, this little room is kinda fun because it's a smallish room and like a mini museum of sorts...</span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/1c/cd/bc/1ccdbc46a83aac68e4ca19c376a87785.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/6f/56/df/6f56df21e2aaa9a0d4a4a7a82eb0b09e.jpg" width="400" />.</p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/12/a6/1e/12a61e236dde209b8bdd14a7622f0cd5.jpg" width="400" />.</p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/9e/08/d3/9e08d341b939b914342628e3d36a5a2d.jpg" />.</p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/fe/df/70/fedf700f3b65fc181a74d0206b5c361e.jpg" width="400" /> </p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">George lassos the moon!</span> <br /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/5d/37/d7/5d37d7df9f5b29c6b3435cb7aec79c07.jpg" width="301" /><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/c3/ca/6d/c3ca6d38de120ebaa6913b1a5c4c6347.jpg" width="301" /><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/57/58/ed/5758edacecd7709af4b3208393fe6350.jpg" width="301" /><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">The three above...Me....</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="179" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/89/54/96/89549645b750ec17f042453c9850f56d.jpg" width="200" /><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">Our newest little grandbaby...A little girl... </span></i><span style="font-size: large;">I think she's saying for all of you to have a sweet Christmas season!</span><i><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/3b/df/41/3bdf41be00f4fd76789fd6434d56cca2.jpg" width="301" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One fall morning this year right outside my window... God's beautiful creatures...<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Tonight for supper I think I'll make some baked potatoes in my instant pot and serve a vegetable soup from last night. I made a tomato basil type soup with everything but the kitchen sink in the way of veggies and even dropped some eggs and sliced black olives in it and served it with brown rice spaghetti. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I may put some of my Dollar Tree poinsettias out in the pots by the door...Maybe some Christmas garden flags. We shall see but first things first. *big smile*</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">May we be that Father Connelly kind-of-people. When we're at the store smile at people, smile at children, smile at the elderly. Compliment the checker. Give a sweet Christian tract to the checker or whenever else the Holy Spirit gives that nudge. Let there be no snark in us. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">How many of us have already been affected by snark or an 'over-the-boundary' comment this season? We would like to give them a sucker punch right? lol (I'm speaking to myself here, because yep it happened. But not the sucker punch! LOL (Although I had to give them a solemn look and a comeback of wisdom shall I say.) We just have to pick up our toys and keep on going though right? Sometimes it may be one of those rascally relatives so to speak but we still have to pick up our toys in our hearts and keep on going. <b> We can speak our minds with dignity</b> but then just keep on going in life ministering to others, we can't let those kind of folks get us down. Many people will never change. I'm willing to bet that they have quite a reputation they have made for themselves. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">And above all...Let's be so nice, so kind, so Christ-like that if someone says something not nice about us behind our backs that the person hearing the little morsel thinks to themselves....No, <i>Amelia</i> or (fill in the blank with your name) would never ever do that. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Let's be the Father Connellys in this world, those Light bearers for Christ. ...Let's reflect the Light of the Lord. The best way to do that is when we spend time with Him talking and walking with Him, reading our Bibles even if it's the same psalm over and over again....We can know Him so well, we act like Him too! : ) I think that's pretty good! We have to be oh so quiet too...We have to be quiet and not too busy to hear the Holy Spirit's voice.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Let's make people's day. Let's leave them better than when we first run into them...Let them go home thinking..."Wow, they made my day!"</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">God bless you. Be kind, be sweet to others. Let's build that reputation of being that very sweet and loving person. </span></p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="300" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/9a/77/d6/9a77d601c191f88187567f0c41b075d8.jpg" width="400" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;">The museum of my heart... </span></i> </p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-78093476321440265692022-09-27T12:12:00.011-05:002022-10-10T06:56:07.536-05:00Cucuzza. What Are You Up To Today?<br /><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm getting ready to peel some cucuzza to make a most wonderful Italian-tomato based soup.... You have to be Italian to know what Cucuzza is. All Italians have fig trees and Cucuzza growing.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'll be washing my covers for my couch.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Will be ironing my new skirt I made and hopefully cutting out a dark brown skirt out of a cotton/poly inexpensive fabric. It will be the famous out of print, Simplicity 4881. I tweak it into a more narrow but still A-line walking skirt a bit above my ankle bone.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Took a good walk this morning in the morning sun. Feels great to do that. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm still cleaning out my studio, it's going to be a while. Yes indeed. Little by little.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Take care now. Let me know what you are up to today won't ya?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I wold love to have some fellowship of homemakers here going on.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So what's going on? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <br /></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/U-n9BNm22nk?start=1" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Yummmm.... A nice comforting bowl of cucuzza over pasta. Nice.</span></p><p><img alt="loading ..." border="1" src="https://d3rkjd3rspyu20.cloudfront.net/dyn_images/420/60/7747000031.JPG" /><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Robert Stock </span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">May we lift our country up in prayer as we mind our homes and families.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <br /></p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-13472537349975969902022-09-24T09:44:00.027-05:002022-12-08T13:10:12.184-06:00Love is Not Rude...That's What the Bible Says. What I'm Doing Today. A Touching Clip.<p> <span style="font-size: large;">Rudeness. It seems like it is everywhere doesn't it? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You can even see it in the way people drive these days. It displays their very spirits. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You see it in all circles. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Young women who treat Bible studies as dating clubs leaving sweet girls out, after all...that pretty young lady might catch a young man's eye so let's not worry about her spiritual being or let alone even showing love to her. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Middle aged women, many times those very young women's moms who do similarly to others...It just shows itself in another circle of insecurity...Perhaps leaving them from things that may effect their group of thought...<i>Oh, we don't want to include her because that would offend my group.</i> <b> As I write, I count my blessings on much of that. Many times God's protection. </b>The problem is many are hurt forever by this behavior.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">People who are thoughtfully written to with nary a response. That is rude. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Leaving a thoughtful and polite comment on a blog, finding out it was erased later because it didn't fit into the narrative. That is rude, it is thoughtless and disrespectful of people's time in leaving a thoughtful comment.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Recently I left a very, very complimentary and heartfelt comment to a vlogger. I had also honestly and diplomatically mentioned that the trophy "award" from the company congratulating them for all of their many followers was in place of their normal drawing of Jesus. The response was less than kind let's say, rather snarky and totally void of any appreciation for my several heartfelt compliments to their vlog. Do I listen to this vlogger couple any longer... No, I simply cannot stomach it after the rude reply from Ms. No-Manners-loud-talk. Love is not rude. Christ is not rude. The husband to his credit did come later and was most kind in his reply. I wondered what kind of mother and wife the woman must be to her husband and grown kids behind the scenes.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Does a person ignore us like a rock when we mention a much needed note of concern on events, something going on in our world? Hm...It's as if we have a giant hurricane that can destroy or it could be anything that the person doesn't want to hear. Being a grey stone to someone who doesn't deserve it, that is rude and it also borders on emotional abuse when done face to face or actually<i> any</i> time. Love is not rude. Don't grey stone people, and especially to those who love or care about you.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm noticing the rudeness more and more....just more and more...A lack of consideration or care, self entitlement as well. Love is not rude, it's not selfish, or self entitled.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Is this a sign of the times? Maybe so. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What can we do? For me, I will try to be a good example. As a highly sensitive person I will try to move on and live my life in my little home ministering to my husband especially in times when there can be rudeness from a visitor or perhaps even a loved one who is going through a twisty-turnie chapter in life and we are in the way of the carnage. After all....That person has been maimed by the rude ones and it affected them deeply. My husband and I share...Yes, they've had some really bad things to happen from people in the church and gasp...fellow homeschoolers. One of our daughters was having severe health issues that we kept quiet and during this time, a couple of girls at her work were cruel to her; one was especially, there is always that ring leader that the weaker will follow... My mother's heart ached then and now and I see the present outcome of it. Nothing changed it seems. I've seen the pecking order over and over again, the territorial attitude towards friends...There are no age boundaries in this demonic behavior of control and people pleasing. It is so sad to me...<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Edit. 9.26.22 <b> There are people who attend our very churches many times who are very comfortable in this familiar sin along with other familiar sins such as jealousy etc., it could be prejudice of some kind. I pray constantly about this kind of thing, <i>none of us</i> are immune to familiar sin. </b><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Jealousy and envy who can stand against it? Gosh, the warning seems so basic but yet it is sooooo prevalent... <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I say it's a crying shame. A crying shame. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Edit 9.26.22 A lot of people are not going to be comfortable with the honesty and sometimes prophet nature here. I know that. Although you will see even more mercy shown here. Numbers on this blog will not be an idol to me. From the age of a young child I was a little different because of living in the older (but sweet!) little town where I lived, being from an old family in a community with new 'engineer' space people, many who snubbed<i> us </i>after we welcomed them. When I was a teenager, a senior actually, I was in the back seat of a car with a brusque young woman a couple of years younger than I who attended my highschool , the daughter of a woman my mother and I were riding to a wedding shower with held in the large city. She unknowingly made the comment to me about the "icky smalltown kids" (my area). I sat there smiling knowing she had no idea who she was talking to. (Years later I was to see the same young woman at a family funeral and she was just as rude and brusque as a married woman and mother!) Our little family had always marched on in love minding our own business with a quiet joy and contentment not quite putting our finger on the trouble but feeling it a bit at times. My mom was never on the phone gossiping nor did she belong to any clique. My dad was a fiercely independent person, an entrepreneur and city councilman, both my parents were the first to reach and help the poor. I had two sets of immigrant grandparents, Italian and German. My Italian grandparents especially were beautiful people and my real German grandmother was a sweetheart from what I hear, she was taken when my dad was a little boy. I have her underlined Moody Institute Bible study book. Our family paid cash for our cars and trucks and drove them til they fell apart. Too bad if people didn't like it. I mention all of that to say, we were our own authentic and old fashioned people in a community that took a cruel turn for the worse and my parents did not care what many of those synthetic people thought, it wasn't even on their radar.<br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Let's get our hearts and households in order. Competitive and insecure activity should not be in our churches or Christian circles, it is demonic and a familiar sin. <br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>To heck with what people think. </b><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Without love we are...We all know where that is in the Bible and what it says. </span></p><p>Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not
arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable
or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the
truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things,
endures all things. Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass
away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass
away.1 Corinthians 13: 4-8</p><p>If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am a
noisy gong or a clanging cymbal. And if I have prophetic powers, and
understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith, so
as to remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give away
all I have, and if I deliver up my body to be burned, but have not love,
I gain nothing. 1 Corinthians 13: 1-3<br /></p><p></p><p><img alt="loading ..." border="1" src="https://d3rkjd3rspyu20.cloudfront.net/dyn_images/420/60/9029000006.JPG" /> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Robert Stock</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Take care, be kind, be truthful though without hurting people with a fire hydrant spray to their face.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Just writing what I'm thinking and pondering...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><span style="font-size: large;">We all know what the Bible says about rudeness verses
love. We don't want to be a bunch of noise and a bunch of talk about
nothing. Nor a deadening silence that hurts people.</span><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> ..............................................................</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Today </b><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><img alt="loading ..." border="1" src="https://d3rkjd3rspyu20.cloudfront.net/dyn_images/420/60/7765900090.JPG" /><span style="font-size: large;"> <span style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Robert Stock</span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Today I'll be cleaning out my studio, I'm the kid in school that aced English when it came to writing, my drawings and art would be in the display case....But just don't look at my room before I was made to clean it and don't look at my messy notebook! It's just the way I'm wired, but I work on it constantly.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'll work on a matching tie belt to the simple but beautifully <a href="https://www.hobbylobby.com/Fabric-Sewing/Quilting-Fabrics/Cotton-Calico-Fabric/Cottage-Rose-Floral-Cotton-Calico-Fabric/p/50525" target="_blank"> floral </a>skirt I designed. Just a quick-quick thing. My base design is Simplicity 4881, simple longer version. I make my skirt a bit less bell-like, it's A-line but not so wide on the bottom, when I'm using a stiffer fabric that works.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It will be pizza night for hubs and I, I'll simmer some frozen broccoli seasoned with garlic and olive oil to side with it, we'll watch an old 40's movie together here. I look forward to that. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> ................................................. <br /></span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">Closing with a clip of one of my favorite movies ever, this clip brought tears to my eyes as I watched it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">May we take note of this clip and listen carefully to the words here til the end... We never understand people, what they have been through until we've walked in their shoes a bit...I think this is beautiful. Many miss out on many a blessing, they are really missing out by not getting to know Boo Radley.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">When I see Atticus with Scout I think of our Father in Heaven, this is just what He does with us...Takes us in His loving arms. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: x-large;">No rudeness here... Just beautiful. </span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/AYEjYGJCSyM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p> </p><p> </p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-88684736395787157902022-08-21T09:26:00.017-05:002022-12-08T13:04:27.107-06:00'Not as a Stranger' (1955) Plus Thoughts on Being a Respecter of Persons<p><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="Naas1955.jpg" class="thumbborder" data-file-height="300" data-file-width="200" height="400" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/0/00/Naas1955.jpg" width="267" /> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Wow, what a great movie, see the trailer <a href="https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048432/" target="_blank">HERE. </a> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Not as a Stranger </i>(1955) See in entirety <a href="https://archive.org/details/not-as-a-stranger-1955" target="_blank">HERE</a> or on<span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Tubi</b>!</span></span> (Tubi is absolutely wonderful for great older movies!)<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This movie has Robert Mitchum, Olivia De Havilland, Frank Sinatra, Gloria Grahame, Broderick Crawford, and Lee Marvin for starters.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It was based on a 1954 novel by the same title by Morton Thompson. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This movie has so much in it, romance, medicine, betrayal...It has Robert Mitchum struggling to become a doctor, not for lack of brain power but lack of finances coming from a humble family. It shows Frank Sinatra as Dr. Boone as a fellow med student, actually a decent part and a man of character at least as a true friend. Robert Mitchum as Dr. Marsh has integrity-plus in the medical field standing up for life. He is not going to put up with the Ageist philosophy that we see even NOW in medicine. My cousin had to fight the Ageist philosophy when my uncle was in the hospital, it was horrible and disgusting.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This movie also touches on the medical school actually teaching how to make more money from certain procedures or lack-of. I reiterate....disgusting and heartbreaking. This is made in 1955 and it's very clear the shocking attitude that has been ongoing. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">This movie will have you wide-eyed on some things...Trust me. Robert Mitchum just can't help himself being a rascal when he's not at the hospital and Gloria Grahame is still that ol' Violet from 'It's a Wonderful Life'. You know the type... ; ) </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">The ending is a decent one and I do not want to spoil of course. I would highly recommend this movie however please preview any movie before allowing youth or children to see the movie. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I hope everyone is having a blessed Sunday. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Some Closing Thoughts</b><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="loading ..." border="1" height="171" src="https://d3rkjd3rspyu20.cloudfront.net/dyn_images/420/60/9285000100.JPG" width="215" /> Be nice, be kind... and for goodness sake don't be a respecter of persons. It's heartbreaking when we see that isn't it? Grown adults being respecters of people. It's bad enough when we see children behave like that. Ought not be in Christian circles at all. Some people? As my dad would have said...."That leopard ain't changed it's spots." Many people unless they totally surrender to the Lord they will never change. In other words to repent of these things and make a Uturn. And some people will never believe what goes until they themselves get slapped with it. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Let's stand up for people, not be part of leaving them out! Let's not be part or want to be part of those with weak, competitive, envious or insecure character issues not to mention their hurtful actions. I see the same women and their grown kids with the very same character i</span><span style="font-size: large;">ssues and patterns many times...Oh how they've taught them well. I just shake my head. ....But, God is the Revealer and I praise His name! </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We must be careful too, not to complain on God's loving protection over us many times, God is usually protecting us from from people with a lack of character when we see these things. We don't want to eat those maraschino cherries on the floor with the broken glass mixed in, as my doggy wanted to do once, as the luscious red jar had fallen out of the fridge onto the tile floor in what my sweet dog thought was a delectable delight. Oh how many women want so badly to be part-of. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Let's be loyal friends and family members too. Never put a social position above our loved ones.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Let's be a Dr. Boone in the loyalty department. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My care to all, let's allow the things that break God's heart to break our heart. Let it begin with me.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">"It's not enough to have a brain, you have to have a heart." </span> -Dr. Marsh's father.<br /></span></p><h1 class="item-title"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="breaker-breaker" itemprop="name"> </span></span></span></h1><h1 class="item-title"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="breaker-breaker" itemprop="name">Let's be first class. God bless.<br /></span></span></span></h1><h1 class="item-title"><span class="breaker-breaker" itemprop="name"><br /></span></h1><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-32695490801886201562022-08-15T09:43:00.015-05:002022-08-15T17:46:11.394-05:00'ThE hunTER FrOM HELL' Sermon by David Wilkerson. This May Answer Some Questions...EXCELLENT. Not What You May Think. Updates from the Forest.<p> <img alt="loading ..." border="1" src="https://d3rkjd3rspyu20.cloudfront.net/dyn_images/420/60/1469800084.JPG" />.</p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/qhT32BjacCM" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.<p><span style="font-size: large;">Don't let the title dissuade you. This is excellent and may answer many questions. We love the late David Wilkerson and I love his sister Ruth. I spoke with Ruth on the phone once when my stepfather suddenly passed away over thirty years ago and we had moved to a new area...the rural area where we are now. She helped me greatly and I still remember her counsel. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Look up David Wilkerson and you will see his history, our old pastor from over thirty years ago said that when he needed counsel that David Wilkerson would be the most merciful out of all the pastors he contacted.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I will be going on adventures with the Lord, the Father as usual, walking and talking to Him, it's very personal between the Lord and I. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">That reminds me...Do you know what? Sometimes I notice things. I think one of the saddest things are people who know <i>about</i> the Lord and go to church but don't <i>know</i> Him. It shows, it shows. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Do We Feel Like Tevia?</span></b><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Never fret dear ones...I'm talking to myself here...Lately I've had to look up to the Lord kind of like Tevia from <i>Fiddler on the Roof </i>when he talked to God... It's kinda like....<i> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Lord, I prayed for mercy and grace ... Has there been a misunderstanding? </i> (smile)</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's in those times that I count my blessings and think upon the beautiful answered prayers the Father has answered. Yes, that is what I do...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I looked at my coffee cup this morning and smiled... <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/e9/ef/e6/e9efe64f884a77fce75b488aa0620ee3.jpg" width="378" /></span> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I have little reminders near my coffee area...I love my little animals too here. It's fun arranging them like a little girl would do...Why not? I think it's great to keep that child-like sparkle and whimsy. <br /></span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="260" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/40/78/0a/40780a1b0baf7b22152f15e692065a20.jpg" width="400" />.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">He's the vine, He knows what is best.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/e2/db/fb/e2dbfb2f7a9e61b3db55815dde1e6332.jpg" width="302" />.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/15/44/07/15440789540ef76a574cbd87f1deab4d.jpg" width="300" />.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A little doggy lamp that greets me in the darkness, usually around 5am...Sometimes earlier. That's my quiet time with the Lord. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Liesl's Smile </b><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/f0/b1/87/f0b18750e0f14f2b9219a5169fa9d9bb.jpg" width="284" />.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">One of our precious fur angels, Liesl. When I look at her loving face I am so blessed and comforted whatever the day holds. That is our daughter's little dachsund behind her, all of our fur angels make quite a precious team. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Speaking of Our Fur Angels </b><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We almost lost our elderly little Muffie a couple of weeks ago due to a heat stroke because of a common mistake...It's very scary what happened. He's blind so we normally set the timer for 2 or 3 minutes of him being in the outdoor heat, even in his little fenced area but my daughter forgot to set the timer putting him in the open area, not even the fenced. Enough said. It was horrible and the little guy was on an i.v. overnight under observation at the vets. The youngish vet was doubtful he would make it after watching him the next morning. I talk about the Lord to the vet on the phone and all the things the Lord has done for our pets, the young vet probably thinks he has met quite a zealot. Long story short, Muffie came back home with us safe and sound and he improved daily thank the Lord! Our daughter was so kind, she had the integrity to pay the vet bill, not many young adults would do that.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/a9/dc/30/a9dc30f47e4dc397741b86cc3778978d.jpg" width="301" /> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Little Muffie home and resting.<b> </b><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'll close with this favorite of mine by Fernando Ortega. Perhaps you too are feeling like Tevia? I hope this song will minister to your heart as it does mine.<br /></span></p><p><br /> </p><p></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2OcaZG_EPZk" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe>.</p><p> </p><p><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/be/b4/a1/beb4a1ac42640277a6c2ceb9c7dcbdc8.jpg" width="301" />. </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">A double rainbow hubs and I saw last week...God's Faithfulness. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Grace and Peace to you til next time... Will you too lift our country up in prayer? </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Please don't forget about the sermon, it really is worth listening to. : ) </span> <br /></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-size: xx-small;">First photo of little girl by Robert Stock.<br /></span></p><p> <br /></p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-24302951210278518492022-07-22T20:10:00.015-05:002022-08-25T08:24:07.289-05:00Around Here...Whew! What a Summer! Show n Tell.<p>.</p><p><span style="font-size: large;">First of all, thanks be to God for Roe being overturned. I remember when things went down in '73...You could feel it. The morals of our nation were going downhill fast back then when I was in knee socks watching all hell let loose in my junior high. I remember my church going to the capitol leaving roses on the front steps. Our little family has been praying for years for justice. Through the years we've prayed, volunteered and counseled those who needed assistance. Now we see after many years our prayers answered. Thanks be to God. I knew when I touched the keys for this next blog that this had to be the first thing I would write.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/2e/40/e3/2e40e3a65559d80b62cc69904ddbc207.jpg" width="301" /> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Wow. It's been crazy busy here...Gardening, keeping our house a home. Coping with current events, praying to the good Lord, walking and talking with Him. What would I do without Him? Cooking...Mending. And a new little baby girl in our family! I'll have to write more later on our new little granddaughter. She's a darling.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm going to do just a little show and tell here just to touch bases. Have some coffee, or tea...iced or hot doesn't matter to me. (I'm a poet and didn't know it).</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here's a little cotton outfit I designed and made. I think it's nice, it's very "seaside" looking... I like to make simple tops, belt them, and simple maxi-midi length skirts and they really make a nice little outfit. This has a modest vneck and I turn my skirt to the seam showing on the front to add an interesting design with the stripes.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/ee/15/a0/ee15a0e048cc8163d53c0095952107a0.jpg" width="301" /> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/cd/53/9e/cd539ef8b7c6c0d98a260be877e4d87d.jpg" width="301" /> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Taking a turn outside is always nice and a wonderful relaxing habit...God's Handiwork beautifully but gently exclaims His name...Walking outside gives us a new outlook many a day.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="This contains an image of:" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/9d/c5/d9/9dc5d954b59aaa92aef006185f8eaa85.jpg" width="301" />.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">You know...Nature is one thing that never changes. We can look outside at the clouds, the trees...Our sweet pets, the birds...and God never changes on those things. No matter what is going on...these things bring us back to the Lord and give Peace.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Now don't get me wrong...It seems every time I say something like that someone gets me wrong and thinks I'm saying that that is the way to the Lord. No dear one, it's a Gift from the Lord that keeps our sanity so to speak. My relationship with the Lord in prayer and reading the Bible is very real and that's how I keep my plumbline straight up. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Many of you know we love plant based foods, especially healthy plant based foods. I found a very good lentil burger recipe. It. Is. So. Good. I made mine with canned lentils because I was in a hurry and brown rice flour for my binding flour. (Edit: 8.23.22.) I have removed link. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">While I'm on the youtube subject, why more people don't go to<i> Rumble</i> to do their videos boggles my mind. I'm thinking it's all about the moneys...Nothing new under the sun. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>You can use cooked lentils for any recipe that calls for meat btw. </b>Lentils take only 30 minutes to cook unlike large beans. : ) You can use a pasture raised free range egg or brown rice flour for a binder for your burgers, some people use ground flax seeds. Have fun and experiment! You can look up lentil or bean burger recipes.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Edit. 8.24.22. I hope to post my new lentil burger recipe soon. : )<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" id="9284900071" src="https://d3rkjd3rspyu20.cloudfront.net/dyn_images/135/50/9284900071.JPG" title="" /> <b>Thoughts and Ideas</b><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What do I eat on a vegetarian diet? I eat veggies including beans, fruits, and I also eat Kerry Gold butter or any other certified pasture raised butter humanely raised. I also eat eggs...same thing as with other dairy (that I'm not allergic to). Certified free range pasture raised, humanely raised. I like almond milk. Sometimes I treat myself to Italian sausage non gmo Tofurky or the Field Roast, apple and sage sausage made with potatoes, both found in our produce department. It's delicious. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Sometimes for fun if I want to do a fastfood night I may do vegan non gmo veggie nuggets and fries or Daiya pizza found in the frozen department. I like coconut milk cheese found in the produce department. EDIT 8.7.22: I like goat cheese, or Kerry Gold cheese made from cows swishing their tails in the green pasture as God made them to do, not penned up in horrible conditions and if you look into the baby calves it will break your heart, or it should. And...Little by little I'm doing my own thing with whole ingredients on lots of things just like the lentil burgers. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Lentils are a beautiful thing I tell you. These lentil burgers (above) could also be used for little cutlets with gravy. Mine came out very crispy on the outside and tender and very tasty on the inside.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">How animals are treated is important to me as a Christian. Sometimes people have animosity towards gentle people with a tender conscience and get very judgy, it's very hard for me to understand that attitude. As Christians I think we should care about these things. Animals are God's Creatures. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I like to go back to the Garden: Genesis 1:29.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Strange Times</b><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of weird and strange animosity. I've seen some very ugly religious spirits out there lately. Wow. It's that dark, cruel and ugly religious thing that hung Jesus to the cross (not true religion as the Bible describes). One lady came after me saying I did not know Jesus because I don't attend the church of my childhood. I didn't even know people existed like that woman. I've always reverenced the true Christians from that specific church. You would not believe the remarks this woman made to me, it was unbelievable, like something from a dark, dark movie that I would never go see. There are others who are very judgemental because my husband and I don't participate in Laodicean churches. Are you finding that you are not fitting in? Maybe it's because it's a Laodicean church. My husband brought this up a few weeks ago. If you are not familiar with the Laodicean church, it's in Revelations in the Bible. It describes the lukewarm church that Jesus will spew out of His mouth. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I'm doing fine thank the good Lord. It's a crazy world out there and there are concerning things coming out for all to see, they've been coming out and to our disbelief there are still those refusing to see. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">What do we do to cope? I pray and talk to God on a daily basis, many, many times a day, like talking to a sweet parent. I find much comfort and Peace in that. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">To keep things light sometimes it helps me to cope to play Glen Miller vintage music or Artie Shaw...It's just beautiful, peppy and celebrates a time in our country when there was a healthy fear of God. I even dress for the part, I love cotton skirts and tops with comfortable cushioned sandals, not flip-flops, cushioned sandals with straps around the back of my foot. Hair pulled back in some way with a little makeup. It works much like the actresses in the movie, <i>Gone With the Wind. </i> They knew they had those petticoats on! Other's didn't but they knew! It affected their acting.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">We're empty nesters pretty much except for our sweet youngest daughter but she is an adult and a busy gal so <span style="font-size: large;">it's usually me here with my husband going in and out so
this is one thing that keeps things pleasant and really keeps my
attitude cheerful and I think my husband's too, he even said last week that he appreciated me taking effort in my daily dressing. </span><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Speaking of big band 40s...Want to see something to make you smile?</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I love to see the Nicholas Brothers dance, this is so great!:<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/wjQQnfLiWxM?start=90" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I hope you enjoyed the Nicholas Brothers, there are other videos of them out there too I'm sure. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">In closing,</span><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Here's a scripture my husband was reading to me this morning that is encouraging in these days we are in.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">1 Thessalonians 5</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><img alt="loading ..." border="1" src="https://d3rkjd3rspyu20.cloudfront.net/dyn_images/users/75/Guest-20220722-2138202565.JPG" /> </p><p><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Photo by Robert Stock</span></p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Until the next time Dear Ones... I appreciate you. </span> <br /></p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> <br /></p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-16150075668316605822022-05-28T08:25:00.017-05:002022-05-29T08:31:14.402-05:00 BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES (1946) Perfect for Memorial Day, One of my Favorites.<p><span style="font-size: large;">Just want to drop a hint to a very appropriate movie for Memorial Day. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Years of Our Lives (1946)</span></b></p><p><b><br /></b></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>It's been said that this movie is the closest thing</b> to what our soldiers went through when they arrived back home after WWII.</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Excellent cast and let's remember that the actor, Harold Russell who plays Homer <b>actually lost his hands in a military exercise. </b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Best Years of Our Lives was the highest grossing film in the 40s since Gone with the Wind...</b><b> <br /></b></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I never tire of <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Best_Years_of_Our_Lives" target="_blank">this movie</a>, the music score in itself is beautiful...And notice the sweet wedding in the movie at the end. (spoiler alert) I see the materialism that has crept into things</b> now and the keeping up with the Jones and it breaks my heart. I'm flabbergasted at times at what people think is<i> normal.</i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i> </i><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>A Memory of Mine, My Mom taking a Stand Against Materialism:</b> <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I remember my mother back when I was in elementary school. It was Valentines week and there was to be a Valentines party in our classroom. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My mother was one of the ladies in charge and one of the other ladies from another state in the country who was quite free with her spending wanted to get very expensive favors for the girls that would have been around $2.50 each. The expensive favors were lavish red velvet heart pillows with a stuffed elf on top with chocolates... we would say "over the top" in our now-a-days lingo. This was back in the middle 60s. </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">My mother had to stand her ground and explain to this lady that the sweet, pretty little red plastic heart-shaped cases from the local dime store with a transparent snap cover, filled with conversation hearts would be more appropriate. I was so proud of my mom! It was a very delicate situation! I'll never forget her standing there in our yellow and white 30s kitchen on our wall phone quietly, kindly, explaining to the lady on the phone. I'll never forget my mom's kindness, firm but gentle, quiet-like stand. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><b><span style="font-size: large;">Best Years of Our Lives (1946) </span></b><br /></p><p><iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/YiPbcX26nr4" title="YouTube video player" width="560"></iframe></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">So many life lessons in this movie... </span><br /></p><p> </p><p> </p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><b>My favorite WWII museum </b>is in Fredericksburg, Texas. It's the National Museum of the Pacific War. We've been several times at least and I just absolutely love being there. Can't get enough of that museum...Beautiful and honoring...educational and wonderfully done.</span> <br /></p><p> </p><p> <span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/c7/91/26/c791263811c62d7908ab2a52e495fa63.jpg" /> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">My mom and dad as many of you know. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><img alt="" class="_mi _25 _3w _2h" height="400" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/3d/cc/cd/3dcccd8db2949cb7372c87ab3d22909a.jpg" width="300" /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;">I miss my dad this time of year terribly, breaks my heart. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">Take care now...Until the next time...Let's lift our great country up in prayer.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img alt="loading ..." border="1" src="https://d3rkjd3rspyu20.cloudfront.net/dyn_images/420/60/9051500010.JPG" />.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">If you are a veteran, please know our family esteems and appreciates you greatly.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-size: large;">May we remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. <br /></span></span></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /> </span></p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1469962485360170433.post-57446625657642273472022-05-15T20:06:00.002-05:002022-05-15T21:55:07.166-05:00VERY GOOD SERMON FOR THE DAYS WE ARE IN. Highly Recommend!<p><span style="font-size: large;">This morning we listened to this sermon in the car, it's excellent!</span><br /></p><script>!function(r,u,m,b,l,e){r._Rumble=b,r[b]||(r[b]=function(){(r[b]._=r[b]._||[]).push(arguments);if(r[b]._.length==1){l=u.createElement(m),e=u.getElementsByTagName(m)[0],l.async=1,l.src="https://rumble.com/embedJS/u7lrol"+(arguments[1].video?'.'+arguments[1].video:'')+"/?url="+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+"&args="+encodeURIComponent(JSON.stringify([].slice.apply(arguments))),e.parentNode.insertBefore(l,e)}})}(window, document, "script", "Rumble");</script>
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<script>
Rumble("play", {"video":"vxiih8","div":"rumble_vxiih8"});</script><i><span style="font-size: large;">If we don’t have a plan to escape the paganism in our culture, we will be swept into it. In this sermon, Pastor Allen Jackson offers insight on how to strengthen our faith in a world that celebrates ungodliness and corruption.</span></i></p><p><i><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></i><img alt="This contains an image of: L'Innocence – Bouguereau" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/42/69/8a/42698a01f51726f9d06cfa889618bce9.jpg" /> <i> </i></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Innocence </i>by William Adolphe Bueguereau There is such quiet strength and Peace in this painting. Will we be like this? Are we like this? There is a quiet strength and power in a godly life...</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /></p><p><img alt="St. Joan of Arc" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/236x/dd/5a/d4/dd5ad42a36ae91aa4e73b178e21a0b05.jpg" /><span style="font-size: large;">Will we be a Joan of Arc in today's society? </span></p><p><br /></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">It's been a busy week...Two dogs with snake bites let's just say. Our large hound actually had two of them at one time. Eh hem.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">I hope all is well and please know the Lord is Faithful. </span></p><p><img alt="" class="hCL kVc L4E MIw" src="https://i.pinimg.com/564x/50/80/65/5080653cb017630255e53ba51138ade9.jpg" /> <span style="font-size: large;"> </span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">For those of us who are more intuitive and feeling, things can really get to us at times...Let's channel (cast our cares upon Him who cares for us) those deep feelings and realizations to the Lord, our Father. I don't know what I would do without talking to the Lord. We can talk to Him like a child to a good and kind Father. <br /></span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;">Psalms 91</span></p><p><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br /></p>Ameliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09093408888499365118noreply@blogger.com3