Monday, a Bloggy Mood and All That Goodness. What's on my Mind...

Hi Di Ho Everybody! Yep, it's Monday. Monday - Monday... : )

I've done my flylady things and I'm treating myself to some blogging time. Just some creative heart release time with my typing fingers to friends and the Father. I've got a soup going in the kitchen so that's set. I smell onions and garlic I just sauteed...Becs is doing a photo shoot with Li Li, props everywhere...Those are good things.

What's on my mind? Oh that song by Sara Groves, 'What I thought I Wanted' yep, that's a playin' these days on the turntable of my mind. It's been an intense time in the Italiana home. A time of praying for our girls on the other side of the world and a time of seeing someone who said they cared deeply for one of our girls...Seeing that very person quickly melt into the world especially in the ways of other girls... at a drop of a hat. I have no idea why. We saw glimpses but prayed for the best, I wanted to believe the best. I did know in my heart that if something like this were to happen it would probably happen during this time of our daughter being away.

I just knew this was a possibility... I'm the same person who could tell at the age of six that my first grade teacher was expecting by the way she said the spelling word, baby.

It's a hard thing for a mom to see. We love people, we care for people we so want the best for them...so much we did. Oh sooooo much! So much potential. God only knows. But sometimes people go for the cheap, ugly, temporal, losing sight of what is real and what is true what is beautiful in the Lord. We should never apologize for holiness or sweetness by the way.

I crawl into bed much like a little girl one night after seeing some tell-tale things on the pc. Li Li had told me... Mom you should just get off now, it's upsetting you too much. I was clearly broken hearted for more than the second time in a week over some rather overly friendly exchanges with said person and other girls. I said to Lea ..How can he do this to her? Why?

I tell hubby:

Hurt my feelings? Insult me in the worst possible way? Show me disrespect? It stings, it makes me cry. Sometimes it makes me cry hard, I lose my appetite. It makes me walk around like a zombie. But mess with my girls? I can't let that happen. That's the ultimate.

Hubby tells me...

Don't worry because I'm not going to let anyone mess with them.

I so want to love people, I want to love them to Christ and then they do this stuff.


It's okay, this is the one thing I know. God is the Revealer and like Li Li said the other day trying to quote some famous person...in the kitchen, the place where all problems of the world are solved...

If we knew what God knew we would go right along with Him.

That sure sums it up.



Sometimes I think these things happen to us so we won't be prideful. If all courtships went so perfectly? Like the front of those homeschool magazines from the 90s? We would be the most prideful people ever. There is no easy formula 1,2, 3. No, with the Lord it just isn't that way. He is the formula. Period.

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The other day Hubs took me out to eat at one of our favorite little places in smalltown...I love that place. This neat mexican restaurant is situated in an old airplane hanger. We've eaten at this place for 20 years. It's so wonderful, so very very wonderful to be a part of smalltown USA.

On the way out? Remember our piano teacher? From Midtown? The one who had moved to smalltown with her coach husband? The beauty who looked like Greer Garson in her younger years? My precious friend who has gone to be with the Lord? As I'm sliding out of my booth I hear two separate tables talking about her little home. They were talking of her home like a landmark. I turned to get a good look at them and I thought to go join them...I wanted to tell them...

Yes, I knew mrs. blount, she was my friend. She was my dear friend. She was lovely and content in smalltown even though she had the best music teachers in Midtown. She would so get me in this season of life, she had cried with me before. I know she would cry with me again or at least give me words of wisdom. You see my family has been turned every which way with all of this. Up and down.

How about some pleasant pics now???? : )

Here's some pics of that evening:

Tis I. I have my hair pulled back, and yes I know my shirt is hanging in the shower. Who cares. This is a very real blog, so who cares. : ) Maybe others will get the hint too to get real on these things we call blogs. I'm thinking...I had better hurry and get going!


Okay out the door! An unfinished walkway...


Look up at the trees, the evening sun shines and reflects. Here we are having cooler than normal weather. I actually had to put the bathroom heater on one night, can you imagine?


Bye, Bye, house! See ya in a bit! : )


On the way down the beautiful road to smalltown...A message? I think so. It always is.

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Yesterday? A Happy Sunday for the mostpart. : )


With just two of our girls, Hubby & I figured going to the old downtown church would be best. We felt it in our hearts. It started getting so overcast and dark!



I look down. Hubby's hand and my hand. This says multitudes. Trust. Care. Companionship of 32 years. A care and love for each other that improves over years, that's the way the Lord intended.


Okay, we're here! Not bad, we made it pretty quick! There goes the LightRail...









Watch out for the LightRails! They aren't too light if you get hit by one!


The service at the big beautiful majestic church was so good. There was a beautiful testimony of a middle aged man born in the 50s, he grew up being taught little boys weren't men if they didn't drink beer and drive trucks. Poor little guy. He ended up at Star of Hope mission and found Jesus. He now is studying in social science to be a counselor to help people. This testimony made me cry, it was such a neat thing. Now days you don't hear many testimonies at many churches. When they played the doxology I put my head on hubby's shoulder and closed my eyes as I sang. I opened up my eyes and the camera man was turned around smiling sweetly at us amused. He amused me that he was amused. : )

A beautiful service.

Afterwards in the bathroom I heard women talking and I was able to converse with one, she looked very down to earth and was very talkative talking about coffee in Sunday school and it's effects. ; ) I told her coffee was a vegetable because it was a bean! She liked that. I saw a Joyce Meyer books under the stall. A Sunday school lesson book. Sure enough I later heard ladies speaking of lessons from a Joyce Meyers book. I think that's pretty good, I'm not one hundred percent Joyce but I think she helps people. The pastor also spoke of a Jeanette Clift George book about feeling as if God is on the other side of Heaven. My dad went to college with Jeanette Clift George, my dad enjoyed drama. I sure would like to get that book.

After church? It was getting darker and darker, I am a people watcher and I notice people from all walks of life. Older men in ties and bow ties. Women, some in hats. Some people look middle class and some perhaps from a mission. Some old money? Who knows. It's interesting to watch though. They also have a Stephen ministry that I thought sounded wonderful for people.


Let's stand and hear the church bells?



Dh? Could you record the church bells? That would be so great!


Thunder?


Let's hurry and get in the car!



Yes, stormy weather. Neat.



We drive by this downtown coffee shop...loved the cozy lighting...love the effect here...


Me and Becs! We are happy, we're heading to the Mediterranean grocery to eat at their restaurant. A treat indeed.


We're HERE! Love the name of this salad...This place is HUGE. It has garage parking and contains two stories of neatness.



A very small portion of the goodies and bakery.


Outstanding made to order sandwiches? I'm not sure if they are really called sandwiches. In the front are pizzas. My "sandwich" was made with Zataar bread. So good!


You pick what ya want... nifty Zataar thingies. Fresh veggies! Yummo!


One little cubby hole, and one entrance to the neat restaurant part where we bring our sandwich thingies. (Around the corner is gelato...If I could have sugar I would order the pistachio orange blossom).



The other entrance around the other side...Becs and I march down to a table as we approach a darkened dimly lit stage at the end...A bass player, a piano and later a female vocalist with polka-dot heels singing like Ella Fitzgerald. Luverly on a rainy afternoon.



I've looked at life from both sides now...

Me from Becs view,


Becs, from my view through the glasses and aftermath of our delightful little lunch.


How could we go home without this shot? Ha! : D

That's the wrap...A long blog. Lots of pics. Hope you enjoyed your weekend with us!

Please pray for our two girls away at this time serving and teaching in China.

Something sooo cute a little child in China, a student, wrote to our daughter:

You are more beautiful than any actress and your eyes are big. : )

Something I like to hear:

My 82 year old mom calling on a Saturday eve as I bathe our doglets:

Amelia, Lawrence Welch is on t.v. it's a black and white one.

She says it like welch's grape juice. funny. I'm so glad that is what was needed. Yes, I'll be glad to turn Lawrence welch on!

I did and we enjoyed it. One of the very first ones. Our family enjoys those old shows.

God is good.

We can trust Him, He knows all about it.

We can run to Him and sit on His lap!

Love to All, Prayers are coveted friends, Mommies? Please pray over that situation above. It's icky. Could be painful. So much to write, but I will show restraint and wisdom and shutteth uppeth at this point.

~Amelia
P.S. One last thing...Why not? : )

Source: youtube.com via Amelia on Pinterest

Joan Chandler and John Garfield in "Humoresque" (1946) She is so sweet & he becomes so deceived by the love of the world. Real life lessons here for sure.

The Smell of Rain...A Beautiful Sunday, Coffee Filter Countdown

...Most tears are grace. The smell of rain is grace. Somebody loving you is grace.
~Frederick Buechner



Yesterday turned out to be such a grace-filled day. It was one of those Sundays where we decided to venture out a bit. We had all decided a couple of days before that we would be venturing to church elsewhere instead of our sweet homechurch. Sometimes we do that little thing. : ) Dh and I felt our girls would enjoy either the homeschool church (a long drive) or one of our very favorites, the old, old, old, Methodist church in downtown.

We decided on the Methodist. We also decided that a fun lunch would be in order for our girls holding down the fort as two other of our sweeties are on a trip in China teaching children English. Dd27 wrote me quickly to tell me among other very most poignant things that she taught the children to say Y'ALL like the Texans do! She shared that one of the sweet Chinese children wrote that she looked more beautiful than a movie star and her eyes were big. Isn't that darling? She shared she was moved to tears as they so sweetly recited the reading lesson as a group for the first time after she read it to them.

This is my advent calendar of sorts. Yes, it's a stack of coffee filters. One for every day til my girls come home. : ) Mar-Mar is the coffee angel at our house and usually makes the coffee the night before; timed and ready to go...So. This is my little countdown calendar. : )



On the way to church it started storming up a storm! I thought of our poor little Muffie at home. That little guy is extremely terrified of rain and thunder. Strange looking tornadic looking clouds were appearing, it was a storm! But it was so neat as we approached the exit it was as if a halo of clearing was over the church downtown area. A little rain, but almost a pleasant rain. Just enough to give it a neat romantic mood of sorts. Sorry about the cross ways photo. This time I wasn't given the chance to turn the pics around. Becs doesn't know how either so I don''t feel so bad. Sorry! I figure, better posted sideways than not. Perfectionism is out!




I love this place. It's where my parents were married, it's only blocks away from where both dh and I were born. Delivered by the same Italian doctor. How could it not strum my heartstrings?



Can you imagine during WWII, relatives who prayed and wept in this church? Can you imagine the blackouts in the area? One of my sweetest friends in the whole world is from the middle of town and she remembered the blackouts, her parents were the drill leaders for the neighborhood black-outs. I miss her so much, she went to be with the Lord several years ago...She was my mother's age. Why did ya have to go? I ask vocally when I go into the little town nearby where she was from. She wound up close by here in the little town as her husband was a teacher and taught as a coach. She looked like Greer Garson in her younger year and was probably the most talented pianist I've ever seen. Our family was so blessed to call her friend and as a piano teacher. I miss her too so much. My girls miss her too. For those of you have read this already on my friend, please oblige.



We park and cross but not before dh kindly places a little note on the windshield of a car with a rather liberal political bumper sticker. ; ) That's my man! I hung back with Becs as I got this shot...Li Li and Dh. Don't worry Dh doesn't normally leave me behind. ; ) We normally even hold hands by George! He calls me Glamor Girl and i call him Handsome Guy.



Li Li and Dh


We get inside and of course the first stop is lady's room. Yes, I did take a pic. I'm telling you, I even love the bathroom, soooo old. You can feel it in your bones...I thought once again of my mom and dad getting married in this place. oooh so neat. Marble and old tile. I helped a sweet lady with a walker, she tells me Honey I was at the hospital visiting, and my back went out and I left in a wheelchair! Poor thing. I shared how my back went out one morning in my kitchen un-announced. I talked with her later and I was so surprised to see she is still wearing high heels! Nooooooo... She was a sweetheart. I wear ballet flats myself and love them. I also wondered if my mom didn't get dressed in this very bathroom years ago?





This caught my eye when we were waiting on everyone to exit the ladies room...


This is the view from where we usually sit...Beautiful. The choir was a melodic chorus this Sunday, a bit like the sweet choruses you may hear in an old Shirley Temple movie? The song? Come and Get Your Happiness. But of course they were singing hymns...So. Gorgeous. So. Sweet. It was starting to thunder..and that always adds to the drama of downtown, you could see glimpses of it through the stained glass. Neat.



When we were on our way out Dh saw this sign at the end of the high-up walkway we were on. This was at the end. "Cry Room". Dh nudged me jokingly, he had been so sweet on how I was feeling but he was joking...Maybe you should go in there. ; )



After the service we were leaving, So Becs, Li Li and I were waiting here. It was raining...I was able to help a sweet elderly lady make it to the sidewalk. So darling. I also overheard two ladies talking about a Bible study.



There goes my Handsome Guy to get the car for his girls!



Well, I think that's the wrap for a Rainy-Sunday yesterday.

After the service? We went to a charming cozy Turkish grill. Fun!

A very neat Sunday. Thank you Jesus.

God loves you in the morning sun and the evening rain, without caution or regret. ~Brennan Manning


Better run, I have noooo idea why in the world my pc is underlining things at random times! Li Li can't figure it out so it's not just me!

I think it's God whispering for me to get off now!

Love to All, Underlines and All! ~Amelia

The Journey, An Update for Future Generations

As some of you may know two of our daughters flew into China to teach English to highschoolers there...It's been a strange week or two as you may imagine.

Day before yesterday was the dreaded airport day. A very emotional day. I know this; I was not alone in my feelings from hearing about other parents, and spouses as well. The airport scene was interesting...I have a chipper shell of sorts -at times...Maybe I'm delirious who knows? I'm also exhausted emotionally. I hear of another mom realizing the temporary absence from her two young people as she bought only one bag of bread buns instead of two at the store chatting with the understanding lady next to her on the bakery aisle of this most shocking change in her household... I can see myself doing the same! : )


Things like this immobilize me at times, all the packing and preparing etc. Fear of the unknown. Some of you get me on this...in these times I feel an instinct to freeze. I must freeze and pray. My energies are poured into prayers at times like this. Sometimes I'm not that strong...I can be a real case. I'm cautious by nature but my trust in God is childlike and that carries me through life. It does. The older I get the more I need Christ's strength. Many things at play here of course.


A song that keeps before me is "How Beautiful" by Twila Paris. You can see it on my Pinterest if you wish under favorite music. It so adequately frames the entire scenario here. Perfect. God has allowed it to play over the radio that day too....He sure knows what He is doing.

As my husband and I left the airport yesterday, we looked at each other...We agree... This is what it's all about. Other things said too I'll try to share at another time.

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Yesterday morning the phone rings...
Ring-a-dinga ...... Ring -a -dinga.....


It's my dad!

Me: Hey Daddy.

Daddy: Hey, I can't get in touch with your mom.

Me: She's okay, I talked to her yesterday evening. Do you have her number right? (He can't see well)

Daddy: Oh Okay. Tell her to call me. How are the GIRLS? I'm trying to track their plane route!

It was so cute, he used to love-love-love to fly. Really love to fly, it was his hobby and he was what you could call a gifted pilot. He was also a practical joker in his flying as well. (another blog) He was also asked to do a secret mission in the 60s back when which he refused. (yet another blog!).

It was a special blessing this particular morning. He amazed me. My dad is 82 and you don't know how refreshing it is for me to hear him talking about the different flight routes to China and the special names for the routes. He tells me how the norm is to stop in Hawaii for fuel. Visions of the 60s and my handsome daddy. So very Americana. So thankful my dad is still sharp as a tack.

He tells me he's firing his yardman because he's a nut. (an understatement).

He tells me he's upset about Judge Roberts. (me too!) We ALL are! And we agree on Herman Caine being OUTSTANDING on Hannity the other day.

He tells me before he hangs up: Hey, say the Psalms 91 for those girls.

Yes Daddy I will. Always.

Always.


Following are some pics I will share with you that tell the mood:




A beautiful old church on the way home from the airport in Midtown. This is right smack dab in an affluent part of the city. Beautiful grounds surrounded by trees. This was taken in a moving car.





One of my favorite skirts I've made, a go-to skirt for sure. I pair it with a black belted t. Works great for days like this.



The sky fit the mood. (I reiterate, these are all taken as we were moving in the car)






A sight for sore eyes... Our little friend above.



The moooooon..... As said by Donna Reed to Jimmy Stewart...



Had to get out and get this shot while dh was filling up so you could see how large the moon really was.



The moon over our home as we pull up...lovely reflection in the pond.

That day:


Before we left...Noticing the cross.


Mar telling Muffie goodbye...She rescued him from a busy street several years ago...He is our smallest wee lil doglet baby. He was so nervous upon seeing the suitcases (he knows what suitcases mean) and became ill that day. These animals are very sensitive little creatures from God.



The aftermath of packing and weighing etc. Even my little Victorian lady looks a little woeful here...




Our girls. Becs. Li Li, Delle & Mar - A recent shot. Pray for our girls, Mar & Delle in China, Li Li and Becs are holding down the fort.

And that's the wrap til the next update...

Love to All, ~amelia

P.S. Dh told Byron that the girls were leaving to teach overseas for a bit. He says if they pull any funny business with our girls over there he'd go get'em. Byron's a tough senior soldier from the 60s. I believe him. : )

P.S.S. We watched "Pride of the Marines" with John Garfield. Oh what a fantastic old 40s movie! You must see it! They show a beautiful scene of his fiance praying. Hope to put a blog up on thats-italian soon about it... Great-great patriotic WWII movie.

Overloaded Woman's Daybook...Yeah Buddy Roy...Overloaded

Today Outside my Window? A very sunny day that just shouts summertime...I hear neat buzzing sounds from all of the trees, many trees! It whispers...summer...Very calming...


I am thinking... Oh wow. Do you really want to know? Thinking of a visit at my dad's yesterday. Thinking of my dad telling Lea just what he thought of JFK as Lea brought up the assassination. My dad still reels over the Bay of Pigs (understandably!). Don't mess with our boys when it comes to my dad. Dad went to a private military school in Biloxi Mississippi after his mother passed away when he was a little boy. Sad in some ways, such a little guy being sent away like that. But just don't mess with my dad on certain things. Let's just say when Mar heard Lea bring the JFK assassination up she looks at me and murmurs out of the side of her mouth...I need to go get my dessert now..she whispers...Lea's going to be sor-ry.... It was okay. Daddy was civil but real. Yes, we are very real people when it comes to what we think. He was nice about the assassination and he too believes there were other gunmen. Fascinating to learn about.

Here's a photo of my mom and dad when they were first married. They are both 82 now. Divorced unfortunately. Spent the day with both of them yesterday ...oh my. I'm an only child and it amazes me to see the same behaviors good and bad at times. Much to carry at times for me but God will help me, He always does. (written through watery eyes). They are both such, sweet, sweet people...So sweet. Life is hard to understand sometimes, it just is. It. Just. Is.

They were such a a handsome couple don't you think? I think this was probably taken around 1953 - 54? Classic time capsule.


I am thankful for... My husband and girls. A husband who doesn't curse or use off color language, who fears God. He doesn't watch garbage on t.v. and isn't going to allow anything worldly in this home. He is very particular on that and I am SO thankful! I also love his voice...(I know, it's random but true). Girls who walk uprightly; neat to see my youngest picking up on rebellion in others and telling me about it. God is faithful.

I am wearing... light stone colored capris, a cotton v-neck turquoise mini print modern paisley print shorter tunic... sleeveless. Very cool colors. I made it myself and this summer I chopped the sleeves off and hemmed it making it sleeveless but a teensy glimpse of a flattering perky cap sleeve. I used to do fashion illustrations and now in my middle age I am assembling stuff I like, easy stuff but stuff I like. I know who I am and what I like. My hair is growing longer (yay!) and I have it swept up in a messy bun with my new cat eye glasses on top of my head. It's so fun having longer hair and a newer style of eyeglasses.

In the learning room...Becs is starting on her photography assignment. I love the neat online course from the Institute of Photographic Study. Sounds fancy eh?

I am remembering...Sup, sup, supper time! The wash! I'm trying this cleaning schedule this week. We'll see if this or flylady works for me. You gotta love flylady...

I am going... Nowhere today.

I am currently reading... A neat new book, 'Main Street Vegan' by Victoria Moran. Outstanding book so far. And my Bible and devotional of course.

I am hoping... things will normalize?

On my mind... Hmmm... So much, just so much.

Noticing that...It's getting late.

Pondering these words...You can always recognize who has been through the fires of sorrow and received himself, and you know that you can go to him in your moment of trouble and find that he has plenty of time for you. But if a person has not been through the fires of sorrow, he is apt to be contemptuous, having no respect or time for you, only turning you away... ~Oswald Chambers.

I call it The Companionship of Brokeness!

Sometimes I would like to tell some of these women who don't seem to have that Companionship... Honey your looks are alright but somebody needs to put a bag over your personality...you're as cold as ice dearie!

From the kitchen... Hmmm. I have some ideas for supper...maybe just a simple pasta? Don't know. Becs will be making a pie crust in the next few minutes though...

From the working room...I would like to sew today but realistically, I'm not quite sure if I'll get to it, I have some awesome black crinkled taffeta that will make a gorgeous longer tea length crinkly skirt for the fall and winter, even now for dress-up...Love those crinkly skirts that crinkle when ya walk. Black hose and shoes. Beautiful. I also wouldn't mind making some more cloth dinner napkins. I'm noticing how many paper towels we've been going through. I make my napkins easy and a bit smaller than the norm. Just very usable, nothing fancy at all. But you have to have enough to make it cost effective.

Around the house...Dishwasher going, wash going, dryer going, Becs cracking eggs in the kitchen.

One of my favorite things...Peace of the Lord. Surprises He sends. Connecting with my girls on things...Love it.


A photo I would like to share..



My buddy at the nursing home, he is deaf, slightly mute. He is precious. He tries to talk so hard bless his heart. He can only use one of his arms it seems, he is all there I assure you. He's a saint I tell you. I say .."Hey!" He says... "Heayyyy"...I say "You doing okay?" He says: "Yeeeeaaaaahhhh!" The sweetest thing you ever did see. He is also partially blind, and has the best attitude ever. God bless and be with him and all of our nursing home friends. They are the best, what a forgotten treasure.

Take care All, love in Christ. Til the next time.... ~Amelia

Writer's Block? What's Going On Around Here...

Thank you Carmen and Jana for the sweet comments and prayers for our sweet little friend, Howard. That is so sweet, and I appreciate you two taking the time to read this blog and comment. : ) That's what it's all about isn't it?

Just went to the nursing home yesterday. I've been praying and interceding for Howard all last month, not daring to call the home about Howard. I just couldn't take it. I just couldn't. I had found out though that Howard's sister had passed away just weeks before, they appear to be twins. She was married to a medical doctor and was a nurse when she was very young in the early 40s. She was in the gardening club and lived in an affluent old established neighborhood...Seemed just like a sweet little Howard in female form from her lovely picture. She looked neat. I like simple people who know who they are enough to not march to the world's tune in what to wear etc. We can be who we want to be. I've always admired people like that. Does it bother anyone else when you hear things like....

"What are they wearing this year?" "They are wearing skirts this length or that length" That bugs me. Who in the world are "they" anyhow?

I used to draw fashion illustrations in art class and they were usually matted and placed in our highschool showcase weekly, even my fashion illustrations were done in my own way....I would dare do them in plain #2 pencil and a black bic pen with pastels here and there.. : ) They looked fine. But my point is...I did Laura Ashley looks and 40s looks before anyone knew it would be trendy. I was me. Me was and is I.

But it's not about me, it's about Jesus. It's about me shining Jesus to others. Any good thing I have is from Jesus, it's sure not from me. I do suppose I have to mortify the flesh most often though... That is life as a Christian is it not?

Enough of that ramble. Please know this is an uncooked, unedited blog. So if you're looking for perfection you're in the wrong place.

I see this blog is most likely for my true friends to read those who will truly pray with me and get me on things, a place for encouragments hopefully. Kindred spirits. Yes indeedie.

So why should I stress over this thing we call a blog...It is more like picking up a phone to yack? : )

Yesterday was the nursing home as I was going on...

I walked down the last hall where we left Howard. I nod my head at the nurses station and the Pentecostal lady who works there as she smiles sweetly at me knowingly. I'm looking down at my feet as I approach his room...I look up and his name is still there on the door. I peep my head in and what do I see? It's Howard!!!! He was in a deep sleep with oxygen rosie cheeked! He barely opens his eyes and eeks out a smile....

We were able to comfort him once again, and I could tell he was looking better. Praise the name of Jesus Christ. So Carmen, Jana,...and anyone else who took the prayer request seriously? Howard is there in that home. My daughter saw the diagnosis, "pneumonia" and a few other things she couldn't make out on the folder. I also saw hard copy letters from a doctor, his brother, written to Howard by his side. Me thinks this is a book-smart family from the 1920s. Very interesting to me. Also I love hard copy letters, it seems so many people don't even know how to act with hard copy letters anymore.

Howard held Michelle's hand as if she were his one true grand-daughter. Darling. My oriental friend, Betty was there with her three precious guys. Betty's youngest, Josiah was very concerned for Howard's soul. We asked Howard if he knew Jesus. He roughly through oxygen answered, yes. Please keep praying. I have found that Howard answered the phone as a volunteer for his church in midtown. Interesting.

Michelle asked Howard if they could take a pic together, Howard says: "I'd rather not, but you better hurry if you want one"

That told me something too.

We sang "Jesus loves Me" We ask if he would like for us to sing another song? Howard says with sleep eyes..."Not really"... Oh my. *smiles* We laughed...It was so Howard...

So that's the wrap from a mom with writer's block.

Lot's going on here. We have two daughters getting ready to go to China to teach English and you would not believe what it entails! Oh. My. Speeches to deliver stuff to buy...vitamins, herbs and more, more more! If I were Dr. Suess I could compose a book on this trip! lol

Here are some pics I will share, I have more but this will do for now:






These two pics are on Father's Day, Li-Li and Dh set the table under these two beautiful old oaks ready for a Chinese dinner Li-Li fixed. You can't tell but there is a vintage tablecloth on the table. We played oldtime Louis Armstrong jazz in the background...Nice.





My old oak friends. : ) Aren't they beautiful?



Another one of my friends here in the country, he lives down the street in a very sweet and beautiful place with many other cows, donkeys and such. He is crippled and I just think he is precious. You can see his two hind legs, they are turned backwards in a way...I wish I could have him here but it looks like the owners are loving him and caring for him... Such a sweet little guy.

As for me? I'm okay just thoughts and prayers a-whirring. : )

I like what Mar-Mar says: Muffie keeps the best secrets.

Yes, Mar I agree.

Muffie is our littlest doglet...A sweet little shitzu. Love him dearly, love of all of our doglets, kitlet and all of God's creatures great and small.


Love to All, Jesus is Lord. Yes, Jesus is Lord. Love in Christ Jesus, Jesus loves me and He loves You! Oh how He loves me and you! (Do you remember that song?) ~Amelia

Please Pray for Our Sweet Friend Howard, Father Help us to Be Still

It's been an emotional week of sorts. Sad, joyful but a bit heavy hearted. Why? We have a friend at the nursing home, Howard. Our thirdborn, Zuzu has grown close to Howard through the past year or so. I had too as of late. I've written about Howard before, he is a darling, born in the Victorian era, a cute little German, if you could shrink him down, and put a elf hat upon his precious little head and place some pointy toe shoes on his cute little feet he would be a perfect specimen of a garden gnome. His smile is a boyish toothy little grin, a bit like a muppet wide grin, sparkling mischievous blue eyes. Plump little belly. Cute. Michelle quickly found out that among the fact that Howard had never married and was an archeologist traveling the world over, no children...He did not believe that there was a Heaven or hell. A problem. Could be an eternal problem obviously. The photos of his middle age years look like something from Lawrence of Arabia as he is pictured upon a camel with white covering over his head among his archeologist peers in some exotic dessert setting. Another photo has a wonderful photo of he and his sweet little dog both dressed to the hilt in U. of Texas garb. Darling. Lighthouses are his thing, he has two large beautiful matted and framed prints hanging around his bed. He is from a bay town like I am. In fact my German great uncle owned a car dealership there. Maybe we are relatives? Who knows. Through the past year or so at least, we visit him once a month with our homeschool friends who have that heart for the Lord to bring joy and Jesus to one of the most forgotten mission fields ever. Before we knew it Zuzu would stop by and bring Howard a Bible, she would visit many times when she was in town. Howard also started wearing a huge cross necklace, very earthy and pretty but masculine. It was stolen and all the nurses banded together to buy another for him...Zuzu remembers the day she and the nurses were diligently searching for it.... ...Searching for the Cross. This past Christmas we were so excited to bring Howard his special Christmas card and a little snowman ornament to hang on his mirror. No Howard though, the nurses assure me he'll be back. Off and on this has been the pattern. Finally a couple of months ago, I notice two hospice cards on his nightstand. He tells me he's not doing so good. This past week we walk in his room, and he is worse. Much worse. Oh Howard...I rub his forehead and tell him to rest. Michelle is crying, we all are inside. It was shocking to see his condition. He barely lifts his head and looks to us with barely opened sleepy eyes, oxygen going strong. The hospice nurse comes in and tidies him up, we step out for a while and when we re-enter we ask if he's talking today, she tells us: "He said thank you". That really touched my heart, because it is so Howard. This man is suffering and he makes sure to say, thank you. We sing around him, Holy, Holy, Holy and Blessed Assurance. He barely lifts his head, I tell him, "Howard, Jesus is in my heart and I hold my palm out to him as my heart, and I place my palm on his heart...I tell him " Jesus is in your heart? He's in your heart (as i hope for a nod)... He can be in your heart too if He's not already." I'm saying this with the softest voice ever... (I never-ever want to be abrasive with this) Only God knows the heart. I realize to many this is a private affair and I greatly respect that but yet I want to do my part, it's a great responsibility talking with someone who is dying. He later asks me if I have any problems? I couldn't believe it....I briefly tell him softly something that has been on this mother's heart so he would see, yes, others too have problems... I also knew in his fatherly way, this made him feel better to listen to maybe something that I am battling; a concern over my youngest daughter's health along with the fact that there are some who treat some in our family so cruelly having no idea what is going on behind the scenes. It's shameful. It's cruel enough even if there were nothing going on behind the scenes trust me. It's a good thing our family has our eyes on Jesus, the true Lover of our souls. And may I add, these loves in the nursing home are the best friends we could ever ask for. A good book to read is "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas A Kempis for inspiration on that. : ) Or the Bible (of course!) if reading through the New Testament. God is with the humble of heart true enough. The real blessing is there trust me. Jesus is there. We won't seek approval of man if we do that trust me. We see how vain the gerbil wheel of life truly is and how we can stay far, far away if we hang on to God Almighty. You see, His yoke is easy and His burden is light. Yesterday morning my husband and I were tossing about what we would do for church, homechurch, the old church, a new church? The idea had occurred to me to visit Howard at the nursing home and my other sweet buddy too. I think it's good for hubs to go, the men need men to pray for them many a time. There is just something about two guys shaking hands and patting each other on the back. My suggestion bore witness with the family, before we could turn around good, we were dressed in our skirts, Hubs went to loafers and dress pants and praise and worship was being sung on the couch and off we went in the car listening to a great Zac Poonen sermon in the car. We made a family event out of it, eating at Cracker Barrel for breakfast and then to the nursing home. When we went down the hall to Howard's room. A nurse I recognize tells me: "This man needs prayer" She points to Howard's room. A nurse had Christian television playing quietly by his bedside as he lay alone, oxygen perking. Howard didn't look very good, his color was worse than Wednesday, it is strickening to our hearts. He couldn't speak at all this time, but he tried. Bless his heart, he tried soooo hard. It seemed he said, help. We tried to help, we tried. Tears ensued trust me, especially little Zuzu. I call her little Zuzu but she is twenty two. This little gal turns into a woman when she needs to, trust me. Trust me. My husband prays over Howard, we sing Jesus Loves Me. I adjust his gown making him comfortable. That is what a mother's hand does best I think. It comforts, it touches, it feels pain, it feels joy, or it should I think. Pray for Howard, he could cross over to the other side any time now. This is all for now. The song at the top ministered to me greatly earlier today. Listen if you can, perhaps it will minister to your heart too? Here is a picture that I took a couple of weeks ago from our front porch. It reminds me of Heaven. Amelia

Berry Jam, Warm Weather, Our Four Girls

What do we have here? Hmmm...It looks like Michelle with Dad, Hubs! It takes concentration to get those so called "Pop-up" pools put up doesn't it? This was taken at the end of last summer but it's about that swimmin' time again. What is going on in the house though?



Aha. We have Mar. and Becs prepared to tackle some berrry jam. We were having a cowboy party that night too with a Roy Rogers and Trigger movie to boot. Yes indeedie. We have more fun than a barel of monkeys I do believe.



Lea is in from work thinkin' what do we have here?



Tales from our office in oldtown...



In the meantime Mar. is delicately spooning the jam into the clean jars.



The bathing jars...


All four girls have made it in, Lea has donned her cowgirl shirt and we are waiting on the jars to "pop"!

All in a day at the Forest Cathedral. : )

Hope you enjoyed your visit!

Tonight we are watching a fascinating movie:

The House on 92nd Street (1945) This is a fascinating movie! It is a true story, movie/documentary on one of our German American college students who spied for the U.S. with the F.B.I.'s guidance after being approached by German Nazi spies right here in the U.S. on his college campus. From the comments I see some young men felt compelled to grow up to be an F.B.I. agent after watching this movie as a little boy! Fantastic movie. You may be able to find clips on youtube? It has some real footage that is hugely interesting along with footage of the inside working of the huge F.B.I. headquarters....I reiterate, it is fascinating! Enjoy!

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Yes, it's berry picking time at the Forest Cathedral, blackberries are getting bigger and bigger! I went out and picked some fresh ones and put them on my oatmeal along with almonds yesterday, it was so good! So nice to be able to do that...real life. Thank you Jesus.


Goodnight to All! Love, ~Amelia