Oh My Heart! Frank Capra's 'Meet John Doe' (1941) ...Our Little Town Peeps are Angels Right Here

 Meet John Doe  (1941)

 

Yesterday I found myself wandering through our little town Walmart...Oh.  My.  Heart.   I love it there.  Memories of yesteryear are there.  My little girls were very small, my friend was their piano teacher who has gone to be with the Lord.  My friend was a dear friend who had landed from the city in smalltown years before, she had looked like Greer Garson in her younger day in the 40s, she loved the Lord and I loved her.  

I would wonder the aisles back then...It's a tiny little Walmart and there have been recent times I'll hear a very sweet but astounded suburban woman with an artificial Christmas tree in tow in whispered voice wide-eyed...This Walmart is so tiny!  I smile back knowingly.

Yes, that is what is so wonderful about it.  It's pretty close to wandering the aisles of an old five and dime store, it has that most wonderful smell to it...It has the old heater and air conditioning system coming on and blowing that most wonderful airy sound vibe into the air if you hear it... You must hear it though.  You must *hear* it.  You must see the sights there.  You must feel it.  

Among the goodies there are the people.  The people who work there have worked there for years.  In fact they have worked there  before my youngest was  born.   I know them decently well, they'll ask one of my daughters where I've been if they haven't seen me in a while...Oh Mom? she's fine.  Her and my dad have been going to USO town and stopping by that Walmart.  (I'm sure that's almost like a mortal sin to these folks and they are probably praying for their wayward sister).  *big toothy smile*  I've made skirts and a tote before and drawn a fashion illustration I framed simply with a God loves you written on the back for one of the checker's grand-daughter as she didn't have a mother and needed some feminine influence. 

Well yesterday I was back in a most glorious way.  Conversations with a worker, on my maxi skirt I was wearing I had sewn, made with 'A Day at the Museum" fabric.   I gave her some tips on sewing.  Just listening to a workman and his wife in the Christmas department...I later hear him say...They have a lot of Christmas s*it.   Oh my, but it tickled me, he was just  being honest in his own funny little way. ...I also am pretty sure I saw two neighborhood forest ladies at the store  but not sure, we all smiled but none of us were sure.  It's kind of funny where I live...We know each other  but we don't.   Usually we see each other from a distance, either they are taking a walk or we see each other through a car window driving down these roads, we all live in the forest on property and like our quiet, we have all kinds of folk, quite a few police, a geologist...a U.S. Army General...all kinds of people and stay at home moms.  Yep, I admit it really should be better than that as far as knowing each other but.  I digress.  It's a great area to live and a privilege and Gift from God.   In the burbs I knew the faces but the faces would usually take a quick turn because most of those folk were too busy to talk or even smile at all. 

On to positivity here...The small town people are the salt of the earth many times.  They are my angels and it seems as if many times God sends these most wonderful people my way on the most needed days ever!  These people are the best fellowship ever, the best sermon ever.   I'm still building memories right here in small town.  I'm back to the forest, been back for over ten years and it feels good.  Pity those who haven't tasted that nectar of the simple life and the most wonderful John Does. You can even live here in the forest or any other sweet place but still not appreciate the beauty of smalltown and John Doe. It's got to be in our hearts.  If we can just lay down labels and talk with each other we can see.  *See*.  The beauty in one another.  There are far too many judgy armchair psychiatrists out there and far too many insecure people who behave as bipolar nutcakes, far too many ungrateful and plain rude people to not *see* beauty in the folk that may be right under our very noses!   I guarantee you there are people trying to analyze what I just wrote at this very second!  *smiling away!*  (It really is funny on people)  Oh dear me.....  

I hope you enjoy the movie above.  Meet John Doe (1941)   Directed by Frank Capra, the same Frank Capra from the same village in Sicily at the same time my Grandpa lived there.  My Italian family name is mentioned in one of the Capra biographies.  Yes indeedie. 

The first time I saw this movie was the night I came home from the birth center in '93 with our little baby girl, our youngest..  

 

 

Oh please enjoy the movie, and you will see wonderful life lessons on the materialism and how it can sneak in, and even a beautiful reminder of what Christ did for us over 2000 years ago as Barbara Stanwyck's character relays... Oh you must all see this movie!    Wonderful actors, Gary Cooper, Barbara Stanwyck and what is there not to love about Walter Brennan?  

 

Enjoy friends.  Enjoy.  When you're out, notice everything.  Everything.  The sounds, the smells...The look on a child's face and even just enjoying the face of a child....Everything.   Let that child remember your face that is kindly smiling to them.  They'll remember it. ....I can almost guarantee.

Life is a Gift.  Live the Life.  Remember what Christmas is all about...Jesus is that Life born in that stable on that holy night. 

Love, Amelia

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Liesl, one day this past week, I think this is such a pretty photo of Liesl just enjoying life.  She is truly a big colossal wonderful angel in our lives.  Many times I affectionately call her My Angel Girl as she lay her head on my lap in the evenings...

 

 

 

Veterans Day, A Quick Update, Appropriate Movie Suggestions, An Encouragement, Adding to the Beauty

Would you like some hot coffee?  Tea?   How about some iced hibiscus-peach tea...Known as my Mi-Mi tea to our daughters and my little tot grandsons.  Oh how the little tots love walking about with their little cups filled with Mi-Mi tea.   

The days are filled with falling leaves, it's still green here with speckles of red and orange like a luscious green-iced fall-theme cupcake with red and orange sprinkles on top.

 

Just wanted to let you all know of one of my favorite all time movies for Veterans Day.    Just ordered a copy and have been enjoying it the past several days.

 

Oh but what is it Mrs. Amelia?

 

Why...It is:  

 

Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo (1944)    

 Please click HERE to view trailer if you are on a handheld device.

Based on the book, by Ted W. Lawson. 

"Lawson was a pilot on the historic Doolittle Raid, America's first retaliatory air strike against Japan, four months after the December 7, 1941, Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor. The raid was planned, led by, and named after United States Army Air Forces Lieutenant Colonel James Doolittle, who was promoted two ranks, to Brigadier General, the day after the raid."  (excerpt from Wikipedia)

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Other old movies that to me are very worthy of our time are:

Destination Tokyo.  (1943) This one has a precious actor filling in for  Jimmy Stewart fill-in, as Jimmy Stewart was away at war during WWII.   There is a true scene where the young man undergoes an emergency appendectomy on the submarine under the ocean.   

Best Years of Our Lives. (1946)  This movie is said to be very, very close to the way things really were for the WWII servicemen when they came back home.

Sergeant York.  (1941)  A true story that takes place during WWI.  This one is wowee.  What is there not to love about Gary Cooper's part of Sergeant York and Joan Leslie as Gracie?  Do you know that Joan Leslie was picked because the real Sergeant York did not want any actress to play his wife who smoked, drank or cursed.  Thus beautiful and sweet Joan Leslie...Oh love that gal!  The true story of Sergeant York is one to learn about for sure.

I always recommend to preview even old movies before we show them to our families.

In our home?    We love old 40s movies, it's a good way to unwind after a day of working around the home, we can dialogue and talk and laugh, sometimes shed a tear about what is going on in the movie.  And may I add...It's cozy as the cold fronts are coming in.   Plus.  

40s movies are a breath of fresh air as far as morality, they were done when most of the country had a healthy fear of God.

Do you love the WWII era?    I highly recommend the National Museum of the Pacific War in Fredericksburg, Texas, it's wonderful, you could easily spend two days there.    There is also a huge one in New Orleans, Louisiana that we have also been to.

   I always think of my dad on these holidays.  I hear the aviators rumbling above our home,  and I think of my dad flying.  I miss you Daddy.  He was a sensitive, smart and amazing man.   He could be a character too and caused me a few tears but we loved him no matter what.

 

 

Mornings Here

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The deer enjoying the morning with me and my coffee. 

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This morning.

 

 

 

Adding to the Beauty, Let's Give Encouragements Even in Strange Places

 As you know I love skirts, they're great as far as I'm concerned.   I love to make my own, many times simply with Simplicity EDIT: The skirt is Simplicity 4881, I apologize if I confused anyone with the wrong pattern number.  (It's been a crazy couple of weeks)  I love novelty prints and usually it's a good conversation starter.

 

One particularly balmy day last September I wore this skirt at a big box store, I'll call the store Bob's Wholesale.   

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Jem and I were loading a few groceries in the car and I hear a lady in the car waiting for our space yelling out her window that she loves my skirt!   I could see she and the elderly sister in the passenger seat were clearly enjoying the day, so I ran to their car much like Libby in the movie, The Magic of Ordinary Days when she grabs the bottled cokes running out of the farm house excitedly to fellowship when she sees the Japanese sisters outside her kitchen window.  

Two darling black sisters were there in that car and boy did we have church!    She just went on and on about my skirt and I told her I made it and the fabric was from Walmart...And she said:   

 

"I looked over at you and saw your skirt and I thought Oh how I needed to see that today with everything that's going on!"

 

It gave me a boost and it gave her a boost and the Lord was glorified.  We can add to the beauty even in what we wear!   We praised the Lord right there in that parking lot!

 

When I'm at the store I love wearing either a novelty scarf or skirt or something, usually feminine that makes people SMILE.   I LOVE finding a WWII vet or a Korean War vet or now a Viet Nam vet.   I pat them on the back and tell them I appreciate their service and what they did for us to protect us and if Jem is around he runs up to them to shake their hand and tell them he appreciates their service too!  Many times they are eager to share what they went through with humility.   I give them a warm pat on the back and sometimes even a hug if they are in a motorized scooter etc. (when appropriate) and we always end with God bless you!

 

One day at Bob's Wholesale there was an elderly gentleman barely able to walk with his WWII hat on.   Oh I grabbed him!   He was so precious, he stopped.  He looked at me and said:  I'm so glad you appreciate it because most people don't.   Wow.  Just to know what these brave men went through and they feel like that in this modern culture.  Oh.  So.  Sad.

Many of us need encouragement on many a day, we have elderly parents and things going on major with loved ones.  Life.   We sure can encourage others can't we?   We can add to the beauty, the Beauty in others' lives!  

 

Some of us have the Companionship of Brokeness, and ya know.  If people don't understand that then I can't help it.  *gentle smile*  It helps us to be sensitive to others.

 

Encouragement:

Add to the Beauty by Sara Groves   

Please click HERE if you are on a handheld device to hear song.

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God  bless you, God be with you.  Be educated, be informed, pray like crazy, read the Bible, Psalms is akwats a good place always.  My favorites at this time are Psalms 91, Psalms 23 and Psalms 37.

Here's a very good site that you can figure out I'm sure, Covid (dot) Daystar (dot) com.  Lots of info there that may be helpful.

Redemption comes in strange places.

 

Don't forget good tracts to leave with a good hefty tip of course.  *big smile*

The God of the universe--the One who created everything and holds it all in His hand--created each of us in His image, to bear His likeness, His imprint.  It is only when Christ dwells within our hearts, radiating the pure light of His love through our humanity that we discover who we are and what we were intended to be.  There is no other joy that reaches as deep or as wide or as high--there is no other joy that is more complete.

 

I'm not a perfectionist on this blog,  otherwise I wouldn't get anything up at all.   I try to make it presentable and hopefully and prayerfully it's easy to read and understand what I'm trying to convey.

 

All five of our doglets and our three cats are doing well here at the Cathedral, they too are a source of inspiration and many a smile. God's Creatures.  I enjoy making friends with all the birds, the butterflies and squirrels not to mention our deer friends.  There is just something about looking into these precious creatures faces...True North.  An instant attitude adjustment shall I say.

God bless all of our veterans!  God bless you!   So many things going on on many fronts.  Be kind. 

 

Choose to be KIND.

 

 

Checking in and Sharing a Few for an Audience of One. Edited ; )

Hello Friends,

Someone shared this photo and it warmed my heart.

Andrea Bocelli is a prolife advocate and one of my very favorite people in the music world.  This is a recent shot behind the stage before his concert, of Andrea and others praying. ....Beautiful.

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I'm just peeping my head in, I haven't been here in a while, lots going on.  A wedding for starters, and a precious new puppy our youngest daughter's special friend bought for her. ...And more.   

 Meet Atticus:  Isn't he a darling?  His nickname is Hudy from the movie,The Book Thief.  It is the way Liesl pronounced, Rudy.   Or Hoody because he has the sweetest little hooded eyes.

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Liesl and Atticus.  

 

 

 

 

 

Saw a wonderful movie the other night that I highly recommend:

Made for Each Other (1939)

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This movie is one of my all time favorite movies...I remember it like yesterday I was in our little condo on a busy city street after our first little baby, a sweet little girl was born (the little bride below!) and I saw this movie and just fell in love with it, oh my goodness, how we can relate to so much of the situations in this movie.  You will see a most poignant part towards the end of Carole Lombard praying for her baby as well as a most touching scene with she and her mother in law...I can relate to many of the disappointments in this movie as well as God given Victories.  God is just.  Spoiler alert, it has a happy ending.

 

 

 

 

 

I read this, this morning in my Streams in the Desert devotional:

An excerpt,

Our life is very mysterious.  In fact, it would be totally unexplainable unless we believed that God was preparing us for events and ministries that lie unseen beyond the veil of the eternal world --where spirits like tempered steel will be required for special service. 

 

 

 

I will close for now...I've missed blogging but my plate is full these days if you know what I mean, Jem and I have discovered a good channel for real, informative and truthful news, the name of the channel is 'Real America's Voice' or the app is 'America's Voice'.     Also another very educational and what could definitely be life saving, Christ centered site, a plethora of medical doctors and specialists is covid (dot) daystar (dot) com. Here.

 

 

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A view last week from my studio.

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The dress I made for our daughter's recent wedding, I was stoked to say the least that I was able to design and complete the dress and finally enjoy the fact that I actually sewed my own mother of the bride dress!  This is the third wedding in our family, and this was the appropriate sized little intimate wedding where I could pull this 40s style ballet ankle length dress off.    

EDIT 10.25.21:  Here's the sweet couple at the altar, one of our son in loves conducted the sweet ceremony.  The old original:  Fly me to the Moon was the song they played as the couple came  down the aisle after they were married, what else for a bride and her pilot husband? 

 

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Tis me.  Back when I was in highschool, me with my little dog, Poncho.  A friend in photography came by and took this shot. I still have the long hooded sweater, and I still love clogs and hoop earrings.   Not much has changed...And I still love God's creatures.

 

 

 

Take care now...Checking in and signing off until the next time....For an Audience of One.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Life Means So Much...Everyday is a Journal Page, What Will we Compose?

 

This song by Chris Rice really ministers to my heart, I've loved it for years.  It's such a truthful reminder, let us consider the words to this  beautiful song...

 

It's donned on me that the evening that our little dog probably was in trouble, or somewhere he shouldn't have been, I was distracted and very, very upset by a most calculating, prying individual who was upsetting one of my loved ones.  We've all seen their likes.  It's very upsetting the amount of energy they took from me that afternoon.  This song brings things home and how we must keep things focused on our loved ones in our own home.   Every day is a journal page what will we compose?

Speaking of calculating people, there's a lot going on in this big world and perhaps in our little worlds, much like it was that evening and night our little Peanut went missing.  Let's make sure and give our love and energies and care to those in our homes or even outside our homes who we really care about, it could be one of our children, young or old, our precious fur angels who need our attention as in my situation that evening.  Let's be careful not to be distracted by those who cause trouble or even troubling news.  There are people and situations who are used  by the enemy and we must recognize it.   They will steal our Joy, steal our time, and they will distract us from those in our own homes.   Some of it is inevitable but let's try hard to carry on in calmness, and do the next thing as  Elisabeth Elliott said.  I'm preaching to myself too! 

 

Many of us are in those sandwich years, our generation could be called the Sandwich Generation.   We have elderly parents and have younger sons and daughters too, and  grandchildren.  So.  We must carry on on the strong wings of prayer!   There are times I have to look up to the Lord and say...Oh God, you're going to have to help me with this one!

       

 

Now, I must say I'm a firm believer in keeping up with viable news on the radio etc. those who share my values.   My father was a city councilman, I grew up with political pamphlets etc. in our home, but I know when to turn it off even if it's a viable source.  I get my information to educate myself and when it repeats or becomes a bit much, I know it's enough.  

 

One thing that will help greatly with news coming in is to make things prayer points, we can cast our cares on Him and He gives that Peace.   God wins, if you read Revelations it is rather eye opening to how He works things.  He wins. 

When I do find my mind going to things that are not peaceful thoughts and could cause worry, I sing and sometimes I raise my hands to the Lord ....Holy, holy, holy........Lord God Almighty....Early in the morning our song will rise to thee!....Holy thou art holy.....merciful and mighty....God in creation, blessed trinity...   It just scoots those  bad thoughts away!  *HERE* is one version by Keith Green in entirety.

 

 

In the natural end of things...I  believe if God's children would pay attention to real facts, those presented by true believers, get with the Lord and have a tiddle of discernment to what is up we wouldn't be in this lousy mess.  It's hard for people to have any discernment when they are filling their minds with tv programs or movies that have things in it that God hates.  It dulls their senses and then throw in the artificial sweeteners and junk they eat etc. that dull their minds, it's a disaster and this is in the churches too.  I've never seen such a twisted up mess, people calling good, evil and evil, good.  

We all have little governments in our home, let's keep our homes an atmosphere of praise and have a sweet spirit and smile, don't be a sour puss, our kids do not need that, our  grown kids do not need that, our husbands do not need that and it's okay to ask our husbands to smile a bit too.  We'll be eating out and I look at a table with a family and the children look like  good kids and I look at the parents and they seem so sullen and no fun at all to be around, and even rude, I saw the father pass the waiter as he left and just coldly hands the tip to waiter, moving as if the waiter was almost invisible as if the man was giving a snobbish hat-tip. They probably just came from church, the kids were wearing matching Christian tshirts.  

Let's love others, I mean really love others, showing care right in our own home and outside the home.  I see people who are very right-on in what they say but aren't all that nice, it's a bit like what Corinthians says about being a clanging cymbal eh?

It's been a difficult time, losing little Peanut, I miss that little baby dearly but God comforts and helps me, He even sends surprises and Gifts my way.   He'll do the same for you too, we can ask Him to. 

Speaking of loving others, I so appreciate the loving and kind comments that were made on my last blog about our little Peanut.   Those comments touched my heart deeply and mean the world.  Thank you so much.  

 

 

I recently heard this quote by Ann Frank

“The best remedy for those who are afraid, lonely or unhappy is to go outside, somewhere where they can be quite alone with the heavens, nature and God. Because only then does one feel that all is as it should be and that God wishes to see people happy, amidst the simple beauty of nature. As longs as this exists, and it certainly always will, I know that then there will always be comfort for every sorrow, whatever the circumstances may be. And I firmly believe that nature brings solace in all troubles.” 

 

 This is a little garden banner I bought in remembrance of little Peanut.

 A little garden statue I came across, I thought this was so sweet.

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So, in my garden under one of the Lilac trees I have a little memorial for little Peanut and all of our precious pets who have crossed over to the other side, I'm sure I've shared about the middle aged man who was in the nursing home for physical care I met who was greeted  by all of his pets when he had crossed over to Heaven before the paramedics brought him back.  Yes, it's true.  We can't argue with a testimony. 

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I hope you all are doing well, we have quite a lot going on here, a wedding being planned as my oldest daughter is getting married and it should be quite a nice affair.   It will be small and intimate but a nice affair.   I actually have been working on, designing and sewing a classic styled ballet length mother of the bride dress and it's totally the Lord how He has guided me on that.   The fabric is a rather slippery lining type fabric with a slight sheen in an eggplant-plum color, very vintage I think.  

It also looks like we just moved in, we had new flooring installed the week before we lost our little Peanut and every nook and cranny was emptied into my living area.  I'm trying to just go through one box at a time, it needed to be done but all at one time is a bit much for me.  I divide my days into segments, cooking time, creating time, reading time and unloading a box time... When I don't get done what I set out to do, when I have unexpected calls...I just end my day saying to myself:  "I did the best I could."

 

We watched the movie:   The Book Thief  and I'm listening also to the hauntingly beautiful soundtrack in my kitchen...The movie is beautiful....It's not a happy-go-lucky movie by any means as it takes place during Hitler's rein.  It has plenty of poignant and even sweet parts though.  I loved her adopted father, he reminds me of my step daddy.   What those people went through, but the very ending is so touching and the movie is so very poignant to me. The young girl, Liesl reminds me of our youngest, she looked very, very much the same when she was that age.  It's remarkable. 

 

Another movie I was watching in glimpses yesterday on a Christian station was The Yearling (1946)...Oh my.  I can hardly watch that movie  but there was a part playing that I had never seen before.  The two precious, sweet, sweet little boys were talking before they went to sleep, one sweet little boy was telling the other about the clouds and asks....Do you ever watch the clouds?   There are angels behind the clouds, I just know it!

 

There is joy in quiet meditation and prayer--in simply talking with the Heavenly Father about anything and everything each day.  And in knowing that He hears and he cares.   Author unkown

 

  

 

All creatures have something visible and invisible.  The visible is weak;  the invisible is strong and alive.  This (the invisible) seeks to get through to human understanding because human beings do not see it.  And yet these invisible realities are forces in the workings of the Holy Spirit.      -Hildegard of Bingen

 

 

 

In closing, my husband reminds to not be in fear, he knows a lot of people are going through a lot of changes right now, God has not given us a spirit of fear.  Just keep your eyes on Him and He will give you the Peace that passes all understanding.

We Lost Our Little 'Peanut', Our Precious Little Baby, our Little Dachshund. I Miss My Little Dog so Much.

It was all over the neighborhood web loop from here to twenty miles away at least...A little brown Dachshund out on the country road eating roadkill but running as fast as anything when a human would attempt to pick him up.  The weather was cold as ever that pre-Thanksgiving year in 2019.  He was a young little guy and fast.  There were people who wanted this little dog and bad.    

On that Thanksgiving afternoon, a knock at the door and it was my son in love, Pete  my daughter and our little grandbaby plus one.   Our daughter, Joycie was holding the elusive little dachshund!   I couldn't believe my eyes!   They were riding down that country road when my Ellie Mae daughter who takes after me spotted the little guy..."Quick there's a dog, stop!"   My son in love stopped and the elusive little dachsy ran under the barbed wire fence, my son in love instantly put his long arm over that fence and grabbed that little pilgrim and that was that!   

Peanut was his main name, my daughter, Grace named him Slinky.  He was also known by Pilgrim and Max at times...But he was our BABY.   We would always say...Hi Little Baby!   We loved him so much.  He was young and frisky and full of the most wonderful personality you have ever seen.   He could be a meme.  His eyes were sooooo expressive.  He was just precious and loved us and we loved him.

We lost little Peanut last week suddenly.   

I've been extremely broken over this and I just don't even know what to say at this time but I miss my little dog.   ...My little Baby.

 

 

 

Last week one night around ten, I looked around the living room and didn't see our little boy nestled on any of the couches as normal, "Do you have Peanut? to my husband"   "Do you have Peanut? to Grace"  "Where is he?!"   "Where's Peanut?!!!!"   He roots under pillows and blankets so I think each one of us thought he was rooted under pillows and a blanket next to someone elses lap as usual.  We immediately all jumped up looking for our little baby.  He was also called "LITTLE BABY"  He was our LITTLE BABY.   

Jem was riding around on his utility cart with the flashlight with the lights on looking we were calling and calling.   Nothing.

We finally went to bed with a sinking heart...Something was very wrong.   Very, very wrong.  All the other dogs were in the house for the night.  All of them.  Grace and I had dreams of little Peanut baby all night long thinking he was back and then waking up to disappointment.

I went ahead and got out of bed at 5am.  It was dark and I let our large dogs out and flipped the light on eyeing where they went.   Gracie our hound stopped by the side of the  house under the lilac tree and sniffed, I immediately got the flashlight and my heart sank...I see a little blue collar on a beautiful little red dachshund lying there one ear out characteristically as if he were peacefully asleep under the lilac tree...  But he wasn't asleep.

We don't know whether a water moccasin bit him, or if there were internal causes that we were unaware of.  We had had him checked by the vet the week we got him and no heart worms and I treat my dogs for that monthly...So it's a eerie, cruel mystery.  I did see two little marks in his groin area that resembled a snake bite when I lifted him from the ground, a little toy ball near...Oh my heart.  

So.  It's been a rough week or so, my daughter, Joycie had a miscarriage and that was up and down, an emotional roller coaster as well.  How cruel can this all get...  My body finally told me enough was enough.  My face broke out in hives.  That spoke multitudes.

 

My heart is horribly sad, we so miss little Peanut not running up to our car and jumping in and sitting like a little man...Little Pilgrim.  He would jump up with me in our old golf cart to go check on something just like our little man..Little Pilgrim.  I would just put my arm around him and pat him.  His short little legs were so darn cute.....And those loving expressions.  The house is very quiet because he would be the first to alert.  I don't understand how this happened...So many things I don't understand but I know the Father is there.  I suspect as a pastor recently said...When He is quietest, He is there with us.   I'm camping out at Psalms 23.   

When Grace and I walked out to the burial area to place our little marker, Peanut's toys and flowers a beautiful red cardinal was in a tiny tree as we trudged back into the house to get more decorative pebbles...He was waving his little wings around and stayed for the longest, longest time as I stood there with my arm around Grace.   On the way back out to the grave site as we had gathered more little pebbles to outline the grave, a cardinal was in the tree above the grave .......He waved his wings and hopped around and stayed.....For the longest, longest time.  Yes, for a long time that beautiful red cardinal stayed and kept us company.

A white feather appeared on one of Grace's black jackets laying in a basket.  No one knows where it came from....A  huge beautiful owl flew down from a tree one morning last week and landed so close to the window where I was standing with my coffee...He was beautiful, grey rimmed eyes on a white face, and his legs looked white and the feathers looked furry like a cat's legs he was huge...He stood there for a long time, with his a visible small yellow beak ...just looking around and then the huge bird flew off to my amazement.  It was like a storybook.

 

 

Here's a few shots of our little Peanut, I may be adding more, Grace has some beautiful shots of his expressions:

 

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    He had gotten the last drop, and I saw this out the window!  Thank God I rescued my little fella right away!

  Peanut and Liesl....We didn't do anything mommy...

Recently taken, he would always come and lay down next to me as I took a rest on the recliner in the afternoons.

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  Gracie our large Black Mouth Curr Hound laying next to the little box where little Peanut lay.   You see....Gracie used to think she was his mommy...She really did, she thought he was her little baby too.

  The little box where little Peanut lay.

  I made this little marker and flower arrangement for his little burial place. 

 
.  Two of his favorite toys of late.  He would pounce up on the couch with the squeaky ball...He would get little stuffed animals and run and squeak the little squeaker shaking it something mighty.

 

It's with a very sad heart that I've written and posted all of this, I hated to do it but wanted to do it because Peanut was so loved.  Just so loved... So, let's just say your prayers are coveted, many of you understand how our fur angels play a major part in our lives.

 

  .   It's me, Amelia the little gal who loves animals, always has and always will...Little heartbeats and comforts from the Lord.  This is a drawing I drew in highschool of me with my first little dog, Cutie.

 

 

My daughter, Joycie who is having a tough week of it as well sent me this song.  It ministered to my heart and maybe it will yours too.

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"Love is something like the clouds that were in the sky before the sun came out.  You cannot touch the clouds, you know; but you feel the rain and know how glad the flowers and the thirsty earth are to have it after a hot day.  You cannot touch love either;  but you feel the sweetness that it pours into everything."    ~Annie Sullivan

  

 

Be Careful, Be Alert, Keep Your Eyes on Jesus, 'Call Northside 777', Christmas in July Time!

I don't feel completely comfortable writing things that are negative about any particular group.  I don't want to be a downer let's say and I don't want to be seen as nit-picky. 

My husband and I have seen many fringe movements through out our Christianity.  Trust me.

 

The devil comes in many forms, the Bible says it's possible that the elect will be fooled, the Bible says do not be deceived.   If the Bible warns not to be  deceived then it is possible.

I recently have unwittingly come across a movement disguised in attractive homemaking videos, scripture is read etc. the videos look very nice and are very attractive and even sweet to someone like me who loves the Lord, the country and simple living.  Let's face it, it's hard finding fellowship or churches who support homemaking and are not double minded but also kind.    I don't know about you, but I want straight up Christianity.  I want a sweet spirit, not a worldly one and I want a loving and friendly atmosphere. 

Even though I enjoyed the videos, I noticed dissenters making videos and such of one of the torah ministries represented in those videos and didn't quite know what to think...There are always two sides, correct?  Was it sour grapes?  Who was deceiving who?  What's going on here?  Were these dissenters liberal-woke church-goers being mean to the sweet looking people?  After all, we do have the seeker-woke movement coming against things that are good and holy, former people who had it right are going to the left totally against the Lord's Word and it's not good!  Please be warned on that of course!   I'm certainly not trying to insult intelligence here either, I think most friends who read here see very clearly.

But it wasn't until I tried to leave a comment of encouragement in good faith on a beautiful torah type ministry video channel and noticed how it was handled (like a slap in the face from someone young enough to be my daughter).   No sleep lost but it was troubling, my stomach dropped.  There was no love and no kind of smoothing things over, and certainly no apology for a misunderstanding.  In another case I recently heard one seemingly very sweet young lady even express when she was asked about animal sacrifices that they didn't have a temple (to do one in).  Very troubling.  This new movement is not the same as a church or a family celebrating the Jewish feasts or any of that, this is far beyond and goes in the opposite direction of Jesus Christ's sacrifice and God's character and is what Paul warns us about.

I've pulled up a couple of articles that may explain things of what we are seeing here, it's new to me, but apparently it's been going on.   Once again, allow me to clarify...This has nothing to do with Christians observing and reverencing Jewish feasts etc.  This is an entirely different ballgame...  It's attracting sweet families who are trying to do the right thing.    I'm hoping the articles below will explain the difference and cautions.

Jews for Jesus, About Torah Observance

Answers in Genesis, Hebrew Roots Movement  

 

     

Robert Stock Photo

I'm starting a sewing project, a cute skirt with a "Paris" print cotton purchased from Walmart and decluttering a little.  Composing our dinners, I always go back to my tried and true! lol and have watched a very good evening movie with hubs:   

    

Robert Stock Photo

 Call  Northside 777    (1948)

I've  blogged on this movie  before, oh it's so good!  Definitely worthy of another mention!   Justice being fought for here...Amazing movie.   

 

   

Robert Stock Photo

Changes.    I recently watched a video by Dr. Mercola our youngest daughter shared with us on the dangers of our devices too close to us and even on  people.    I have quit putting my laptop on my lap at night as Jem and I watch a classic movie.   Now, I go to a designated place, usually my kitchen table to purposefully browse and then I put my laptop up.   I'm enjoying our movie-watching so much more now!   We love old black and white movies from the 40s especially.   The movies in the 40s are generally more clean and sweet.   WWII was going on and there was a healthy fear of God in our country.

 

 

 

If we surrender our hearts to God we may expect a wondrous enlargement.    ~A. W. Tozer

 

Live today fully, expressing gratitude for all you have been, all you are right now, and all you are becoming.   ~Melody Beattie

 

Love comes while we rest against our Father's chest.   Joy comes when we catch the rhythms of His heart.  Peace comes when we live in harmony with those rhythms.   ~Ken Gire 

 

 

P.S.    It's Christmas in July time!     Are you starting any projects?   I don't have any homemade ones right now but I am finding some very nice things at Dollar Tree to wrap up for our grandbabies and even a hand held mirror for my mom!    Let me know here of any neat things you have going! 

   

Robert Stock Photo

 

I hope you are all doing well!  God's blessings,        ~Amelia

A Breath of Fresh Air...Nancy Campbell. Thanks be to God. Sharing a Bit of Sewing.

This season of life I'm in, is so very different to me, I've gone from a homeschool mommy with babes and little ones all around and behind my skirt to almost an empty nester now.  It's so strange as I see my youngest in her late twenties flying off to a photo shoot dressed in her signature black outfit, camera in hand.  Wow.  *tears*   Her light hair and eyes are like my Daddy's, she looks much like him and my mother and I see him through her eyes many a day.  Even in myself, when I sit with my coffee in the morning in the easy chair talking to God, I find myself sitting exactly as he did, when I eat, I fling my fork back in my hand by my ear listening to Jem talk or studying my plate...Maybe just looking around but that fork is in that customary place just like my dad's fork always was.  I never knew I did that until a boy from school who had been observing me eating one day called it to my attention.  (funny things we do and don't even know it).

I've missed my daddy lately, he passed away tragically in a very horrible situation this time of year in '17.   Here is a poignant blog entry I wrote a year after he passed away to Heaven where he sees very clearly now:

Everytime I See Your Face...Photograph.

 

 

Encouraging Podcasts, Nancy Campbell:

 My daughters and I enjoy Nancy Campbell, and Joycie just shared some of the latest of her podcasts and must I say I was overjoyed when hearing Mrs. Campbell's latest message.  We just aren't hearing truthful messages much are we?   Most older women are not like Nancy Campbell unfortunately and many times I've privately grimaced at their way of thinking and been grieved at heart noticing that they've bought into the culture.

The churches today are heartbreaking to me, people going against purity and all that is right and holy.  Oh dear Lord, are they reading their Bibles at all???  Are people talking to the Lord at all???  

 

I just listened to the following podcast by Nancy Campbell and was so blessed by it, it brought tears to my eyes.  On one of her podcasts she mentions turning 80.   ...Even though I'm 60 years old, I think that when I grow up I want to be Nancy Campbell if you know what I mean... *big smile*

 

 

Here's the podcast I listened to today, around 14 she really warms up (big smile) the entire thing is wonderful but she gets down to nitty gritty around that time frame, enjoy and be blessed:

Let's Get Back the Glory

 

 

Here's another I listened to a couple of months ago and was also blessed by this one on following a child's bend in homeschooling:

Following Your Bent

 

And here's a COMPLETE list of Nancy Campbell's podcasts, wow, so many of these look and are EXCELLENT: 

  Complete List of Nancy Campbell's Podcasts

 

 

Hope you all are  doing fine and trusting the Lord, taking refuge in Him.  Oh how He loves you, oh how He loves me, oh how He loves me and you!   Remember that song?

  Tis me in the good ol' summer time sitting across from my hubs, Jem... Hair pulled  back sun glasses are my friend, wearing one of my favorite lawn cotton blouses I make.  I love the color, navy. 

I love to sew, compose and design my own clothing, I've  designed clothing, drawing fashion illustrations since junior high, I loved vintage and the old Laura Ashley designs before anyone heard of vintage or Laura Ashley.  When many were wearing mini skirts, I longed for 40s-50s midi skirts!  When I sew I can choose cool natural fabrics, tweak patterns and just sew my own styles that I've identified as being flattering, stylish and modest.   We do not have to be slaves to the culture!  It's so refreshing to be my own person in the Lord.  If you do not know how to sew, it would  be wonderful to find a friend to teach you even simple sewing.  The following outfit is simple.  No darts and an elastic waist skirt.  Bravissimo I say on that.   We don't have to stress to sew, we can sew simple.

   Navy lawn cotton from Fashion Fabrics Club, top, a tweaked Simplicity pattern #1690    I made a slight v-neck altering the width of the neckline simply, lengthened to tunic length and made the sleeves a bit more kimono, so it's more flattering.   The belt is my own pattern.

The skirt is my tried and true (out of print) Simplicity #4881 (available on ebay) lengthened to above ankle, not midi but not maxi.... made from a flowie, light rayon challis in navy and white stripe from Fashion Fabrics Club.   

I hope all is well where you are.   The fragrance wafting from the kitchen is Italian gravy on Tofurky Italian veggie sausage in the oven, oh it's so good, will be served over pasta.  The Gardein brand veggie meatballs are plumb wonderful too.  I have white patty squash from the garden cut and I'll roast slices in avocado oil in the oven, and Ancient Harvest gluten free pasta will be served.   Can you say, served  in a snobbish way like a butler?   Ha! 

Hope you're having a sweet summer fellowshipping with the Lord.  Gleaning from some of our brothers and sisters in the faith.   Above all?   Spending time with the Lord.

Don't let controversy hurt your soul.  Live near to God by prayer.  Just fall down at His feet and open your very soul before Him, and throw yourself right into His arms.   ~Catherine Booth

 

He is not far from each one of us.  "For in him we live and move and have our being."   ~Acts 17:27

In waiting we begin to get in touch with the rhythms of life--- stillness and action, listening and decision.  They are the rhythms of God.  It is in the everyday and the commonplace that we learn patience, acceptance, and contentment.  ~Richard J. Foster

 

 

 

Concerning email feed here:   I received notice that feedburner may be discontinued for our email subscriptions, and may be discontinued already, so if you would like, please oblige and follow me on bloglovin' or the old fashioned blogger way, both on right.  Bloglovin' is a dashboard for favorite blogs, it's free and quite handy and they will email a daily digest to you as well.  I've used it for more than several years and it seems just fine.  Thanks for understanding!