Kenya or Bust...

Well, this is a quick update on the Kenya Trip that my son #2 Jonny is on. He left this past Sunday amidst much trepidation and frustration that they might not make the flight because of all the snow. He and another team member Amanda, DID make that flight and in time to catch the second one out of Atlanta to Paris.

Here is a pic I "borrowed" from Al, the head man of this team, who came to the airport to help fight and get them on a flight because their original was cancelled.

Thanks Al!!! (Hope he doesn't mind - found it on a twitter link) Now if any of you want to know, Jonny said he bought this hat to wear, so that everybody would be able to see him. He is tall anyway, and going through some BIG airports, he was intentional on being seen.

At this point, I have only had communication via a couple of Facebook posts I came across. Jonny and Amanda and a couple on a different flight made it to Paris and then on to Kenya. I finally got this confirmed yesterday. (Not good phone service out there in Africa.)


HOWEVER... the rest of the 11 member team, including Al the head man, (on a different flight out of Charlotte later Sunday evening) did NOT make their connecting flight because the Charlotte flight was late leaving, and they got rerouted to Rome, Italy, and have been sitting there since SUNDAY!!!! Oh my what downhearted team members...wanting to be in Africa so badly.

I got a brief message yesterday from a gal in Italy (FB) that Jonny and the other 3 were carrying on and doing the best they could without the entire team, and sounded like they were great.The others were set to fly out today but still it will be about an 8 hour flight. What a kink in their vision for this mission trip. AND YET...I know that God has all things under HIS control and plans. Don't know why sometimes, but trust that HE is choreographing the best dance ever for the Kenya team-members, the Charlotte mission team, the 100 children so looking forward to this camp...and all others that this will ripple out to.



Who can understand the mind of God and all the epic and incomprehensible GOOD that only HE can bring out of circumstances that seem bad??? ...but....not really.

"And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them." Romans 8:28

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you...” Jeremiah 29: 11-14

I am so glad that Jonny could go on this trip. He was so excited and pumped to be a part of this camp. He has such a heart to serve God...and loves young people. I know he is just incredibly blessed where he is right now. Trusting that God is working in him and on him continuing to move him down the path into his career and calling to be a man of God whatever he does.

Love that young man!!! Love all four of my most valuable treasures!!! What blessings God bestows when he allows us the privilege and pleasure (and pains) of raising them. WE ARE THE ONES who grow and benefit immensely from this charge.


And so I enter another post in my e-journal. If you would like, say a little prayer today for this team and all the lives they will be reaching out and touching. ..Pray for their safety. Pray for their ministry to the children. Pray for God to be honored and pleased with the Gospel message they are attempting to LIVE out loud and share with others whose lives will be eternally changed should they accept the Truth.

Can't wait to get this young man back home, but wouldn't take the experience away from him for the world.... He will be touched and changed from his visit to a 3rd World Country. Very few can escape the enlightenment of such a trip. (His Marine bro knows....)




UPDATE:!!! Since I wrote this on Thursday, I got a phone call from Jonny. All is well. The rest of the team will arrive this morning. (there is a time difference of 8 hours between here and there. They are ahead, same as Justin was in Afghanistan.) Jonny says it is beautiful over there, and he can even see Mount Kilimanjaro in the distance, it is so clear... They are enjoying the Camp and the kids so much. It was so good to talk to him!

Hugs to all of my wonderful wonderful Bloggy sisters. Thanks for popping over to visit today in my little corner of the world.It is the last post for 2010. Happy New Year! Anticipating the delightful visits with all of you in 2011. xo

Happy Birthday to my One and Only...

Happy Birthday Babe!!! I hope you have a really great day way out there in Iowa...





You know....this is the first time that I can ever remember in almost 29 years of marriage that I have NOT been with you on your birthday...It makes me so sad.....Wish I were there with you. Treat yourself!!!!


This week, these two guys are far, far away. Missing both of them.


So glad that my Marine guy will be coming back for New Year's weekend to fill up some of the empties in this house....

Happy Birthday to Da Man...




A birthday e-journal entry for December 30th, 2010.

White Wednesday!...last one for 2010

Finishing up this year with a final FUN White Wednesday before 2011 rings in.

Here's the link to join in with Kathleen as she wraps up another year. Or if you just want to browse and view....either way!

http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/




We definitely finished out Christmas Day here in Charlotte with a White Christmas. The news reports said it was the first in over 50 years. Pretty!...but oh so cold.







An exciting find from Craig's List. My Petsitting boss sent me a Christmas Card with a $20. check in it that was so unexpected. I scored this light with her gift, and then my sweet man hung it for me when he was here for Christmas. Love that he can do these things... It hangs in my entry hall. I do not have soaring ceilings in my cottage, so it has to hang pretty close to the ceiling to keep anyone from hitting their head!!!


I saw this tray at the same store that the breadbox came from. It had a wooden wall cabinet on top of it, but my eye caught the white corner with a handle and some wicker edging showing. This was already white!


It only needed to be cleaned and have the glass removed because there were dark paint splatters underneath the glass top. The tray was plain white, but I had a roll of black toile wallpaper,(yes from GW).. and thought a piece would look perfect under the glass.


I love this find.... It sits in my dining room.


This mirror was another GW find at an earlier time. It has been hanging in my bathroom. (This was also on a bottom shelf near the floor.) It remained just like I found it except for a bath in Windex, and a little sparkle star added to it.

I want to share that I think a lot of people go through the stores and just surface hunt, and at eye level. I have learned after years of mostly thrift store shopping, to first stand back and look from a distance, scanning way up high, and way down low, as I walk slowly. Then I move in for the close-up searching...moving things around on the shelves to see what's at the back...and squatting to see the very back of the bottom shelves. It is careful searches that allow you to see what others miss...or so I think! ALSO - be able to envision what you can do with it to make it all YOU. A little paint and polish....Some things that are ugly just need someone to give them some love and attention. (think Charlie Brown tree) The thrill of the hunt.

**I would also share here that on Craig's List - if you ever are looking for an item, that some postings are not always what they seem, sometimes you just have to click for a real quick view. The floral metal chandy above was simply listed as a "kitchen light- $20."...(???????) I clicked to see... accurate description?? you be the judge. - (like GW, you have to dig and look) it takes more time - but in the long run saves hundreds of dollars and sometimes gets you one of a kind items.**

Okay...that's my tip about treasure hunting.


This is another angel my mama gave to me. This little cherub pedestal was on her sunporch. She was trying to clear things out...and asked me to take it. It was bitter sweet, knowing what she was doing, but yet knowing I was making her happy by taking it. All of her giftings are beautiful sentimental treasures for my heart.


I love all the detail and carving on the post.

Today, I went over to my Dad's to help him go through Mom's clothes and shoes to pull out Spring/Summer items to take to consignment stores. Then I went through some tupperware in a big box, and then..... I went through all of her jewelry..She was a jewelry loving girl...just like her mama before her. SO MUCH!!!! Oh my. I picked out a handful of pieces. It didn't hit me too hard at the time, because there was just so much, but when I got home and went through my box of picks...it was quite hard. I hung one of the pearl strands in my bathroom so that I can see it every day. It is very sentimental...and when I look at it I will think of her.



Well, bloggy sisters... it certainly has been fun and special sharing different whites and other color treasures I have found or redone in 2010, and seeing all the other whites that have been shared over at Kathleen's White Wednesdays this year. The number of participants has just exploded..It is hard to visit all of them...but fun to do a few at the end of the day.

Thanks to all who have stopped by today and visited. I hope your Wednesday "Hump-Day" will lead you into a downhill rest of the week.

Hope your Winter Whites are beautiful snow days and lovely cotton clouds in blue skies. Hugs to all my bloggy sisters...


Closing with a White fluffy smile from my Gideon! Now go give one of your own smiles away! :-) God's Best Blessings of Peace and Joy to you today.

Monday, Monday....

The crowd is thinning...

Online Journal ~ December 27, 2010

Yesterday Son #2, Jonny finally flew out of Charlotte to Atlanta. (after much waiting on pins and needles to see if the flight could get out of here...!) He left Atlanta last night just after 6 and headed for Paris, where he and another team member were to meet up with the rest of the team, and leave for Kenya, Africa at about 5 am (our time) this morning. All in all, it is over 19 hours of flying... Two legs being over 8 hours each. He is in flight to Nairobi as I type, and I am praying for all of them. A team of members from our church went on this mission trip to minister to 100 kids, campers! They will lead in Bible study, soccer camps, and fellowship. They took some mighty big tents with them!!! On Sunday they will go to a Kibera slum (where 1 million people live in 1 square mile), and worship with Kenyans at a church there. The mission team is supposed to return to the states on January the fifth. Thank you for prayers for them as they travel and witness in Africa. Prayers for health, safety, and testimony for Christ are appreciated! Hoping many children will come to know Jesus Christ as their personal Savior and Guide for life.

My man and I got up at 4:15 this morning to get him out to the airport for a flight out of Charlotte at 6 am. He just made it on the plane. Security lines were long.
He called from Detroit and was getting ready to board another plane for the final leg back to Iowa City. He will go straight to work. The weather posted said the windchill there today felt like 2 degrees. Glad HE can handle it....shriek!

My Marine, son #1 Justin, will drive out of here this afternoon to return to home base at Camp LeJeune, NC. That will be a 5 hour trip... The good thing about his departure is that he will get to come back this Thursday evening for a long weekend for New Year's!!! Yay. That will cheer me up a little after having my house empty out....

Better go and stoke the little fire I started this morning when I got back from the airport. I am still freezing!!!!

Hope that all bloggy sisters are keeping warm in this wintry weather, and enjoying some of the quiet after busy Christmas activities...Guess I will begin to clean!

Hugs to all who may drop by today!

Grateful...

The other nite, as the house was empty again, and I was sitting down to supper, I pulled my bible over to the placemat and read from Isaiah 40...GREAT food for the soul as you feed the body...

It starts out "Comfort ye, Comfort ye my people...says your God."

comfort ~ to soothe in time of affliction or distress.

Who in this world today does not have times where they need to be soothed during a trial or storm in their life??? Or maybe it is just a moment - a bump in the path that you were not expecting...

Yesterday, Kam, my youngest man in the making, the one you saw in the tux a few days back...was involved in an accident.



He misjudged and pulled out to turn when a semi was coming, thinking he had time to make it. Because of the timing and GOD'S EVER WATCHFUL EYE over our children, and the GUARDIAN ANGELS He dispenses from Heaven to be vigilant over each child...he was not harmed. Rather than hitting the car like a T-bone. It just caught the rear and tore it up...and not my precious son. Today I am taking the above verse to heart...



Kam told me, DON'T you blog about this mom. So I am posting about God in my life and the comfort HE is to me along with so many other graces HE showers down.

Kam's story just happens to be stuck in this post... How's That???


his pride and joy...(a guy and his car)


the heartwrenching damage (low spirits in my youngest today - thinking insurance rates mostly) The huge truck just caught the tip of his rear. If it had hit his driver's door, I shudder even thinking about it. Thank you Lord.


"God sits above the circle of the earth.
The people below seem like grasshoppers to him!
He spreads out the heavens like a curtain and makes his tent from them.
He judges the great people of the world and brings them all to nothing.....
Look up into the heavens. Who created all the stars?
He brings them out like an army, one after another, calling each by its name.
Because of his great power and incomparable strength, not a single one is missing...

O Jacob, how can you say the Lord does not see your troubles?
O Israel, how can you say God ignores your rights?
Have you never heard? Have you never understood?
The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of all the earth.
He never grows weak or weary.
No one can measure the depths of his understanding.
He gives power to the weak, and strength to the powerless.
Even youths will become weak and tired, and young men will fall in exhaustion.
But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength.
They will soar high on wings like eagles.
They will run and not grow weary.
They will walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40 selected...)

When I think of what Kam just sang in the Handel's Messiah, I am with grateful heart today confirming that God is INDEED:
the Wonderful Counselor, the Mighty God, the Prince of Peace, and the Everlasting Father.

I close today saying.... This season I am grateful to know that the ONE whose birthday approaches is the ONE who comforts, counsels, gives peace, and carries us through this journey.

2010 has been a pretty tough year in my journey.

I hold dear the company of my Lord and Savior Who has walked every step with me.

I also cherish all the wonderful blog sisters I have met this past year. You are all dear to my heart. God bless you. God comfort you. God give you the peace and joy that is not understood by this world. Hugs to all of you and a Very Merry Christmas...

Waiting for my Marine to get here this afternoon, and my cherished soulmate to arrive in late tonight. Family is a treasure from Heaven. Enjoy your time with yours.

Hugs to all dropping by. The following song is one of my favorites. Makes me even more thankful for Jesus...Born to die....for me. I owe HIM my all.

White Wednesday and Christmas...

http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/

A Really Quick Wednesday post. Joining Kathleen over at Faded Charm today, just because I have a Fun White I am loving...Today is her 79th White Wednesday linky party.



This breadbox was in sad condition at Goodwill on a bottom shelf hidden by another item. What caught my eye was the Black Strap hinge, which I LOVE! It reminds me of a barn door. I saw potential and cottage charm in it. It was dirty, raw wood, with a plexiglass window that was discolored, scratched and cracked. I brought it home, cleaned it up, white-washed it, and replaced the plastic with chicken wire. It now holds all the bread items that sat out on our counter in the kitchen.

The little Christmas vignette were also GW treasures. It cost me $1.00 for the two items, and I adore the little furry white llama.





These little vintage white heart ornaments were at the Thrift for .50 in a clearance basket. They were getting rid of all the Christmas inventory turned in. I decided they were too pretty to just use for Christmas. So here they shall stay.



Thanks to all dropping by. Love and Hugs to all my Bloggy sisters. So thankful for the Reason we celebrate this Season... The birth of Jesus. Merry Christmas to all of you and God bless your gatherings...

Thoughts of the Christmas Season...

Jesus Is the Reason for the Season... A special handmade Nativity set made by my dad for me. Resides on my desk hutch.


Mom and Dad Christmas 2009 ...remembering fondly.


My dad preparing to read the Christmas devotion and then pray before we open our gifts...a part of the Christmas Day tradition.


Sam, the beloved ORNERY Christmas elf...always in our hearts....


Precious little baby girl Annie Grace....in mama's heart always...


And an archive pic made for da man from December 2007, when Kurt was living in Delaware, Ohio working for Citibank. He was away from us for 8 months that time. Oh my...seems an eternity ago. But, in retrospect that location seems not so far away, now that he is in Iowa.... (He could drive home back in those days....thus coming way more frequently)

So glad to be trusting God for this entire story of birth, life, living and taking on the journey here, and then death, the anticipated day of walking into eternal life with the Savior and all the loved ones who have gone ahead of us.

Blessings to all of you this week as you celebrate the birthday of a Savior who gave everything up to come and deliver to us all we could ever want in the world to come, and in our journey with God on this planet. He has come and handed us the Light and Life of Heaven to touch all that we will encounter in this lifetime.
Praise to God above for this gift. Smiling for the truth that Mama is celebrating her first Christmas celebration in Heaven and experiencing the party there for what the Son did those many many years ago for all of God's children.

Hugs to all my bloggy sisters spread across this Land.

God bless those who defend and fight for our blessings to live in a country where we are free and not oppressed.
May the ever protective hand of the Father keep them safe and bring them home to the families who love them...

Merry Christmas to all...

Adding some color...

Today Charlotte is an Icee...or maybe a Slushee...but no flavor ~ simply grey and tasteless...
No snow...not so much pretty as just C-O-L-D and W-E-T.

Talked to my babe in Iowa City earlier and he had trekked in to work early because they had 3 inches already and he wanted to get there before it got worse. It is 19 degrees there with snow showers predicted all morning.. not your storm of the century, but a true Midwestern Wintry day.
I was by myself last night with everyone else scattered at work or Youth activities/Talent Show, so I built myself a fire. and sat by it with the puppers enjoying the warmth. There is something nice about some twinkle lights on the mantel and a crackling, popping fire in the otherwise quiet darkness.



Just decided to do a little post with some color, since it is so absent outside today when I look out my window... inspiring me to throw some out there... (Where are those beautiful Carolina Blue skies that were here yesterday with nary a cloud in the sky????????)


My mom and dad gave me this Ceramic Christmas tree. My mom had made herself one years ago when I was a child, and she dabbled in Ceramics. She and Dad came across some of these trees recently and wanted to give one each to my siblings and myself. They had a church member who had a ceramics shop and had her supply all the missing lights and any other work that needed to be done. It is very special. This year it is EXTRA special and graces the Front Hall for everybody to see many times during the day.


Can I even DO a post without blue and white in it??? More vintage Christmas balls...


Another GW Santa, this time not in white....but DEEP Velvet Red....


Nandina Berries. Mother Nature's own contribution to December Christmas ornaments. So bright and cheerful in the grey wintry landscape.


Kam's Santa hat...found it's hat-rack in the dining room...lol. I liked the way it looked. :-)


This cute little fella was standing at the checkout counter at GW and I asked if he was also for sale, and the girl said yes...so I nabbed her Christmas decoration. Here he sits guarding the reindeer...errrr....doggie chow.. :-)


Thanks for popping in to visit. Hope you all have a warm sunny day in your heart even if it is cold and wet outside where you are. Hugs a plenty being passed out from this little post in North Carolina. God's blessings on you today.