Missing my Honorable Treasure

The Lord is my light and my salvation—
so why should I be afraid?
The Lord is my fortress, protecting me from danger,
so why should I tremble?
When evil people come to devour me,
when my enemies and foes attack me,
they will stumble and fall.
Though a mighty army surrounds me,
my heart will not be afraid.
Even if I am attacked,
I will remain confident. ~ Psalm 27:1-3



Hoping and Praying for some mail or a phone call to hear his wonderful voice this weekend. His dad has no more Saturday classes, so he should be home for it...if it comes!

God Bless America.
God Bless our troops.
God Protect Justin. Thank you, all of you, for praying for us military moms and our sons and daughters who are in training, standing guard, or in deployment far away.
God Bless YOU!

Wednesday Winds of Change...

My sweet mom and I....a year ago...unfortunately we did not get any pics this Mothers Day. The camera came out, but things happened and progressed that caused the pics to be forgotten. My mom had a rough day after we all went out to eat, (my sis and her kids came) and the day sort of went downhill. Mom's brain had swelling and it messed up her thinking and behavior, so it was not our best Mother's Day...
bless her heart...

I have been spending time over there, and helping dad. We went to her doctor yesterday to talk and try to just discuss what's happening.

Today I will go over and then Hospice will come and meet with us and talk about their helping out when it is needed for the time-being. Mom has been herself again since Sunday night, and remains very tired and weak.

Thank you all for your prayers.

When I got home Sunday night, these were waiting on the table for me from my kids. My sweet sweet daughter had gotten them.

Just so grateful for the arrows in our quiver... (psalms) what a blessing ...Kurt and I love them sooooooo much.

Jonny had gotten me two Topsy Turvy planters for tomatoes and strawberries. There are also Luigi's Italian Ices in the freezer from my sweeties... :-)




The sweet gal I was petsitting for had a large rose garden and left me clippers and a note to help myself..please! heh heh...no coaxing needed! I did..and here are some of her beauties.. I have great clients, and she is an awesome tipper! rah!

And so that is just a little bit of what is going on around here amidst the days of ups and downs...No word from Justin. - no calls - no more letters.
Another brave and honorable warrior has fallen in his battalion this past week. It breaks our hearts.... we are vigilantly talking to God for the success and safety of these Marines and others in many branches over there.

God bless YOU!!! and all of your events and circumstances as you walk your paths each day and face the joys, trials, challenges, and tears of LIFE...
God is Good!...all the time... our God is Great and Good.
He is my ROCK!

We experience moments on top of the mountains, and we walk through the valleys and HE is right beside us through it all.

Thanks for praying for our military heroes...

God's best blessings to you all. Thanks for stopping by.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!

I remember my mother's prayers and they have always followed me. They have clung to me all my life. ~Abraham Lincoln


Happy Mother's Day to all mamas and grandmamas and greats out there. May today be special!!!


And to all you Military Moms out there, a special hug for I know you are missing one of your deployed kids in a place far away..



I love my four awesome kids.....
Thank you Lord for such beautiful gifts....
Blessed to be a Mom...

"A GOOD MOM IS ONE WHO MAKES IT EASY FOR HER CHILDREN TO BE GOOD."


"She speaks wisely. She teaches faithfully. She watches over family matters. She is busy all the time. Her children stand up and call her blessed. Her husband also rises up, and he praises her...." (Proverbs 31: 26-28)


Happy Mother's Day to my dear mom who is still here....battling cancer, but still loving her kids as much as ever, even in the midst of her own suffering. God bless her and comfort her...I love her for passing her faith on to me.

Hugs to all visiting! And here's a little bit of funny for all you long-suffering moms...

White Wednesdays ...

Time for another White Wednesday posting of anything that's white (or close to it!)
Visit Kathleen here to see more:
http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/



Do you love blue and white china, and old linens and lace, and beautiful yellow roses (Kurt gave me a dozen when Justin was born), and tea sets....as much as I do?


Sometimes items that are laying flat on a shelf, unseen, have to call out to you to come and look closer in order to find them...this little birdy was chirping, evidently because it was hidden on a higher shelf at GW. Now my little mail station for Justin's incoming and out going.


Heard that song "Pants on the Ground, Pants on the Ground??? Well this little wire basket took care of Pens on the Table ...Pens on the Table. (or NO pens) Now they have a home.



Anybody else love Toile?...I love that classic. These two little cups with handles were in separate places in GW, but my eye picked up on that Toile. Anybody else's eye able to pick it out quickly? I imagined them in a bath with extra toothbrushes for guests, or on a dresser in a guest room with mints in them.


Such a pretty French Country look...has a rough texture.


This, I believe is a Christmas item... I loved the three miniature sparkly Christmas trees under the dome. Who says you can't keep Christmas out year round??? It is pretending to be a petite cloche here...

All of these items came from thrifting trips on occasions. They ranged from $.49 to the most expensive, (the picture) $3.99. That is pretty cheap feathering... I really love to find a bargain....beyond a bargain!! Can you tell???

Thanks to all who dropped in to visit and share my fun times....
Hoping you all have a great Hump Day...It's all down hill from here!


A sloppy doggy kiss from Angel Gideon, or a paw shake for those who don't like dawg breath!

Hugs and Thanks for Praying today for our Military people and their safety.

1 WOOT! 2 WOOTS!! 3 WOOTS!!!

Joining Tam this week over at her regular Three or More Tuesdays. Go here to see more:
http://www.thegypsyscorner.com/



THREE, count them... THREE letters! hooray! Three weeks old, and full of news...some of it great, and some of it, stuff a Marine mama would rather not know about...
but oh it was good to hear from this guy! They have moved again, and are working hard on their Forward Operating Base when they are not patrolling and engaging with the Taliban. :-( Justin said he had definitely felt the Lord's protection over them. Please accept my gratitude, all of you who pray for these men... He said to please keep praying for God to protect them, and that his platoon would have no casualties...
He was his funny and joking and upbeat self, the Marine I know and love.

The second half of my post is not nearly as exciting, but just shares about Three of my favorite thrift places to browse and seek treasures...

First of all...of course...Goodwill stores. I found this vintage 3 tiered tower with beautiful fruit and gold rims. It reminds me SOOOO much of my Grandmother Shaw.
How it ended up in Goodwill...??????? Who knows? Should have stayed in somone's family.



Second, is The Salvation Army Thrift store.


I found this cheerful red reproduction of a vintage tray done for the Campbell Soup company by Jeanne Mack, an artist from Georgia.

Love pops of red in the kitchen.


Same store, found this yellow wicker and metal basket. (a place for Kurt to NOT lose his reading glasses)

Third, Village Lake Emporium

This cute little tile came from a place where one can find all kinds of pretty and interesting things. Kind of like a pretty Flea Market with scads of vendors and booths. I like to stop in there every once in a while to see what's new. Of course this little treasure suited our nest to a tee..

My favorite little thrift store in Matthews is not listed here, nor is Craig's List, nor the Habitat for Humanity restore, nor the new little thrift store down the road, nor the consignment store close by. I will save those for another Three or More Tuesday hosted by Tam..

Thanks so much for visiting, and I am a smilin' and grinnin' Marine Mom having heard some news from my Marine. Giving praise to God that he is okay.
God's best blessings to you and Bushels of hugs...

Old Glory and the Red and Yellow...

Today, I am feeling joy, and happiness...
The picture you see above is a wish come true. Projects take time and money...
This is one that has been in the making in my mind since January of '09 when Justin left for Parris Island to be transformed into a Marine for the United States.

This past weekend, Kurt got the flagpole UP!!!
Old Glory and the colors of the USMC now fly in front of our house, our home, for all who pass to see...to be reminded that we live in a great country...STILL.
And that we have men and women fighting for our freedoms to remain, all over the world.

The American Flag is the one Justin bought last Memorial Day and hung at our front door. Now it is more visible and I pray that all who pass it and see it, will feel a swelling of national pride and remember that they are AMERICANS, and pray for God to bless our great nation.

The USMC flag I have had for several months, waiting for the pole to go up. Displaying that flag so that all will know we support our troops and especially our Marines, a group of warriors who are very near and dear to our heart.

God bless America.
God bless our brave and honorable troops.
God bless and give success to our United States Marines.
God give safety to my Justin.
Would you pray today for Billy from Massachusetts, and Justin from Georgia, and Jeff from Delaware, and my Justin from North Carolina, and all defenders of Justice?


May is Military Appreciation Month. Would you stop and thank a soldier or veteran when you see them? Would you fly your flag to show your gratitude for their sacrifice?


This Thursday May 6th is a National Day of Prayer. Would you stop just once during your day to ask God to let justice reign, and oppression to be stopped, and success to come about for the mission in Afghanistan this year?


God bring 'em home.

This Marine family thanks you.

Beauty....

Joining Charlotte and Ginger here for their weekly post of giving praise to the Lord.

http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/


FOR THE BEAUTY OF THE EARTH

Flowers of earth and buds of heaven




Grateful today for the beauty of God's creation to grace my home and give loveliness to my nest...

Grateful today for my church where I can go and sing a hymn of grateful praise that God is alive and well and in control of all things good and bad, small and large, weak and strong...

Have a lovely Sunday. What are you grateful for today???
God's best blessings...



For the beauty of the earth,
For the beauty of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the beauty of each hour
Of the day and of the night,
Hill and vale, and tree and flower,
Sun and moon and stars of light,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For the joy of human love,
Brother, sister, parent, child,
Friends on earth, and friends above,
Pleasures pure and undefiled,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For each perfect gift of thine,
To our race so freely given,
Graces human and divine,
Flowers of earth and buds of heaven
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.

For thy Church which evermore
Lifteth holy hands above,
Offering up on every shore
Her pure sacrifice of love,
Lord of all, to thee we raise
This our grateful hymn of praise.