wallpaper

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

A Little Visit

I was really excited to have a free weekend to go visit the kids.  We spent a couple nights in Springfield, enjoying good food, the hot tub, and time with the girls.  We tried a new coffee shop that we both really liked in the heart of downtown and discovered a little antique shop where the shop owner often travels to England for some of his items.  He and John had a good talk about their travels.  Ari and Anthony joined us on a walk around downtown.  Mistake...wearing slightly heeled boots!  My feet hurt so bad the next day.  Soaking in the hot tub that night was heavenly.  Sunday we went to a new Italian restaurant, Nonnie's, before heading home.

 Unfortunately, I left home without a SD card...oops.  So resorted to a couple pics on my phone. There was a touch of Spring in the air and it felt good just to be outside.







 

Sunday, February 24, 2013

Thoughts in the Night

Do you have sleepless nights, too?  Every now and then, I get ready for bed, do all the usual prep, feel tired, but then....nothing.  Last night was one of those nights and after an hour of tossing and turning I gave up trying to fall asleep.  I was long overdue in catching up with a friend so I used that time to fill her in with what's been going on.  I went back to bed.  Sometimes in those dark hours of the night, thoughts come.

Sometimes it's about life or my kids.  As I lay there and the world is quiet and there are no distractions from the day, God speaks.


I laid there wondering why it is that faith comes easy for some people and others have to do it the hard way.  Faith has always been a constant in my life.  I never questioned the existence of God or the sacrifice of His perfect love.


Why do some people seem to wear blinders when it comes to faith.  There's an easier way, but they choose to do it their way.  I hope when they look back that they see that the harder path they chose only brought them back to where He wanted them to begin with. I wish I had the power to prevent them from making those choices, to prevent the pain, emptiness, dissatisfaction that comes from a life without God, but I was reminded that we all have free will, that is the great gift He gave us all.  We can choose our path.  He wants us to SEE on our own, to choose Him, to choose JOY.  The path to our Creator is the path to our joy in life and I've learned there are many different paths.  The promise is...He will make good out of even the hard ones we choose.  








laid there for a while longer, kitty curled up under my chin, and turned my concerns over to my Father and, finally, drifted off to sleep.

            You have made known to me the paths of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence.                 
Psalm 16:11 and Acts 2:28
Notice this one was worth repeating 

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Balloon Race in Forest Park


I revisited some photos from this past summer's balloon race. It's an annual event in St. Louis.  If you get the chance, it's a must see.






Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Rural Photo Art

My recent travels to Kentucky and Ohio yielded some wonderful rural landscapes.  I enjoy the time driving through the country.  You never know what you'll see.  There are surprises around every corner.

 Ohio Landscapes





 Kentucky Landscapes




Thursday, February 14, 2013

Valentine's Day

Valentine's...a day of Love.


A day to be thankful for all the loves in our lives, but especially for the one that stands by my side daily.  The one who is my best friend and confidant.  The one who loves me regardless of my mistakes and flaws. Who is my strength when this world overwhelms and who encourages me when I lack self-confidence.  Thank you, John, for choosing me.  Love you with all my heart!


Joy Dare
61. Valentine's Day
62.  My husband-for 30 years of his love






Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Perfect Love

There is no other love more perfect than that of God's love.  In a month of showing love, it's important to remember that God is Love.  For without Him, there would be no love.  His love endures, bringing with it peace and joy.  Just look around at the world He has given us, the gifts that surround us.  And it's easy to see Him...the creator in it all.  I can never understand those that say there is no God.  The universe itself declares the existence of a creator.  We must only have eyes to SEE and a heart willing to BELIEVE.  In Him we find our TRUE LOVE!

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
    His love endures forever.     Psalm 106:1
 



Joy Dare

54.  Holding hands.
55. Coconut cream pie.
56.  Warm breeze blowing on the deck.
Three gifts in working:  
57.  My husband for making the sacrifice and making the money.
58.  Cherry pie.

 59.  God working in the lives of my grown kids--He will never let go.

60.  The first sign of Spring--baby buds!
 Well, we aren't quite to the flowering stage yet, but we do have the beginning of buds showing up on the trees and shrubs.  I can't wait for the warmth and the color.



63.  Velvety soft roses.

Three things blue:
64.  Blue sky.
65.  Blue birds.
66.  My blue coffee mug given to me by a friend.

Three ways I feel God's Love
67.  The warm sun shining on my face and another day to thank Him.
68.  Promises and reminders whispered in my heart at just the right time when I need it.
69.  As I count my gifts, His love speaks,

"I have loved you with an everlasting love;
    I have drawn you with unfailing kindness."  Jeremiah 31:3

Saturday, February 9, 2013

To Be Grateful...

“To be grateful is to recognize the Love of God in everything He has given us - and He has given us everything. Every breath we draw is a gift of His love, every moment of existence is a grace, for it brings with it immense graces from Him.
Gratitude therefore takes nothing for granted, is never unresponsive, is constantly awakening to new wonder and to praise of the goodness of God. For the grateful person knows that God is good, not by hearsay but by experience. And that is what makes all the difference.” 
                             ~Thomas Merton

52.  Valentine sugar cookies
53.  Chai tea
 You can find the recipe for these wonderful sugar cookies here 







The Gift

  Delivered this week, a gift I never expected arrived in the mail.  This story begins, it seems a lifetime ago, when I worked at Owens Comm...