Day 31 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

First of all, let me correct something from yesterday's post that my sister brought to my attention.  Mom would be 78 after her birthday yesterday, NOT 82!  I told Kim I thought 82 sounded older than I thought she was and told her I needed to work on my math skills by using the calculator from now on!  :D  Kim also told me if mom were alive and I wished her a happy 82nd birthday when she was actually only 78 she would've given me one of her famous (to us kids) aggravated LOOKS!  I can see the look now!  :D  Sometimes the "look" meant, "I brought you into this world and I can take you out of it!"  At other times the "look" meant, "I'll slap you into tomorrow if you don't straighten up!"  Sometimes the only "look" you saw was the back side of her hand as it landed on our mouth!  OUCH!  Mom was not a big woman, standing in at 5'4" but she could handle herself quite well!  We knew not to cross her!  I can remember one punishment like it happened yesterday.  I don't even know what I had done.  All I remember is being outside in the yard when we lived in a farm house in Union, KY out near Big Bone Baptist Church.  I was running in circles around mom as she had hold of one of my arms with one hand and was whipping my bottom with a switch that was in her other hand.  My dog, Snowball, growled and barked at mom the whole time!

Anyway, I know it is probably hard for some of you to believe that I would EVER deserve such severe punishment, being the angel that you know me to be!  :D  And my siblings' opinions don't matter in this!  :P

OK, on to more important items of business!  Today was about 20 degrees above the normal temperature for this time of year.....as in winter!  We went to the nursing home to visit our oldest member, the one who broke his leg awhile back, if you recall my mentioning that.  They have called the family in, so if you think to pray for the Wheeles family, pronounced Wheel-less, please do.  But we were talking about the warmer-than-usual weather with the daughters that were there and they mentioned their crocuses and daffodils coming up already.  So as soon as we got back home I checked to see if any of my tulips were up yet.  Sure enough!  They are up a good bit!  I'll have to check the church tomorrow to see if anything is coming up over there.

Today's declutter item is an old visor that I haven't worn but maybe once or twice since we have been in NC, so into the trash it goes!

Until tomorrow..............

Day 30 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

I did finish the book I was reading, Papa's Wife.  Tonight I will begin reading, The Devil in Pew 7.

Today's activities included changing out the church sign, putting dishes away, regular e-mail stuff, finally plugging in the 2TB EHD that I got for my birthday and transferring all of my pictures and miscellaneous files to it, working on a top and hat for Abigail, fixing pulled pork BBQ, baked beans and seasoned potato wedges for supper and running to the store to get more lace for Abigail's outfit, second trip of the day, LOL!  Now, I'm ready to close down the computer and do some reading.

Here's a picture of what is done so far on Abigail's top and hat.  The reason I had to make another run for lace was because when I read the length of 3 feet on the first roll, I was thinking 3 yards!  So, needless to say I ran out of lace very quickly!  This is a summer top that is open in the back with 2 straps that button to hold the back together.  I'm fixing it slightly longer than the pattern calls for so she can wear it with some leggings.  I don't know if the hat will fit her or not since the Days and Brandenburgs all have big heads!  I plan to make a headband out of the material, too!  I was hoping to have enough material to make some little bloomers to go over her diapers, instead of wearing leggings, but I didn't have enough material!  Might have to crochet something instead!  It is kinda hard to see against the ironing board cover.  The material has little white hearts as the pattern.

My clutter item for today is this purse.  I used it for awhile to carry my camera in, but there's just not enough room by the time I add keys, wallet, etc.  So, back to the thrift it goes, from whence it came!  :D

Until tomorrow.................

Day 29 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

Have you ever wondered if we will celebrate birthdays in Heaven?  I kinda doubt it because eternity is going to be a loooooooooooooooong time!  And, what would the point be?  To celebrate a birthday means you are celebrating another year of life God has allowed you to live.  All of that will end once we cross over into eternity.  There is no death in heaven, so we won't have to celebrate the gift of another year of life.....vs the alternative!  Heaven won't be about us, anyway!  It will be about praising God for the gift of eternal life through the forgiveness of sin through the shedding of blood of His precious Son and we will worship Him forever!  WOW!  It is just hard for this finite mind to even imagine or comprehend!

But, that being said, today mom would have been 82 years old.  Living 82 years is even hard for me to imagine!  I'm sure mom is not concerned about today being her earthly birthday!  But, in case she does know what is going on down here on earth, I at least want her to know she isn't forgotten.  I miss her and want to say, Happy Birthday, Mom!  I love you and can't wait to see you again when we are reunited in eternity some day!

Today being Sunday, there was no decluttering done.  Not much computer work other than some free downloads and taking care of e-mail.  But I did lots of reading this afternoon and this evening.  And plan to do more before going to bed.  So, that being said  I leave you with a picture of the book I am just about to finish!  I'm on a roll!  My goal is to read at least 1 book a month this year.  This is my 2nd one!  The next one I plan to read is, "The Devin in Pew Seven."  That ought to be interesting!

Until tomorrow........................

Day 28 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

Yesterday, I mentioned that I had a couple of frames that I was getting rid of as part of my decluttering adventure.  Then I got to thinking about one of the frames and a picture I painted that I had stuffed behind a cedar chest.  The frame on it is one that I had picked up at a yard sale Y.E.A.R.S. ago and it was about to fall apart.  So, I decided to make use of the two frames I was getting rid of.

Here's the picture with the badly worn frame.

 Here are the 2 frames I had for the decluttering.  The blue one had no glass.  The brown plastic one had a thin plexiglass type of glass.

I took the thin plexiglass from the light brown plastic frame, combined it with the blue frame, washed up the painting a bit and, Voila! now I have the painting hanging in my laundry room, until (or not) I think of a better place to hang it!

Here are the items for today's decluttering.  5 bars of Bath and Body Works Cotton Blossom Moisture-Rich Cleansing Bars.  They normally sold for $3.50 (back in the day) but I got them for a buck apiece when the fragrance was discontinued.  I had them in my dresser drawers but the fragrance was L.O.N.G. long gone!  As in gone before we even moved to NC 3 1/2 years ago!!!

No!  This fine specimen of a man is NOT part of my decluttering!  And that isn't a spaceman outfit, either!  I don't know what you call it, but I got it at Goodwill last year for catching the hair as I give him a haircut!  Best piece of plastic on a wire hoop you would ever buy!  :D  Sure saves having to sweep the floor of all the hair after the haircut!  Tim just walks outside and takes it off!  Then I dump the hair into the ditch between the church property and the field next to us.

Until tomorrow................

Day 27 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

Yes, I am still alive!  I have just been EXTREMELY busy catching up on my Digital Scrapbooking Kit creations!  I'm finally at a breathing point!

It's a good thing I have already gotten rid of ALOT of clutter because I have not done any of that since we went on vacation back on the 12th!  I do have 2 frames and a decorating item that I found today to get rid of, but I don't have a picture to show you.  I know none of you will want them, anyway, so off to Goodwill they go!

And since it is very late (or early depending on how you want to look at it, lol.....1:17 a.m.) and since you know I am alive and well now, I shall say.....

Until tomorrow........................

Day 18 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

It has been one week since I posted a note for all of you.  Only because I did not have my google password to be able to log in on Kim's computer.  Guess I better get that password written down and carry it with me!

So, we left the house at 4:30 a.m. last Thursday, January 12th and arrived in Kim's area of FL at around 2:30 p.m.  She wouldn't be home til around 5:40, so we went to the beach at Cocoa because Tim wanted to go to the Dinosaur store there to look at their fossils.  We spent about an hour on the beach and then headed towards Kim's as we searched out Goodwill stores on the way.  It ended up that we met Kim at a Goodwill near her work and then went to her house for a delicious dinner of stew that had been working in the crockpot all day!  She took Friday off so we went to some more thrift stores and then Pam and Jesse and the kids came over to eat chicken lasagna.  Saturday morning Pam and the kids came to Kim's and we headed to a Bible conference/fellowship meeting at Jordan Baptist Church and came back home after eating lunch there.  Then we went to Pam and Jesse's for pizza.  Sunday, we attended church with Kim where Tim preached.  Sunday evening we went to the Bible Conference at Park Ridge Baptist Church in Gotha, FL.  This conference was our reason for traveling to FL in the first place.  Sunday evening we traveled the 1 1/2 hours back to Kim's to spend one more night with her before we headed back to Gotha for the rest of the conference and Kim went back to work.

The Bible Conference was great!  Really enjoyed listening to the Bluegrass Boys sing once again!  The preaching was great, too!  Tim has been invited to preach next year, so, Kim......I imagine we will be spending some more time with you next year!  :D

We left the Bible conference after lunch today and headed back home.  We are in Savannah, GA tonight and tomorrow night before making the rest of the trip back to Winston Salem on Friday.  Tomorrow we have reserved tickets for a Trolley tour of Savannah, GA.  It will be chilly in the morning, but the temp is to warm into the 60's.  A trolley will be picking us up right in front of the hotel we are staying in.....Hampton Inn.

Here's some pictures from the past week.  Until tomorrow.......

One kind lady offered to take our picture while at Cocoa Beach.

We visited Pam and Jesse and the kids early Friday afternoon before they came to Kim's for chicken lasagna later in the afternoon.

Kim was given a love bird and every once in awhile, she gives her a chance to bathe in a bowl at the kitchen sink.

Charity is writing down our address so she can write us a letter.  She is an EXCELLENT reader!  Pam is home schooling Charity and she has started working some with little Jesse.

Kim with 3 of the 4 grandchildren.....Jesse Jr., Charity and Faith.  This was the first time we had met Faith.  She was totally afraid of me at first!  By the time we left, she had warmed right up to us.

Hearing that Tim and I were going to be attending services with Kim on Sunday, her pastor invited Tim to preach, which he gladly accepted.

A group picture before we left church.

Kim and I in her computer room.

I took this picture on the way back to the services at the Bible Conference yesterday evening.  I commented to Tim, "tomorrow we leave the palm trees behind."  The weather was beautiful while there.  Too bad we didn't have more time to spend at the beach!

While waiting for the ladies to get lunch put out, the preachers attending the Bible conference gathered in the front for a picture.  15 men of God under one roof!  What a blessing.  Afterwards, they all sang, "Amazing Grace."  And it really IS amazing!

Day 11 in the Year of Our Lord 2012

Not much to report today.  Since we are taking a trip, I worked in the laundry this morning while I cleaned up my e-mail.  Around noon, after eating lunch, I went to the post office to mail pictures to the girls (the Christmas pictures that were taken while they were here on 12-27 at JC Penney) and various other things and then I stopped at Walmart (what a surprise that is, huh?!) to pick up some things for the trip, filled the car with gas for the trip and then went back home.  I was burdened about having to run around in the rain, so I prayed that the Lord would see fit to, if not stop the rain at least slow it down when I had to be out of the car.  I'm happy to let you know that He answered my prayer!  The downpour had slowed considerably by the time I got to the post office (I took my mail in Walmart bags to keep it dry) and even though I still needed the umbrella, I felt doubly blessed because I also got a parking spot pretty close instead of having to park at the end of the mall parking lot.  And I hadn't even prayed for a close spot, just a drier walk!  It was the same at Walmart for the rain and the parking spot!  By the time I got done in Walmart, it had stopped raining for a bit.......so I was able to get gas without getting wet!  Thank You, Lord!

Helen Steiner Rice puts it this way:
No day is too dark
And no burden too great
That God in His Love
Cannot penetrate.

Today whatever occurs, whatever burden you shoulder, keep steadfast in your trust of God.  He cares about the seemingly insignificant things in our lives, too!

After I got back to the house, I worked on packing the suitcase and picking out my dress clothes I'll be wearing to the conference, and finished up the laundry.  After church I washed up the dinner dishes and did some more packing and the last load is in the dryer.  Now I'm packing up my stuff that will keep me busy while Tim drives and while in the hotel room in the evening.  I probably won't be doing much computer work, even though I'm taking my laptop and my EHD.......just in case!  But I'm taking a book to read and some crocheting/knitting to do.  Hopefully I will be able to keep in touch somewhat but I don't know what internet access we will have, if any before next Wednesday evening.

So, I pray each of you have a blessed rest of the week and weekend!  Until next time.......