To Julian (Christina)... and friends!

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Dear friend,

I hope this "letter" finds you and your family well. I've been thinking of you, and your family...and praying for you.  I've missed your "presence" through regular comments here on my blog, mostly during my 31 days ~ Series on Hospitality, and I know at one time you had mentioned that you would like to email  - but I cannot find your address.  I thought you sent it to me (in one of your comments..).  I hope you don't mind that I have chosen to "contact" you through a blog post.  I couldn't think of another way. I apologize for not keeping in touch, like you had hoped..

I don't even know if you read much here at Treasured Up and Pondered anymore but I do know that when you did your interaction, your thoughts, your encouragement - through that series- meant a lot to me and I wanted you to know.  Thank you!

So, if I may I ask... How have you been growing in your extending of hospitality?  I guess I wonder if anything shared in that series still affects you and helps you through the daily seasons of your life?  If so, I would love to hear about it.  I know (assume!) your another busy wife and mother... and that your days have been full of family activities and life in general.

If you have found time and you're still reading here, I would love to know that too!  (smile!)

I hope you have yourself a wonderful Easter Weekend.  

Celebrating our Risen Saviour!
~Bevy

 *** 

To the rest of you.. my friends.

Can I just tell you how much I much enjoy "Out of the Grey"?  I Love them...they are Scott and Christine Dente ~ husband and wife duo.  Oldies - ish, but goodies...

I've been listening to one of their CD - Diamond Days - for the past couple of days... and just cannot get enough of them.

I have also been enjoying finding bits and pieces of Spring - coming alive in and around the homestead.

Robins singing and flitting around the yard.  

We saw another bunny in our yard - probably living under the back side porch.  Our whole family had fun, last evening, looking back at her, through the window, as she sat in the yard looking up at us.  She sat there, saying "nothing at all" (because that is what bunnies say...); just twitching her nose.

The daffodils are popping through.. I have even seen some yellow blooms here and there!! 

The sunshine is getting brighter and warmer first thing in the morning..

and you know what that does?  

Oh my windows...they  let me know... they tell me.

It shows me that it is time for the upcoming SPRING CLEANING... that must be done.  

Must be done.

Must be done...

I wanted to quick show you, too, the Easter cards that the kids and I worked on making together to send to Grandma Susie - in NY.

These cards are full of wonderful handwritten promises and reminders of how that Jesus is ALIVE and how much she is loved.  We hope she is blessed (surprised!)..

Well, I'm going to run.  My four year old is "washing dishes" and might just need some supervision.. (ahem!) My baby is NOT wanting to take a nap - can you blame her?

 Listen..

I've decided I'm going to take a bit of a blog break for week or so.  (You know why?  that Spring Cleaning I just talked about - yeah!  Along with some serious sewing...)

So, feel free to browse the blog - take your time through the archives.  Leave me comments!  Lots of them!! - I'll check in  and make sure your comments are getting through and will try to reply to any I receive.  

(You might... You might get one blog post yet, from my hubby.  He talked about wanting to do one for the 2nd of April.  You know, Scott's Second Sayings!  We'll see...if he follows through.)

Okay.

Now.  Off I go...

Have a Wonderful Easter.  

And, I'll see you back here in a couple of days...

 

~ justifiable, most delectable ~

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Last evening I needed to run out, to the local drugstore, for a few things. Different then these two items, in the photo, but I couldn't resist a $ale they had going on - I just had to add these to the purchase.  

((I made a separate purchase...in case my hubby is reading... with my own money.))

Anyway.

 Maybe I should have resisted but I just couldn't.

I would love for you to believe that I had one of these Dark & Sea Salt Carmels for breakfast.. but that honest to goodness didn't happen.

Yet!

You do see the bag is open..

Wow!

These caramels are my absolute NEW fav!  If you haven't tried them yet - you really should.  I had one or two over Christmas time and have been thinking about them ever since.  It's been torture..

The truffles?  I have always loved these Lindor truffles (always a temptation!)... and would be "blessed" with them over and over, back in the day...by someone very special to me.  (ahem! - my hubby.)

Well recently, I came across a justifiable, most delectable looking recipe, on Pinterest/Pampered Chef, that I am JUST DYING to try.

So the truffles were a MUST buy.  They just had to be bought.

{recipe and photo source}

Because, Guess what?

Easter is coming!  And someone needs to bring a dessert, to the dinner.  Yes?

The Center of it all..

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I don't mean to keep talking about my surgery or this Marriage Conference we recently attended... but with those two things behind me ... I thought I would share a few thoughts I've had since that have intertwined the two.

The surgery took place a few days before the conference.

I was not necessarily in pain - rather it was more of discomfort associated with guarding myself to keep from pain... but I felt, while at this conference, like I could not sit another minute.  Part of making myself more comfortable, though, at the conference was to sit on the the outer edge of the room with my "bum" leg up on an extra chair.

I didn't want to be in the way.  I certainly could not sit in the middle of the room - in case I needed to get up quickly and walk around.  There was no way I wanted to bother anyone.

Sitting on the outer fringe, in the front row, had another perspective come my way.  I could see faces...back through and over the crowd.  Totally an assumption here... but can I say hurting; I saw lots of other hurting faces?

Though mine was winced with a physical pain or discomfort... my heart also was hurting.  Hard to admit.

This was a  place; a time for healing to happen.

Not just me.  But, for many.

***

When someone is truly hurting... they do their best to be on the "outer fringe".  Out of the way.  Able to get up quickly and "out of there" if need be.  We seek escape!  You would think it would be the opposite.  Choosing to "hide" with their hurts, deep in the middle of the throng.

But.  To get lost in the crowd, or to be stuck in the middle, or enclosed in the center of a crowd ... might incur "panic" and even more pain.

I remember at one point in my life.  I was in between churches.  Having left a rather small church where everybody knew everyone and everything (about me) (which can be a good thing!); to then go to a LARGE  -overwhelmingly large - church where I could just go and get lost in the crowd.  The truth is, is that I meant to go there so that I could "hide" for awhile.   Test the waters..

Do you think I went front and center, into the middle of the crowd - to "hide" there?

No way!

I stayed on the outer fringe... just in case.  And eventually, I warmed up.
Ready to enter in.

***

"A heart at peace gives life to the body..." 

~ Proverbs 14:30a (NIV)

Friends.  What is in the Center?  Who is the Center - of a place and heart at peace?

As the above verse suggests...
When one is truly at peace (healing has happened) then to dwell in the center of the crowd assumes that LIFE will be extended to those on the "outer edge" of the crowd.

I just love the picture.

I have been a recipient of that kind of outpouring.

But. Know this.
It is Jesus Christ who is truly the Center of it all.

He is the Center.

A Daybook in March

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FOR TODAY
 The last Monday in the month of March...








Outside my window...
It looks a bit chilly out there.  There is a call, in the forecast, for some more snow...today (typing this at 6am-ish!)  and tomorrow.
 Oh Look!  It is snowing..

I am thinking...
If we get what they say we'll get - it will be the first accumulative snow amount of this Spring!  We've already had what we thought were the "onion snows".

I am thankful...
for a wonderful, action-packed weekend that involved lots of friends and family...

In the kitchen...
It sure was nice to come downstairs this morning to the smell of a fresh-brewed pot of coffee.  My hubby likes to do that once in a while.  Prep the coffee pot!

I am wearing...
A dark blue, floral flouncy skirt and black tee-shirt.

I am creating...
Another "custom" bag order has come in from a friend of mine...
 she wants a little bit of Zebra print in it.  And a long "over-the-shoulder" strap - just one!

I am going...
Today!  I go to the Surgeon for my follow-up appointment and to get my stitches taken out.

I am wondering...how that is going to go?  I really wonder if I've done "right" what is expected as far as wearing the compression stockings I was and am to continue to wear for the remainder of the six weeks.

UPDATE:  I went!  Looks great.  He's happy.  Stitches are gone. "Keep doing what your doing." yadda, yadda...

I am reading...
Staying Close, by Barbara and Dennis Rainey
For Women Only, by Shaunti Feldhahn

I am hoping...
That nobody gets "sicker".  Last night - I should say yesterday - my four year old sounded like he was losing his voice.  Of course he thought is was funny and so he would continue to talk - with that deep scratchy voice.  But then, Scott had it too...
Sicker?  Well... I'm just hoping it doesn't turn into anything.  My husband will get this, laryngitis thing, quite often - as does his mom - and Caleb is from the same tree...

I am looking forward to...
to this white stuff.  Look at it coming down!  But... I'm also looking forward to getting my fingernails dirty in some soil out there.

I am learning..
that Weekend to Remember? That Marriage Retreat? It was a very timely and much needed blessing into our lives and relationship.  I am learning that I am still learning... and will continue to learn about relationships and how "it works".  Particularly in marriage..

Around the house...
Again.  I came downstairs this morning to a kitchen "cleaned up" and ready to go.  My husband was thoughtful to come help dry the dishes while I washed em up.  It's a rare thing for my mountain to disappear as fast as I'm building it.  It was lovely!

I am pondering...
DID YOU KNOW?  There were FIVE weekends - Friday, Saturday and Sunday - in the month of March! That this hasn't happened in 823 years.

A favorite quote for today...
There is one I keep coming back to, although I don't think I've ever shared it before (here!).
"Real friends are those who, when you've made a fool of yourself, don't feel that you've done a permanent job."  - taken from one of my many cookbooks, believe it or not.

One of my favorite things...
Is having Sunday Guests... over to our home for lunch. Nothing fancy - but... Spontaneously!
Which happened yesterday.  What a wonderful day.

A few plans for the rest of the week:
anticipating Good Friday service and this upcoming Easter weekend.  I'm sure some food preparation will be involved.

A peek into my day...

You've seen this photo before - maybe - but my camera battery is dead today and on the charger. ;(  I pulled a  photo from the archives because looking out my window - this is pretty much what it looks like around here as of now.

Love it!

***
 Joining up, today, with Peggy, from the Simple Woman's Daybook!

Enjoy your day to it's fullest...
My hubby is working from home today - so I get to enjoy that too!   For reals...

Friday's Finds | Photo Board

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It's been so long that I have done a Friday's Finds for you.  So here it goes.  By they way, this DIY project has been a long time in the making...and it is finally hanging in the back hallway.

Friday's Finds, You ask?

{For those of you who are new to this blog and/or just poppin' in - Hello and Welcome! Often on Fridays I like to try and feature "a find" of no particular value or sentiment, no reason or rhyme and yet, exactly for all of those reasons I just mentioned.}

\

I discovered these very old window frames at my aunt's place - around the same time frame I found this piece, in her garage they were trying to clean out.  

Fall of 2011? - Yes!, that is how long ago this project was in the works.  

 I knew what I wanted to do with the four-pained frame. I wanted to scrape it off and paint it a rustic black.  Nothing perfect and shiny.  Rough!   But for the "inside" - I wasn't sure if I wanted to do cardboard covered with linen or burlap.  Or, if I was going to go the cork board route.  I had trouble finding cork board...(mind you I am frugal) and I also didn't want  it to get "expensive".

And then.  Recently - I had a Blessings Unlimited Gathering.  I'm so glad I had one of those. Not just because my items came in GOOD, STURDY boxes (thank you, very much!) but because I love Blessings.  (More on that another time... stay tuned! I promise.)

Anyway. Yes!  These boxes were perfect.  This was a no-brainer.  I went with the cardboard covered in burlap.   I was able to cut a total of four pieces of cardboard and I covered them with burlap that I had on hand.  You see glue in this photo - which I did not end up using.  I just cut the cardboard (and with the burlap) close enough that  it was a tight enough fit.

So.  The photos.  I picked out a few of my favorites... just to show you.  This is my intention of using this piece.  It is finally now hanging in our back hallway.  There are four sections (you only see three!) and in effort to keeping the fridge clean(er).  I have decided that this will now be our Photo Board.

One problem  I have in mind a certain type of thumbtack/pin, that I would like to use... and have yet to come across them.  So, for now the Photo Board hangs empty...
((sad, to say..))

PS:  I know you're all laughing at the wall  this board is hanging on.  If you must know.. yes!  I have to live with the hallway and our back bathroom - and those walls.  Gold (never mind the print) is not really my thing... but what are you going to do when you rent?  Nothing. But the best you can.

***

Have yourself a wonderful weekend.  Do you have any plans to hang out with some good friends?  I sure do.

I look forward to our monthly ladies breakfast in the morning.

What have you learned today?

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Overheard:  Caleb!  IF YOU WANT TO BE A NICE BROTHER (said, loud and intense) then (said, emphatically), you've got to be a nice brother (said, quieter, motherly and pleading like!), alright?

She had a point.  

I loved her voice inflection.

If you say one thing and want to be and do that...

then

by all means, it won't happen unless you do it.

Point taken.

This is for any and all relationships in our lives.  Isn't it?

You can not want friends and not take the steps important to be one yourself, etc.
If you have an expectation of something for yourself - then it's up to you to start that round of action.

***

Oh, the things we can learn from our children.  If we listen..

** These photos were taken at some point during this past winter.. not when this dialogue took place.

Bevy's Breakfast Quiche

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As promised, from last week...
Bevy's Breakfast Quiche!

I've been meaning to bring to you another "made-up" recipe...one that is so versatile and so delicious.
Here, you see mushrooms.  But those don't have to be in there if you don't care for them.  This recipe allows for creativity and imagination.  Which is why I love this.

I started out with a small baking pan.  Approximate size: 8"x8". Greasing it, of course.

The first time I made this dish, with fresh spinach...I forgot to take a photo.  I'll be honest.  I liked it better the first time I made.  ** Disclaimer:  I eye-ball everything and guess approximately - so the amounts given in the ingredient list may vary for you.

Take about 4 hash brown patties (semi-frozen) and lay them in the bottom of the pan.  Next add your veggies.  Either fresh  baby spinach, or a combo of such.
Spinach (fresh).
Mushrooms, sliced (fresh).
Chopped onion.
Fresh herbs..
Here is where you can add some fried, crumbled bacon pieces or other chopped meat..

Put this in the oven at 375* awhile - to give the potatoes/veggies a chance to get cooking through.  Next, while that is in the oven, begin mixing the following ingredients..mixing well.  You could use a blender or hand mixer if you would like.  I just used a hand whisk..

1/2 cup cottage cheese
1/2 cup Bisquick Mix
1 1/2 - 2 cups milk
1 cup shredder cheddar cheese or a mixture of your favorite cheeses
3-5 eggs (I used four for the 8x8 size baking dish)
pinch of salt and pepper
dash of dried parsley or use fresh as mentioned above (to taste)
1 cup of vegetables or meat (which you already have in the pan)

Pull the pan from the oven (remember it is hot!) and add this mixture on top of veggies.  Turn oven down to 350* and continue baking for 30-40 minutes or until it testes clean with a knife.

***

If you go ahead and make this...let me know what you thought and what for combination you put together.  It would be great to hear.

By the way.
I'm headed out to a Taste of Home Cooking School this evening with a couple of friends. Have you ever attended one of these?   I always look forward to the opportunity when I can head out to one of these.

As usual, I'm always up for learning something new when it comes to the kitchen; making delicious, healthy & tempting meals for my beautiful family.

Wow! If that wasn't a weekend to remember...

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I hardly know where to start on this blog post.  I told you last week, after my surgery update, that I was going to try and come back, later in the week, with a *new* recipe... and I tried.  It's in the cue.. but not ready to publish.  ;(

Because.  Unknown to me.  My hubby had other plans for me, this week!

Surprise!  Surprise!

My husband, Scott, gave me a gift.

"A Weekend To Remember"

A Marriage Enrichment conference put out by Family Life - with Barbara and Dennis Rainey.

Excellent!

A weekend; very timely, very needed, and very much appreciated.

Apparently, this "plan" had been in the works for the past two months. Which really knocks my socks off... because if you knew my husband, I cannot believe how well he pulled this off -all while doing his schooling.  Well, maybe I can. He has done this before with our Honeymoon - and that is another story!, for another time.

But Lately... It's been a tough season of *connecting* for us with him in constant school mode.  In fact, as of this past week, he just wrapped up an 8-week course in a, what is called, a 10-day BOOT CAMP course (which he passed!)- and because of school, a lot of times our communication is and can be sparse and cliche... if you know what I mean?  Not intentionally ... it just is.

 I love this photo of my man shooting pool.  I must have jumped when he took his shot... because of the blurry photo.  But I like how it turned out.  We took some time in between sessions to play a quick game.  His first in six years... mine?? Can we say... a first, first?  We would have liked to do a little more of this...and probably will in our future.  Billiards is something that Scott can say he is a reigning champ in - we have trophies- from back in the day...but I'll let him talk about that another time, if he chooses to.

Skytop Lodge (in the Poconos of PA) is one gorgeous place, as you can tell.

First, as you know, I had surgery earlier this week. (hence the flower photos there at the top) Scott had time off from work, all this past week, with vacation that needed to be used up or he lost it.  And.. with that - it was perfect timing that he wrapped up this 'boot camp' science class on Wednesday. 

So.  The timing of this weekend getaway couldn't have been more perfect.  Although, Scott tells me that he had to finagle quite a bit, with our schedule, our responsibilities, our friends and family and our whatever else to make this all come together.

***
You know, I learned a lot this weekend.

A lot about me, myself and I.
A lot about my man.
A lot about my Lord & Saviour.
I was reminded of what HE wants for my/our marriage.
I learned about statistics.
If I thought we had it "bad". I learned that there are a lot of folks out there worse off; Ones who are so much more on some hard times..desperate times than where I ever thought I was.   But... it could easily happen to me... that is what is so hard to take in.  That slow drift..

For Scott and I - I appreciated going to this conference with it being a place of "guideline and guard rail", for us, and not a place to pick up and pick out the crash victims apart from the train wreck...

I learned that today was coming and that tomorrow and the next day after that are coming as well and that Satan will try every which way to Sunday to bring on what he can to devour and destroy what God has instituted to be right and good.
((I just realized that it was almost a whole week of going without cooking in my kitchen from me and of my own two hands, that the meals have been brought and prepared by someone else or we've went out to eat or because of being at this conference.  Nice!! a wonderful treat for me every now and then..))

In fact to sum up this already oh-so-long post... I want to leave you with just a few reflective quotes that I brought home with me from the conference.

Oneness in marriage involves complete unity with each other.  It's more than a mere mingling of two humans - it's a tender merger of body, soul and spirit. ~ Dennis Rainey - Staying Close

"Remember, your spouse is not your enemy!"

The fact that I am a woman does not make me a different kind of Christian, but the fact that I am a Christian does make me a different kind of woman.  For I have accepted God's idea of me, and my whole life is an offering back to Him of all that I am, and all that He wants me to be.  ~ Elizabeth Elliot - Let Me Be a Woman

A supportive wife trusts her husband to make decisions even if they are sometimes wrong (from her perspective), trusting that God can correct and change him. ~ taken from the course manual..

"Love all ways."

And if I could share one way that this weekend has deepened my resolve as a wife and mother - I would say it this way...

The one way I can show my children that I love them will be to love their daddy even more.

If only that came out as eloquently as I feel it to be in my heart.

Again, I say.  Wow!  If that wasn't a weekend to remember - what was?
And, by the way... in case you were wondering.  Some dear friends of ours (a.k.a. Friemily), were brave enough to encourage us this getaway, they pleaded, and begged to, to take on and care for our three children, the whole entire weekend.  Love them to pieces!
***

Thank you for your patience in hearing from me..
Blessings to you in whatever you do and wherever you find your self going this week.

"hands and feet"

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How lovely is your dwelling place, Oh LORD, Almighty!  My soul yearns, even faints for the courts of the LORD; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God... a place near your altar.

Blessed are those who dwell in your house...better is one day in your courts, than a thousand elsewhere...I would rather be a doorkeeper...than to dwell in the tents of the wicked.

 ~ Psalm 84

 

These are just a few verses I've been reflecting on here today. I just thought I would share them with you.

 What is neat is to see firsthand how the "Body of Christ" really pulls together when there is and has been compromise in and to a member's body.  

I had surgery today.

The morning started early.  I was to be at the hospital by 6AM.  Around 11:00AM today I back home from having had a surgerical procedure done on my lower right leg.  A procedure called : Vein Ligation.

 My children were well cared for, by dear friends.

My husband has come through on all counts.  He always does...

My friends have either called, stopped by or sent emails...checking in!

Meals are coming in over the rest of this week.  Though an unecessary measure, it is one I want to receive and be grateful for.  I am.

My mom - brought me flowers!

 I can walk around and am encouraged to do so.  A good recovery is going to be on me.

Hard to do because of a 24hour/6week requirement of wearing a particular Compression Stocking to aid in the healing.

I'm grateful that this isn't the dead heat of Summer.

~~
I just want to say "thank you" for all your kind thoughts and prayers past, present and continued..

Thank you for being the "hands and feet" of Jesus.

I'll be back sometime later this week..

I have another *new*  recipe I've been meaning to share.

.

The "W" in Winter! (and some updates)

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I know you have been waiting for this one.  Actually, so have I. But I almost waited too long.
Especially, with after today's temps of being in and around the 60's..(wonderfully weird) I thought about how I'd better hurry up and get this one out there... as our Winter Season is soon over - isn't it?

I love Winter, but not as much as Fall. Spring is my next best favorite (yay!). The obvious, need I say?, is that I don't enjoy Summer much at all.  At least, the way that most folks might.

There are so many things about this winter season that are special for me.  This specialness... It's everywhere present-particularly when it snows.  In fact, just yesterday morning we got more than a few flurries... it hung around for most of the morning.  Very peaceful and very pretty.
By mid day  - it was DONE, GONE!

*White* 

This white-ish photo is of my son trying to catch a snowflake or two on his tongue, while we were out waiting for the bus... and I thought he was going to fall over in laughter over it.  Lots of fun!!

I always marvel at the snow-covered coating of trees and shrubs and bushes...  I love how it brings a definition.  It closes in and the world feels "slowed" and hushed.  It's as though there lies a blanket... and everything is "at rest".

{via} 

God's Word says, Let it...Fall on the Earth!

 *Warmth*

When I think of winter - I think warm and cozy! Even though the outdoors do declare otherwise.  There is something about this photo that just speaks of warmth.  Doesn't it?

 At least it is bringing on the "warm welcome" as you walk the walkway up into the home.  Lovely.

{via}

Have you ever tried to do this?  Make Ice globes?  I have used mason jars, before, with Epsom salt and candles outside along the snowy walk way - but never something like this.  I'm really liking it..

I'm trying to envision what might be inside this home - to aid in the warmth to be found there.




{via}
Warm hearts.  Warm friendly faces.  Woolen or Fleece Blankets.  Comforting Soup.  The smell of fresh baked bread.  A Cozy Fireplace.  Hot Chocolate or a steamy cup of coffee. Warm fuzzy socks or  comfy slippers. 
***
I like to think in threes... and the third "W" is for wonder.

The *Wonder* of it all.

In the barrenness and cold heart of winter there is a wonder.

{photo credit}

I love what this photo is saying.  The truth in it couldn't be more WONDERful.

***
For some update...

I was really trying to get this post out yesterday..but it never happened.  Today, we spent the day out in Lancaster Co. area - grocery shopping.  It was the most beautiful of days.  So Spring like.  It was hard to come back home and think that winter is technically still here.

Today, I saw some lovely lines of laundry - blowing sweetly in the breezes.  Some patches of yellow crocus' coming through...
The kids wanted to give-up their coats/jackets for just their long sleeves.  Lots of people were out riding their bikes and people were taking walks or should I say, dogs take their people out walking... ;)
It really was a beautiful day.

My husband, Scott , is planning to take this coming week off of work - due to some vacation time allotted.  Use it or lose it.  It's actually perfect - because coming up on Tuesday is my scheduled Vein Ablation surgery. (pray for me if you think of it) and so - I'm not sure how much time I will be "posting" on line this week.
I just wanted to give you a head's up.  Scott will be hanging out with me on Tuesday - at the hospital, etc.

But.  Also - he (Scott) is working on a 10-day Boot Camp course of study (he finishes up on Wednesday) and so this has been a bit of stressful week.  So if you think of our family this week - whisper a little prayer.  Will you?

Enjoy your day in the Lord's House, tomorrow.  
Come before HIS presence with his singing..

A different sort of post...here. Can you help?

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I'm going out on a limb here.  I'm hoping for some help.

Recently, I've been receiving a lot of "unexpected" praise and encouragement regarding the content of my blog, here.  For which I'm really grateful.  Overwhelmed, acutally.

It's nice.

Nice to hear.

But with that comes a question.  Maybe there is something you, my reader, have been wanting to hear more about?  A question you've had...

Or perhaps a clarification?

I don't know.

I admit that I get a little "stage-fright", at times.  Especially with the open screen - the blank page - in front of me.  What to say? What to touch on?   I pray... all of the time... that I would just be a faithful blessing to any and all who read.

So.

I'm asking for a few prompts.

I would love to take what you have/leave me with, into consideration and see what comes out of it.

No promises. 
And I will say that I reserve the right to use my discretion and any "gut feeling" I get to determine what should be discussed or not, etc.

***

As a fellow blog writer, what helps you in your own blog inspiration?  As a regular reader, here, what makes you want to keep on coming back time after time?  Thanks, in advance, for your honesty, encouragement and your feedback.

Sail away with me!

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Some days we just sail around in shoe-boats.  Or, wait. Is that a car?  Oh! I'm sorry.  It's supposed to be a car.  In which, big brother rams into hers with another...

All I can say is that I LOVE this little girls imagination.  Day in and day out.

It gets pretty active, to say the least.  You should hear it sometimes...
~~~

Personally..

I still think this should be a boat...a float... drifting off into the sunset. 

Anyone? 

Come.  Sail away with me?  There is still room..

To the land of imagination at it's best!

Is there ever really such a thing?

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I sat down at the end of the day and soaked it all up.  The silence.  It was deafening.

There was something about this day that had put me into a tailspin.  It was LOUD.

But the quiet... now, here... was even louder.

Till it was all said and done..

I had no idea which one was better.

Which one I liked better.  Which way...I liked better.

(sigh)

Sometimes, that is truly the way it is... but in the reverse.  Is it not?

We turn on the noise to drown out the noise.

Have you ever found yourself doing that?

I have.

Some days are like this.

Yes!  There really (ever) is such a thing.

A quiet loud.

On second thought ... I want to add... Is there ever really such a thing as a near identical day?
 Because... Some days are like this.

Now, that is weird.

And to top it off.  I fell off the roof, perhaps which is why I ended up with a headache.

You're laughing.

It's okay.  Really it is.

Appealing to the Senses :: Taste!

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Photo Credit and Recipe 

The other day I discovered this *new-to-me* Coffee Cake Recipe while scoping out Pinterest, while looking for something else.  So, I decided to give this recipe a try over this past weekend.  I'm glad I did..

I surely wouldn't change a thing about this recipe, It was both delicious and unique.  I say that, about changes, because if you know me at all...at least well...you know I usually like to tweak something, somewhere, somehow along the lines of making it more "bevy"-ish.   The only changes made with this recipe would be on what I had already done.  For instance, if I would make it again, which I will, I would bake it in a different size pan than the one I chose.  I will choose to under bake it just a hair... as opposed to me keeping it in on the longer side.  I also opted to use pecans.  The recipe says to use either pecans or walnuts.  

Next time I will try it with walnuts..like the photo shows.
(That sentence demands to stand alone)

Don't get me wrong -  I LOVE pecans... but this recipe probably needed walnuts.  Again, just like the photo shows.

Other than that..

Delicious recipe and it's a keeper!  For sure.

Appealing to the Senses. 
This sounds like it could be a random series - coming up!?!?!?!  What do you think?

Snow days... and I quote.

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 ~~~

O the snow, the beautiful snow,

     Filling the sky and the earth below.

        Over the house-tops, over the street,

           Over the heads of the people you meet.

  Dancing,

           Flirting,

                Skimming along.

                          Beautiful snow, it can do nothing wrong.
                                                                                          ~ John Whitaker Watson

                                       

*** 

Good Morning Friends.  Happy Monday!

I don't know if there will be any more snow is in our near future, for our neck-of-the-woods...but, I hope!  For one more.  At least, that.  Honestly, I had this post in the que for awhile, adding photos here and there; piling them up like a stockpile of snowballs.  For one thing, it is cold enough out there, this morning, to bring on another snow day for there is a smell to the air!  You know that smell.  When we can say, "It smells like snow!", you get that bundle-up sort of feeling going on and either you want it or you don't.   My kids would love it.  (Provided they get better..)

Caleb is well enough to go back to school today.  He is on antibiotics, too.  Actually, this is funny.  Yesterday morning while getting ready for church... I said something about going back to school today.  And in the most pathetic of voices he yawns and says, and I quote, "I don't know if I can do that tomorrow".

Stinker!

But. While he is better.  Jayne is not.  I may be calling the doctors on her now.  We'll see..

I know I have shared this last photo with you before.  But these verses..

I just want to cling to them today.  The truth in God's Word is so powerful.           

I don't know why I feel compelled to share this encouragement with you this morning, but I do.  It's a reminder for all of us. Call on Him.  Cast is all..

There is HOPE in the name of Jesus.  There is POWER, in the name of Jesus.  There is VICTORY in the name of Jesus.

    

Oh, what a wonderful name..

No LOVE is higher, wider, deeper than that, the love of  OUR LORD!  Don't go looking elsewhere..   It won't fulfill.

Do you believe this today, my friend?  If not,  I'm praying that you will..

~~
Love to you, this Monday morning.            

Casting Call...

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We can pour our anxious hearts out to Jesus who loves us right where we are, how we are. And because His love comes without judgement, we can soften and feel safe enough to humbly admit we need Jesus to work on us. Trying to fix another person will only add to my anxiety. Letting Jesus work on me is where real progress can happen.

1 Peter 5:7, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” NIV

  ~ Lysa TerKeurst,  

(Thoughts shared from Lysa's Facebook status, this morning.)

 *** 

Will you join me in this Casting Call?

Blessings sent your way..this day.  Throughout this weekend..

PS:  Scott passed his exam. Hallelujah.  Thanks for your thoughts and prayers..