BROWN BEANS AND BLESSED BEYOND MEASURE

Today my daughter made her firt pot of brown beans. An important staple in Southern homes. You know there have been times when potato soup or a pot of beans have to take you through the week. I found some country ham in the frig. and she guessed at the amount of salt. That is all she put in besides draining and soaking the beans there is not much to it. They were very good. Teaching her how to wash out clothes without a washer. How to hang the up to dry. Sounds simple but these techniques are well thought out. You must hang your shirts by the bottom not to stretch the shoulders. Iron on the wrong side out. Can't think of any more life lesions at the moment. Just learn to adapt. Sometimes making due is just a little more work and a good imagination. Of course we must thank the Lord for all He has provided. He has blessed this daughter beyond measure.
I was walking out of my workplace a couple days ago with a crippled fellow. He has a physically demanding job as I work in a office, sitting on a cushion chair. I said to him 'When we went in it was dark and leaving it is dark. I miss the sunshine'. He said 'I don't mind as long as I have a job'. Well you can imagine how my heart sunk. Not for a moment should I have forgotten that. He has blessed this daughter beyond measure.

Where did my day go??

Not having time to walk is freaking me out. I have too much to do when I get in. It gets dark before I know it. Oh come on summer. I want me some daylight!!

Enjoyed friends this weekend

I have had company all weekend. Love having many around me. I enjoyed the laid back fellowship and not feeling I had to entertain. Carl shared my cooking and cleaning. That made things easier and more enjoyable for me.
I am sick of eating and not getting enough exercise. I hope this week I can schedule more time for me.
Loved my handmade tissue carrier a friend made by hand!!! Home made is so special. I also love my hot pink scarf another friend made me!! That will always be fun to wear. I have returns but not willing to go out and exchange them. Boy Im a mess. Just want to be home.

Hopeful but not certain.

Well we can only hope 2011 is better than 2010...Hope is such a weak work. I guess I should say, I know great things are in store for the new year. I am feeling a bit pessimistic about next yr. Due to the messages I hear in Gods word. I have been feeling lately that He has been telling me not to expect all thing in Christ to be happy and fun. Life may be serious and troubling. It is hard for me to accept God is saying this. I have always felt God has given me an optimistic view of the world. It is a natural thing for me to try to make fun of life when I get down. Changing into a silly girl has helped me ride quite a few currents on the rivers rapids and even a few ocean storms. I am not sure it is a terrible thing not to be happy. Maybe I should wonder if God can use my lack of humor to bring a serious tone to my countenance. Not ungrateful but less fun...Expressing thankfulness but not taking away a laborious tone. Having said that I am experiencing many blessings lately. My children have had a few bumpy rides that have turned out well! How blessed it is to see your children happy. I am sure God is joyous in my happiness as his daughter too. God has changed the lives of lost friends. Not only has he brought them to Him, He is using them. Right before my very eyes I see miracles in Christ. How many people witness God work and not recognize it. Thank you God for showing me you are real. You are living in my life and those around me. How precious to hear the sound of your voice speaking your will to my heart. It is so sweet to hear my children call my name, my husband call my name, BUT when YOU call my name I rejoice will all my soul and all that I am. How can this year be any less than wonderful walking through my day in the presence of my Lord.

Yard Sale

I just read about a Brazilian church that would have the members donate items to family in need for them to have a yd sale. I think that is a great idea. So if you don't want to do the work of having the sale everyone donate something for the family to sell. Love it.

Getting my hair did

 I was thinking about the days when we were little. I was about 7 and sister Cindy 4. Grama had a fit because Dad and Mom didn't get out hair cut as often as they should. When we would come in Grama would make an apointment at Christine's Beauty Shop and get our do did. Well at night she would tape our bangs down with hair tape to keep it in place and she had two pair of silk panties, just the right size for our hair doo. So she would put silk panties on our head and hair tape on our bangs. Two little tuffs of hair would peek out of the leg holes. We thought Grama was crazy but we were too cute lil girls. Grandpa Fred was always doing something. He had plans for us every time we would visit. Weather it was to plant something in the garden or skip rocks in South River. We couldn't wait to get to their house to see what we were going to do. They were two of the best Grandparent anyone could have. They treated us like little princess'. ONe time as soon as Grama got us home from the beauty shop, Grandpa took us up Irish Creek to swim. We ventured out deeper and deeper. Grama sat on the bank in a chair yelling Fred don't let them get their heads wet. She kept saying it over and over. Finally he went under water and grabbed us by out feet and pulled us down too. Hair and all. Grama didn't say a word. We were giggling and shocked because he did that. He was such a funny man. Creative and really out there. He would think of things no one else would. It would be crazy ideas like lets go out in the snow with bathing suits on, or it would be July and he would say, "lets dress up for trick and treating".  Sometimes we would make the whole living room a tent with bed sheets and pillows and sleep in the floor. He and Grama argued a little. She didn't push him very far because he had a bad temper. She was so in love with him and he treated her like his queen. He would do special things for her and they dances around the house all the time. That is one thing Carl and I do that reminds me of them is we too dance around the house together. They were very much in love and were dating their whole married life. It is so wonderful to have roots that come from good honest fun people. We have so many people in our family that has handed down strength and love of life. Sometimes this world tries to make me forget how fun just doing simple things can be. You can be dollarless and have a good imagination. I think we are getting back to those times. Not such a bad thing to do instead of buy. I am all for it.

The Christmas Story