Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Cock-a-doodle do!

I don't know why it is that summertime always gets me thinking about chickens. We have chicken decorations in our kitchen, so setting the table comes naturally.







 The crowing rooster is a pitcher.
This pair are a salt and pepper that we found at an antique mall. Mr. Roo looks pretty fearsome!

Enjoy your cock-a-doodle do day!

Monday, July 27, 2015

Let it rain

This morning started out bright and beautiful! My plan was to set up tea on the porch and enjoy the early morning sunshine and the sound of the fountain. But as I was making my plans, the sky turned dark and ugly. We've had a week of rainy days with little break. However, why should a little bit of rain hinder my need for a pretty tea setting?



Sunday, July 26, 2015

Monday, July 20, 2015

Breakfast with the Author

I love to read. Finding a good author can be a bit challenging.  Mostly because sometimes you have to read the whole book before you can decide if you want to read more of the authors works. I have my favorites. I love anything written by Kristen Heitzmann, James Scott Bell, and Rachel Hauck. I recently came across Lorena McCourtney, and have not been able to put her books down.



Sunday, July 19, 2015

Friday, July 17, 2015

Are you listening?

We have been traveling recently in our home away from home.

Most of the time when we are traveling, instead of cooking breakfast we will stop and pick something up and keep on making the miles.
 
On our most recent trip we stopped at this place -
 
Hubby parks and I went inside to place a to go order. It wasn't a difficult order, but I found it interesting that the young man who waited on me was not listening. He heard me, and even repeated what I ordered, but he was not listening. 

So when my order arrives, I ask is one coffee decaf? "Oh you wanted a regular coffee too?" he says. Yes one regular and one decaf.  And then I ask, "is one oatmeal only with butter?" He looks at me, "you wanted one with only butter?" "Yes" I said.

So the young man goes back and fixes another oatmeal, and pours a regular coffee.

Now I've been to many fast food places in my time, and sometimes they don't always get my order right. But this young man heard what I said but was not listening. 

Is that what I do with God? Do I sometimes think I hear the voice of the Lord, but am I listening?

For two years I prayed fervently about a situation. Every day I implored with my Heavenly Father to intervene. In my prayers I felt confidant that the Lord would hear my prayers and answer the way I wanted.  But in the end, it was not so. I felt disappointed and discouraged. Why had God not answered my prayers? Doesn't the scripture say "seek and you shall find, ask and it will be given unto you?"

You see, this was someone that is very close to me. And I wanted so badly for this person's life to turn around and return to the obedience of God's will. Yet every time I questioned God about this outcome, I sensed Him saying, Do you trust Me? Yes, Lord I trust you. But see, this is someone close to me, and this person knows better. But do you trust Me? Lord, I do trust you, but ...  Do you trust ME?
 
Chuck Swindoll once said, " God does not greatly use the man who He does not first greatly wound." Do I feel wounded? Yes, hurt and wounded. But I do know that God is faithful, and I CAN TRUST HIM!
 
"Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for HE who promised IS faithful." Hebrews 10:23
 
 
 


Monday, July 13, 2015

To have and to hold

Anniversaries are a special time of reflection. Looking back over the years, both the good ones and the not so good, and remembering that special day.



Sunday, July 12, 2015

Saturday, July 11, 2015

Just a Little......

I love living in the south. Yes we have some very hot days and a hurricane or two, but all in all, I love the south.

So in the south, there are stores with southern names. One of my favorite places is Southern Hospitality in Plant City.
It is more like a warehouse, but also carries furniture, floral accessories, candles, baskets, lace curtains etc....

Rows upon rows of every kind of flower you can imagine. And aisles of greenery and dried flowers.
Seasonal and theme items. So many it takes lots of time to browse through.

Sunday, July 5, 2015

Saturday, July 4, 2015

Happy 4th


"Blessed is the Nation Whose God is the Lord" (Psalm 33:12)