Isn't it wonderful to get mail?  In my younger years I was thrilled to get a letter in the mail!
Every year my grandma Jones would send me a Valentine!  Valentines were beautiful  pictures with lovely rhymes 40 years ago!  I saved many of them and what a treasure they are today!  While I love to look at them time and again it is really the loving words that my grandmother wrote that means so much to me! My grandmother is with the Lord and I look forward to seeing her again!  Such precious memories of her are brought to mind when I  hold those Valentines in my hand.  They are links to her  loving heart! 
Letters link hearts together!
I  treasure cards and letters even more as an adult! Today I received some special mail.  One was a handmade thank you card. The front says "God works wonders through wonderful people!" The dear words inside expressed the gratitude of their hearts for the blessing and encouragement my husband and I  had been for helping them through a most difficult time!  Why do I share  these personal experiences?  So we will not forget to love others!  We do not always know  why the Lord lays a person  upon our heart or brings them to mind, but we must certainly realize God wants to bless their life  in a special way through us!
The beautiful results is that we are blessed too!
 

 

Just can't help but check some of the links that I find on website of "Favorite" friends and places!  There are great ideas and of course such interesting people!!  The joy is when you have good friends-they have good friends that are worth knowing and learning from!  COuntry  people know more country people!   Successful home schoolers know successful homeschoolers! (OH- Beware  there are some home schoolers that are homesfoolers!!-made that word up myself!  :))  There are some great links in life but not all links are strong or helpful because they are weaker links!!
Well I just  keep adding those great websites to my favorites list and it grows longer and longer and then I realized that there are others that may want to hear about some of my favorites!  I found this general store today! There is a contest going on now in January 2009 that you must go read about! 

 

   There are so many lessons we can learn day to day and thankfully some of those lessons can help us all through life!  The people that have had the greatest influence in my life have been older, wiser, happy people!  I never found that advice from complaining, unhappy  or aimless people was any good.  I  watched to see where people were getting their happiness, and whether it lasted through difficult times too! Some of the elderly people in our church were the most interesting and helpful! (I still think so-after 40 years have flown by! ) They were wise and content week after week! They always had a thankful word and love for God! That was the kind of person I wanted to be! I wanted to be smiling no matter what the weather was or what difficulties I was dealing with and trusting God to see me through!  I learned to trust God  because I  saw how God cared for the people that did trust HIM!
      One lesson that I will never forget  was found above the clouds! When I had my first flight in an airplane the pilot  told the passengers there was a storm ahead and we would  experience wind and turbulence for a few moments.  He flew the plane up through the clouds  into the glorious sunshine where we saw the beauty and handiwork of God in the sky, and  heavens above the storm! I sat spellbound viewing  creation from heaven’s perspective! The brilliant sunrays made the clouds purest white as far as the eye could see! What a magnificient sight I was able to behold through the window of the airplane! 
     Over the years whenever storms threaten  I remember the sunny side above the clouds! The sunshine is a poor comparison to the light of our dear Savior's face, but I am reminded that one day I shall see Him and storms of life will all be over!  Til that day arrives, God’s peace and the Light of His precious Word can be in our home and part of our daily life!  Let’s live on the sunny side of life!

 

 

 Our gardens have  changed quite a lot since the frost came!  The impatients were hanging limp over the sides of our hanging flower baskets! Poor things!!  The day before they were lovely colored blooms standing tall and bushy and today their plant life is gone!!  The countryside is bursting with color since autumn's cool weather arrived! It is wonderful!  I love the walk to our creek just to hear the leaves crunching under foot!  The squirrels were tossing leaves about  while digging and hiding their acorns! That is noisy work! 
We picked the remaining pears and will cook those today. Gloria was dividing the strawberry plants so that there will be a bigger row next spring. Our bunnies have their winter coats now and are chipper when we get them out for exercise! Our cabbages, brussel sprouts and cauliflours are doing fine. They grow in the cool weather and are so tasty when they are harvested! We put alot of our garden in jars and also in the freezer this year! It  is so rewarding to make a crock of chili and taste all the garden goodness!  Our tomatoes, peppers, onions, and even ground zuchini, blends their flavors with the beef , wild rice and pinto beans! We love chili with corn bread!  Of course the left over chili is just as delicious the next day topping a  cheesy homemade pizza, or  added to a family size taco salad! Mmm-good!
   Our frozen pumpkin will be baked into pies, muffins and breads this winter! Talking about it brings the memories of the warm kitchen and the sweet fragrance of cinnamon and cloves to mind!  Of course we make plans early to get the baking done before Christmas arrives. We make ginger bread men and ginger bread bunnies (of course!) and freeze them so that they can be fresh when we need them for special company-like when you come to visit!

 

I  love to take pictures whether I am working on another project with our bunnies, or just preserving the beauty of creation  that I notice at the time!  Despite my schedule and appointments I do not want to hurry so much that I miss the lovely work that God has done! Some days I notice  a hummingbird at the blooms outside my kitchen window. With summer's departure and the hummingbirds gone, I look at the beauty of our autumn days. Some of our  bushes are blooming though the days are cooler. I  took some pictures and savored the moments in the sunshine. How beautiful is God's handiwork in delicate flowers! There are times I gather a bouquet and display it in a vase on the kitchen table for everyone to enjoy.  Flowers are such a pleasure when we behold their delicate beauty or fragrance!

    While taking pictures of these blooms I noticed  movement amongst the pollen covered stamens. A bee was working. The amusing site was seeing that the bee was totally covered in the pollen! He had gotten so immersed in his work that he was coated with the powdery pollen! The bee was covered with the lovely fragrance of the flower too! What a delightful object lesson was unfolding before my eyes! Just as the bee labored to gather pollen for sustanence and to take back to the hive he  was supplied with God's abundance and totally captured the beauty and fragrance of the flower too!

That is just like our wonderful Lord-who loadeth us daily with benefits!  Our time spent with Him in prayer and reading His precious word  is sweet as the honey in the honeycomb! The more time we are immersed in His word and work  the more glory  and joy He pours over our soul. Our hearts are filled to overflowing and our tongue rejoices in  God and His goodness!  His tender lovingkindness becomes us!  May the beauty of Jesus be seen in us today!! 

  

  Our wedding day, June 11, 1983, Glenn and I vowed to love and cherish each other until our Lord called one or both of us home to be with Him. What memories we made on the day of our wedding! What memories we have since that day!! 25 years ago!  June 11 hundreds gathered in Murfreesboro Tennessee, at Franklin Road Baptist Church (where I had been teaching for several years in 4^th grade) to be a part of our wedding ceremony and celebration! Our parents and relatives came from Michigan and miles around to join in this wonderful time in our lives! My 4^th graders were there and sang as a choir in my wedding! They sang a beautiful song my mother wrote for this event! It was beautiful! One of the high school teacher’s was also a soloist and various musicians were also friends.  Everything went beautifully that day!  The professional  photographer was an answer to prayer! He took pictures of our wedding, families etc.  and made a beautiful album for us ! (at no cost to us!!) The reception was well done-all the cake & food consumed!  We were visiting with friends and opening gifts a couple hrs later when my uncle & his wife and family arrived from Michigan---late!  They had gotten the wedding times confused and thought it was to be an evening ceremony rather than that afternoon! Too bad!! Long trip to make and miss all the food and fun!!  We left to begin our honeymoon and traveled to Williamsburg, VA.  I now have second thoughts about wedding plans!! With so many families gathering for grand occasions like this- the wedding party should plan to stay together more than the day!! This is a rare time to all be in one place!Time to visit awhile together-enjoying each other’s company should be part of the Major Plan! I can understand why in some countries weddings last a week!!  American families seem to develop traditions that are not the best patterns to follow!

  We remember a few other things that happened 25 years ago!!

Major events in 1983

• Ronald Reagan was President of the USA. He also gave a speech on National Security & Operation Staunch started where the State Department discouraged other countries from selling arms to Iran
• Life Expectancy: Male: 71 years and  Female 78 years.
• Average annual income: $12,133.00
• Price of a one story house is $36,000.
• Price of a car--Ford Escort: $6,900,  Buick Skylark: $9,350
• Rubik's Cube invented,  Cabbage Patch Kids were introduced to the market, and  Boom Boxes were a fad!
• "Baby on Board" signs were bought and displayed!
• A Gallon of milk: $1.89
• A gallon of gasoline $1.29
• A loaf of bread was $.66 and a postage stamp was  20 cents!
• A flood covers the California coast and kills 13 people
• The coal freighter Marine Electric sinks during a storm off the coast of Chincoteague, Virginia, 33 people die
• April 4  Space shuttle-Challenger makes its first flight (STS-6
• A flood in Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, and Tennessee kills 15 people
• Challenger makes its second flight (STS-7). It is the first five member crew with Crippen, Hauck, Fabian, Thagard, and Ride. Sally K. Ride is the first woman in space.
• Hurrican Alicia in southern Texas, leaves 17 dead. August-
• Challenger makes it third flight (STS-8). The crew includes Truly, Branderstein, Thorton, Bluford, and Gardner. Gulon Bluford is the first US black person in space.
• Sept 12  In the second largest theft in U.S. history, an employee of Wells Fargo makes off with $7 million in cash from a company warehouse in Connecticut. Victor M. Gerena, a company guard accused of staging the heist, was one of 19 people later indicted in U.S. District Court for the theft. He escaped to Cuba with part of the $7 million he allegedly stole.
• Nov The Columbia Space Shuttle makes the first flight with a six person crew. The crew includes Young, Shaw, Parker, Garriott, Lichtenberg, and Merbold
• Dr. Barney Clark receives first artificial heart implant, but dies 112 days later
• Camcorders are introduced
• The CD is introduced to the general public This will eventually spawn a huge nostalgia market for all types of music 
• The FCC authorizes Motorola to begin testing cellular phone service in Chicago. The Grandson of Alexander Graham Bell answered the first commerical mobile phone call.The Internet becomes a reality when the ARPANET is split into Military and Civilian sections
•  Oct 23 US Peace Keepers are killed in Lebanon. Over 200 Marines were killed when a truck loaded with explosives crashed into the US Marine compound at Beirut Airport. The Marines, who had been in Beirut as part of a multi-national force to promote peace in Lebanon, had after a short stay in Lebanon become a target of Syrian-supported extremists. Soon after the bombings US forces withdrew from Lebanon. 58 French troops were also killed when a 400-pound device destroyed a French base. Islamic Jihad claimed responsibility

        As our Monday progressed  things were not going according to plan! 

  Another day of 100 degree weather and several gardens to water (if we can connect hoses and repair the sprinkler.) The chores are almost done, but one of my sons comes from the kennel with the dog - miserable with fleas to report a terrible flea outbreak! (my poor son was under attack as well-!) How can this be?  The kennel was cleaned out & sprayed 2 days ago and the dog has had a bath every day for a week! The auto mechanic calls and after 3 days with our Blazer, reports another problem with wires burning!  My daughter reports one of our  young bunnies died. Bread has to be baked before noon and my husband needs to be driven to work so my other son can be picked up from his job. Not to mention the invitations to four graduations, the neighbor dropped by and my business lawyer called requesting a fax!   AS we worked our way through the morning, we  turned on a CD of hymns being sung by a choir. Their songs of praise turned my mind to think of all God has done for me and my family and soon I was praising our dear  Lord! Why,  God has blessed our garden and we have been eating strawberries for four weeks, cucumbers,&  squash, ...and the beans will be big enough to pick tomorrow!  I am so thankful the ink came out of my blouse while I was doing laundry this morning!  The family is healthy and we have a van that runs fine! The bread is baked and was soo delicious with our stew at lunch! Our dear daughter baked a cake that morning because she wants to do something special for Glenn & I as we have our 25th wedding anniversary on Wednesday! Wow- has it been that many years? The Lord provided our every need! Thank the Lord for our loving neighbors and our homestead here on Durbin Creek!  It is so handy to run the dog and kids through the creek for a quick refreshing wash!! After Glenn was taken to work we gathered together for prayer and what a precious time to kneel and pray together. God  can do the impossible!  God can see us through the day! 

 "Dear Lord, we thank You for your faithfulness" ....................and then we prayed for many special requests and  for protection for our loved ones, our church family, neighbors, our homeland-America.  "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."  2 Chronicles 7:14

 This land was entrusted to our care- Oh, that the people of God will turn back to him..."  God is our help! God is the hope for America- 

 

Here is our new litter of English Lop bunnies!!  We now have over 124 rabbits! That is alot of work believe me!!  We keep pedigrees on them all too!  How would  you like to help us name them? We are having a contest!   Visit www.gardengatecards.us to help us out!! Please tell your friends about us!

  I love to  show my family that I love them in special ways!!   I get a special platter out to serve them homemade muffins. I  personalize cookies and even send them cards and emails!  While folding laundry I call the "kids" (even though they are older teens) to help out and talk to them. When we are finished we have one read a portion of scripture and  then we have prayer together.  In prayer I  tell the Lord how thankful that I am for each one by name and pray for their needs and ask God to lead them.  When we work together I let the family know how much I enjoy being with them!  We plan to do something together later that day whether it is a word game after supper or a hike up the creek.  We like to sit on our swing outside after dark  under the stars  and tell stories!!   We don't mind being outside when it starts to rain-we're together!! Being together is what makes everything SPECIAL!

Visit our home business at Garden Gate!

 

                                            I find  that I thank the Lord more and more for the USA! 

 There is no place on earth like it!  I am glad our church recognizes our veterans and displays the American flag and Christian flag! We honor our military and pledge allegiance to the flags of the USA and the Christian flag (and the Savior for whose kingdom it stands. ) I am proud to be an American and am still say "one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." I still desire those things despite powers that attempt to take them away! I have been living here over 50 years now and have seen a few places outside this country and I am so conscious that "GOD shed His grace on America!"  While many would try to silence our prayers and rob us of our freedoms -I cannot stop thanking God for his mercy and goodness to our people. All we have is because of God's blessings, our home our family and our very breath of life!   I am glad we are not like Europe, or Canada or South America!! I am glad we can choose to work at home, grow our own food and teach our children the truth about life, liberty and the price that was paid for us to have it!  We can kneel together and pray and rejoice over the marvelous answers to prayer that God grants on our behalf and for His glory!   I am thankful we still have choices!  I am teaching our young adults the importance of even American made products!  We have a family business and everything we make is made here in the USA. Everything is printed here. We want to strengthen our home and homeland every way we can!! Keep praying for America! Keep praying for Americans to turn back to God who made her free!

Don't you agree?

Will I be prepared for tomorrow? That is always the question I must answer -daily!  As I have so many responsibilities there are many "extra"  requests, needs and emergencies that I must handle each day.  Then my 3 "young adult" children are moving through college academics, and into adult responsibilities and must also learn to prepare and "manage" the unexpected dilemmas that roll into our pathway!!   Working together requires some "team work" or  cooperation that we made part of our home school for the last 22 yrs.  Starting the day with prayer and God's word is essential as we must draw on GOd's strength for the tasks that are bigger than we are! We are very dependent upon God's wisdom and the immediate help and direction of  His Holy Spirit . Our relationship with GOd is the most important. I must be an obedient child & servant in every area of my life to be a proper parent, teacher, wife and worker! I need God to answer my prayers and there must not be sin to hinder that communication.  The older I get the more responsibility that I have. This New Year has brought more new challenges! Jan 1 the phone rang and as an assisting secretary & Sunday School teacher I am also prepared for various church related calls! One friend and member was with her dying sister and needed our prayers and the pastor to come visit the family. Our family gathered in the living room and we all knelt in prayer on behalf of the needs of that family. (The sister did not die that day but gained health and lived 5 wks longer) Jan 2 -a friend called and their grandson was accidently shot in the head while skateboarding. the 12 yr old was rushed to the hospital. OUr family gathered for special prayer on behalf of Weston. Doctors gave him no chance to live after critical care after 72 hrs.  HEre, 6 wks later , he miraculously awoke from his coma and is now learning to walk, feeding hisself and talking with an amazed, grateful family. Jan 3-  we heard from our neighbor & friend (member of our church) that a lady we sold one of our rabbits to was diagnosed with lymphoma.  We put her on our prayer list and gathered to pray. (2 wks later the doctors tested her again before begining treatments and cannot find a trace of cancer!)  ALong with our daily prayer life we manage our farm "Garden Gate Rabbit PArk", manage our business, Garden Gate Cards, and do whatever the Lord requires of us!  It takes the whole family  to complete chores etc and my husband also has a job with General Electric that requires many 12 hr days!  We have learned that we can keep singing though-whatever the circumstances! In fact our whole family sings together whether doing projects indoors or working in the garden or inour rabbitry. (we also sing as the Victory Quartet) We have repairs and maintenance projects that often interrupt schedules! When we see one of our rabbits run through the flower bed-that is a sign that one of the hutch doors is open or we have a smart  escape artist in the bunny family!  While we work we take inventory for supplies and the shopping list is written as the day progresses. I cook big meals  so that we can not only have sufficient bean & rice for a couple meals but also to freeze a portion for emergency purposes!  Whenever I cook, I have one or more of the children cooking also and I teach as I work and they learn to prepare and preserve food as well. Our boys can cook almost as well as my daughter or myself! They have learned to manage all the farm chores and are learning the maintenance of the vehicles and machinery with their father.  When someone needs our help then our family can carry on alone or with others to help. We had a funeral,  a member in the hospital, our church pianist was sick, and our substitute had a child ill all at the same time this week! So I  took a casserole out of the freezer, with homemade bread, rolls, and dessert, then I made a greenbean casserole and goulash to serve the grieving family, some of the family took flowers to the hospital to visit and pray with their family and we prepared songs and played the piano for the services Wed & Sun.  Some of our family cooked a meal for another sick family and we gathered several times for prayer on behalf of the needy families. Thank the Lord for answered prayer! The lady in the hospital miraculously was healed-the blood clot that had shut off her circulation and was destroying her foot that was to result in amputation, God totally healed and the 2nd test revealed the clot was gone and her leg was normal! All glory and praise to GOd of heaven! We all rejoiced together over all the answered prayer, all the glorious ways the Lord works and we called the members that had been praying-to share the wondrous news! Our children have seen God's hand in their lives too. When one son had done a chore and noticed the neighbor waving, he stopped and found out the man had fallen out of his wheelchair and needed help so he was able to help the neighbor when his own family was away! He puts a song in our mouth and praise in our hearts! Now lets see- what do we need for tomorrow?  Milk, eggs, and when we post the Garden Gate packages we can send a card to the children that missed Sunday School!  I may not get all my personal plans done, but the Lord is showing us that people are more important and loving one another will accomplish His work and will-that makes us all happy too!

     This truly is the most wonderful time of the year! I quickly get caught up in all the excitement and love singing along with the Christmas carols that we play. It is exciting to hear "Joy to the world the Lord is come..." while shopping!!   ...remember CHrist our Savior was born on Christmas day... what a wonderful truth to spread to the world through song!!!   "OOh, tidings of comfort and joy!!!  (I sing along with the song at the hardware store!! )  It makes me smile more, and lifts the heart!  Knowing Christ personally is the key to having  all the joy of Christmas in the heart!!  Then the songs sing themselves!!   The joy flows from the heart like our words and actions!  With Christmas in my heart I find love prompts me to do things for others that I normally would not do as my selfish flesh prefers.  Self is such a bully! We can take opportunity to showing kindnesses to our family, neighbors and even folks about us at the marketplace!  I am almost 6 ft. tall  so I can reach the top shelf at the grocery store! There are some amazing reactions by people when I offer to get an item off the shelf -just to be helpful!  An earnest friendly smile at a frazzled lady  shopper  is  an encouragement many people have forgotten to give to others!!  I find pleasure in opening a door for an elderly person too!  Greeting the bellringer by the salvation army donation bucket whether I have change or not to give them -warms the heart right up!  When there is Christmas in the heart there will be so many ways to share it with others through words and deeds!  We bake personal gingerbread cookies for neighbors, community service people and those people that have been so helpful all year have become friends at our favorite shops!!  That way they know we are truly thankful!!  We can make Christmas happier for others!                                                 Years ago-I could turn on the radio and every station played carols along with the commercial songs and snowman medlies. Now discord reigns and blasts the radio waves! Thankfully we can play lovely recordings of beautifully orchestrated Christmas arrangements! I remember waiting for my son at the orthodonist.  As everyone in the waiting room was enjoying the background Christmas music and looking at the holiday magazines, we were interrupted by a newcomer that entered with their child. As the child entered another room to keep his appointment the mother loudly told the receptionist she was tired of hearing Christmas carols and want it changed to the radio station. The lovely music stopped and the mother was accommodated!!  The people in the room glanced at each other and  I asked if they preferred the christmas music. So I decided to represent their opinion and told the receptionist at the desk that  11 months a year we wait for Christmas carols and request that they be played. The cheery atmosphere returned when the carols began playing and the bully got up and  left the building!             Will beautiful people outnumber the bullies this Christmas? I hope so!!

 

 

Thanksgiving Day  was a success! 13 people were well fed  and we didn't run out of turkey either!   Seems like that turkey sure did shrink though!  We had a turkey leftovers for  a  hearty stew the next day! I have always loved turkey leftovers or "planovers" cause they can be added to soup, casserole, a barbeque or stir fry!  We love it with fried onions and peppers served in tortillas too!  There were 3 pies, and a cherry cheesecake served-but no "left overs!!"

 

 

 

Thanksgiving Begins Today! 

Imagine --Thanksgiving at your house every day!!! 

 My youthful memories flood my mind and I can gladly say, Oh, How wonderful!!  Company is coming, a wonderful meal  and  stories will be shared together with the family all day long!!

My experience as a hostess cries, I need 3 days to prepare-it's impossible! But as a mature adult I remind myself that there is so much more to Thanksgiving than a feast with the family in a sparkling clean house! While all the extra cleaning and preparations go into a holiday gathering, that is laying the foundation for several days of pleasure afterward!  The work is caught up and there is leisure time with the family with several prepared meals in the refrigerator!  Our family loves the continual feast! The turkey tastes great in a pot pie, then in a tortilla, then smothered in barbeque sause on a bun! We have found that Thanksgiving is an attitude of the heart. We can choose to be thankful for all of God's provision and loving care shown to us each and every day!  While the world grumbles about leftovers and hangovers we are having a continual feast!!   Psalms 23 speaks of it, The Lord is my Shepherd- I shall not want!  The sheep have a continual feast! In green pastures and beside the still waters we have a continual feast!  Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies...my cup runneth over...surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever!   Amen! Thanksgiving every day!!  Oh, How wonderful!!

 

I am So Thankful for My Sweetheart!

We both enjoy working on our homestead together. We love outdoor work in the yard and garden throughout the different seasons. Oh, how our blessings have multiplied -just like the bunnies that we raise! Home schooling our children and seeing them develop into godly, responsible adults has certainly enriched our lives together. It's a enjoy doing things for one another. While I was decorating a homemade cherry cheesecake with fluffy whipped cream (lattice work across the top) for my husband -he arrived home from work and surprised me with a bouquet of red roses, a lovely, loving card and 2 miniature rose bushes to add to our garden!   Thank You dearest! OX 

There are so many reminders of God's love about us each day!

God's mercy and new grace is mine each morning!  Our family circle is strengthened by  our love for each other as we draw upon the love of God and follow His  example!  Our words of encouragement, helpful deeds, completed chores,  and prayer support for each other  is living, breathing LOVE!

While the world's marketplace sells manufactured symbols of affection they are no substitutes for the rich,  deepdown  compassion  that we can have for another! That love that puts a song in my mouth while I am washing dishes and piles of dirty laundry, that keeps my husband faithfully laboring each day, that dissolves all the selfish plans & ambitions, silences the complaints and criticism, and creates patience and understanding actually comes from the very  heart of God!                                                                                                                     

The Lord instructs us to “compel” people to come to the House of the Lord.– “The lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”  Luke 14:23                                                                                                                                                       We have the Great commission to obey and  a testimony  to unashamedly  proclaim “Look-what the Lord has done for me!”  We have a light to hold out in this sin darkened world!
So in obedience to the Lord's commands we go on visitation every week.
 For  many years we have set weekly  appointed times to visit  new neighbors,  hospital patients, shut ins and  countless visits have been made to meet folks in our neighborhood and community. We have had to face the rude, vulgar, hurtful individuals-  with shock (and a broken heart) and also the timid housewives and kindly couples with  relief and thanksgiving!   Our family has had amazing stories unfold over the years. (we took our children through their toddler years,  the teen-ages and now young adults) One story I must tell- happened here in our neighborhood when we visited a retired nurse with health problems. She was truly a kindred spirit when we discovered our mutual love for the Lord and music!  We shared the word together and  then songs of praise! Before we left we had  prayer together!  (Our busy lives are still no excuse for neglecting to visit people in our community-people always make time for what they really want to do!!) A few weeks passed and Mrs Redd called me on the phone to chat about our church. (Victory Baptist was only a couple years old-started by a few of our families here in the “back woods” !)  Well-they were moving to the next county and wanted to give their organ to our church! WOW-just what we needed! Oakwood Baptist Church had given us hymn books (so that we could all sing on the same page) We had a pulpit etc. and so many needs provided! But this was a thrill for our church family that had grown to 28.  After the organ was moved and I wrote  Mr & Mrs Redd a special letter from our church, I realized this is the first time that I have written a “thank you” note to an “organ donor!” Isn’t the Lord wonderful! Mighty are His works!

        How do people see our lives? Are we growing sweeter and more Christ like each and every day? The more time we spend with God and His Word the more of his presence will surround us and His thoughts will fill our minds, heart and speech.  God's love will flow through our work, conversation and countenance. We should be loved and as endearing to others as a fresh blooming fragrant flower from the Gardener of Life!

        We can learn from the amazing wild roses that may be neglected, even growing in poor conditions and surrounded by thickets of bramble bushes.  They are ever climbing higher, developing stronger roots,  scenting the air with their lovely fragrance and with their beautiful blooms facing the sunshine they continue producing lovely blossoms round about them!

--God has wisely placed us  where we can draw upon His strength to bloom and beautify our home through joyful, grateful service for  His glory!     Rejoice evermore!  Loretta

 

 

A New Year has begun! 

With less gardening to do during these winter months there are moments to reflect.  I think of God's goodness and marvelous grace. My heart overflows with thankfulness-(my eyes leak then flood with tears-for joy!) My response is most important! My family and friends must see my gratitude and love for God! Therefore plans are made to serve the Lord more this year! In order to see the harvest  increase then the seedtime must also increase!

      If we are blessed with drops of rain based upon our loving labors done for God-would showers of blessing fall today? Oh how we depend upon God for the sunshine and rain, the seasons and reaping--what can He count on us to do?? One day our reward will be revealed and all of heaven will know--the crowns will be given-  but only to those who are faithful, obedient servants.

I delight to do Thy will O Lord!  

Quilts!

    Quilts do more for our family than cover our children on chilly winter nights!  They also decorate our living room walls ! They daily cheer and inspire us with their colorful prints and patterns. Great grandma Jones made the quilt hanging on the handmade oak wall hanger ( a cherished present from my dear husband) and both gifts continually  say "I love you!"   If you look close at grandma's quilt you may notice the bare areas and holes! Yes, it is worn from the years of use by  my dear grandparents, their children and grand children! What stories that quilt could tell! That quilt was made to endure cold Michigan winters when the blizzard winds would blow and the snow would sift through the crack in the cabin door! What a treasure to have it  in my home reminding me of our godly family heritage!  Each quilted memory I recall and share with my family-tells of God's goodness down through the years and reassures us of God's goodness for ages to come!  Grandma will never know what her quilt means to me! She would chuckle to know her bedcover is hanging in my living room!  She would be amazed to learn how her only daughter in law cherished it, and of her 7 grandchildren that she loved and prayed for I would one day  inherit the quilt and appreciate it so very much!

When my sweetheart is away I feel like a quilt without the patches!

  

 "Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight O Lord!"

New Bunnies!  

We have 4 new litters of bunnies!  We have new Dutch, Satins, New Zealand, & Rex  bunnies!

 It is always exciting when new baby bunnies are born! We mark the date on our calendar when a selected doe has been bred and then count off 27 days  so that a nest box is placed with the doe into her hutch. On day 30 the litter is born in a nest of hay the doe has lined with her fur and then  she pulls plenty of fur from her belly area to cover her "kits."  We  check to make sure each bunny is fed and does not crawl away from the nest-especially on one of these cool autumn nights!

We were excited to discover that the Dutch have their eyes open now!  Now they can see us- that must be scary! We do not look like their mother at all!

We made bibs for two of the bunnies! As you can see in the picture-one is a buck and one is a doe! There were more does in the Dutch litter but only one buck!

Their mother's name is Charlotte, and their father's name is Sargent!  Does anyone have some suggestions for bunny names?  I would love to hear from you!

We as a family are thankful for this country called America! We are proud and unashamed of its real History of faithful, Bible believing founding fathers who relied upon God for everything--and found that God was sufficient to meet their every need! God is the same, yesterday, today and forever! God is still capable of meeting our every need! He does great and mighty things for His people.  There are still many  today who love God and can recognize  His blessings upon America!

     In case we find ourselves starting to believe all the

anti-American sentiment and negativity, we should remember

England 's Prime Minister Tony Blair's words during a recent

interview. When asked by one of his Parliament members why he

believes so much in America , he  said:

"A simple way to take measure of a country is to look at how

many people want in ... And how many want out."  Only two defining

forces have ever offered to die for you:

1.  Jesus Christ

2.  The American G. I.

One died for your soul, the other for your freedom.

 

A thankful heart is one that sees the blessings God has given.

A thankful heart creates the words  that thankfully are spoken.

A thankful heart can overflow into sweetest songs of praise

A thankful heart will grateful be-  a promise never broken!

                                                               by  Loretta Hayward

 

 

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