Everywhere I Go

"Everywhere I go, everywhere I go" (Jesus will go with me)... this song has been running through my head as I am going around disinfecting doorknobs, refrigerator handles, stove knobs, phones, etc. Wow! we sure do use a lot of things. The computers were long overdo on cleaning of the keyboards, too. Another song is "Through it all" the phrase, "I've been lot's of places"... Hopefully, this will catch any germs that are lingering.

We are recuperating from the flu. I wouldn't wish it on anyone. I guess when I handle cash I need to wash/sanitize my hands more frequently. Any ideas on how to clean money? beside 'laundering' :-)

To add insult to injury, my mouth has been swelling, fat lips look strange on me... it could be a food allergy that is starting, who knows... ice has helped and I am staying in so that I don't make babies cry and grown men run for cover.

***************

On another note, I am gathering up various items for our next sale. The knotted rug that I just completed will go and I rolled up the orange fabric into a ball and it looks pretty. An old non-working alarm clock, but it looks so vintage, a little ironstone creamer with delicate orange and brown flowers along the top, etc. Most of what we brought home from our previous sale will do. It seems that we sell only about 1/4th of what we take, but if it is not there at the sale, it will not sell... We always take a trailer full, we just can't help it.

Message In A Bottle

I've had this wonderful sea glass for some time.

I have had it in a clear glass vase on my window sill to admire

and it has been other places, too.

Sea glass is glass that has been dumped into the ocean along the coasts.

I know that is not environmentally friendly, or something like that.

Birthday Quilt in "Royal Colors"

My friend "L" is having a birthday, so...

I asked her husband what was her favorite color.

He suddenly had that "deer in the headlight" look. He absently looked off, and then he said, oh, she likes them all.
So, I pressed him a little - does she like pastels, or strong colors, is she partial to one if you think about it? "Hmm", he said as he glanced over to her, "Oh, she likes purple, yeah, purple". When I looked across the room where his wife was visiting, I couldn't help but notice that she was wearing a purple top, so- Maybe she will like this lap quilt I am making for her, and maybe not.
I get the feeling that if she had worn red that night, that would have been her favorite color.

It made me wonder what would my husband say if someone asked him about my favorite color.

She suffers from MS, but you never, ever hear her complain about being chilly, or how her bones ache. I hope this little quilt will be just comfy enough to ward off the floor chills or she can take it with her in the car for a quick throw over her legs type of thing. Or, perhaps she will wrap her favorite little dog in it so they can snuggle together, whatever makes her happy.

Linking up to

Quilt Story: Fabric Tuesday

JAQS Studio: Made By ME party

The Vintage Farmhouse: Creative Things
French Country Cottage Feathered Nest Friday

Eyes That Really See

I have been battling an eye infection this week.

Red, swollen eyes that itch and burn. Not from allergies that I know of. Eyes that looked into a blurred world, like you are looking through a mist, even with my glasses on. Not a blessing.

I had some eye drops that I was using and every time I used them, I would agonize afterwards because of the extra burning and itching. I was scrunching up my whole face with a giant blink to make my mind think that I was really digging in and scratching the itch away. After using the drops for about 3 days, I decided to look up the ingredients. What do you know, they had Sulfa in them.... and I am allergic to sulfa...duh!

 Well, I haven't used them for about a day, and there is a marked improvement. Mr says my eyes look 100% better. Rather than encourage me, that remark makes me really wonder what he had to look at!

I had told one of my daughters that they looked like I had been crying a lot... well, now they look that way, I guess I was just kidding myself with that report.

All this to say that I have had time to reflect on some blessings I have.

I have a very supportive husband of 40 years.

Our marriage has been blessed with six wonderful children who love him and me too!

I have friends that care about me. I have had phone calls, and one dear friend who brought us dinner. (I don't blame anyone for not coming over, I would probably have sent them home with an eye infection too, even with me wearing disposable gloves when I cooked and wiping down all surfaces with disinfectant)

I live in a very comfortable home that more than meets our needs.

We enjoy our hobby/job of antiquing and reselling.

But, most importantly, I have been blessed to have been bought with the precious blood of my Savior. He loves me no matter what I look like. I have been brought to the realization of just how precious eyesight is.

I want to use this lesson to really, really see what is important in life. Not just the surface, but deeply looking beyond to see people and their needs, their joys, their sorrows. That is my prayer.

Life lessons in a Tree

On most (well, probably 3-4  in a week to be perfectly honest)

ahem, as I was saying

On most mornings, I try to take a walk. It is uphill the one way and

my favorite -- downhill coming back.

This beautiful hibiscus flower is along the way,

along with

These grapes growing on the school yard fence

(why do grapes on the school fence always taste sour?)

This walnut tree has always fascinated me.

Looking up into the branches

I see a lot that has happened here.

Notice the curves and circles of the limbs.

They start out growing and then they are turned into a circle a couple of times.

At the top it tells me earlier in its life it had a major trial.

It was so great that it did a complete circle before it started growing in the way

the Lord intended.

Wow, that tells me something.

I have started out with so, so good intentions, then I have gotten all

switched around, to finally find out that I have been headed in the wrong direction.

But, as I see here, this branch got headed into the right direction again.

Aren't we thankful for the Lord's forgiveness?

Now, at the bottom, there is another arrow.

Again, it got off track. Maybe later in its life.

But, after a lot of twisting and turning,

it is headed again in the right direction.

"The Lord's mercies are new every morning"

Another thing, notice how green it is, and it is still bearing fruit it its old age.

I want that to be said of me, she got off track a few times,

but look at the fruit of her life.

(side note: sorry for the poor quality of the photos - phone was easy to carry)

Safe in the Arms of Jesus

We received news last night. My son called and said "Mom, I have bad news".  I didn't even know what he was going to say, but my heart started to ache. They were expecting their third child and the doctor's office could not find a heart beat. Their child, our grand child, this little soul had already gone home.

Today I am sad. Sad for a child I have never met, yet. Sad for my son and his precious wife. I have assurance that I will meet this baby in a far better place. This child is rejoicing with my Lord, and getting to know the child I lost 25 years ago. It never gets easier, you just carry it deeper, and you know what those that lose a child feels.

Safe In the Arms of Jesus -- the hope that helps us draw us closer to Him