Just In Time for the Holidays!

Good morning!

No, I'm not rushing the season! The Christmas holidays will be here before we know it. So, I thought I would "help" you out. LOL Actually, here are a couple of things you might want to check out.

First I wanted to let you know sweet Linda over at Prairie Flower Farm is having a party and a terrific giveaway. (The above snowman is her pattern. I'll not say more, after all it is a surprise!)

Second, you can receive 140 free address labels from Vista Print . They have a huge selection of designs to choose from. But you need to hurry!

I hope you are enjoying your Saturday morning. The weather here is so lovely, we are blessed. But the crew is beginning to get hungry.....and they get mean when they get hungry! ; After all, they're boys!) I guess I'd better leave you for now and do something before they eat the table legs.

My our Heavenly Father shower you with His loving kindness throughout the day and with His faithfulness each night. (~from Psalm 92:2)

Be blessed this fine Saturday and be a blessing!

Cheryl

Guess What?!

Yes!!! I am now about to comment!! I am no longer s.i.l.e.n.t. Yes! Yes! Yes!

Give me a little time and I will be by to share some comment love on your blogs!!!

(Thank you, for your patience and kind suggestions!)

There Is A Season

"To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven." Ecclesiastes 3:1

It is time.

The last few days, I have heard from many hurting people, people I love. Some of these are family going through difficult times. Some are friends or friends of my grown children, people facing challenges they had never dreamed would come their way. Some are neighbors facing tremendous health issues. Some are friends from our past, who we have remained in contact with over the years and some are bloggers, like me, like you.

I happen to have three diaries written by my husband's grandfather. Brick Nelson always kept a journal. I have the years from 1917 to 1923. Granny, my m-i-l (92 y/o), was born in 1918. I feel very priviledged to have the journal containing Brick's daily entry on the day Granny Dorothy was born.

Brick was a Christian, a farmer, the father of six sons and one daughter. He and his wife, Lizzie, moved to Oklahoma in a covered wagon in 1906 and again in 1907. It was difficult to leave Texas (evidently, as it took two tries ;) ).

Brick and Lizzie's families had moved to Texas from Missouri and Tennessee. Life was always centered around God and family and life was difficult. At one time, both Brick's and Lizzie's mothers had to come live with the family. Lizzie's Aunt Jo also lived with the family for a number of years.

One of the phrases Brick often wrote was, "Life is difficult this side of the grave."

When I was younger, in my twenties, I thought this was a strange thing for a godly, family man to say. Brick had a lot of people depending on him. He had a lot of mouths to feed during a time when this country saw some very lean years.

I'd say, we are getting ready, in the middle of, or are going to see some very lean years of our own.

I believe in the power of prayer. I have seen God do miracles. I know He still is moved by the cry of His children, just as you or I are moved when our children are hurting.

I am writing this to let you know, I am always here to pray with you, to pray for you and for those you love. There is nothing you could say that I would feel was too "small" a request and there is nothing, absolutely nothing that is too big!

Please, if you ever desire a friend to pray with, know I am here. You may leave a comment or you may email me. If want to email me, use the following email (it is the one I check most often):

bloomwhereyoureplanted@yahoo.com

It is TIME we get serious. It is TIME we learn to trust our Heavenly Father. It is TIME we respond to the hurts of others.

"Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God."1John 4:7-8



Be blessed,

Cheryl

The Simple Woman's Daybook, 10/5

My disclaimer continues….

First, let my say hi and welcome. Some of you are new and I am so glad to *see* you. However, I have been having trouble commenting on some of the blogs. I’ve narrowed the problem to two possibilities (our son, the ‘puter programmer laughs, because he knows his Mama is no “techie”). But I think it is either with Blogspot (as I am still having other issues) or I may need to load a different browser. I am trying to get this worked out. Please be patient. I’ll be by to leave comments on your blogs as soon as I can.

I really do intend to straighten this mess out. We are nearly finished with the garden (still have to dig sweet potatoes and put up the pears). Once that is behind me, I'll have more time to devote to working through the problems here.

Outside my window... ~ fall…wonderful, breathtaking fall. I love to watch the steam coming up off the pond while the sun’s rays are shinning through the trees.

I am thinking... ~ my toes are cold! It’s chilly.

I am thankful for... ~ the path God has chosen for me.

I am wearing... ~ my pajamas and I think I’ll wear them outside to have my coffee.

I am remembering... ~ the good times we had over this past weekend with all the grands!

I am praying for… ~ a number of people

I am going... ~ to be working on several projects. (It is that time of year!)

I am currently reading... ~ nothing other than my Bible. The months set aside for reading will be here soon. It is the rhythm of the seasons.

I am hoping... ~ to be a blessing to someone today

On my mind... ~ the remarkable lady of Proverbs 31 ~ how did she get it all done?

Noticing that... ~ I have lots to do!

Pondering these words... “The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in his love, He will joy over thee with singing.” ~ Zephaniah 3:17 (I love this verse!)


From the kitchen... ~ beans are simmering and a fresh apple cake is in the oven, to go with ~ bar-b-q chicken, salad, and cornbread. Kraut sounds really good, but I don’t think I have everything I need.

(BTW, for those of you who asked, he picked the chicken and dressing. Always!)


Around the house... ~ slowly, I am beginning to get caught up. It will take a while, but I can see a light at the end of the tunnel now ~ even though it is still very dim. (From last week, but I seemed to have lost my focus, that happens with lots of grandkids around.)

I am creating… ~ a place of refuge (at least the grandkids seem to think so!)

One of my favorite things… ~ just living in the country!

From the Learning Room… ~ we are working mostly on reading this week, with some history mixed in.

Sharing this beautiful picture ~

I love this picture! It was taken by Linda over @ Prairie Flower Farm.

For more Daybook posts, visit Peggy at The Simple Woman’s Daybook!

Blessings,

Cheryl

Great Lesson to Start the Week!

I had planned to post about our wonderful, adventurous weekend with all the grandkids today, but a friend shared the following life lesson with me this morning. This illustrates one of those foundational truths we all need to hear. I thought of each of you and how we all go through trials and difficulties, each in our own way. I wanted to pass this along.

Praying it will bless you as much as it blessed me.

Hugs,

Cheryl



The following story is a great example of how the Lord teaches and molds us through life's trials.

There was a group of women in a Bible study on the book of Malachi. As they were studying chapter three, they came across verse three which says: "He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver." (Malachi 3:3)

This verse puzzled the women and they wondered what this statement meant about the character and nature of God.

One of the women offered to find out about the process of refining silver and get back to the group at their next Bible study. That week this woman called up a silver smith and made an appointment to watch him at work. She didn't mention anything about the reason for her interest in silver beyond her curiosity about the process of refining silver.

As she watched the silver smith, he held a piece of silver over th efire and let it heat up. He explained that in refining silver, one needed to hold the silver in the middle of the fire where the flames were hottest as to burn away all the impurities.

The woman thought about God holding us in such a hot spot--then she thought again about the verse, that he sits as a refiner and purifier of silver.

She asked the silver smith if it was true that he had to sit there in front of the fire the whole time the silver was being refined. The man answered that yes, he not only had to sit there holding the silver,but he had to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it was in the fire. If the silver was left even a moment too long in the flames,it would be destroyed.

The woman was silent for a moment. Then she asked the silver smith,"How do you know when the silver is fully refined?"

He smiled at her and answered, "Oh, that's easy--when I see my image in it."

If today you are feeling the heat of the fire, remember that God has His eye on you.

~Author unknown

Gooseberry Patch Giveaway

This is just a quick note to let all you lovely people know, the sweet ladies over at Gooseberry Patch are giving away copies of their Fall Favorites cookbook! But you better hurry! ;)

Have a wonderful evening!

Blessings,

Cheryl

Time

Hey, new followers, I have noticed you there! Thank you for coming by and following, although there hasn't been much to follow of late! I promise I will try to get things rolling! And my other friends, I don't know where I stand on trying to post comments on your blogs. I have been by and read several, but didn't have the energy to argue with the computer and try to post. Not to worry, the "fight" will be back soon, I'm sure! ;)

Reflections of Autumn

Quote:

Day, n. A period of 24 hours, mostly misspent. ~ Ambrose Bierce

I love this time of year! (I know, I've told you that, right?) I love the cool nights, sleeping with the windows open. I love the crisp early morning air that makes it hard to tell which is appreciated most, the smell of fresh grounded coffee perking or the warmth of the coffee cup. I love the way the sun warms and washes the afternoon sky with bright sunshine and wispy clouds. It is as near perfect as weather gets, in my opinion.

Embracing the weather the last couple of weeks has been easy, but time seems to be racing ahead, while I just want to enjoy the moment! But I am rambling...

This past week, I've been sick. I cannot remember the last time I was sick, so this has really thrown me for a loop and helped to put some things in perspective. When the energy you have is only enough to accomplish a limited amount, you are forced to pick and choose "wisely." What has this got to do with anything, you ask?

Being forced to enjoy restful afternoons, sitting outside, has given my mind time to play and plan (and the opportunity to let "the stink blow off" as my mother used to say, an expression I've often wondered about). Now I just need for my body to catch up to where my mind already is! I love planning, but I need tangible. You know?

The new grandbaby is growing. She is three weeks old now and her expressions are new each time I see her.

DD#1 and her family came down on Monday and brought their little herd to stay a few days. Gabby, 10 y/o, is a big help. Between the two of us, we made a wonderful pound cake yesterday. DD and son-in-law are getting their house ready for baby "4" and are having the midwives come for their home visit. (Yes, all the extras make for a really "full house." But it is a good full! Except when they all begin to get tired and start picking at each other. And Papaw has been wonderful! He has bought pizza twice in less than a week to keep me from having to cook. Poor guy. Of course, the grands think he's the BEST ~ and he is.)

And while I am thinking of it, Territory Mom over @ OklaHome....thank you! DD#2 picked up my mail and delivered it. And there was my salsa! It looks wonderful! As soon as I improve a little more, I'm going to enjoy it....I may not even share! Thank you, again!

Friday night, we are cooking out ~ well, Papaw is cooking out and the kids are making S'mores for dessert! You should come!

I hope to be feeling much better by the weekend. I have lots of ideas (and maybe an opinion or two) to share with you! Maybe I'll even manage another blog post in the next day or so!

BTW, I'm not proof reading this, so over look my mistakes! ;)

You are in my heart and in my prayers.

Blessings,

Cheryl