Garden Treasures

We found this at a yard sale last year, it looked interesting. Thought it might be a plate holder, something you would use at a party to hold yummy treats, tried it but it didn't look right with plates so it was off to the garden and ended up on my deck

Stuck some flowers pots in it and voila, transformed into a plant stand

We did a bathroom redo a couple of years ago and when taking the mirror down broke the corner off of the mirror making it unusable for the bathroom but works pretty well in the garden

           The broken end is to the ground, so you don't see that it is damaged and makes it pretty stable. Helps distract from the fence.

Last but not least...could not resist showing off the hydrangeas, they are beautiful this year

Happy Gardening

Change Is Coming

I am making a change in my life....a big change for me. Kind of scary and exciting all at the same time...I can't tell you what the change is yet, but I will when the time is right.

It's a decision I have been wrestling with for several weeks, praying that I would not be ruled by my emotions, I needed to know what to do, I needed clarity. Today I had that moment, I remembered what was important...what was really important....I think I had forgotten, so my decision is made, now I just need to put things in motion. Sweet Husband already knew...he just didn't know when it was going to happen...how did he know? I didn't even decide until this afternoon...guess that's what happens when you've been married forever...love that about him

Can you guess what I am doing? I 'll tell you later I promise... but have you ever heard of the expression fish or cut bait... well I 'm cutting bait....going to have more time on my hands

Being Thankful

Been awhile since I posted...much going on in our lives. Today I want to focus on the things I have to be thankful for:

• I am thankful for April showers that have brought May flowers, the gardens are at their prettiest right now 
• The hummingbirds are back, although I have not seen them, I have heard them
• For having a friend who shares my enthusiasm for gardening and flowers
• Feeling better and stronger with each passing day...there are still some issues that have to be resolved but the difference between last spring and this spring is huge
• Giggling grandchildren
• A graduation we will be celebrating this Saturday
• A baby dedication this Sunday....my two youngest grandchildren will be dedicated to the Lord
• A quiet afternoon, I have no errands to run. The weather is overcast, ground wet from all the rain we have had the last two days, it's perfect for planting flowers or reading a book, I will probably do both
• For the extra measure of grace that God has given me the last couple of weeks concerning my job, praying for continued grace and wisdom, might be some unfeathering of the nest going on
• Having a house full of family on Mothers Day, including young son
• Knowing that I am not without help, I am not alone, my steps are directed, I have a refuge and a shield, I have been hemmed in behind and before. There is no randomness in my life...not if I believe my life belongs to him....there is much to be thankful for!

Changes Are Coming

 I have been muddling through a situation that has knocked me off balance the last couple of days, it wasn't that I didn't have warning that changes were coming, I just thought it would play out differently. My response has been anything but biblical, I have been fuming, stewing and even losing sleep over some decisions that were made that would directly effect me.

The Holy Spirit was nudging me...you need to stop... but I was like a dog gnawing on a bone, I wasn't ready to give it up. Who doesn't like tossing and turning with sleep out of reach because your playing that stupid tape in your head over and over again, with all those imagined conversations your gonna have.

Again this morning the Holy Spirit nudged me...you need to stop reacting. What is it that you say that you believe?

Do you believe...Romans 8:28
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him and have been called according to his purposes

Yeah that one, do you believe that?

Time to step back from the drama of the situation and begin to respond like I believe what God's word says. I prayed this morning that God would change my attitude...he has. Weeks ahead are going to be interesting and the temptation to get pulled right back into the drama is going to remain, after all the situation hasn't changed....but I am praying that when I am tempted to despair he will remind me once again that nothing comes into my life that is not filtered by him...and that he uses every situation for my good and his purposes. There is comfort in that when you really think about it.

Grace Moments

It was the day after Mother's day last year that we got the call from a concerned friend.


There were problems with my SIL, she had a doctors appointment that Friday...could we be there? Not knowing what we would find we packed up the car and made the eight hour drive to the mountains. After our arrival we met the friend and got more information...we quickly realized we could not leave without her, she could no longer live alone.

We weren't prepared for this at all, had no idea how we were going to do a move, what was going to happen after we got her to our home? Remember I'm the one who likes a plan...there was no plan.

But God did have a plan...things "fell" into place and Sweet Lady was moved to our home within days. So many evidences of God's grace that still amaze me even today


There was the friend that called us, she helped us in so many ways, the doctor office who went out of their way to get all the information we needed...ever tried working with a doctors office on no notice?
There was banking that needed to be done, mail to forward, records to obtain, did I mention she had no ID on her, birth certificate to get, packing and sorting, and there was still that doctors appointment that we had to go to, a second vehicle to rent.....so much to do with so little time...but God made a way

People I think God strategically put in place,a lawyer who lived across the street, a bank manager who had worked with my husbands uncle years ago, she remembered my husband and his sister...made the business part of all of this easier. Then there were those that volunteered to clean the apartment once we left and take care of the mountain of stuff we could not take.

I write this today because I want to remember...I want to remember what God did...I want to remember that I don't always need a plan because he always has one.

It has been almost a year now and it has not always been easy but it all has been good. Sweet Lady  likes her place, her memory is a little better since her seizure medication was added. She remembered today was my FIL birthday, even bought him a card when she went out with the group last week, I was stunned when I found it in her cupboard... a little grace moment

She is usually sitting outside on a bench when I go to see her, today when I drove up she was walking the facility's dog (the Assisted Living has a teacup yorkie that belongs to the activity director and the dog goes to work with her everyday) Seeing her like this blesses me...and reminds me of God's abundant grace.