COUNTING MY BLESSINGS...........

"BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO PERSEVERES UNDER TRIAL, BECAUSE WHEN HE HAS STOOD THE TEST, HE WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF LIFE THAT GOD HAS PROMISED THOSE WHO LOVE HIM."

JAMES 1:12

TODAY I COUNT MY BLESSINGS......................................................

THANKFUL FOR A GOD WHO LOVES US IN SPITE OF WHO WE ARE...........

THANKFUL THAT HE NEVER GIVES UP ON US..........................

THANKFUL HE HAS A PLAN AND PURPOSE FOR US........................................

THANKFUL THAT THE SUN SHINES EVEN THOUGH THE WIND IS COLD.................................

THANKFUL FOR THE BEAUTY OF A FALL SEASON.............................................

 

THANKFUL FOR FAMILY AND FRIENDS...................

THANKFUL FOR THE COMPUTER THAT ENABLES ME TO KEEP UP WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS.............................................

 

THANKFUL FOR TODAY.......A NEW DAY TO EXPERIENCE THE AWESOME LOVE OF A WONDERFUL GOD.....................................................

WHAT ARE YOU THANKFUL FOR?  DO NOT FORGET TO STOP AND COUNT YOUR BLESSINGS!

HAVE A JOYOUS AND BLESSED DAY!

A new creation..............

I pulled this old Buffet out of my daughters garage last week.  I originally purchased the buffet years ago at an auction in Daytona Florida.  I always look for flea markets, auctions, yard sales and the such when we go on vacation.  I bought this piece for around $20.00. My husband thought it was ridiculous to haul it back to Kentucky even if it was a great deal.  I also purchased a dry sink for $3.00 at the same auction.  He has scoffed over the years reminding me, "see that piece was not worth the trip back"! 

Well.......needless to say...he is eating his words now!

I cleaned the piece up with Murphy oil soap and warm water.  I then got out the ole handy dandy black flat paint.  After removing the antique hardware.  I pained the entire piece black. 

 I sanded the edges and a few areas to make it look warn.  I then top coated the whole thing with a quick dry polyurethane.

  It turned out great!  Just goes to show..........A little paint can make anything look better!

After I look at this amazing ole buffet and the change that has taken place I am reminded of the word of God in 2 Corinthians 5:17, it says, "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone and the new has come!"  Wow, what a wonderful thought!  I wish I had taken a picture of the buffet before I started.  What you see now could never begin to show you just how far the buffet has come.  My life is much the same way........what I used to be and what I am now is so different.  I have truly changed.  Thanks be to the amazing work of the Holy Spirit, I too, have been recreated!

Until next time.....happy decorating and may you be truly blessed! 

A few Fall touches.....

Being a Christian is like being a pumpkin.

God lifts you up, takes you in, and washes all the dirt off of you.

He opens you up, touches you deep inside and scoops out all the yucky stuff

 including the seeds of doubt, hate, greed, etc.

Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside you to shine for all the world to see.

This was passed on to me from another pumpkin.

Now, it is your turn to pass it to a pumpkin. I liked this enough to send it to all the pumpkins in my patch.

                                

        Happy Autumn!





Just a few Fall touches from my home  I thought you might enjoy!



This beautiful arrangement of clothe stuffed pumpkins and gourds with the small apples is sitting on a table in my living room



This is the arrangement I have on my dining room table......I love it!



The rest of the pics are just random shots of different areas in my home...Enjoy!



Have joyous and Blessed day and remember to be a blessing to someone around you!

Happy Fall y'all!

A Beautiful Blessed Day!

The seniors group from our church just took a took a trip to the Brakes State Park in Virginia.  Part of the park is located in Kentucky.  It is a beautiful and wondrous place. It is actually called the "Grand Canyon of the South".  How you can look at the majesty of the mountains in that park and doubt God, I cannot understand. 

We had a wonderful time.  I worked with the ladies on a "pumpkin" project.  We made decorative pumpkins out of a roll of jumbo toilet paper, orange tissue paper (from the gift wrap section) and decorative Fall leaves and raffia ribbon and a brown paper lunch bag rolled up as the stem.  They loved them.  Most of the ladies made two-an extra to give away. 

This is a very simple and cheap project ideal for Fall.

The picnic shelter was beautiful.  It had stone fireplaces located on each end. 

My husband and I walked to the overlook which looks over the two states.  Boy!  I have never seen so many steps.  Going down was easy-coming up-a different story!

We started here......You can see our first set of step just up ahead.

Steps.......

And More Steps.........

And more Steps........

What we were able to experience was well worth all the steps.   It was Beautiful!!!!!

Me and My Sweet husband in front of the overlook.
 

The beauty of what I saw that day reminded me of the scripture in Romans of how the whole created world reveals God. 

 "since what may be known about God is plain to them, because God has made it plain to them.  For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities-his eternal power and divine nature-have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse."  Romans 1: 19-20.

It is clear that the beauty and majesty in the creation of this area shouts aloud....."There is a God and what He does is good!"

THE PLEASURES OF BEING GRANDPARENTS.........

This week we have had the pleasure of having three of our four Grand kids for Fall break.  We decided before the kids arrived we would slow down and spend some quality time with them.  I always have a jigsaw puzzle on the small table in the kitchen.  My oldest Grandson thinks something is wrong if Nana does not have a puzzle to work on.  I leave it out until it gets finished.  We find ourselves drawn to

the table as we pass by.  It is a great way to have fellowship as a family together.  Even the young ones love to get involved.

 

Can you believe it...we actually finished the thing! It usually takes me weeks to complete one by myself. 

 My husband takes pride and much pleasure in the always requested breakfast...Poppy's World famous made from scratch shaped pancakes...(boy that is a mouth full).  The kids love pancakes and Poppy loves making them.  He is always challenged by the many requests made by the kids...Make a dolphin, a Princess, a car! Today it was, "make a baseball player Poppy with a ball"....and a baseball player he made with a ball!

They ate and enjoyed! 

 My husband and I were talked into a game of monopoly.  I am sorry to say.....we were beaten badly by our 10 year old Grandson....But.....it was worth it!

 Daniel..the monopoly champ!

The past few days have reminded me of the wonderful pleasure it is to be Grandparents.  It is such a blessings to have kids around the house again.  We are not as energetic as we were when our own children where at home but our Grand kids think we are the greatest!  It is wonderful how they think our puzzles and games are fun. One of the greatest blessing in getting older is the pleasure of having Grandchildren!  I believe this is one time in life that we can count our many aches, our graying hair and aging bodies as a blessing.  The book of Proverbs chapter 20:29 says, " The glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old". In Proverbs 17:6 it says, "Children's children are a crown to the aged, and parents are the pride of their children". We may be loosing our strength and getting gray hair but we are gaining a whole new blessing and pleasure in life........Grandchildren.