Beautiful Blessings - 1/17/16

~ Coloring to relax and destress this afternoon. I love how this turned out!

~  A grilled cheddar cheese sandwich which reminds me of Great Grandma because she loved cheddar cheese!

~ Peach passion tea! Another of Grandma's favorite things <3

~ Scripture convicting me on many a thing....

~ Seeing God work in my life...quietly but always working <3 

No more Scrabble? Beautiful Blessings - 1/5/16

I wrote a post called "No More Scrabble" when my Great Grandma passed away...

...it needs an update!

~ Playing Scrabble with John

~ Laughing so hard my stomach hurts and I cant breathe...havent done that in a long time!

~ Noticing for the first time that there is a rose and a cup of tea on the box...and smiling because it was Great Grandma's Scrabble game :~)

~ Teasing John that if he looked at my letters while I made some tea that Ansel would do him in

~ Using the time I set aside with an alarm on the kindle to pray <3

No more Scrabble

My friend John comes home from college today. As I thought about this, I realized that I wont be able to go over with him to Great Grandma's house. We wont be able to go over to play a game of scrabble with her. He wont have to sweep the floor while I take her blood pressure. This really hurts deep down....

....I am thankful for these memories though. Im thankful that he got to meet Great Grandma! And Im thankful that she is no longer sick <3 We thought about visiting her right before John left for his last leg of the semester, but we never did. The day after he left, she passed away. 

I miss you, Grandma! <3

My last memory of her?

Leaning over her bed, a week before she passed away, kissing her forehead, and saying I love you.... <3

Beautiful Blessings - Great Grandma's Life

1922-2015

My Great Grandma passed away late Tuesday night. We have been taking care of her for the past 3 years, and although we knew she was dying, it was startling when I first heard. It took me a day to realize she truly was gone. It honestly didnt seem possible. 

I loved my Great Grandma. <3 Even though I inheirited her stubborness. ;~) On the bright side, I also inherited her love of cheddar cheese! Heehee!! ;~) 

Im so thankful she is no longer sick. She is in Heaven with Jesus! And I expect, Great Grandpa met her there when she arrived. <3 

She lived through the Great Depression, & WWII; from horses and buggies to people living in the International Space Station! 

With 4 children, 13 grandchildren, 16 great grandchildren, and 1 great great grandchild, she was truly blessed!

My beautiful blessing is? Great Grandma! If it werent for her, I wouldnt be here! Thank you God for the 17 1/2 years Ive had with her so I could get to know her. God is so good! <3

I love you, Grandma!

Beautiful Blessings - 10/31/15

~ Going for a couple fall walks!

(seesawing before we walked)

(having some assistance ;~)

(Skaneateles Creek)

(brick work on the Onondaga Creek Walk)

(looking upstream)

(looking further upstream)

(down a little path)

~ Having John come over for the day since he is on break!

~ Taking Mom, John, Heidi, and her brother out for dinner for Heidi's first birthday celebration!

(showing her this)

(group shot! thanks Mom!)

(goofing off)

~ Going to visit Great Grandma at the nursing home, and getting the biggest grin from her! She was so excited to see me, she came over and hugged me tight <3 She also enjoyed seeing everyone else!
~ Ending the night with root beer floats! Mmm...with Stewart's Root Beer no less! Thats the absolute best!!!!

Beautiful Blessings - 10/18/15

~ Providential timing and high heels for a needed hug from a friend <3

~ Trying out a theory during Sunday School by using natrual light to try and prevent a migraine from occuring today!

~ Seeing a bride and groom taking pictures with their grandmother at a nursing home!

~ Visiting Grandma <3

~ SNOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :~D Our first snow of the season!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! SQUEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :~D :~D :~D

Beautiful Blessings - 10/14/15

~ Having a "Princess Day!" with Lil' G, L-Jo, and T-bug!

~ Making goodies together for our lunch!

~ Watching Princess movies! Cinderella (by Faerie Tale Theatre), The Dancing Princesses (by Faerie Tale Theatre), Cinderella (2015), Barbie and the 12 Dancing Princesses, and Beauty & the Beast (Disney)!

~ Ending the day with a princess book! "Ponyella" by Laura Numeroff and Nate Evans!

~ T-Tot having and adventure and overnight at our grandparents!

Beautiful Blessings - 10/8/15

There is no place like home! ~ The Wizard of Oz

~ Watching L-Jo wear these around!

I have to tell you a secret that will see you through all the trials that life can offer. Have courage, and be kind. ~ Cinderella (2015)

~ Watching this again with T-bug seeing it for the first time! She was in awe of the carriage when the "Hairy Dogfather....er...Fairy Godmother" made it!

You can never get a cup of tea large enough or a book long enough to suit me. ~ C.S. Lewis

~ A cup of jasmine tea that was inspired by a friend!

So the small things came into their own: small acts of helping others, if one could; small ways of making one's own life better: acts of love, acts of tea, acts of laughter. Clever people might laugh at such simplicity, but, she asked herself, what was their own solution? ~ Alexander McCall Smith

~ Being able to help Mom out today!

When we love a person, we accept him or her exactly as is: the lovely with the unlovely, the strong along with the fearful, the true mixed in with the facade, and of course, the only way we can do it is by accepting ourselves that way. ~ Fred Rogers

~ Seeing everything my Mom does for my Great Grandma! <3

Beautiful Blessings - 10/7/15

~ Great Grandma turning 93!

~ Making her a pie and applesauce!

~ Picking out the perfect cards for people!

~ Seeing a cute hat on my favorite librarian! She is such a sweet lady! The hat made my day!

~ Meeting up with my dance teacher for a workout so I can regain strength I lost with the mono!

Beautiful Blessings - 9/17/15

People...each person is special. Each talent they have is special. And you know, the world isnt so bad after all when you look at the people around ya, and see the good in them!

~ Seeing an older couple walk down the street, hand in hand!

~ Seeing a mother care for her crying baby! <3

~ Passing a Church as a choir is practicing!

~ Watching my Mom patiently care for my Great Grandma! <3

~ Seeing how even the smallest can help others! She helped me with the tablecloth!

Beautiful Blessings - 8/13/15

~ Listening to the dryer at work...sounds like a hardshoe dance!

~ Blue skies, cornfields, and a cute hat!

~ Catching a sister in the act of reading!

~ Catching another in the act of reading!

~ Visiting with my grandparents for the evening!

Photo-A-Day - Day 29!

"Past" - a blast from the past! This was taken around 1900. Twas a friend of the family's grandmother. I love the beautiful work put into this dress! Such elegance!

Throwback Tuesday: Grandma's Square Dancin' Skirt

There is nothing more fun,

than a super-full skirt,

when it's a sunny day,

and you have a chance to twirl,

in Grandma's square dancin' skirt!

Beautiful Feet

Feet.

Those icky yucky things we often forget about.

To be honest.

My feet are hideous.

I always have some sort of blister, sore, toenails with issues or scars.

Honestly, I sometimes want to complain about them.

They just aren't cute.

A couple of my toes have a weird "bump".

Sometimes that's a hindrance.

But when ever I'm tempted to complain and feel sorry for myself, I remember this verse.

Romans 10:15
And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”

When I remember this, I remember that beauty is only skin deep.

My feet are beautiful.

Not on the outside, but on the inside.

I use my feet to serve others.

I use them to work with kids.

I use them to dance for others to cheer up their day.

I use them to help my great grandma.

I use them to run errands.

I use them for everything.

God gave me these feet to spread His love.

And when I remember this.......I don't feel so bad about them.

Thank you God for my beautiful feet!

People of Jordan: David and Ethan

(Ethan with his Dad, David)

I found David and Ethan shoveling some ice chunks. David said they enjoy having sidewalks to use. They have lived here for about 9 years and they love how everything is nearby and peacefully quiet. And Grandma only lives a few miles away! (I think that's Ethan's favorite part ;~)

People of Jordan: Kate and Alpha

Today they decided to go over the river and through the woods, to Grandmother's house, on cross-country skis!

(Alpha and Kate)

They were cold but enjoying themselves immensely. As Kate said, "You just have to enjoy the winter." 

I agree with her! Off to Grandma's they go! 

A Hope Chest

There comes a time in a girl's life when she should start a hope chest. I started mine in a Rubbermaid shoe box, it grew to a tote a couple sizes up that is almost full. I have a real wooden one, but my sisters play with it! ( :~) And I don't mind a bit!)

The history behind the hope chest:

A hope chest, dowry chest, cedar chest, or glory box is a chest used to collect items such as clothing and household linen, by unmarried young women in anticipation of married life. The term "hope chest" or "cedar chest" is used in the midwest or south of the United States; in the United Kingdom, the term is "bottom drawer"; while "glory box" is used by women in Australia. 




This is what I have in my hope chest.

A couple Christmas dishes.

A teapot from my Great Grandmother and a homemade bar of soap.

A table runner and pillow cases made by my Great Grandmother. She did such an awesome job on my pillow cases and table runner.

A quilt made my by other Great Grandmother, and a couple sets of white curtains. The white curtains were given to me by my Grandma. I've used them in my room and for plays my sisters and I have put on.

A patriotic table runner I made, and a jar from my Great Grandmother. She stores macaroni hers. The cool part about the jar is it has measuring notations on the side. It can hold up to 2 cups. 

A set of tins from my Great Grandmother, and a toothbrush holder. The tins match so I could line them up. I'll probably store tea in the tins like my Mom does with her tins. :~)

A couple candle holders from my Great Grandmother (I have a matching candy dish, but I can't find it) and a set of salt & pepper shakers. I bought the salt and pepper shakers at a flea market or antique store. I saw them and I knew I would want a set for my hope chest.

This is a "welcome" pillow I made. It is about 10 inches long and 5 inches high. I made it to put by my door someday. It was one of the first things I put in my hope chest. It was with the patriotic table runner, salt & pepper shakers, and curtains for the longest time.

These are little figurines for fall. The 3 tall ones are from a sweet lady who moved away and the 2 short ones are from my Great Grandmother.

This isn't the best picture but it is what I got. It is a ribbon and a beaded garland. The garland is from a wedding in which I was a flower girl. I had it over my bed on the curtain rod with the ribbon for a while. I switched it out recently for a dark green balance.

This is what I have in my hope chest. Have you ever had or started one?