Aprons and stuff...

I have always loved aprons. Simply by tying on an apron you can be back in the kitchen with Mom baking a batch of cookies, with Mamaw frying a skillet of chicken or with Grandma making a pound cake. My mom makes the cutest aprons. I have this shelf in the kitchen that has peg hooks so I decided I will hang my aprons on there. Mom has agreed to make me some more for my collection so I went to Hobby Lobby yesterday and here is all the material I picked out for my new aprons. My kitchen is done in French Country Decor with a lot of grapes, roosters, teapots, fruits, pretty much anything goes. So my apron taste runs along the same lines of anything goes.

Here is the first one, I just love purple and this one will go good with grapes in the kitchen.

Another thing you will find in a French Country kitchen is daisies and sunflowers. Since daisies are my favorite flower and this looked so dainty, I just had to have it.

Some of my aprons are for display but some of them are for using. This is going to be my apron for when I'm in my baking mode.

This will be one for the rare occasion when I cook or when we have company and I help out in the kitchen. My favorite color in the entire world is red. Always has been and always will be, even though I go through spells where I like other colors, I will always be partial to red. And when it is put with black, I love it. So this one just said "take me home."

Since I am currently in my whimsical mode and I have always loved Easter, this one was a no brainer. Love the little chicks. Can't wait until Easter to get to wear this one.

And of course when my granddaughters are over, they will need their own apron. Since one of their special times with Mamaw was the Disney Princesses on Ice and they are both little dainty princesses, I had to have this for their aprons.

All in all, it was a wonderful day at the material department. And the best part...it was all on sale for 30% - 40% off! Saved a little over $15.00. WOO HOO!

I picked up a couple of other cutie's I was happy with. This little basket is the exact color of my flower clock in the bathroom and some of the birdhouses in the shower curtains. I was wanting something for my cotton balls and thought this would be a good fit...especially at 99 cents. Then they rang it up and it was 50% off. So a bargain at 49 cents.

I've been looking for a necklace out of that dull copper material. But when I find one I like they are so expensive that I don't want to pay what they were asking. But yesterday, at Walmart, I found exactly what I wanted. It was on sale for $3.00. It's one of those double chain necklaces. I love it.

It was a day for bargains. I picked up a sweater I've been admiring that finally went on sale. Payless started their BOGO 1/2 off sale. They have some new adorable flip flops in so I, of course, had to have two new pairs. Again, at a savings. It was an awesome day. With all the discounts and coupons I had yesterday, I saved $54.61. A wonderful day for shopping.

It's the little things....

There are days that I wake up and just can't believe all the "little things" in my life that get me excited. I love all the small joys that add up daily to make me love my life. I am probably one of the most contented people you will ever meet. But contented is not the best word because that makes me think of something happy, yet subdued. I stay so full of joy and anticipation that I sometimes feel like I could bounce off the walls. The funny thing is that the "thrills" that keep me so joyful are so simple and so plain that most people just consider them mundane, normal things in life. I woke up at 5:00 today...on a SATURDAY! Just too excited to sleep. Why, you may wonder?

Well, it is very simple, I am going to Hobby Lobby today. The new one at Turkey Creek. Now to some you are probably thinking, big deal. But it IS a big deal. I love that place and I only go there occasionally so that it is always "special". But today, they are having some great sales and I have some items on my list that are on sale. Mom is going to make me some new aprons for my apron rack. So I'll get to pick up some material today at some great prices. I could spend days in the material department alone. But I'm also going to get some new beads for my daughter to make me a couple of necklaces. Then I need to pick up some materials for crafts I'm working on.

In the Woman's World Magazine this month, they had this two page spread of neat little decorating ideas. There are some items I need to pick up so I can implement this decor in my house. So that's on my list as well. I'll post pics of them when I'm done.

The other thing that thrills me is a book store (See Bees Book Report). My daughter wants to go to Borders while we are at Turkey Creek. That makes me happy, but I was trying to think of what book(s) I would get and couldn't think of any new ones that were out that I had been wanting. Then I was the reading the new Woman's Day magazine (yes, I love magazines) and lo and behold they had a page that had a book advertisement.

Last year I read a series by Robyn Carr that all took place in a little town called Virgin River. The people were so down to earth and everybody you met in one book kept showing up in every book so you felt like you really knew them. I was so sad to finish the last one. It felt like I was losing friends. Then here I sat, flipping through the Woman's Day and there was an add for Promise Canyon. It caught my eye and lo and behold it said "Robyn Carr continues her beloved Virgin River series." Added that baby to my shopping list.

So anyway, I'm heading into the kitchen to bake some chocolate chip cookies (just because) and then I'm coloring my hair (again, just because). I've got to call Mom for our Saturday morning chat and see how much material I need for each apron.

Then it will be TIME. Time to hit the road and head out to shop.

Then tomorrow Ms. Beth will be bringing me the new spring catalog for 31 Gifts so I can plan my party in February. I have been looking at the "sneak peaks" on line and cannot wait. They have all these neat new patterns and products and some nautical/beach themes that I cannot wait to see. They also have some new florals in pinks and some new whimsical circle/dot patterns. Again...getting a LOT of excitement over something so little.

But that's my life and I wouldn't have it any other way.

Hey bud!

Our little country road was at the outskirts of the Village of Barboursville in West Virginia. Since we didn't own a car because my parents didn't drive, it was nothing for us to walk the mile to town to do business. Whether it was going to the bank and post office or heading to the grocers or hardware store, we loved walking up town.

I remember summer Saturdays so well. Daddy loved to walk up to Brady's hardware store and I loved going with him. Brady's has everything you can imagine and more. Their old hardwood floors were stained with years of paint samples and scuff marks.

My daddy was a very well respected and well loved man in this little Village. He worked at the local C & O rail yard and did odd carpenter jobs occasionally on the side. We had been walking up Main Street for so many years that just about everybody in town knew us. They would sit on their front porches and wave and some would walk out to the sidewalk to chat awhile.

One thing that I always remember was how every car that would pass would toot their horn at Daddy. He would flash his handsome smile, raise up a hand in hello, and shout "Hey, Bud!" toward their open window.

I remember one day, when I was about 7 or 8, we had passed about 6 or 7 vehicles of guys Daddy worked with. We received the traditional "toot toot" of the horn and Daddy had responded with his normal "Hey Bud!" I remember looking up and innocently remarking "Wow Daddy, you sure know a lot of men named Bud." I remember him laughing and saying "I never could remember names so I just call everybody Bud."

To this day, I will remember his laughter and his smile. Daddy has been gone 12 years come next week. I still miss walking up town with him. When I go home to visit, as I drive to Mom's and I pull onto Main Street, I still find myself watching the street to see if I see Daddy walking up town. I get a little catch in my throat and a little tear in my eye when I remember, he's no longer here. But I know he's in a much better place and knowing Daddy, he spends his days walking the streets of heaven, tossing a wave at his neighbors and shouting out a friendly "Hey Bud!" to everyone he meets.

My Wish

www.christianfreebies.com

www.freekidscrafts.com

www.artbeads.com

www.fusionbeads.com

www.31gifts.com

www.makingfriends.com

www.sunshinecrafts.com

When God calls you, do you put Him on hold?

There is an old song that I loved that says "I was born to serve the Lord." Being saved at 16, I have always felt like that was my theme song. I try to do what is asked of me and go where He sends me. I have to admit that I don't always hear His still, quiet voice when it speaks to me. Sometimes He has to shout to get my attention, but when He does, I try to obey.

This past week, I was asked via email to do something for the Lord. When I opened my email, I read the request and immediately closed it. "Oh my!" I thought. "I can't do this!" Then I opened it up again and took another peek. I replied that I would have to think about it.

The minute I hit send, I heard that still, quiet voice say "You want me to call you to serve and when I did, you put me on HOLD?" The voice was very querulous. I'm sure He was amazed at my audacity. To place God on hold. WOW! I was immediately chastised.

So I opened the email a 3rd time and said, "Yes, I'll do it." Isaiah 6:8 says "Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying: “ Whom shall I send, And who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I! Send me.”

I was truly blessed by doing what God asked of me. If we will just obey His will, He will bestow on us blessings untold.

I know one thing...the next time God calls on me, I won't be so quick to place Him on hold. I want to be an Isaiah with an "I'll do it!" attitude for God.

Love at first sight...

"Everyone says you only fall in love once, but that's not true. Every time I hear your voice I fall in love all over again." - Author Unknown

January 17, 1981. It was a cold and snowy day. She had been spending the day primping and getting ready for this date. They were introduced by a lady they worked with, but they had never met each other. She worked days in one building and he worked nights in another, so their paths had never crossed. They had spoken on the phone several times once their mutual friend told him about her.

She was very nervous. She had been divorced for 3 years and had never been on a date in all that time. She wasn't sure if she was ready for this, but he seemed so sweet and nice on the phone and she was really looking forward to it. Her best friend, Becky, was coming up to spend the night and babysit the twins.

As she is getting ready, she is getting worried. The snow started earlier in the day and was slowly accumulating. They had received about 4" and she lived up a steep hill that had not been treated. Would he come? Would he want to brave this weather for a date with somebody he has only "met" over the phone? Time would tell.

As the evening approaches, she hears a car coming up the hill. It is him. He has made it. It takes a brave soul to come out on a night like this to see someone he doesn't even really know yet.

They go out to eat and see a movie. Afterwards, they go to his apartment for snacks and he teaches her how to play backgammon, a game she has always wanted to learn. He has been the perfect gentleman all evening. Opening her doors, holding her hand, walking on the street side of the sidewalk. He has been very respectful and treated her like she was a rare and precious jewel. She wins her third game of backgammon and laughingly leans across the board to give him a quick kiss. Sparks fly and she realizes "I'm falling in love. Tonight. Right this very minute."

He takes her home and walks her to the door. He tells her what a wonderful evening he has and asked to see her again tomorrow. He is going to bring food and will cook supper for her. He kisses her good night and heads back down the hill. She walks in, closes her door and leans against it. She looks at Becky and declares. "I'm in love. I'm going to marry him." Becky laughs.

Jump ahead to Valentine's Day. They have spoken or seen each other every single day. Never letting a call end without telling each other "I love you." He asks her to be his wife. He does not want to spend another day without knowing she is his for eternity. She readily agrees and they set a day for September. But in March, he goes to Florida for a week to the Gator Nationals with his friend. He gets home at 12:30 at night at the end of the week. He knocks on her door. He couldn't help it. He missed her so much. He asks her if she can get off work Friday so they can go to Virginia and get married. He doesn't want to wait until September to make her his bride. He loves her and wants a future together beginning now. She agrees and he heads on home, leaving her to dream of the years to come and a love that will last a lifetime.

That was 30 years ago today. That is the story of how I met my husband, the love of my life. He is every breath I breathe. He is my soul mate, my heart, my life. He is my best friend, my confidante. He has been a wonderful father to my children and a loving grandfather. When I told my friend Becky that I was going to marry him, she thought I was joking. But I knew. God brought us together. This was my destiny. Thirty years have passed and we still kiss and say I love you whenever we are going to be apart, whenever we talk on the phone, and when we go to bed at night. We laugh about it because I won't even walk up to the mail box without giving him a kiss and telling him I love him. Most people don't remember the anniversary of their first date. But I do. When it was something this life changing and important, you tend to remember. So Happy 1st Date Anniversary Sweetheart! I love you!