Reflections



REFLECTIONS

As I sit here and reflect on the good things in my life.

It’s easy to forget my cares, my worries and my strife.

For I’ve been blessed in many ways by the Lord above.

He’s put a roof over my head; gave me a family to love.

Sometimes he gives us blessings that our blinded eyes can’t see.

The warmth of the sunshine, a dew drop on a leaf.

The soft mew of a kitten as she snuggles by your side.

The white caps of the waves as we watch the ocean tide.

The enchanted sounds of children as they learn to sing.

Sitting on a front porch with grandma in a swing.

Walking down a dirt road; throwing rocks into a creek.

Watching as an eagle flies across a mountain peak.

Listening to a blue jay as it sings among the pines.

Going to the river; dropping in a fishing line.

Walking through the woods; stumbling on a buck or doe.

Stopping in a garden just to smell a fragrant rose.

 

So be sure and look around you with fresh thoughts in your mind.

And behold the many blessings I’m sure that you will find.

And when you thank the Lord above for the blessings He gives you,

Be sure to thank him for your friends, for they’re a blessing too.

 

 

Copyright Brenda Garretson Keefer 1999

Pretty In Pink

If you have noticed, I am incorporating some blue and pink into my home office.

I have been looking for some curtains and can't find what I want. I wanted priscilla style with some type of pink flowers that would tie in with the pale yellow walls. I am trying to make the room really feminine since I have so many tea sets in it. The sweet lady who provided me with all my lace curtains graciously agreed to see if she could find a pair for my office. Well, I actually found exactly what I was looking for at a yard sale for $4.00. They have pretty pink flowers and the leaves are green with a hint of yellow that is the exact creamy yellow of the walls.

I need to get in touch with my friend to let her know I found some but I haven't had a chance yet. If she did find me a pair, I'm going to put them in the spare room since that just has a mint green sheer in it. I am scouting around for a pretty pink lamp to go in my office. Here are a few I found that I like. This is kind of vintage looking so I like it really well. If you will notice under the rim of shade are a couple of little birdies sitting as well as one on top of the shade.

this one is cute because it is so whimsical, but that is not exactly what I am looking for.

I do love tall skinny desk lamps but this looks like it has some little glass bauble around it that I don't really care for.

These are just down-right adorable but still not what I am wanting for my office. They seem to be a little too modern.

This is more what I want. Plain, simple, a little elegant but a litte demure. I am going to keep searching.

I am also looking for a little blue table or night stand to put over by my desk. I found a few I like.

Keep Out Signs

Wow, I need one of these signs. Do you ever let people into your head and let their remarks or comments ruin something you otherwise enjoy? And the bad part is that they don't even mean anything by it, we just take it the wrong way. I try not to make comments unless I know the recipient will understand my warped sense of humor.



I am bad about letting others comments get to me though. But no more. I am taking a stand and standing firm.

Here's what happened. It was all perfectly innocent but I took things the wrong way (as I usually do). I had gotten a new purse in my Thirty One add on kit. It is a larger purse and not something most people would carry. But I loved it. One day I carried it to church and a lady I know laughingly asked when I started carrying a diaper bag. I took it to heart and couldn't force myself to carry the purse any more. I sold it.

Then every where I would go, I started seeing the purse. And yes some of the women had small children, but just as many were women my age who just like big purses. Then I started realizing that I DID like that purse and that I missed it.

Long story short, I received a gift certificate from Thirty One last week for a backordered product I had earned for free. I used the gift certificate to purchase the big purse in a different pattern. I received it yesterday and I couldn't be happier with it....even if it STILL looks like a diaper bag.

But you know what? I have decided it doesn't matter what others think about it. I love it. It holds all my stuff and it is HUGE if I get more stuff. And with my signature B on it, I am beyond thrilled with my new purse. Add that to the fact that I found flip flops in black with a touch of Aqua on the tag and I am one happy camper.

So like my purse or laugh because I carry a diaper bag. It's not going to matter to me. I love it.

The Remarkable D

I met a lady quite by chance at my recent yard sale. Long story short, Dee came back by to visit yesterday. She was getting ready to go to field day this week with her niece. She brought some gifts she had made to show me and I fell in love with them. She is a very talented lady and I think I may be having her make me some items in the future.

The first thing she showed me was this cute gift for the teacher. It is a Thirty-One lunch tote. Since I sell Thirty-One, this intrigued me.

She had purchased some strawberry scents from Bath and Body works and placed them inside this adorable Thirty-One lunch tote. She made a cute strawberry card to coordinate with it. On the back of the card, it says "You are 'berry' special."

Since she didn't want the class to be left out, she purchased a huge lollipop for each kid in the class and placed them in this box.

She had cut the monkey out of leaves and heavy card stock and glued him to the box, then she made little monkeys to stick on the suckers. She will be tying a card to each sucker that says "School's out, school's out. Teacher let the monkeys out." These are going to be for their class party.

But the item that I fell in love with is so unique and the craftsmanship is unbelievably detailed. It is a birthday card for her niece's 7th birthday. It is a card in a box. It looks like an cute little box that might hold a small gift.

But she told me to take a peek inside before I opened it. This is what I saw.

Then we took the lid off and the card opened up. Complete with the niece's picture, a place for her to write a little note, a happy birthday wish and a signature card. And right in the middle of the box is the little three tiered birthday "cake". You can't see really good, but on the top layer of cake in the upper right hand is a green 7 with a little yellow flame on it for the candle. There are 7 roses down the cake for each of her niece's 7 years.

I am in love with this little box. She is very talented.



The birthday boy



Nine years ago today, my second grandson was born. He had been trying to arrive for a couple of weeks but the doctors were trying everything to keep labor from coming. He wasn't due for six weeks. But on May 16th, it was out of their hands. He was still a little over a month from his due date when he decided enough was enough and he was ready to face the world. He's been going full steam ahead ever since then.

I just absolutely adored that curly hair he had when he was little. It broke my heart when they gave him his first hair cut.

And sometimes, you can tell by that little mischievous grin on his face that he is about to get into something.

A boy and his dog. Caleb and Spike. He was so proud of his little puppy, but Spike keeps growing as fast as Caleb does.

We are beyond amazed at well he took to being a big brother to Shelby. With 5 years difference in their ages, we thought he might be a little jealous, but he hasn't been. She is almost four and he takes his big brother role very seriously. It is comical at times because she has him wrapped around her finger. He caters to her and watches over her. He cuddles up with her when it storms and makes sure she is taken care of. He is so loving with her. You can tell he will make a great father some day.

He is so proud of his daddy and tries to be just like him. So when Daddy got a motorcycle, Caleb had to have a jacket and a do-rag for himself.

He is our little helper. He is forever wanting to help out with things. He decorates almost the whole tree for his mommy each Christmas. When he is over here, he wants to help cook and even has his own apron. And I can always count on Caleb to run the little Swiffer to pick up the carpet.

His greatest thrill in life will happen today. He is finally old enough to get out of a car seat and to be able to set up front in the car if he wants. It's all he thinks about every time he gets in a vehicle. His mommy had to call "shotgun" for the rest of her life to make sure he doesn't kick her to the back seat!

His daddy drives a Peterbilt and he is semi truck crazy. I can't even count how many semi's Caleb owns in his toy collection. And he can tell you every detail about how one works. He went to a truck show last year and got to set in a brand new Peterbilt. The child was in 7th heaven.

He is such a good kid and I am so proud of him. Happy birthday, Caleb. We love you!

WARNING.....

...reading this post could be dangerous to your relaxation time.

Yes, it's true. I am about to start on another room. Eventually I will get everything the way I want it. You patiently walked with me as I made all the crazy decisions on how to do the master bath.



You have listened to me whine and complain about my office because I couldn't decide what I wanted to do with it.



And I have changed and rearranged stuff in my kitchen until even I don't remember what it originally looked like.



I have been pretty happy with my living room from day one, other than moving a few little things around to make room for new stuff. And my guest bath has wallpaper with pink and blue flowers and I had blue bathroom decor so I stuck with that for now.

But I have never really paid much attention to my bedroom. I have some primitive Americana type items scattered throughout the office that don't really match my decor but I really like them and don't want to put them away.

It had never dawned on me until yesterday that the colors in my quilt in my bedroom are the same colors in most primitive Americana decor. So guess who is getting ready to start on redoing her bedroom decor...Moi!

Stay tuned.

A new week...

It's going to be a busy day today. I am having an open house for my Thirty-One products tonight. I love the new summer catalog and the new Spirit Collection. I want to give everybody a chance to check it out and to see some of the other new patterns.

If you don't live close enough to come to the open house, but would like to see the new catalog, just visit my website.

I had a busy weekend. Friday's yard sale was a huge success. But I still have some cleaning up to do from things I just piled in the guest room.

Saturday I went shopping with my friend Sherrie. Then that evening was my grandson Caleb's birthday party (his birthday is Wednesday).

Sunday being Mother's Day I just laid around the house and relaxed other than church that morning and evening.

Today it is back to the grind. I have to finish cleaning house since I didn't do it Friday like I normally do because of the yard sale.

I have to bake a chocolate cake for tonight. One of the young girls at church has been longing for chocolate cake. She might be coming with her mom to the open house and I promised her there would be chocolate cake if she makes it.

 

I am still trying to decide on food. It is rainy and cool so I may just make a big pot of chili and put it in the crock pot. I could have some chips and crackers with some cheese and onions for those who want it. I could may be make some rolls or cornbread to go with it. I'll have to contemplate that.

Well, with so much to do, I guess I had better get busy. Have a great day!