Sisters

(Me, Daddy, and my sister Rachel)

 Sisters are a blessing from God. They are the other half of your soul. They are connected with the deepest part of your heart. My sister is one of my best friends. We shared a room; we shared our secrets. We shared our Barbies and we shared our clothes. But most importantly we shared our love. We are many miles apart and don't get to visit as often as we should, but one phone call can bring the joy and laughter back together. Today is my sister's birthday. Rachel is 13 1/2 months older than I am. She was and is still a great role model for a kid sister to have. I know there were times growing up that I probably drove her nuts, because that's what part of a kid sisters job is. 

I may have not always kept my side of the room as perfect as hers. I may have kept busy to avoid doing my share of the dishes many a times and she had to do them all by herself. I may have bugged her to borrow her favorite sweater. And I may have even teased her about her boyfriends. But no matter what, she knows that I truly and deeply love her with every beat of my hear. Here is a poem I wrote for her birthday many years ago. Sis, I hope you have a very happy birthday today and may God continue to bless you year after year. 

Sisters 

When she was one, she approached the crib. Her small steps were slow and a little unsteady as she was but a mere babe herself. The folks had tried to explain this little creature to her. But she did not understand. She gazed in awe at the little one and wondered, what exactly is this thing they call "Sisters"? But so much is not understood when you are one. 

When she was six, she could hardly sleep. She whispered across the room to her sister. "Tomorrow is the first day of school and I can't wait to go, but I hate to leave you." The kid sister just smiled. She knows her big sister has no choice. For that's how it is when you are six. 

When she was thirteen, she sat in her room trying to read. She's thinking what a pain kid sisters can be. All she wants is her own room. But all she gets is a kid sister who is a pain in the neck. But that's how it is when you are thirteen. 

When she was sixteen, she learned to drive. She discovered it's pretty good having a kid sister. Parents are less suspecting if you offer to take Sis along. But sometimes kid sisters can be so immature and embarrassing in front of the boys. But that's how it is when you're sixteen. 

When she is eighteen, she sits in the room they shared and stares at the wall. Tomorrow she will wed. A lone, silent tear slowly glides down her cheek. She thinks back on the times they've shared and the memories they've made. So much time has passed and so much love has grown. As she starts her new life, she knows she will never be alone. That other half will always be with her in her heart.

'Cause that's how it is when you're sisters.

Planning Ahead

Next Saturday, I am hosting an Origami Owl party for a friend of mine. I have never even been to one of these types of parties so I'm not sure what to expect. I did look at that catalog and I would love to get one of the lockets for a grandmother. This one is similar to what I would want. It is funny that the sample I found of what I like actually has three boys and two girls in it since that is what my grandbabies are. But the birthstone colors would be different in mine. I just love this.

I had it all planned out. I was going to have the theme a tea party since I have all kinds of tea pots and tea cups. 

Of course, I don't drink tea which is crazy since I have so many tea items. One pot may have to serve lemonade. But I kept getting stuck on a menu. What to do, what to do??

Then I got up this morning and when I checked Facebook to see what everybody was up to, I saw this in my Pyrex Passion Facebook group.

I just bought this exact bowl last week. This reminded me that we are still in the midst of fall and my house is decorated for fall and Halloween. So now I am thinking I may need to do a Harvest theme. I've been checking out my Pyrex this morning and I have some great fall pieces that I could use for serving. 

Plus I have a lot of wicker baskets, which reminds me of fall. Not to mention my new fall tablecloth and centerpiece along with a new milk glass serving tray and my ghost cookie jar That I could incorporate for the theme.

My coffee table in the living room is already fixed for fall and I could place some mints and nuts in the little candy dishes on it. 

I guess I will be visiting Pinterest for some fall food ideas. I want something simple and easy that doesn't have to be fixed at the last minute. Maybe something in a crock pot or some finger foods. I will have to decide soon.

Any thoughts on food ideas would be appreciated!

Loving Beth Moore

My sister and I were talking the other day about our mutual love of Beth Moore and her bible studies. My sister is currently attending one on The Beloved Disciple. The first one I ever attended was A Heart Like His: A Study of King David. I have also attended one on Jesus the One and Only as well as Esther: It's Tough Being a Woman. 

 

Beth holds your attention with every word she speaks. Whether she is using a bible situation to bring you closer to God or sharing a personal time of her life to teach you that we are all human, she can bring tears to your eyes and laughter to your soul. She sprinkles her stories with humor and seriousness. For those of you who have never heard or seen Beth in action, I thought I would share one of my favorite video clips from one of her meetings. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do. 

What the Fed Ex guy brought

I got a Thirty-One order in for one of my customers today. I am in love with the new Snow Daze pattern. This is the Little Carry All Caddy.

I think my next buy will be the Medium Thermal Tote. I'm not sure what pattern I will get it in yet. But the snowmen are cute. 

I am in love with these little snowmen. I'm taking up orders to try to earn a new product they are coming out with in the spring. If anyone wants to see the fall catalog or is interested in purchasing anything, please visit my site at www.mythirtyone.com/brendakeefer.

The next few months...

We are coming into that time of year when my life gets busy, busy, busy. And I love every minute of it. My calendar is already filling up.

It is the middle of October and I still have three more Bible Study meetings to go to this month. I'm making brownies to take to the next one. We are going to have an ice cream social as part of the bible study.

There is a 9 mile yard sale one Saturday that I want to go to. I got some good deals at it the last couple of years.

There is a baby shower for my son-in-law's sister-in-law that I will be going to. One night I am going to help decorate the Fellowship Hall and then the next night I will be going back for the shower.

I have a Thirty-One meeting to go to one Saturday. Those are always fun and we always get a free Thirty-One product for attending. I'm making a dessert to take to that one, but not sure what I will make. Thinking about my chocolate cinnamon cookies with chocolate icing. 

That same night, I'll be having my first Origami Owl party. I met the consultant through our mutual Thirty-One businesses.



Trunk-or-Treat is coming up at church and I like to go see all the little costumes the kids come up with. We get a lot of homemade unique ones, not just store bought.



My daughter can't get off work for my granddaughter's first school party so I told her I would try to take off work and go to it in her place.



Then, of course, trick-or-treat is coming up when all the ghosts and goblins prowl around the neighborhoods looking for candy.



And all of that is just in the next two weeks. I think I need to take a nap just thinking about how much I have to do this month.

Weekend Wrap Up

First off, I want to give a great big Congratulations! to my granddaughter, Alexis, and her cheer team for getting Superior at the competition yesterday.

I've had a busy weekend and got a lot of stuff done around the house. But I did manage to squeeze in some shopping time at some local antique stores. I finally found the Pyrex Town & Country divided dish that I have been looking for for months.

And I found the snowflake one also. I was thrilled. They were both well under $10 each. 

I use them at my Thirty-One parties and for Thanksgiving & Christmas for chips and dips, or queso cheese and nacho chips. But a lately in one of my Pyrex FB groups uses her to serve spaghetti in one side and salad in the other for her family's dinners. I was so thrilled to find these.

I also found this vintage dish towel which I am loving. I have been looking for a tablecloth in this vintage pattern, but never could find one that wasn't stained or was big enough for my table. So this is a perfect way to have that pattern in my kitchen. 

 I went to Joanne's Saturday and picked up some more Christmas pieces for some projects I am doing. 

And some glittery ribbon and rick rack for the projects. 

I finally got my Halloween decorations out. It just isn't Halloween without my ghost cookie jar. 

In Sunday School class yesterday morning, I was admiring the dotted curtains on our classroom window. 

Upon closer inspection, I found they had been made from a felt backed plastic tablecloth. What a cute idea. I never would have thought of that. 

My mother loves to read, but she doesn't get out as much as she used to. A friend of mine gave me a box of books to take when I go in to see Mom next month. They were all her favorite authors. Mom is going to be thrilled. I called her last night and read her the name and most of the descriptions of everyone of them. She can't wait to get them. There were well over 30 of them.  

As I was reading them, I noticed one had a card still in it for a bookmark. I pulled it out to look at it and just had to sit there and smile since this is my absolute favorite bible verse in the world. If my friend doesn't want it back, this is going in my bible. It was an awesome find to end my weekend. 

Harvest Time

"And these are the days of the harvest

The fields are all white in Your world

And we are the laborers that are in Your vineyard

Declaring the Word of the Lord"

I always test out any craft we make for Sunday School class so I can know how to tell the kids to do it. Today was an easy one. I thought it was appropriate since it was about Harvest.

This is one of my favorite times of the year. It is a time of blessings as we are reminded of the bountiful grace God bestows on us daily. 

I found some inspirational posters for harvest season that I really like. And I wanted to share them with you today.