Thankful Thursday~Still

I am truly thankful this day and all others for

1. 
   
   Life itself-My Lord & Savior &the assurance of  Eternal Life
2. 
   
   Family, Family, Family
3. 
   
   Christian Friends -especially the women in my life-my Sunday School class, Tuesday Bible study-Oh, joy, joy~Thank you God for this Group
4. 
   
   Creation~ yes I have to repeat that. It speaks to my innermost being-all my senses-indeed how could anyone be surrounded by His Creation and Not See God!?
5. 
   
   The "days of our lives"..each and every one is precious when one reaches a 'certain' age It should be that way even when we are younger.
6. 
   
   Prayer~that connection, communication with our Lord & knowing it's a "live" open connection
7. 
   
   The FRILLS, the EXTRAS, the FROSTING, the things I do not NEED..but am blessed to be able to enjoy-some material, others like time with loved ones, travel and exposure to new things

The number 7 is a good place to pause..

Family Enjoying the Beach in March this year.  Gathering as we can.

Leaving Dogwood Canyon, near Branson, Missouri July 2010

Click on photo to get a close up view..So impressive it almost takes your breath away-on the back of the Andy Williams Theater [ I think ]

A Blogger Has to Share~

The Table Arrangement on the front porch: That's what happened to those natural stalks of OKRA  a thoughtful friend left in my back yard anonymously. I just added some simple twigs, some curly willow [Ted grows it], lotus pods, garlic blooms & a few fresh sprigs of asparagus fern & eucalyptus.

The other photos show the pine Chaise Ted just finished [ Oh, for me?} All that's still to be added is two small wheels on the front legs and someone without attention deficit disorder to plop down with a big cold glass of iced tea and a good book that needs to be finished..It can't get much better without heading for the beach.

mmm actually I am pondering the thought that just perhaps this might be considered adding some elegance to my environment/ 

The barn red bench to the left: This very substantial bench has been weathering on the patio for three seasons now without repainting or repair. I really appreciate that this bench is  very heavy and a  generous size. Weight is not an issue.

Looks Like a Collection to Me~

Look closely~ do you recognize any of these bottles from your childhood years? Can you spot the "liquid Kool-aid" bottle [s]?  I'll let you spot the other once familiar bottles.

Tough Questions, Simple Answers?

Some things I will never understand:

1. How a man can walk away from his little ones as they beg him to stay 

2. How a woman can walk out the door and  leave her family

3. How a child can turn his back on his family-his God

4. How anyone can hurt or kill  a little child

5. How children and grandchildren can poke fun at their parents and grandparents

6. How a Child of the King can walk away... from his Creator, his Saviour, his parents, his family.

7. How a man or woman can be unfaithful to a mate who has devoted  their life to you

I will never understand.

*A loved one recently gave me the answer: "Mom, it's SIN. SIN blinds people. They do not see what we are seeing." Even so, I still cannot understand.

My Aunt Laura

I wish each of you could have known my Aunt Laura [Mobley] Since each of you could not then I hope you have someone like her in your life or perhaps even better still [if you are a bit older as I am] that YOUR CHILDREN have an Aunt Laura in their lives.


Left to right: Ileen Mobley, Laura Mobley, Eulita Mobley, Rachel Lee Mobley
Aunt Laura is Ileen and Eulita's Mother. Rachel, [my Gramma] is Laura's Mother-in-law.
These aprons are about as fancy as you ever saw these women wearing..



Strange, Mysterious and Wonderful

Sometimes people bless me with strange gifts.  This week a large bundle of freshly pulled from the ground stalks of dried and drying OKRA just appeared on the back of Ted's golf cart.  I was a bit slow-saw something from a distance but wasn't curious enough to take a close look..just assumed it was something Ted had  dropped there.  Two or three days later as I walked over, took a close look and realized it was stalks of okra pulled up roots and all.  That's when I knew I had the most amazing husband on this earth.  That sweetheart had salvaged those from who knows where and KNOWING HOW I LOVE NATURALS brought them home for me..now THAT'S A ROMANTIC GESTURE.

He was working at the back yard and I called out to him "Ted, where did you get those stalks of Okra?"  He answered "I didn't -I thought you had brought them home."

Funny, he should have taken credit but that's okay now I know someone who knows my peculiar love of naturals has just done the most thoughtful thing..he or she remembered! and shared.

It's still a mystery- someone will confess though.

Now I ask you~ what does it say about one when your friends or your husband's friends bring you strange gifts?  That's not the first or strangest.  Ted's friends have sent me things like a huge beautifully in tact HORNET'S NEST a few years back. Another sent me unique beautiful little rocks collected while on vacation in Colorado. My sweetheart brought home a large collection of huge incredible ACORNS from a White Oak once..still have some of those too.

Strange, Mysterious and wonderful! I do enjoy God's creation.

Coming Soon~ Autumn

We saw leaves falling as we sat on the deck looking out toward a wooded area and were surprised.  It's AUGUST 30 for goodness sakes!

Why are we always surprised? It happens every year.  Fall doesn't descend upon us  mid November all in one 'fell swoop' - It comes slowly, gradually beginning with those first few breezes that take just a small swoosh of partially yellowed leaves and scatter them to give us hope, hope for cooler weather and joy in the realization of God's perfect plan as he designed the earth, planned the seasons.

 Fall is Coming Soon-even in the deep South [ Brundidge, Alabama ]

What a Great God I serve!