Thanksgiving Duet

We had the pleasure of going to my aunt's house to spend Thanksgiving with my mom, something that I haven't done since I was married 20+ years ago.  So blessed to visit with cousins and hear my mom's laughter mingle with her sister's.  They are always up to something!

I also love to see my aunt's table set, since she has the same Wexford glass pattern that I collect, along with a beautiful set of Laughlin china.  I  haven't really gotten to use more than my drinking glasses, and I love to see the different pieces she has, imagining how lovely my own table - Lord willing in our new home soon - will look when it is set with my own glass dishes and china
.

After dinner, my aunt talked Jackson into trying a duet with her.  She has been the church pianist for decades, and he is a talented piano player who is looking to go into Church Music as his career/ministry.  The perfect pair.  : -)  She had a variety of music to choose from and they were able to play several songs together with some success!

I think this is my favorite picture of the day -

First Day of School 2011-2012

I love the beginning of a new school year!  Everyone is excited to begin, the binders have been cleaned out and loaded with new goodies, and my dreams of "This year is going to be THE great year!" still have hope.    Just kidding on that last part - - well, sort of.  ;-)

My sweet girl above, ready to work on her assignments.

Love this young man.  He's been my sunshine for many years!

 

This one is a senior this year.  Wow.  I'll add the requisite "wasn't it just a few short years ago that he was wearing little osh kosh b'gosh overalls and climbing up into my lap for a story?"

It is so appropriate that he's at the piano.  That is his passion.  The first thing he heads for in the morning and one of the last places you'll find him before heading to bed.  He wants to make music his career.  

This year holds a lot of changes for us.  Praying that we will be found faithful as we experience the joys, blessings, cloudy and downright foggy days ahead.

Sunday Happy Thoughts

Something that brought a smile today ~



Just after lunch, snapped a few pictures of the birds in our birdbath ~









How could you NOT smile after watching such a brisk and happy site? :-)

Magnificent

These were taken Sunday, February the 22nd. The clouds were breathtaking and demanded to be photographed. So I pulled over to the side of the off-ramp on the way to evening service. The height of the ramp provides the perfect view -




Beautiful, beautiful sunset created by an absolutely magnificent LORD!

Sweet Little Friends

Working in the Nursery is always fun! Two of our favorite little people are both characters -

Smile Mr. J!


Hmmm . . . . . okay.

Smile Miss A!


Yeah. Just the look her daddy would make - too funny!

Sunday Friends

Took these of the children escorting their favorite little O's to their Momma after church a few Sundays ago.

Love that J and Little J have the same eyes here ~

Bits of Our Day

It was a beautiful day today, more like May than March, and we spent the afternoon outside working on some backyard projects.

Dear Son #3 built a gate for one of our garden areas, Dear Son #2 and I beefed up the chicken yard fence and then Son made a new gate for their yard, and daughter planted some new lettuce plants that have sprouted and are growing well ~


Over the fence I spied this very interesting overgrown lemon of the neighbor's tree -


- and loved to see that our pea plants are growing well. I can't wait for our first harvest!

Feeding Finches

I found this four-armed feeder on clearance at the pet store last week and quickly put it to good use. It was not long before our little goldfinches had told all of their friends and family to come along for the feast ~


If I could take a larger picture and blow it up - Oh!! There are finches on the tree to the left and the tree to the right all just waiting their turn to get at the feeders. The movement and the jostling and the beautiful birds and colors, and their size is all just wonderful to watch. We stop often during the day to look at out the window and smile.

The Lord is good ~

Faces that I Love

Sew Suite Friends

A week after my birthday two of my dearest friends came to celebrate! Mrs. T brought lunch for all of our crew (10 children) and Mrs. D made her famous chocolate cake! We had a wonderful visit, the children got to visit and play games, and we were all blessed.

Mrs. T made this beautiful card for me ~

~ She is my priceless friend! So thankful for the Lord's goodness in bringing these fabulous ladies and their families into our lives.

They gifted me with a set of stamps and matching paper, very appropriate since Mrs. D is the one who hooked me into the stamping mania in the first place! I finally got the stamps out this week and made Thank You cards for each of these dear friends - I hope they like them!