Friday Faves...a fun find-vintage suitcases!

I haven't blogged about a lot of the details and decor for our youngest daughter's wedding in May.

After all, I don't want the guests to see everything before the big day!

I will tell you that the wedding has a travel theme.

Both my daughter and her fiancé have done a lot of travel and missions work,

and they hope that their future includes a lot more.

So, for the decor, we needed some vintage suitcases.

I've found quite a few in antique stores, but they are priced as the desirable collectibles that they have become.

I was hoping to find some in decent condition at a thrift store,

and I'm happy to say that I did!

They still weren't all that cheap since even the thrifts know what's become collectible,

but they were cheaper than antique store prices.

They don't make suitcases like they used too,

leather with beautiful details inside,

even hangers!

But they are also heavy, so with today's luggage weight limits
 they would be highly impractical to actually use for travel.

But for decor and storage they are quite lovely,

and they're perfect for a travel themed wedding.

Well, it's almost Friday, friends!

Have a HAPPY, HAPPY Friday

and 

a SAFE and BLESSED weekend!

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

Also linking to All Things Heart and Home

             

Soaking in the sun/Son...

The sky is cloudless and blue.

It's chilly outside, 

but the sun streaming through the dining room window

is warm on my neck and shoulders

as my hands cradle a steaming, hot cup of my favorite tea.

I shut my eyes, 

and like a cat,

I stretch and turn toward the sun,

warming myself.

I'm reminded of vacations,

lying in the desert sun,

feeling all of my aches and pains and tension and stress evaporating in the heat.
I cherish these moments of soaking in the sun.

I open the Word.

In the past while reading through the Bible it's always felt like a daily task to check off my to-do list.
I hurried just to get done and then mourned the lack of meaningful interaction.

This year, I'm journaling my way through, 

taking my time and marking margins 

with scribbles and doodles and grade school level drawings, 

with notes and exclamation marks and word meanings and lists.

I have to choose to make the time or it gets stolen away by a marauding band of time robbers.
I am blessed to have the time to take my time when I choose well.

As I bask in the warmth of the words, of The Word,

stretching and turning my soul towards the Son,

I feel all of my aches and pains and tension and stress evaporating in the heat of His love
and the wonder of His Word, of The Living Word.
I cherish these moments of soaking in the Son.

still following,

  

Also joining THOUGHT PROVOKING THURSDAYS 

at 3-D Lessons for Life

A little chalkboard art...

This morning I watched my youngest grandson while my daughter helped

 with a field trip for our two oldest grandkids.

I had a list of things to get done today, so while the baby napped I did some work in my office,

getting some things done on my computer, balancing the checkbook, and paying some bills.

When the baby still hadn't awakened I could have used the spare moments to straighten up the stuff that we've stashed in my office for our youngest daughter's upcoming wedding.

I could have tidied up my messy desk.

But, instead, I tried my hand at a little chalkboard art.

I've got to stick to my priorities after all!

still following,

http://linda-coastalcharm.blogspot.com

Also linking to All Things Heart and Home

             

Blossoms in a blue bottle...

(texture-Kim's Tuesday, hard light, 25% opacity)

I much prefer an old aqua blue mason jar, an old ironstone pitcher,

or in this case, an old blue bottle that found it's way from Europe to a favorite antique store of mine, 

over the fanciest of vases.

(texture-Kim's 3003 lighten, 20% opacity)

And I'm not sure that a florist can compete with the first tree blossoms

 that signal the approach of spring.

(texture-Kim's 3003, lighten, 20% opacity)

(PicMonkey b&w focal, hughes texture, hardlight, 20% opacity)

(texture-Kim's carmel, hardlight, 30% opacity)

(texture-Kim's 0603 texture, hardlight, 30% opacity)

While the rest of the country is frozen and snowy, the Pacific Northwest has had a very mild winter 

and "false spring" weather for much of February.

To my snow bound friends, don't give up hope!

(no texture)

still following,

texture-twist

Building a bridge of trust with planks of thanks...

I do believe Ann has it right.

Gratitude is the building material of which trust is built.

Over five years of counting God's blessings in my life and my testimony is that it has been a life-changing practice.

I see clearly now His very evident hand in my everyday life.

I see His daily faithfulness and trustworthiness.

And I am so very grateful.

************

Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my little green journal.

(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#5824-#5848

2-23-15-

-going to pick up youngest granddaughter from her little friend's house 

and finding them both in a foot deep hole that they dug in the flowerbed

-giving her a bubble bath and buying her a clean clearance sale outfit to wear til Mama gets home

-Papa watching "Ratatouille" with her so I could go on my run

-a piggy back ride on Papa's shoulders

-taking her home and having dinner there at our oldest daughter's house

2-24-15-

-helping in my granddaughter's kindergarten class and her so happy when I do

-this beautiful day

-the hub's going to Costco for me and bringing home the fixings for my favorite quick and easy meal 

(roasted chicken, goat cheese, baguette, grapes)

2-25-15-

-getting a handle on filing and discarding an over full email inbox

-hot coffee and crispy toast smeared with goat cheese and raspberry jam for breakfast

-my daughter's wedding dress is finished!

2-26-15-

-my friend's double hip replacement surgery was a success

-a great evening at our church's prayer and worship night

2-27-15-

-my hub's birthday

-a good "date day" with him

-a fun birthday dinner out with our whole family, two nephews, one niece-in-law, a great niece and great nephew, and our Truelife Espanol pastor and his wife and baby girl

2-28-15-

-another beautiful spring like day

-watching youngest grandson for the afternoon

-taking him on a nice long walk in his stroller

3-1-15-

-it's March!

-wonderful worship, word and presence of God at church today

-lunch by the river

-the Columbia River full of sailboats

-Mt. Hood in the distance

-flowers from my friend at church

gratefully yours,