Amazing love…

 

It’s a joy to have my two oldest grandbabies visiting from South Carolina.

One of the biggest pleasures has been having all of my grandbabies together again,

the two older ones with their little cousin, my youngest granddaughter.

I have three grandbabies, (and another on the way!).

God brought two of them into our family through adoption.

We love them every bit as much as our natural born grandbaby.

Did you know that Father God loves you and me, His adopted children,

every bit as much as He loves His Son Jesus?

John 17:23  “I am in them and You are in me.

May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent Me

and that You love them as much as You love Me.”

Isn’t that amazing!

And if that isn’t something to be grateful for, I don’t know what is!

My continuing gratitude list #1122-1133

-a text from my girl

-safe flight home with my grandbabies, and we made our connecting flight,

in spite of a two hour delay on departure

-the “cousins”

-an especially beautiful spring day

-the unusual surprise of three mallard ducks in our backyard

-eating outside for the first time this season

-second born daughter’s birthday

-an overnight trip to the beach with the two oldest grandbabies

-oldest granddaughter’s spontaneous comment, “Nana, every time I look at you, you have a smile on your face.” (Oh, for that to be true is my prayer!)

-God’s peace in a potentially stressful situation

-the way old Jerry Lewis movie’s make the grandbabies laugh

-the way baby granddaughter says only grandson’s name

 

Gratefully yours,

Elizabeth

-

My Rock…

 

He truly is My Rock.

Whenever circumstances have shaken me I feel Him,

steady and immovable beneath my feet, all around me.

I’m so grateful, so thankful.

 

Still following,

Elizabeth

Friday Favs…Photo fun, mystery flowers,wooden boxes,beach trips

The grandbabies are here from South Carolina,

so this week I have no new home projects or purchases to show you,

although I have a couple projects up my sleeve I might wrangle those grandkids into helping me with while they are here.

In the meanwhile, while they were watching an old Jerry Lewis movie with Papa last night,

I was snuggled up next to them playing around on my computer

with photos of pretties and adding my favorite new Kim Klaussen texture.

Their giggles at Jerry’s silly antics was music to my ears.

 

So, these little purple flowers just sprung up in my front flowerbed. 

Are they a weed?

If so, they are a pretty little weed.

Who knew when I made over my old stool,

that the white stool sitting next to the side of my white refrigerator

would become my favorite place to shoot little vignettes.

I love my white wooden box

In this photo you can also see a gray wooden tote on top of my dish cabinet.

I have a weakness for old wooden boxes, totes, crates…

Well, that’s all I have for you today.

I feel “little kid- tummy butterflies- excited” that we are headed to the beach with the grandbabies for a little overnight adventure, and the weather is supposed to be nice!

In honor of that here’s a final photo with a beach-y twist.

Hope you have a Happy Friday and a fabulous weekend.

Elizabeth

 

 

A savor every bite then lick the plate clean kind of day…

I know that every breath is a God gift

Every second

Every minute

Every day

Everything

Even the times and circumstances we don’t particularly like or understand

He knows best

Always loves us and is always good

But today, it just seemed like He reached down and gave us a little taste of heaven

A golden, sunshine-y day, all wrapped up in ribbons and bows

The kind of day that made us do the happy dance that we live in beautiful western Oregon

and made us forget all of the times we’ve mumbled and grumbled about the incessant gray skies and rain

A day when even Papa played hooky from the busy everyday

Because all of our grandbabies are here together

A day to wash winter’s grime from the patio furniture

And eat a weekday dinner outdoors

A day to light a fire and have s’mores for dessert just because we can

Yes, today was a little taste of heaven day

A savor every bite of it

then lick the plate clean

kind of day

 

Still following,

Elizabeth

Thrift store finds, yummy banana bread recipe and I try out a “french-y” texture…

I love Kim Klaussen’s photo textures. 

If you’re into photography be sure to take her free Skinny Mini Photoshop e-course,

and also sign up for her free textures.

That is my way to warn you of a photo heavy post using my newest free texture from her, ”pour vous”.  Love it!

On my visit to South Carolina, I discovered that the thrift stores are much cheaper than the ones in Portland, Oregon, but to me it seems that the antique stores in S.C. are more expensive than the ones at home.

At a Value Village thrift store in S.C. I bought this heavy, white, stoneware platter for 80 cents! 

And some white English ironstone saucers for 10 cents each!

Now we shall see how successful I am at getting them home on the plane unbroken.

The banana bread was yummy.  Here’s proof…

…and here’s the recipe

Banana Bread

Makes two loaves…

Preheat oven to 350.

In mixing bowl, mix together the dry ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour

1 1/2 cups whole wheat bread flour

1 cup granulated sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Add wet ingredients:

5-6 medium sized very ripe bananas mashed well

2 lightly beaten eggs

1/2 cup canola oil

Mix well with wooden spoon but do not over mix.

Spray two loaf pans with non-stick spray.

Bake at 350 for 45-50 minutes.

(chopped walnuts or pecans may be added to this recipe)

 

Enjoy!

Elizabeth

 

 

 

Savoring the moments with gratitude…

 

I’m here in a twin bed all decked out in new “Phineas and Ferb” sheets, oldest granddaughter and only grandson are squabbling about being in each other’s space as they share the other twin bed in the room.  It’s almost 11 pm and they should have been asleep long ago, but with their schooling done for the year and Nana visiting they have enjoyed late nights and lazy mornings.  My week in South Carolina is almost over. Tuesday they will fly home with me to Oregon and spend three weeks before Papa flies them back across the country to their Mama and Daddy. For three weeks I will have all of my grandbabies together in one place. It’s not forever, but for this week, and for the three weeks to come, I’m savoring the moments with gratitude.

 

My continuing gratitude list #1106-#1121

 

-throwing pennies in the mall fountain with baby granddaughter

 

-sharing frozen yogurt and strawberries

 

-her little golden braids

 

-making up once upon a time stories

 

-a safe flight to South Carolina

 

-flying above a sea of clouds, the mountaintops like islands

 

-making homemade cinnamon rolls with oldest granddaughter

 

 

-eating them for breakfast with a cup of hot coffee

 

-seeing my son-in-law’s hometown for the first time

 

-grandson’s 7th birthday

 

 

-making his birthday dinner (homemade pizza) and cake

 

 

-baby granddaughter singing Happy Birthday via video to her cousin

 

-bike rides around the lake

 

-the words, “Nana, I just love you”, as we rode bikes together, from the one who’s love language is quality time

 

 

-good news from home about a great church service

 

-shopping and dinner out with my daughter

 

Gratefully yours,

Elizabeth