What I'm up to….

I'm not doing home decor projects right now or out and about thrifting or antiquing.

What I am doing is soaking up the last of these August days and enjoying every moment of having all of my daughters and grandchildren here.

Oldest granddaughter loves helping me cook, clean and putter.

This morning I found her out watering the plants, (and wearing my Hunters!).

Hey, you missed a weed!

It's there, right next to your right foot!

She also helped me make breakfast today.

Multigrain blueberry muffins, this time with lemon zest instead of orange.

She suggested we make scrambled eggs with cheese as well.

We baked her muffin and her little brother's in heart shaped tins.

She also decorated the table on the back patio with this arrangement.

The fact that she has a heart that loves to nest and create beauty makes me smile.

Still following,

Elizabeth

Thanks giving from the mountaintop...

It's easy to give thanks when you're on the mountaintop.

No, life isn't perfect.

But, it's pretty great right now.

Last Sunday, my daughter and grandkids arrived home from Ghana.

Today, youngest daughter arrived home from Missouri.

All three of my daughters and all four of my grandbabies are near, and nothing makes this mama/nana happier!

It's not always this easy to give thanks.

Some weeks I've found it hard to post my weekly gratitude list because of the valley I've found myself in.

It could be adverse outward circumstances or inner struggles that make thanks giving a challenge.

Regardless, for three years next month, I've counted my blessings in the good times and in the bad.

Because God really is good…

ALL the time.

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

I’ve taken the Joy Dare.

I’m counting one thousand thanks in one year.

I hunt for thanksgiving using the prompts Ann gives us each month.

If you are interested in joining in, click the link above or at the bottom of this post.

I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my little black journal…

#2205-#2225

3 gifts in green-

-my only grandson's brownish-green hazel eyes

-green is little blondie's favorite color

-yummy Asian chicken salad eaten out on the patio on a hot summer evening

a gift in a ring-

-tiny toe ring

a gift in a curve-

-the curve of wave on shore

a gift in a sphere-

-juicy nectarine

3 gifts ugly beautiful-

-starfish

-sand covered kiddos

-chocolate ice cream messy faced three year old granddaughter

3 gifts family-

-going to the beach with my daughter and three oldest grandkiddos

-the Hubs encouraging us to go, even though he had to stay home and work

-Papa laughing with youngest granddaughter

3 gifts in the morning-

-windows and doors open to let in the cool morning air

-my grandson climbing up into the bed beside me

-COFFEE, of course! :)

a gift red-

-inside a fresh plum

a gift read-

-studying Proverbs

a gift written-

-the first page in a brand new journal

3 gifts in church-

-voices raised together in songs of praise and worship

-the congregation giving my daughter a "homecoming from Ghana" standing ovation

-giving and receiving a hug, being a listening ear, praying with others

Gratefully yours,

Elizabeth

Psalm 139:8

I love this verse in the Amplified version of the Bible.

I love the fact that God sifts and searches out the path before us.

I picture Him going before us, sifting out the rocks in our way, filling in the potholes.

Anything He allows to remain in the path, He must surely have a great purpose for since He is that careful and watchful over us.

Still following,

Elizabeth

Does God laugh?

I think God in heaven just tips His head back and belly laughs sometimes.

I really do!

After all, we were created to laugh, and weren't we made in His image,

and isn't He the one that said that laughter does good like medicine?

I think He cries too, and Heaven knows, there's plenty of things in this world of His to cry about.

But, I don't believe His cries are ever cries of hopelessness or despair, because He knows the end of the story.

I think His tears are over what we do to ourselves.

Oh, how He loves us, and hates what we do to hurt ourselves and one another.

Hates?

Yes, I believe He hates.

He hates the sin that destroys His most beloved creation.

Angry?

Yes, I believe He gets angry too.

Not the kind of anger we feel when things are out of our control or we're frustrated, but the anger of righteous indignation.

He is Righteous.

And oh, how very much He has to be indignant about in this sin deformed world.

But, He is full of joy, too.

He sings, He spins with delight, He claps His hands, and He laughs.

Oh, how He laughs!

It must shake all of heaven and ripple through the whole universe when He laughs.

This week I feel His smile.

I feel His joy.

I can almost hear His laughter…

as baby granddaughter gets more yogurt on her than in her…

as only grandson tries his hardest to catch one of auntie's chickens…

as cousins splash together on hot summer days…

and share m and m covered donuts...

as sand castle building and sea creature catching are the work of the day...

and even middle aged Nana's can't help but leap for the joy of it all.

Yes, I believe that God laughs.

And I know that He loves.

Oh, how very, very much, He loves.

Still following,

Elizabeth

Decorating with Wooden French Rosaries

I noticed one on Rachel's lovely blog, Shabby French for Me .

Then Laurie on her fabulous blog, Heaven's Walk, made one herself!

They're lovely wooden French rosaries.

It, (they), inspired me with a little idea of my own.

While you can find out how to make rosaries via google, I'm not Catholic.

I decided to make something similar, but not with the exact design of a rosary.

A friend from church made me the chunky wooden cross.

Then I bought a container of assorted large wooden beads.

It was a quick, easy, simple and enjoyable project.

It's draped over my little drawer cubby in my home office, (aka Elizabeth's sanctuary).

Something about it makes me smile every time I see it.

Since it's not a rosary, I just call it my Jesus beads.

I love the chunky, warm, wood tones of the beads and the reminder of what Christ did for me on the cross here in the room where I have my devotions, blog, write and create.

Still following,

Elizabeth