Happy Trails to you...
Until we meet again.





Roy Rogers Riders Club Rules:

1. Be neat and clean.
2. Be courteous and polite.
3. Always obey your parents.
4. Protect the weak and help them.
5. Be brave but never take chances.
6. Study hard and learn all you can.
7. Be kind to animals and take care of them.
8. Eat all your food and never waste any.
9. Love God and go to Sunday school regularly.
10. Always respect our flag and our country



The Ten Commandments in Verse


Above all else love God alone;
Bow down to neither wood or stone.
God's name refuse to take in vain;
The Sabbath rest with care maintain.
Respect your parents all your days;
Hold sacred human life always.
Be loyal to your chosen mate;
Steal nothing neither small nor great.
Report, with truth, your neighbor's deed;
And rid your mind of selfish greed."

from the MuGuffey Reader


(Both of those ditty's were posted in the first month of my blog.
If you need a little dose of Quiet while I'm gone, take a look at the really old entries :o)






Katie will be staying with a wonderful family of seven while we are gone.
Jeaneen and Peter very graciously invited Katie to stay with them.
We are awed by their kindness.
Katie is over the moon with happiness and excitement!

If you wouldn't mind...
Please say a prayer for Jeaneen and Peter....
for Katie...
and for this small band of nervous yet wildly excited travelers.


Until we meet again...

Encourage one another,
Donna

That darn cat!

Thanks to alert reader AmyJ, we may be in for more than we anticipated in gay Paris.

Youth riot at train station.

I'm trying to stay positive and trying not to awfulize myself into a tizzy.

And yes, we have to go thru this station to get into Paris from the airport.


Ellyn sent me a lovely list of some of her favorite things to do in Paris.
One salon has me dreaming chocolate dreams....




Angelina's]
226 Rue de Rivoli


Rioters don't want hot chocolate, do they?


********

So...American Idol...

Who was best last night?

I can not believe I'm going to say this...but I was very impressed with Punk Girl.




This is not Punk-girl.
This is goofy Sanjaya.

"Seven pony tails for good luck."

Bwahahahaha

Here is what Simon said,

“I presume there was no mirror in your dressing room tonight. I don’t think it matters anymore what we say. I genuinely don’t. You’re in your own universe and if people like you, then good luck.”


And one more television show to talk about before I get busy here...

Dancing with the Stars!

What I like: The dancing. Especially Apollo Ono and Joey Fatone.

What I don't like: (cause I've always got an opinion, bay-bee) The hours they spend rehashing and rehashing and rehashing....to get to the results.

Stop it. Just stop it!


Allrighty...I gotta run!
Tell me what you think.
Please :o)


Encourage one another,
Donna

Janice and Janet have always been and will always be our special babies.
It was very special to have twins way back in the 60's.
Our brown eyed Greek and our blue eyed Dane.
Born to be one another's, one another, forever.
A gift to one another.
Forever friends.
Forever sisters.
Forever twins.

Happy Birthday baby sisters.

Forever younger than me :o)


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

Click on Pic to Enlarge :o)




She's the kind of girl
who doesn't even notice
her hair is in her face.





She's the kind of girl
who hits her mommy in the
bottom with the baseball.





She's the kind of girl
the camera loves.




Encourage one another,
Donna

Thanks for the great comments yesterday!
I think the most amazing people visit this blog!
(My sister's have mentioned this to me on the telephone.
I heartily agree!)

Goin' to the chapel and we're gonna get married :o)


I have a very big announcement!!




Matthew and Melinda are engaged!!!

We are very happy for the sweet young couple!
Melinda is a lovely girl and we know she loves our Matthew very much :o)
Matthew is not free with words (unless he is talking about sports) but we know Melinda is his one and only and that he adores her.

They both love the Lord and met one another serving at church.
Pretty good place to start :o)

In honor of Matthew and Melinda,
let's do the Wedding Meme.

Melinda, I know you can't answer most of the questions, but why not tell us how you and Matthew met (if I have it wrong) and what you thought of him, and what your ring looks like, and how it feels to be engaged :o)

God bless you two!






Wedding Meme

1. Where/How did you meet?

2. How long have you known each other?

3. How long after you met did you start dating?

4. How long did you date before you were engaged?

5. How long was your engagement?

6. How long have you been married?

7. What is your anniversary?

8. How many people came to your wedding reception?

9. What kind of cake did you serve?

10. Where was your wedding?

11. What did you serve for your meal?

12. How many people were in your wedding party?

13. Are you still friends with them all?

14. Did your spouse cry during the ceremony?

15. Most special moment of your wedding day?

16. Any funny moments?

17. Any big disasters?

18. Where did you go on your honeymoon?

19. How long were you gone?

20. If you were to do your wedding over,

21. What side of the bed do you sleep on? Right.

22. What size is your bed? Queen

23. Greatest strength as a couple?

24. Greatest challenge as a couple?

25. Who literally pays the bills?

26. What is your song?

27. What did you dance your first dance to?

28. Describe your wedding dress:

29. What kind of flowers did you have at your wedding?

30. Are your wedding bands engraved?

31. How old were you when you got married?

HT for the meme to Staci


Melinda texted that picture on cell phones across the nation to all of her friends yesterday afternoon with their good news! (That is quite the sentence. Is that five prepositions I see? Eek)

It's a brave new world.


See you in the comments!
(And if the meme is too long...just say 'hey' to Matthew and Melinda :o)


Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. Sisters, doesn't Matthew look like Jim?

Snooze Button

I tried a little experiment on myself last night.





I have been concerned about flying thru the night and landing in Paris at 7:00am.
We have every intention of hitting the ground running! (That's two cliche's in one sentence!. Tylenol PM: The cliche inducing pill)

I do not sleep on planes. In fact, I get a little air sick.
Sooo....I wanted to try something.
Wine has been advised, but I don't drink.
Valium has been advised, but I'm not that close with my Doc and didn't want to go in for an appointment.
Tylenol PM was recommended by a number of frequent fliers, so I bought some this week.

Enter, the cold.

Two days ago my throat started hurting. For me, this means a cold is coming.
Now, I don't take pills, usually.
Astragalus, yes. Wonderful herb to boost the immune system.
But Tylenol Cold or Tylenol PM. Never.

What better time to try the Tylenol PM.

I'd like some relief from that painful swallowing.

So I took two caplets before bed.

(Such pretty blue and white pills.....)

I never felt fuzzy.
I just read and fell asleep.

Emma said I was snoring when she came up.
But this in not unusual, she informs me.

"You always snore"

How comforting.

So that's my plan.

A little self-medication and I hopefully will get a couple of hours of sleep.
And if it doesn't work out that way...

I will be in Paris!

Just one look at the Eiffel Tower will energize me for months, I think!



I think I'm going to cry!

Tell me. Have you been to Paris?


Encourage one another,
Donna

Friday Feast


Appetizer
Who is your favorite news anchor/reporter? Why?

Soup
Name 3 foods that are currently in your freezer.

Salad
If you were to have the opportunity to name a new town or city, what would you call it?

Main Course
What will most likely be the next book you read?

Dessert
What's the first thing you notice about the opposite gender?


As many of you know, I don't make these questions up, they come from Friday Feast
Last week, I think someone infered that I made up the questions...and I don't want to take credit for something I don't do.

A couple of these questions are reruns...the city and opp. gender question....
But maybe no one remember besides me :o)

I am going with the girls to Choir and Art class today aka Flame.

I am on vacuum duty! Woot.

It actually falls on the perfect day as there is also a Tour 2007 meeting.

Remember how the high schoolers go on a tour each spring....that is coming up so fast!
As is prom and graduation.

Poor unsocialized homeschoolers.

Emma sent in an application for a scholarship at the business where her dad works.
I wonder if they have ever had a home schooled applicant.

Just paving the way...that's us.

I think Emma has a good chance.

I hope.

She has been accepted at DePaul, Judson, and Texas Christian University.
Her #1 choice, Moody, will send out letters on April 1st.

So that is still up in the air.


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


Did you enjoy Grey's Anatomy?

Is George right to keep his sin to himself so as not to burden Callie?
What do you think of that?
Seems secrets don't stay secret when there is another person involved.
(At least in the television/soap opera world)

And Izzy, come on! Who writes for that girl?

"Maybe God wanted us together"

Yay for Addison (the unexpected voice of reason)

"So God wanted you to commit adultry?"

small sermon:

Sin is never God's plan for your life. (I know we could have a philosophical discussion about sin here...but I just mean in general :o)

Obedience and loving others.

That's how I see it.

Oh dear, it's Fine Art Friday.

I looked for something to share last night and got distracted on the internet.
So I will share a picture I remembered I loved...
That has nothing to do with our trip.
But is so beautiful to me, I just might say it is my very favorite.
And I'll bet you have never seen it!




The Prairie is My Garden
By Harvey Dunn

Isn't it wonderful.


I have to run!
See you in the comments!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Sorry I'm late!

Our cable was down again!

I was up at 1:30 this morning because of a rumbly, lightning-filled thunderstorm.
And the computer was working then :o)

I like to watch the radar on line and check for tornado warnings.

By 2:30 things had quieted down enough for me to go back to bed.


All of the lingering piles of snow have been washed away!
And a sparrow is making it's home in our old bird house.



It's a fine, sunny day.


And I am wearing a pair of Levi's Boot Cut Jeans.
I tell ya.

Emma and I headed over to JayCee Penny's and gathered up two pair of denim type pants.

Jeans and Capri's.

Emma was so sweet and helpful and positive.

I highly recommend taking her shopping with you.


American Idol

It was shocking to see young Chris in the bottom two last night!
He looked like he was going to cry.

Even tho all of the judges said he was Fintastic (Hollywood was of saying fantastic)
Chris was not voted for.

The three worst singers stood together at one point and were told to sit down as they were 'safe'.

I really hope this is not because of the 'vote for the worst'campaign.
Can a grass roots effort really effect the voting?


Prayer

My short fast from the internet this morning gave me more time to pray for those I am lifting up today.


A feeling of real need is always a good enough reason to pray.
Hannah Whitall Smith


You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
~Isaiah 26:3

Lord, hear our prayer.


Encourage one another,
Donna

Since I decided to cook more, here are the meals I have prepared;

Lasagna
Roasted Pork Tenderloin
Beef Tenderloin
Free Range Chicken
Chicken a la King
Hamburger
Chili

Side dishes included;

applesauce
hash browns
green salad
cottage cheese
chips
baked potatoes
mashed potatoes
toast or bagels
buttered corn
bearnaise sauce


The lasagna has been the favorite I think...
we are still eating leftovers.

I liked the beef tenderloin because of the bearnaise sauce.
Have you ever put bearnaise sauce on broccoli?
It's really delicious!

Nothing too fancy for my gang.
In fact, Katie asks if she has to eat the meat.
I give her very tiny portions.


**********

Any thoughts on American Idol?
Who will go?

Janet, did your children like the music from the 60's?



***********

We watched The Da Vinci Code last weekend.
Have you seen it?

It was a little too violent and confusing for me and I especially didn't like how Sophia just fell for the whole 'story'!
She was a doubter to begin with...but this story...she was willing to believe.
And the purveyors of this truth were a bunch of murderous liars!

It was not logical.

But I guess, if someone tells you that you are a direct descendant of Christ.
His last surviving princess...
I suppose that might cloud any and all judgement.
It certainly did with Sophia.

Sad.


Interesting in a matter of two years, we have Mary Magdalene buried in two different places;
In Paris(Da Vinvi Code) and Jerusalem with Jesus and their son. (The Lost Tomb of Jesus)

Yes. It offends me.
It doesn't shake my faith.
It saddens me for the lost who would believe these stories.

I know where Jesus is.
I know that he didn't leave any bones behind.

He was raised from the dead.
He lives.

Amen.


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



Welcome Spring!



Vintage Katie :o)

It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the wind blows cold: when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade.
~Charles Dickens

The first day of spring is one thing, and the first spring day is another. The difference between them is sometimes as great as a month.
~Henry Van Dyke

Encourage one another,
Donna

Thank goodness for my husband.

He just called and gave me some blog material.

He said he was a little down about something
and after listening for a minute...
I started to be Miss Positive.

He then says, "Dear, I don't want to be pepped up"
To which I respond, "Well, then, it just sucky, suck, sucks."

And that made him happy.



Just before the phone rang,
here is the scripture I was getting ready to type on the blog;



Pleasant words are a honeycomb,
Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.
Proverbs 16:24


Very sweet to me. Yes.

But some people...
they just don't like honeycomb.


Encourage one another...you are really very good at it!
Donna

Look at our new shoes!

I really wouldn't have given them a moments blog-thought...
but Katie came clomping down the stairs this morning
all dressed and ready to go.
New shoes with a heel.

Me: Emma are those too grown up?
Can she walk in them?
Walk Katie.
Walk Katie.

Emma: Ahuh. They're fine.

Me: Not too grown up?

Emma: No.

Me: Okay, we will get them.

Katie: Thank you mommy!
Thank you mommy!


My shoes were purchased the day before.
Aren't they sweet.
I have had my eye on those shoes for a few months.
I visit them when I take Katie to dance class.
I never thought they would fit because I have such a high in step.
The young, enthusiastic shoe salesman said to try them, they stretch.

So I did.

He also recommended arch supports.
I got those too.

These feet have a big job ahead of them.
I am determined that they will not let me down.


But...all of the shoe talk is just a big distraction, anyway.

Sob Story Ahead

I tried on pants and jeans for two days and did not find a pair that would zip over my big tummy.

Okay, I'm just going to say it.

I tried on 18's.

None of the stores carried the next size.
Which I can't even bring myself to type that number.

So I think I will have to take my really worn out black pants and really worn out black skirt to Europe.

I don't know if I can bear going to more stores to try on bigger pants.

Oh, heavens, this is getting depressing.


Hey! Look at my tote bag!




I must distract the people of Europe from looking at my tired old black pants and skirt.
And I am not kidding about how tired and old they are.
At least seven years old. I have mended both items.
Yeah. I'm not making it up.

So what else can I do.

Highlights.

That's it.

I'll get my hair done.

The ravishing beauty of my hair will draw all attention away from my not-pregnant, but appears pregnant, tummy.



Here is a charming vignette from my jeans shopping debacle;

Imagine if you dare...


Katie is trying on size 6 slims in the dressing room at Old Navy with Emma's help.
I enter the room to see how Katie is doing, carrying two pair of jeans for myself.

Katie blurts: Those are gigantic!!!

Emma and I exchange pained glances.

Me: (covering Katie's mouth) That's not nice. (big frown)

Katie: I thought they were for me.


Good recovery Katie.

Those pants would make a fine tent for Katie.

Cause they were too small for me!



Oh, I know, no one will be looking at me on the trip.
They will be looking at the artistic wonders of the world and dodging pigeons....

I know.


But, hey! Aren't those shoes cool?



Encourage one another,
Donna

They steal your heart away.


A little bit Irish.



She's the kind of girl who digs thru all of her drawers to find some green.
All on her own.
And she sets it out on the floor, just so, so she can be ready to wear it then next morning.

She loves an occasion!

Happy St. Patrick's day to all, from Katie.

Find something green to wear...live a little!

When Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, 'tis like the morn in Spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.

Top of the mornin' to ya, Miss!

Donna

Friday Feast

Appetizer
Name two things that made you smile this week.

Soup
Fill in the blank: Don't you hate it when ________?

Salad
When you can't go to sleep, what is your personal remedy to help yourself drift into Lullabyland?

Main Course
What is something about which you've always wondered but have not yet found a good answer?

Dessert
What is your favorite pasta dish?



High School Basketball Preempts all of my shows.

Don't they know that they are messing with my blog?

I will be able to watch Grey's a little later today.
Tivo.
I love thee.

UPDATE

Tivo doesn't understand when the television programs don't come on exactly when they are supposed to come on....so I have ten minutes of rappers rapping and missed the last ten minutes of Grey's!


So what happens after Izzy tells George to go back to Callie?

Other than that....I think the writing was excellent in tonights show!!!



Fine Art Friday




Michelangelo's Pieta
Rome, Italy

Too beautiful for my measly words.

The true work of art is but a shadow of the divine perfection.
Michelangelo

Forever Linen









Click on picture to enlarge.

It turned out perfectly with a rigorous wash and hearty turn around the drier.




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



There is so much beauty in this world...

"Why is God so good to us?"


Encourage one another,
Donna

Ligonier Conference Webcast Live

*Free*

Speaking:

Sproul Jr and Sr.
Piper
MacAurthur
Zacharias
and
Mohler

Click to attend

I thought many of you would enjoy listening.

God Bless,
Donna

Dog Quotes


We long for an affection altogether ignorant of our faults. Heaven has accorded this to us in the uncritical canine attachment. ~George Eliot


Dogs feel very strongly that they should always go with you in the car, in case the need should arise for them to bark violently at nothing right in your ear. ~Dave Barry


You think dogs will not be in heaven? I tell you, they will be there long before any of us. ~Robert Louis Stevenson


I wonder if other dogs think poodles are members of a weird religious cult. ~Rita Rudner


American Idol

So-long Brandon.

Cute face.
Not enough charisma and umph.

Gracious in the face of defeat.


Dial Idol

There is a website called Dial Idol and they guesstimate who will be kicked off by counting busy signals.

Well. They were very off last night.
They had Sanjaya (safe from the bottom three) in third place and Stephanie in last.

Very off.

Grey's Anatomy

New episode tonight.
Are you losing interest with the long breaks in between shows?


This is why I am not totally ashamed to tell you about my television watching...






Moss grid hand towels made of linen.

Lynn says it's like knitting with dental floss.
She is absolutely right.

Ann and Kay say that the magic is in the washing and drying of the linen.

It will soften up and be loverly.

I hope to complete this hand towel.
Wash it and dry it by tomorrow so you can see (and I can see) how it all turns out.

Knitting without a net on this one.

"We'd like to do an Outward Bound-style exercise in which we all knit with stiff linen yarn, wash it, and see how drapey it turns, and start crying because we all trusted the yarn."
~Mason-Dixon Knitting


I am going to have to scout around Ann and Kay's website to see if I put this towel in the dryer.

It must.

(You may notice, I am on a first name basis with Ann and Kay. Funny thing...they don't know it :o)

Here is another thoughtful thought they had about linen.

"Remember:Linen is the yarn of the gods-the gods who know that even if a yarn is a little starchy to knit, it's worth it because it will soften, relax, and last through the apocalypse."
~Mason-Dixon Knitting


Wishing you all a great day!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Now that the 'dream of a dog' has become 'the real possibility of a dog'...
I'm on the slow boat to puppyland.

But I found the place.
And the breed. ( Both Patrick and I can agree on)

I have yet to make the phone call.

South Branch Goldens

South Branch's pups are ready to go this week.
But we are in no position to get a puppy two weeks before a vacation.
We could ask them to 'hold' the puppy for us....

But I'm feeling like we should wait for the next litter, perhaps.

Tell me true, what do you love best about your dog?
And what are most people in denial about before they get that doggie of their dreams?





It's that look in their eyes...


Encourage one another,
Donna

P.s. Please feel free to share your opinions on the American Idol last night.
I was so consumed with puppy thoughts I forgot all about it.

I imagine the cat is thinking this...

outside...outside...outside...outside...

But really, we all know she is thinking this...

" _________________ "


She is just a trophy cat, anyway.

Just here to look good.
And steal my knitting.

*********

Really now, I am the one who is thinking,

"outside, outside, outside, outside"

It's a whole new world.
And I consider a day where it reaches the 60's to be a rare, lovely, precious gift!

I'm not kidding!!!


I'm with Folloit Pierpoint;

"For the beauty of the earth
For the glory of the skies,
For the love which from our birth
Over and around us lies.

Lord of all, to Thee we raise,
This our hymn of grateful praise."




What are three things you thankful for today?



Encourage one another,
Donna

Say it ain't so!






Rob and Amber were last to the pit stop (on the Amazing Race) last night and they were sent a packin'!

Patrick and I mourn.


*********


I have completed the Iditawalk.

One thousand, one hundred forty-nine minutes walked in thirty-six days.

Thank you Dana and Karen for walking along-side me in a cyber/email way.

Congratulations on completing this healthy task!

Let's keep it up, now!

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


Katie's math book is attempting to teach her to tell time.
I have attempted many times to teach her to tell time.
But it just hasn't stuck yet.

I tell ya, this has been harder than toilet training.

Sadly, Katie inherited this characteristic from me, so I have only myself to blame.

I must have been exactly like Katie. Asking my parents to tell me the time....a million times a day!



(Click on the picture to enlarge it)

Cause I can remember my father making me go upstairs (we were in the basement den) to get a stack of paper plates so that he could teach me to tell time.

Yup. You didn't know I was homeschooled, did you?

Well, at least in this case, I was homeschooled.

By my father.

As a matter of survival.

He taught me to tell time.

And I hope to teach Katie.

Soon.



Would you like to share an early childhood memory with us?
I'd love to hear the things you remember about your parents.


Encourage one another,
Donna

After another unsatisfactory dinner at a restaurant...
I am going to start cooking again.

And cooking well, I tell ya!

I'm tired of getting my hopes up.
And then being served a meal (an expensive meal) that is not at all what I had hoped.

So really!

I'm donning the chef's hat.
And heading to the kitchen.


The best thing I ate all week was a salad with Thousand Island dressing.
(which I made for myself)

Shredded lettuce.
Halved cherry tomatoes
Lots of dressing

Hellmans and Chili Sauce.

Just like mom made.

It was perfect.






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


And here are the girls getting some socialization.




A classic game of "Who will laugh first?"


Ah.
It's a good life.


Swimming lessons today and a trip to the grocery store for lots of ingredients.

Cause...I'm gonna cook.


Happy weekend, All!

I loved the comments from yesterday! Thanks!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Friday Feast

Appetizer
What is your usual bedtime? Do you like that, or would you rather it be different?

Soup
When it comes to advice, do you give more or receive more?

Salad
Describe a memorable meal you've had.

Main Course
Name a work of fiction that affected the way you think about something.

Dessert
What is your favorite type of fruit juice?


Fine Art Friday

Michelangelo's David




Florence, Italy

Most museums are closed on Monday.
We will arrive in Florence on Monday, April 2.
I guess it had to happen at some point on the trip.

We will go to see The David on Tuesday.

On Monday we will shop and walk and eat gelato and look at this a million times,




"A distinctive feature of Florence's skyline is the dome of the cathedral (Duomo), Santa Maria del Fiore. The building itself, located due north of the Piazza della Signoria, was begun by the sculptor Arnolfo di Cambio in 1296. Numerous local artists continued to work on it during the following century and a half. The painter Giotto designed its sturdy bell tower (campanile) in 1334. Yet, the massive octagonal cupola (1420-36) that truly dominates both the church and the city was the proud achievement of Filippo Brunelleschi, master architect and sculptor."


See you in the comments...

Encourage one another,
Donna

Easy, easy piecing.




Here, hold this.

I can't hold it up that high.
Ow.

Apparently, not so easy modeling.


My most favorite Muffy Fabric with a five inch border all around.


click on the picture to see the fabrics up close :o)

Some fabric is too pretty to cut up.
And well.
Some quilters are just to lazy to cut it up.

I would like to hire someone to machine quilt swirly swirls and flowers and hearts all over this baby in yellow thread. I have some names from the local fabric shop. But I have never had someone else do the quilting.
I just may drag my feet.


Machine quilting (Long Arm) is an art in itself and I really only know how to sew...
straight lines.

This plain quilt top needs some life and fun to dance along with cute little Muffy.


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

About American Idol;

Simon is my favorite judge because he is smart and right.
And funny.

"That was not quite as GASTLY as your other performances"

Oh my. But it's true.

I think one must be 17 to understand what Randy is talking about.

"It needs some 'YO'."

Okay, sure, Randy, whatever.

And Paula.

Girl, couldn't form sentences.

"You...look....pretty."


I still love Lakisha. Love her choice of songs.
Thought Melinda's choice of song was so bad, I changed the channel.
I know she is a darling girl with a fab voice.
But her song choices hurt my ears.

"Cause I'm a woman. W-O-M-A-N."

You know I love the 70's!
So how could Melinda choose the worst song ever written in the 70's?

Just lucky, I guess.

*********


Thank you for your suggestions and prayers.
I slept like a baby last night :o)


**********

What are you eating lately?
Any good recipe's you'd like to share?

I have a favorite new cook book.

America's Test Kitchen.





Now I remember,
I am obsessive about cookbooks.
Love 'em.



Encourage one another,
Donna

A dress for Janice.





Vanessa Williams and her daughter at the NAACP Image Awards last weekend.
I love Vanessa's dress! (on the right)
Especially the bodice.

About that gorgeous gum chewer...
Where will she go if we all die in a plane crash on our trip?

Yep.
That's been keeping me awake and bothering my stomach for the last few weeks.

We had a will made when the children were young.
But those children are all grown... and Katie was not even imagined yet.

I know we aren't going to come up with the answer here on The Blog.

But, I honestly can't think of a harder choice.

Get your tissues.
From "Raising Helen"

You must know from experience that when it comes to picking somebody else to raise your kids, no one seems right. No one is you. And so you choose someone who is most like you. Someone that will give the kids a taste of their real mom, the mom they lost and never really got to know. In so many ways, we are so much alike, that's why I chose Helen.

Oh Lord, direct our path.

And really...we don't want to die, yet.


Encourage one another,
Donna

Okay.
How long do you let your child chew on the same piece of gum?
Really.
It's starting to give me the creeps.





Just thought I'd share.

And so Jesus gave us a new norm of greatness. If you want to be important—wonderful. If you want to be recognized—wonderful. If you want to be great—wonderful. But recognize that he who is greatest among you shall be your servant. That's a new definition of greatness.

And this morning, the thing that I like about it: by giving that definition of greatness, it means that everybody can be great, because everybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You don't have to know about Plato and Aristotle to serve. You don't have to know Einstein's theory of relativity to serve. You don't have to know the second theory of thermodynamics in physics to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love. And you can be that servant.


~Martin Luther King Jr.

Drum Major Instinct Sermon







How can I say this so I don't sound like I am patting myself on the back?
That's not my motivation at all in this little message.

I just want to say it to encourage all mothers and wives.

Every wife. Every mother.
Is a servant.

You don't have to be at the soup kitchen, on the PTA or on a committee at church to be a servant. (Those are all valuable things)

But, you are serving if you are a mother.
You are serving the family you have been entrusted with.

It's the most important thing.


If you can do more.
Do more.

But don't do it at the expense of your husband or children.

Don't believe the hooey and resist the pressure.

You are a servant, in the very best sense of the word.

You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love.
And you can be that servant.

And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men."
~Colossians 3:23


Encourage one another,
Donna

I quilted.

Well. Not precisely quilted. But I cut and pieced and ironed.
The quilting comes last.

But we have always called all the steps of making a quilt, quilting.



Does anyone remember when I bought this fabric?

link to blog entry about fabric



Don't suppose I can find some more of this fabric for borders and backing.

ha!





I don't think I will finish it anyway.
I'm not entirely pleased with the fabrics.
(I just can't stand the pink and brown plaid, all the others I quite like)

But the process was fun!

The last time I made a quilt was when Janet had little Lauren.
This is even the same pattern (Yellow Brick Road).
Janet, is Lauren four?


My quilting mojo has returned and it feels good.


Do you quilt?

Encourage one another,
Donna

Update

Ooookay.

Here is the whole quilt.
I just wasn't super proud of it so I folded it to show the fabrics I liked best :o)
Here is the whole thing.





Click to enlarge

Feast One Hundred & Thirty Three


Appetizer
What does the color pink make you think of?

Soup
Name something you thought you had lost, but later found.

Salad
In 3 words, describe this past week.

Main Course
What are you obsessed with?

Dessert
What kind of perfume or cologne do you like to wear?


***********


Grey's was a rerun...so let's see if we have any opinions about
the American Idol results show. :o)

First, I have a question.

When Ryan brought Jordin (sweet 17 year old girl from Arizona) and Leslie (Chicago)
up for judgement, did he say Jordin was in the bottom two or was it just implied?

Ryan said, 'Are you surprised to be here?' implying that they both had low votes.

The first girl to be sent home said something a little snippy to Simon but Ryan didn't pick it up and make a big deal out of it which I think as a relief.

I really don't want to listen to the snipping.

No shocks for me last night.
Lots of the time better singers go, due to votes.
And to be honest with you I fast forward through many of the preformances.
( I even fast forwarded through Melinda's song. I just didn't like it at all.)

I love Tivo.


********

Fine Art Friday





Paris at night.
The city as art.

Notre Dame
The Eiffel Tower.
The Louvre.
The Seine.
The Arc de Triomphe.


The architecture in Paris will be a bountiful feast.


Four weeks from today(at almost the exact time I am writing this) we will land in Paris.

Lord willing.

Patrick's passport came on Wednesday.
Mine didn't.
You don't know how this makes my stomach feel!
I do not like my traveling ducks to be out of their neat little row.


I won't think about that now...
I'll think about that tomorrow...



Encourage one another,
Donna

Amid the noise and clatter of opinions from near and far,
it is good to remember...

But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure;
then peaceloving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy
and good fruit, impartial and sincere.

James 3:17

Let us not grow weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up.

Galations 6:9

Looking to Christ and remembering His promises.

Encourage one another,
Donna