Faith, Family and Friends

Summer's Here!

hot days and afternoon thunderstorms

summer is here

here is the cutest ideas for the kiddos!

i love Between Naps on the Porch

i bet you do, too.

here's a sweet summery wreath!

here's the link :)

what's your summer story ???

Oh, how I miss this man. My daddy. William E. McClain. Child of God, son husband, father, Da. Tall, gentle but gruff. Loved teaching. Loved announcing Marbury Hugh football. Loved his family. Loved Jay, FL and the countless friends he made. Loved to eat! Especially home cooked fresh vegetables, tomatoes and Vidalia onion sandwiches, mother's custard pies and Mamaw's homemade yeast rolls. Loved Hank Locklin's music & friendship. Loved God. Sharing the Word and helping out with lessons in a small country church. I remember during a very, very dry spell he was asked to speak and he chose to talk of the famine in Egypt when Joseph was in a position to help his kindred. Daddy paused, looked up, and said, "Lord, we don't have a Joseph but we have You. And these Lightwood farmers could sure use the rain."

Before the end of his lesson, a large crack of thunder sounded and it began to pour. Daddy hushed. We all stared out the windows. I.V. Mershimer claimed, "Well, will you look at that!" I looked back at daddy and tears were running down his face. Too choked up to continue, he simply said, "Thank ye, Lord", and came to sit down. I'll never forget the power and wonder of that Sunday morning. "Thank ye, Lord" for my daddy.

Here's a link to a Father's Day post after he passed into Eternal Rest after a three year battle with cancer. They gave 18-24 months. But God's plans weren't finished. I'll always miss you and your hugs.

Guess What!?!?

not exactly my favorite season since our girls aren't home any longer. well, okay, it's not my favorite season. there i said it. i'm a fall and winter person, with spring running a close second to fall. but here we are, moving into summer and that means, hopefully, we'll be seeing a bit more of our daughter's and their families. i don't know about yours, but our grands stay so busy with sports!

elle's program as she prepares to leave kindergarten. this child is so excited to be going into first grade. we had to laugh during the program as she looked a bored and only sang when she wanted to. she's loved kindergarten, though, and i'm sure will rock first grade. the girl loves school!

Stacey teaches high school so i know she's looking forward to some time with family, traveling, and not getting up early each weekday morning! looking forward to heading their way and spending some time with our ms babies and families.

owen is three now and still in love with being outdoors, his mum and dad, john deere tractors and being outside. did i mention that already?! the child loves being in the dirt, with the dog, on a tractor, and playing with the animals on the farm. can't wait to spend some time with them, too!

ah, yes, it does. although, the older one gets, the more we remember summers past. still sweet, still fresh, especially when i can't remember where i put my keys yesterday! have a beautiful summer, stay safe, and continue to pray for our nation.

Pieces of my heart ~

and here are some of my blessings this Spring ~

our youngest grandchild turned three this Spring

and i'm not sure just when he grew up

too quickly that's for sure

loves his daddy & mommy, lucy, and tractors!

our youngest daughter with her family at Easter

one loves to swim, one loves basketball, and

miss priss loves her ballet and gymnastics

(and 'her boys')

our oldest with her youngest in Memphis, i think,

traveling with her soccer team. this sweet princess loves her

soccer and her gymnastics and i love watching

her intertwine ballet with gymnastics to music ~

{we have another son in law and grandson {smile font}but

no photos of them yet. traveling with baseball or outside!

I am a thankful for our babies, their men and the gifts of

grandchildren. He is always near. Always with us.

And that's a promise from a God that cannot lie ~

Spring is here!

with all the rain we've gotten here in the South,

rainboots are in abundance! for wreaths

and for feet ~

and umbrellas, too!

a sweet wreath to recreate for your front door ~

have a happy and healthy Spring ~ blessings

Easter Yummies on Pinterest

Click HERE to find lots of Easter yummies to make and serve. From decorated eggs to bunny cakes and cookies, you'll find it here. Hoping you're planning to nice time with family as we celebrate His resurrection and welcome in the beautiful Spring weather. Blessings!

March! You hold the whisper of Spring!

Jenny kiss'd me when we met,

jumping from the chair she sat in;

Time, you thief, who love to get

sweets into your list, put that in!

Say I'm weary, say I'm sad,

say that health and wealth have miss'd me,

Say I'm growing old,

but add Jenny kiss'd me.

by Leigh Hunt, 1784-1859

~~~~~~

I had this memorized by the time we brought our baby girl, our Jenny, home. As she grew, many a time she'd run to me, just long enough to wrap her arms around me, kiss me and tell me she loved me, before running off to continue her play. It's heart memories that will carry me through many a day.

Ah, February ~

the month between the icy cold of winter

and the blossoms peeking out at spring

ah, february, you have my heart

from simple hearts on a stick

to vintage buttons glued in the shape of a,

you guessed it, a heart ~

it's a nice month to spend time in starbucks

with one of your besties,

and a daughter at that ~

blessings, february, i heart you

I'm Just a Winter Loving Lady

Praying your wintery days are blessed ~

Winter Wonder ~

"the crispness makes us all feel young once more"

Hallstatt, Austria

blankets, jammies, and a books

sigh ~

winter

Welcome, 2016

It's almost a brand new year.

And as always, will most likely hold surprises.

I am praying they are God-led surprises,

as those are the best kind.

Isn't this the cutest idea for January?!

I found it on Pinterest and it's pretty and easy.

(My favorite two words with crafting!)

Be safe if you go out New Year's Eve.

Us? We'll be home watching the Tide!

Christmas 2015

Praying yours was filled with His blessings and the

remembrance of a King that came to earth

in the form of a baby that lay in a lowly manger.

He grew, was tortured and killed by his own.

When he arose and ascended into Heaven,

he carried our sins with him

to lay at the feet of God, his Father.

Our Christmas was a nice one, a quiet one,

a day that began with heavy water fall,

startling lightening flashes, and flooding. And

ended with dinner at a daughter's home, a warm bowl of soup,

fresh from the oven cookies, and the giggles of grandbabies.

Now one begins to think of Winter and its barrenness.

Happens to be my favorite season. My very favorite!

I pray you and yours are safe, warm and grateful ~

for with all the ugly in Life, He sends gifts.

Blessings as we head toward a brand new year ~

2 Chronicles 7:14

"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV

"In the midst of our nation's struggles, crippling hurts and confusion, I lift our leaders (good and bad) to You in prayer for guidance and help. Grant us a Godly pulse beat, aligned with Your will and direction. Give us Christian leadership. Revive us spiritually. May we regain the standards we have so carelessly thrown away and once again become one nation under God.

Cleanse our sins and heal our land, I pray. Deliver us from drugs and violence. Help our people who love You to step forth and speak out for what is right. Help our schools, our teachers, our children to keep setting new goals, dreaming new dreams, and aiming high.

Wrap Your arms around our dear country's young people and dry their tears. Lead them toward a future that is good and true. Help us to go forth as a nation, to be an example to the world, by Your love and grace.

Most of all, Lord, may I do my best to help. May the love, kindness, and dedication begin within me.

In Jesus name, amen."

~ taken from 'When I'm On My Knees, Daily Devotional Journal by Anita Corrine Donihue, Nov 29'

I had to share this, dear readers, for it's what's been on my heart and I couldn't have said this better. Surely God inspired this Christian. I have used this devotional journal since last year and each day it becomes what I need to be reminded of. His way of letting me know how to pray, what to pray for, that He is near, in control, cares and will always fulfill His promises. I know today is not November 29 but I was going back thru pages I'd starred and His Spirit stopped me here. I pray it reaches your heart and soul as it has mine. Join me in continuing to pray for our country, our leaders and as Ms. Donihue said, let it begin with me. With us. God bless America.

Autumn Is Still UP?!?!

Yes, Autumn is still up in our household. Horrors!! That's only happened one other time, and we like to forget that December. However, we have been busy with various things you care nothing about, that with my memory I'd have to go get my calendar to fill you in. Yeah, that kind of crazy busy.

And I had to, HAD TO, finish painting the hall. The back hall that I've been working on since, well, since last Autumn. I think. Pretty sure. So I was determined not to put up Autumn and pull out her Christmas dress until that hall was painted! And trimmed! Trimmed twice, as a matter of fact. I had no idea how marked up doors, facings, and baseboards get marked up! Man!

I would post pictures to prove to you, but they're the same ones you have already seen {Rolling Eyes font} like in, September, maybe?!?! But I CAN show you some ideas I plan to implement next week! Because I plan to finish painting the hall this weekend! Drag out the HuGe container that holds Autumn and clean the house. Then, I can begin unpacking closets and boxes and containers and make the Hood go up in the attic for the greenery and wreaths. Aaaaaah, makes me happy just thinking about it.

Oh, and this year I get to add the pieces I bought from Southern Born hand crafting!! You can find them by clicking on the name or going to septemberbornshop.etsy.com. We love the pieces we've purchased and he is making us a customized dining room table, so yes, I highly recommend them. I'll be sure to point what I purchased once this house is dressed in her finery. (Oh, I miss the icons. I could use a Christmas tree one right now!)

I plan to try this for the buffet table in our breakfast room.

Already collecting the older bibles that have been passed

down and other small hymnals.

And I'm thinking this for the mantel.

Not the usual silk greenery I use or the ribbon,

but I love the natural look of it and it'll go

through Winter well.

And this photo down here?!

I'm a child of the King and I love that He gave

me a love for snow and cardinals. This photo, found

on Pinterest, says it all. sigh ~

blessings to you and yours.

Bits & Pieces

Life can be complicated. Easy. Hard. Complex and, yet, there's always someone or something that causes me to smile. It's usually then that I remember the One that formed me also set the stars in the sky and knows me better than I know myself. We all have our hurts, pain, and memories we'd love to forget. But along with those are the tender, precious, beloved memories we pray not to ever let slip from our minds. This past year has brought many emotions, along with finding more about life, God, and the sifting of friends I've known for decades and some I've only met the last few years. Each special in a season of my life. Some have gone on. Some have stayed. Some have backed off for one reason or another. It's Life. And it's expected.

He never backs off. We do, but He doesn't. He's always there, waiting for us to call upon Him to praise Him, need Him, or just want to rest within His love. I am a very thankful child of a very loving King. His Spirit teaches me and helps me understand so that forgiveness comes easy. Life is good, as long as I'm closely aligned with Him. Aaaaannnddd, He knows just how much I love

SNOW! It snows very little where we live. (Did I say 'very'?) We see more ice. Maybe it will snow this year?! Probably NOT. So, with that, here some photos of past snows, sweet babies and memories from the heart ~