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After having one car for 2 1/2 years, I bought a new Ford Fusion.  It's a pretty little thing with a lot of bells and whistles I don't need, but the price was right......"come on down."  Donaldo is getting a new addition himself; a Ford Flex (only Fords in this family).  It will be nice for traveling.  The delivery date for that baby is Monday.
So while it poured all day and I was at Scrappy Chic scrapbooking all day-yes 10 hours-my honey hubby got my car.  Oh he was one excited little boy-that man LOVES cars.  Did I know this?  Not sure.   He even brought it over to the scrapbook store for me to see and took me out for a decaf coffee at Tim Hortons.  I have yet to drive it and see how everything works.
Meanwhile I was one tired little puppy after 10 hours of scrapbooking and I didn't even stay until midnight.  But I did get my January vacation album done and it was nice to see Trenda, Sandy and Trenda's friend.
                     

It even looks nice in the rain!

                                                         

Words I Like

In no particular order:

Sufficient

Heaven
Love
Forgiveness
Charity
Grace

Thank You
I'm sorry
God
Bible
Peace
Heart
Okay
Shop
Flowers
Summer
Ocean
Jammies
Relax
Family
Grandchildren
Books
Read
Shoes

Great

Family

Scrapbook

Today is my spiritual birthday.  I was saved 55 years ago today.  John 3:16   Believe? Believe.

What words do you like?

Way Back When-sday; The Den

The Den in our house hasn't always been a den; in the days of my family of origin it was a bedroom.  Actually when we first moved here in 1960 it was my bedroom.  That was when we had four bedrooms and five kids and I remember my mom telling me before we moved that I would get my own room.  Then number six child came along and my dad built a bedroom in the basement for two of my brothers and the new baby got the "den room."  I got the bedroom my sisters moved out of into the boys old room.  And then......I got married and there was an extra bedroom that my dad converted into the "DEN" and that's what it has been ever since one way or the other.  We have changed it around a bit since we bought the house.  We used to have a TV and rocking chair in it-now we have two desks-his and hers and a file cabinet.  The computer sits on "his" desk and the other is my roll-top desk.  I have this picture of the den when it was my dad's; it was so nice and neat.  I can't show any pictures of it now because it is kind of messy.  We did put a frame up with our Florida pictures this year; funny, the frame has sat unused for four years since we bought it at Costco.   I finally filled it and it looks quite nice over the desk. 

My dad's nice and neat den.  I made the macrame plant hanger.  I especially like the Harvest Gold curtains!  He also had a jelly bean dispenser on the desk  Pretty cool! 

Our "new" frame sits over the slightly messy desk in the slightly messier den.

                                                                          

Cozy

Yep, it's really nice and cozy when the family shares germs.  Poor daughterfer, she got sick the day after she got here and still didn't feel good when she left a little bit ago.  Now Karen and Donaldo don't feel so good and Ry Guy was complaining that he didn't feel good as he left.  Donaldo is disinfecting a few things-probably too much, too late but it smells good and feels good.  The weather made a change and the poor birds couldn't understand why their bird bath water was frozen.  The kids did get outside and play today even with the cool weather and they had a lot of fun together this weekend.  Now I am off to disinfect the kitchen cupboards and sink.  It's been REAL and FUN......and now it's quiet.........too quiet?

Doins and Fixins

I sure hope the singing songbirds don't freeze their little tushies off tonight as it heads down into the 20's.  I brought my pansies in the garage just in case-they looked a little droopy. 
The Windy City relatives are still here and with the weather change we had to think of some things to do today. 
We started off the day with waffles and fresh strawberries and whipped cream. Yummy and a nice change. 
Papa took the boys to the IMAX and The Henry Ford to see Nascars which they really loved.
The girls did some counted cross stitch which they really loved and they painted some t-shirts with puff paints.  That was fun and they were very careful not to be too messy. 
A word on the crock pot dessert from the other night; it did not taste good. Cavman and I were the only ones who ate it and that was with ice cream.  It was kind of bitter and not sweet enough and was over-cooked.  So that was a disappointment.  I am glad I tried it before I took it to small group to serve to others.
For my sister-I got the book at Magnolia Plantation in Georgia where they sell lots of pecans, peach jam and lots of other things to. It won't stop me from trying another dessert; I might sweeten it up a bit more than the recipe calls for. 
Tonight we are watching DWTS (some of us) and Hockey and always, video games for the boys.  The girls are pretty happy doing most anything.
                             

Some little person didn't want strawberries ON the waffles; that's okay

Masters at video games, I found them in this corner hooked up to the "juice" so they could keep playing

Glad Auntie could show me how to do this, because Mimi doesn't know how

This is really fun

Quite the "spring' look to these t-shirts

Lots of pastel colors; this was quite a fun project

I thought they both turned out cute.  They will wear them for sleep shirts.

Even Daisy Dog is making herself at home.

                                                                                          

From The Heart

Happy faces

"Let thankfulness temper all your thoughts.  A thankful mind-set keeps you in touch with Me....Gratitude enables you to see the Light of My Presence shining on all your circumstances.  Cultivate a thankful heart, for this glorifies Me and fills you with Joy."  Sarah Young

Delicious!!

The New Cookbook "Skinny Ms. Slow Cooker-Healthy Meals" is turning out to be the best new cookbook I've had in a long time.  The first meal I cooked;  YES, I cooked it was Veggie Lasagna and it was easy and delicious.  Last night Donaldo made barbecued pulled chicken which simmered all afternoon and not only smelled delicious but tasted delicious.  It was definitely a winner and I am posting the recipe.  Today I have a low-fat, low-sugar Chocolate Peanut Butter cake cooking on slow for 4 hours.  I just can't imagine how it will turn out.  Tomorrow I have planned Spinach and Mozzarella Frittata for breakfast.  What I like is they are healthy, easy, and you can forget about it while it cooks.  Oh and there is a Monkey Oatmeal that looks good and tons of other dinners.  I may start cooking again afterall!!

                                                                   

The Windy City Comes To The Mitten

They're here; the Spring Fling....the cousins are here!!!  Pulling in the driveway at 5:00 they are already involved in fun. Pulled chicken in the crockpot and potato chips and coleslaw is almost ready for dinner.  The fun started right away.

A genuine smile

Joy Boy doing his thing at the tool bench

Best cousins with the matching shirts I made them

The sisters really got into laughing right away

Even Daisy made herself at home

Cavman taking a break from his book to give me a smile

Donaldo keeping an eye on things while dinner simmered in the crock pot.  Going to have to put the recipe on my other blog

Me earlier this morning getting ready for the weekend. Ha ha ha!!! Yep these cold stones are great for headaches. 

                         

Sprummer

Oh yea, we set an all-time record today of 85 degrees; highest ever in March.  They said tomorrow will be 12 degrees cooler and it will still set a record.  The trees are all a flowering and the daffy dills are bloomingly beautimous and the neighbor across the street cut his grass.  We grilled burgers and I bought a flat of purple and yellow pansies.  Shorts and bare feet and loud rumbles of thunder. Windows open, people walking, and I am loving it all.  Hope you are too. 

The Answer

Remember the song "Who Can Heal A Broken Heart.....the answer my friend is blowing in the wind."
I am so glad that the answer is not blowing in the wind.....you know how fickle the wind can be.

Thank you all for your comments on yesterday's blog.  I love Proverbs 3:5-6 "Trust in the Lord and lean not unto your own understanding.  In all your ways acknowledge him and He will direct your paths."

The answer came to me today from God's word.....
"Not by (your)  might, nor by (your)  power, but by my spirit says the Lord of Hosts."  Zech. 4:6
"Be strong in the Lord and the power of HIS might.  Eph. 6:10

How do you mend a broken heart?
How do you heal a broken spirit?
How do you touch a broken mind?

God's strength
God's power
God's Spirit
God's mind
God's heart
God's wisdom

Speaking of fickle....the mitten is bursting forth with spring AND summer this week.  I think I'll call it sprummer!

Truth and Mercy

,

God's Truth and Mercy

If I, by sheer will,  change my focus to one of thanksgiving, regardless of my feelings...
are all things possible?

If I beg for mercy for healing,
will I be healed?

If I relinquish my will to God's will,
will I be well?

If, by an act of my will, I change my thinking,
will I change?

If I let the light of His presence in,
will it transform me?

If I count my blessings,
will it clear the problem in my head?

If, in faith, I thank Him for this problem,
will the problem go away?


If I don't listen to voices of accusations,
will you lift me up Lord?

If I let you in Lord,
is there room for you to inhabit all my moments?

If I exert my will to trust you in all my circumstances,
will it change my thoughts, words, and behavior?

If I come to you for understanding,
will you renew my life purpose?

If I rejoice, trust, believe and love,
will that overflow into the lives of others?

If I trust you one day, one hour, one minute at a time,
will you heal me, empower me, refresh and renew me?

Truth and Mercy are from you Lord.
I trust you to make my path clear.

mgh ( inspired from the writings of Sarah Young)

From The Heart

"The beach is not the place to work; to read, write or think...too warm, too damp, too soft for any real mental discipline or sharp flights of spirit...Patience, patience, patience, is what the sea teaches.  Patience and faith.  One should lie empty, open, choiceless as a beach-waiting for a gift from the sea."  Anne Morrow Lindberg
These are my gifts from the sea-such treasures; each and every one!

"One cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach.  One can collect only a few, and they are more beautiful if they are few."  Anne Morrow Lindberg

Books Read

I have to admit that I read some purely "escape" books this year in Florida-most of them I am a little hesitant to write down-mainly because I don't want others to know that I read them.  I read 2 Danielle Steel books-two of which I didn't write down.  I like Debbie Mcomber, especially her knitting shop series.  I always write down the books I read and this year, for some reason, I didn't. 

 Last year I read THE POST MISTRESS by Sara Blake and MAJOR PETTIGRES LAST STAND by Helen Simonson-it takes place in England and both were good.  Two years ago I read: SAVING CEECEE HONEYCUTT by Betty Hoffman and SMART WOMEN, and SUMMER SISTERS by Judy Blume (um a little hesitant to mention these too).  In 2009, I read THE AUTOBIOGRAPHY OF GEORGE MULLER, and RADICAL RELIANCE by JOSEPH STOWEL (need to read that one again). 

 Last year I also read Beth Chapman's book CHOOSING TO SEE which was about the death of her daughter. One other good fiction book I read was THE FORGOTTEN GARDEN b Kare Morton. Also read HOTEL ON THE CORNER OB BITTER AND SWEET by Jamie Ford which was very good. I've read THE HELP twice.

Everyday I read a devotional from JESUS CALLING: SEEKING PEACE IN HIS PRESENCE by Sarah Young; I LOVE this book!  I also read DAILY LIGHT combined verses by Anne Graham Lotz.   I am reading several books right now- I always do that.  I never read just one. I am almost done with BREAKING THROUGH DEPRESSION by Donald P. Hall-I highly recommend this book if you need help or know someone who does. I am almost done with LESSONS I LEARNED IN THE DARK by Jennifer Rothschild and I finished ONE THOUSAND GIFTS; A DARE TO LIVE FULLY RIGHT WHERE YOU ARE by Ann Voscamp.  I read this on our cruise and highly recommend it. 

I jump the gambit from fiction, to auto-biography-to self-help books.  I like good fiction and Christian fiction and biographies, and Christian inspirational books.  I feel uneasy when I read "purely escape" non-Christian fiction, because there are so many books that are better to read, but sometimes that is what I feel like reading.  I am not a lover of crime and mystery books although I do read a few if they aren't too gory.  I do read John Grisham sometimes. 

I have many books on Heaven and End Times on my Kindle and I read a couple of chapters in those; I really need to finish quite a few books.  I'd better get started NOW.  Who feels like cleaning the house and doing chores anyway??  

I collect books, both on my Kindle and "real" books; I will never finish them all unless I make it a priority and even then...I might be cutting it close; you never know when you are my age :)

Milleage

I was told I could get a lot of mileage out of my Florida trip.  With all the news today of the warm weather this week and NEXT week and now Tornado's in Southwest Michigan, I could write about all of that.  This is going to be some spring.  We are having temperatures in the mid-seventies all next week.  I imagine there will be some bad storms this spring...oh, yea and it isn't even spring yet.  I would love to get my hands on some pansies, but who would have them this time of the year?  Anyway, I thought I would post a few "random" pictures.

Donaldo waiting for his stone crab

My darling daughter smiling and sunning

Could this BE anymore relaxing??!!

Me, soaking up the last rays of sun on the last day

Which dessert would you choose?

Meg standing by the beautiful Wisteria in the Botanical gardens.  It smelled so good

This girl knows how to pose-so beautiful in the sunset

Shell hunting

Lve the Olive shell; not always an easy find!

                                       

Remembering........

"You never forget the day that tragedy strikes and you lose a loved one while your own life was spared. My eyes are on eternity!
Romans 5:2-4
Through him (Lord Jesus) we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope."

This was written by my daughter Kristen Baker today on facebook on the 20th anniversary of the accident that killed her 13 year old cousin Paul. I am so glad God spared your life that day Kristen, and that your eyes are on eternity.   That day changed my focus heavenward.

My sister asked that those who wanted to remember Paul in a special way to let go of balloons in the air.  I also buy white roses sometimes and get out the special Precious Moments figurine called "Going Home."  Paul lives on in Heaven and in our hearts and his presence is still felt among us. 

Birds

I love how this Heron scrounges his long neck; he is waiting for the fisherman to catch something

"Well no food here, I might as well leave"

"Watch while I swallow this fish in one big gulp" 

Love the pelicans; they check out the fishermen too

"Oh good all the people are out of the pool; now I can go in"

Whooopeee, look at the nice weather we brought home!!  You're welcome.  This morning when I went to the Rec. Center the birds were chirping away. 
Speaking of birds....you just gotta know I am going to use "the trip."  Capri K says I can eek out a few blogs on it.  It is so much fun watching the birds at the beach and on the inter-coastal.  The pelican is my favorite on the inter-coastal and the little sandpipers are my favorite on the beach.  In between are the white and gray Herons. 


                            New post at http://www.marlene-aspoonfulofsugar.blogspot.com/

Home

It's a marathon drive back from Florida.  Two ten hour days in the car is hard; and the worst hours are the last FOUR driving through lovely oHiO.  Unpacking is another fun thing to do; still working on that.  And where do I start blogging about the month-long vacation that went by faster than we could imagine.  Where do I start blogging about "THE VACATION?" 
                         Our company
                         The weather
                         The flowers
                         Pictures of signs which still
                          remain one our favorite things to do
                         Restaurants
                         Favorite moments
                         Shells
                         Books I read
                         Things I bought
                         Swimming
                         Sunning                  
                         Boats we saw 
                         What would you like?????

Or for today just random pictures....
                              

Kumquat Tree in the Botanical Gardens (The peels are sweet, the fruit is bitter)

Proving the above statement

Sharing a coke in an "old fashioned" bottle at Heritage Village

You can almost hear the sound of these waves

First seafood dinner eaten at PJ's

Miniature Golf with Papa

Playing checkers with bottle caps at Heritage Village

                                 
                    New post at http://www.marlene-aspoonfulofsugar.blogspot.com/