This has been a hectic few days, with Thanksgiving, a sick daughter, feeling really tired and run down, and a granddaughter visiting for a few days, and trying to get some holiday cleaning done in preparation for Christmas decorating, has made it impossible to do any blogging. I also want to make some changes in my blog look, so will be AWOL for a day or two, or three, but will be back soon.!
God bless everyone!
Mary
We’ve been hearing a lot of depressing news lately about the economy, among other things, so are you ready for some laughter? I sure am. Come on and join me in bringing some fun into your day by visiting our adorable and friendly hostess Kim! Just click on her cute button to the right and you’ll be there!
Today, I have two funnies for you. Hope you enjoy!
SENIOR HEALTH CARE SOLUTION--ACCORDING TO MAXINE
Senior Health Care Solution:
So you're a senior citizen, and the government says no health care for you, what do you do?
Our plan gives anyone 65 years or older a gun and 4 bullets. You are allowed to shoot 2 senators and 2 representatives. Of course, this means you will be sent to prison where you will get 3 meals a day, a roof over your head, and all the health care you need! New teeth, no problem. Need glasses, great. New hip, knees, kidney, lungs, heart? All covered.
And who will be paying for all of this? The same government that just told you that you are too old for health care. Plus, because you are a prisoner, you don't have to pay any income taxes anymore.
IS THIS A GREAT COUNTRY OR WHAT?!
Okay, I know it isn’t THAT funny…because its SO TRUE. So here’s the other one…I hope this will get the giggles going!
Have a wonderful Friday…hope you have great plans for the week-end, and that you are safe, healthy, happy, and living life to the fullest. Remember to pray for our country and our military.
To my blogging friends in other countries, thank you so much for your support and prayers for America!
God bless,
Mary
…and green!
Happy Wednesday, my wonderful blogging friends, and welcome to my tea cottage once again. I hope your day is bright and beautiful, just like you are, and that visiting some of your favorite blogs will warm you inside and out.
I wasn’t going to show you anything Christmas-y until after Thanksgiving, but with this being White Wednesday and Rednesday, how could I control myself? And besides, some of these little gems were thrift store finds that area screaming to be shared with you. Be sure to visit Kathleen at http://www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/ for more beautiful Whites, and Sue at http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com/ for some cheery reds! Click on the buttons to the right and you’ll be right there.
I found these adorable napkin rings, in perfect condition, for $4.00 at my favorite thrift store, you know, the one that I don’t even tell my best friends about. I don’t want any competition.
The red and white snowflake tablecloth is from Home Goods. What a nice backdrop for these beautiful little holly leaves and berries.
And these gorgeous Lenox salad plates are from T.J. Maxx…I just got them yesterday…had to go to 2 different locations to get all 4
And also another four with a coordinating pattern. I’m not sure, but I think I prefer more holly and less ribbon. However, in order to have 8 plates, I will have to mix and match.
And here is the pasta bowl…I’m not sure…do you think its supposed to be a serving bowl for pasta, and not an individual bowl? It is rather large…could anyone eat that much pasta? YES!
The white underplate is also a T.J. Maxx find last summer. Since I didn’t find the dinner plates to match, I will use the white…I think its just fine, don’t you? BUT…if I do find those matching dinner plates, they will be mine!
This beauty is also from my thrift store…”MY” thrift store! It is salad size, and also in perfect condition…I love the hexagon shape…I’ll probably hang it on the wall, rather than use it. Don’t want any crumbs on it, ya know! How much? Only $1.50!
I love the colors of Christmas, and since my house is primarily greens and pinks/rosy reds, its quite easy for me to decorate with these wonderful colors. I can live with them all year, with just a little softening of the shades for spring and summer.
I do apologize for jumping ahead of the season of Thanksgiving…that is a very important time for us in America to celebrate…and Canada too. I still don’t know much about the Canadian holidays, but am learning by reading some of the wonderful blogs from our neighbors. I do hope that Thanksgiving brings hope, joy, and thankful hearts to all of you…even in the midst of change and war, we still have very much to be grateful to the Lord for. I pray that we all remember that He is the giver of all good things, and that He walks with us when things are not so good…we just need to stay close and trust Him to lead us into the future.
Thanks so much for visiting me today…I absolutely love company…I do hope you enjoyed your time here, and will come back soon.
God bless you all!
Mary
Welcome to my tea cottage! You’re just in time to join me for tea…except that I only have a teapot and teacup for one today! No worries, though, it will just take me a second to grab another teacup for YOU!
Let’s sip for a while, then you will want to visit our pink and rosy tea and china loving Kim to see her wonderful tea things on this beautiful day, as well as the other participants of Tea Things Tuesday. Just click on that china cupboard to the right, and you’ll be right there!
This is one of my newest acquisitions…a teapot for one, purchased at Home Goods for only $4.99. Winter white is my favorite “color”. I honestly feel like I’m stealing from them at times…how can something this pretty be so inexpensive?
The leaf design is so Autumn looking, isn’t it? With these lovely placemats that I found at the same time, with their rosy red roses and pretty green leaves, it reminds me of my rose garden against our white house…the outside coming inside!
I found this set of 5 napkins at my favorite thrift store last week. The package said a set of 6, but when I got home and opened it, there were only 5. I bought them on Tuesday, which was 10% off day, so I paid a whopping $4.50 for the 5! I adore the brides basket accented by the 2 butterflies on either side…just too beautiful!
Hubby just lit a fire…we’re waiting for Dancing With the Stars to start, so I decided to make myself a cup of tea and have a scone or two for dessert.
I bought the rosy red rose stems years ago to use as napkin rings. They look nice with the place mats, I think.
I bought these plates at T.J. Maxx in June…this is the salad plate, but I also bought the dinner size…they are also winter white, and I really like the scalloped edges, along with the pretty trim. I managed to get 6 dinner plates, but only 4 salad plates…boo.
Time for candlelight…roses on the votive candle holders. Roses, roses, roses…I never get enough. They were another Home Goods buy. Love that Home Goods!!!
Hubby stretched out on his recliner in front of the fireplace, and Gracie getting comfortable on her checkered chair. It used to be my chair until we adopted her. Sometimes she shares…but not often. That’s okay, I’m perfectly content sitting here with my tea, scones, and candles. Now all I need is a good book to read while I wait for “Dancing” to begin!
Thanks so much for stopping by…I hope the fire and candlelight warmed you. Be sure to come back tomorrow to see more of my thrift store finds. Now don’t forget to visit Kim…she’s waiting for you!
God bless everyone. May you have a wonderful Tuesday, and please remember to pray for our soldiers. At this point, I just want them to come home…right or wrong…just bring them home. Please pray for our blogging friends who need to be lifted up for healing. And pray for our leaders to be literally slapped into reason by Almighty God, who must be asking the same thing we’re asking…”what on earth are you doing ?” It surely doesn’t look anything like “as it is in Heaven”.
Love to all!
Mary
Please join our lovely hostess, Amy, for Then Sings My Soul Saturday…TSMSS for short. Just click on the musical note to the right to visit Amy’s wonderful blog and to be blessed by the others that have something to share with you today.
And please visit Charlotte and Ginger, our lovely hostesses for Spiritual Sundays by clicking on the blue sky to the right. May your week-end be blessed by these two wonderful blogs.
Since my husband and I just celebrated 39 years of marriage last Friday, I wanted to show you some pictures.
One of the ladies that attended our church had a beautiful voice, and sang this song that Perry Como is going to sing for you now.
Please watch/listen to the video as you scroll through this post.
We were blessed when our son and daughter-in-love chose this song for their own wedding. I remembered what it meant to me, and I prayed as I heard it again, that the Lord would keep their love as strong as He had kept ours.
We had a very tiny budget for our wedding. I made my wedding dress and veil two weeks prior, and on the morning of the wedding, my maid of honor, Dori, and I were at the grocery store buying several gallons of Hawaiian Punch and ordering a cake that the bakery promised to have ready in an hour. I had my hair in those rollers you’ll see in the picture, and I was wearing a homemade granny dress. I can’t believe I did that!
My husband in 1969, just before we got engaged. Isn’t he handsome? Sigh…
This is me, rolling my hair on those big orange magnetic rollers on my wedding day…remember those?
Yes, my hair was dark…very dark! That’s my Irish heritage.
We didn’t have enough money to hire a professional photographer, so my hubby’s best friend took our wedding pictures with his 35mm camera. I could barely get a decent copy to post here today. The photos of me walking down the aisle, and the wedding party, the outside of the church, my parents, were so blurry, I couldn’t show them to you. I’m hoping there is a way to have them restored.
My husband’s oldest brother was, and still is, ornery. He took a lemon drop, put it in his mouth to make it sticky, and stuck it inside my wedding band before he handed it to the pastor. I was livid! This was the most important day of my life, and I wanted it to be spiritual and serious. I didn’t laugh. It took me years to get over it.
First kiss as Mr. and Mrs.
33 years later..while were on a cruise in the Caribbean.
And now 39 years and one week later, today…literally today, Saturday, my granddaughter took this picture of us.
My husband and I said the traditional wedding vows, but I also wrote this for him, as my personal commitment based on this beautiful passage of scripture.
MARRIAGE ACCORDING TO 1 CORINTHIANS 13
"...and now I will show you the most excellent way." (1 Cor. 12:31)
If I speak eloquently, with many words, to my mate, and I speak in my heavenly language continually to God, but have not love, I am only a repetitive nag and a harsh sound to his/her ears.
If God gifts to me vision and understanding, and reveals to me the mysteries of Heaven and earth, and if I believe in His word so strongly that I can move any obstacle from my life, but I do not love my mate as God does, I have lost my effect, my influence will be as nothing.
If I unselfishly give away my possessions to the needy, and sacrifice myself to Christian service, but love not my mate, I gain no reward.
Love means I am patient, waiting for God to change my mate's heart. Love means being thoughtful, tender and considerate of my mate's needs. It means I won't be envious of my mate's accomplishments and popularity; it means I won't gloat and exult myself when I am successful.
Love means I won't be impolite or curt with my mate, and I will not seek to make my life easier, but rather seek to lighten burdens for my mate. When I am angry, I will not allow Satan a foothold, but will take my tears and pain to God and petition for help in times of conflict, recognizing that troubled times are temporary and that God is the healer of our emotions; and I will quickly forgive my mates's shortcoming, holding no grudge in my heart.
Love means I will not gloat when my mate is wrong and I am right, or when my mate falls to temptation, pumping up my own righteousness, but I will rejoice when my mate finds strength in the Lord, when he/she lives according to the true Word of God.
Love means I will always defend my mate, never disclosing his/her fears to anyone, criticizing or belittling him/her, but will build up my mate's reputation to others and safeguard the private things of his/her heart. Love means I will have confidence in my mate and always presume the best from him/her. I will always hope for and anticipate God's blessings for our marriage, for our future, never holding onto past failures. I will continue to work at my marriage, laboring to fulfill the committment I made to my mate on our wedding day.
If we love each other as God loves us, we can be sure that His love will sustain us. All the gifts of God that are given us on this earth will one day be gone, and all of our days, with their trials and triumphs, will be gone; the only thing that will remain when perfection in Christ comes will be our love.
When I was single, I behaved in many childish ways, not having the responsibility upon me that comes with marriage. But when I became one with my mate in the sight of God, I became accountable to Him and to others to put away the thoughts and actions of my single days, to mature and behave as a capable and trustworthy adult, willingly taking on the care and concern for my mate.
I don't understand everything about my mate now, just as I don't have complete understanding of God; the mysteries cloud my ability to know it all; God designed it that way to test my faith, to depend on Him. But when I see the Lord face to face, He will open my eyes and I will see my mate and my own heart then as He does now.
All that will endure is my faith, my hope, and my love - and the greatest, most important gift I can give my mate and God is my devotion, my adoration...my love.
Our wedding took place in our little church, with our friends and family there to give us their blessings. We were married by our wonderful pastor, who had counseled us prior to the wedding, and believed in us. We believed in the words of that song then, and we believe in them now…”Because God made thee mine”. He has always been in the center of our marriage.
What is truly amazing to me is that Jesus is our Heavenly Bridegroom.
Revelation 19:7-9a [The Marriage Supper of the Lamb is the great Heavenly celebration of our marriage to Jesus.] Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready. 8 And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. 9a And he [the angel] saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb.
I’m sorry this post is so long…I usually try to keep them short, as I know there are many beautiful blogs to visit. Thanks so much for visiting me today!
God bless you, everyone!
Mary
Happy Friday, my blogging friends! The week-end is upon us, so I’m joining in with Kim, our adorable Friday Funnies hostess, to bring you some laughter for a fun and family filled two days away from the work grind! You can visit Amy by clicking on the button to the right.
“The man who smiles when things go wrong has thought of someone to blame it on.” - Robert Bloch
“Never take life seriously. Nobody gets out alive anyway.”
“When I die, I want to go peacefully like my Grandfather did, in his sleep -- not screaming, like the passengers in his car. “
I’m also sharing my latest thrift store finds with you! These gorgeous depression glass plates were only $14 for the 5 of them….wooo-hoooo! I bought the darling Thanksgiving glasses at the Dollar Tree…they go perfectly together.
I finally have something in Autumn colors!
I put a paper towel inside the glass to show you the writing, but it still isn’t very clear . It says “FAMILY…Memories are made of this…smiles, laughter, hugs”, and “HOME…enjoy the little things…Home is where my heart is”. They are sooo sweet!
Now make yourself a nice hot cup of tea, and click on over to Kim’s! Hope you leave here smiling…come back tomorrow for photos of my hubby and me…we just celebrated 39 years of marriage!!!
Happy Tea Things Tuesday, inspired and created by our beautiful Kim at www.shabbypinkandpretty.blogspot.com ! You just click on the darling tea cabinet to the right to visit Kim and so many more tea lovers!
I’m so glad you have to come to visit me at my tea cottage. The tea kettle is full, and I’ve already poured a cup just for you, plus added two flavors of freshly baked scones. I hope you like my homemade strawberry jam, made by a friend’s loving hands. Now, just sit down and sip as we talk about the important things in life…children, grandchildren, home, God, the little things in life that make us complete and whole.
Let me tell you about the teapot and teacup we’ll be using today. The teapot is a favorite of mine, and one of my first, purchased at T.J. Maxx several years ago. Its a Sadler teapot, made in England, and just the right size for about 4 to 5 cups of tea.
The teacups are made by Hammersley, also in England, and the pattern is Morgan’s Rose. The first time I saw one of these teacups, I fell in love with it…I think you will too!
Although the teapot and teacups aren’t a perfect match, they match perfectly, don’t you think?
My beautiful pink plates are vintage hobnail, another favorite of mine. I have 18 of them, and use them often. I’m not sure of the manufacturer…if you have an idea, please let me know.
These roses were given to me by my wonderful husband last Friday…we celebrated our 39th wedding anniversary. I’ll be sharing photos on Saturday, if you’d like to come back!
Isn’t the color outstanding?
This is a vintage sugar bowl…I also have the creamer and the underplate….I’ll show it another time.
I do hope you enjoyed tea today…I love having company for tea…I could do it every day of the week…well, maybe at least 3 times a week…I do need a couple of days to bake and clean!
I hate to see you leave so soon, but I really do want you to hurry on over to Kim’s…you don’t want to miss her beautiful tea things, and then you can click away and visit all the participants…I know they will have delightful tea goodies to feast your eyes on!
God bless you all…remember to pray for our wonderful military, their families, especially those at Fort Hood…pray for our blogging friends that are in need. We have the Christmas season coming upon us quickly, which is always a time of good will among men and women…let’s not wait til next month…every day is the day to give, share, pray, and spread joy everywhere you go.
Mary
Many thanks of gratitude to Charlotte and Ginger, two wonderful and sweet ladies that bring us together on Sundays to share our thoughts, scriptures, testimonies and words of wisdom. Please visit them by clicking on the blue sky to the right, and may your Sunday be blessed.
From the Tea Lovers Devotional:
Listen
Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger. James 1:10
God in His great wisdom created mankind with two ears and only one mouth. I'm sure that was because He wanted us to listen twice as much as we speak. Most of us are very poor listeners...I guarantee that if couples would take the time to become better listeners, their relationships would be improved through better understanding and increased patience. (It's important to remember, though, that women tend to be better listeners than men, probably because most men immediately want to fix what is broken and consider listening a waste of time. To them, the solution is what's important; they want to go directly to the bottom line.)
So be brave and ask several of your trusted friends how they would rate you on your listening skills. Be prepared to take their honest answers and act upon the information constructively. Don't get into the trap of thinking you are much better at listening than so-and-so. Almost everyone is below par in this skill.
We will become better listeners when we realize how people value being heard. It gives people an awareness that we care for what they have to say and that we truly love them. Our own spirits are lifted up when those around us know we care for them.
Listening is truly an art form that can be mastered if we practice. Observe yourself in a crowd, or even one-on-one, to see how you do. Change comes when you know the truth.
Heart Action: Listen to your husband/wife, your child, your friends, and to strangers with an attentive, caring mind and a compassionate, open heart. You'll discover how much more you truly hear!"
I always get something that I need when reading anything written by Emilie Barnes. She doesn't disappoint me with this little book that I so enjoy when taking a break with a nice, hot cup of tea. As I read this section, I wondered "Do I listen to God, or is my mind like my mouth, going a mile a minute, thinking my own thoughts, rather than listening to the mind of God?" I also wonder, “Am I letting the chatter of things around me drown out the voice of God?” I must first practice listening to God, through the leading of the Holy Spirit, and through the reading of His Word.
I'm so glad you stopped by for a visit today...how I would love to sit down with you and listen to what is on your mind and heart! I really think when we listen to God and to others, we're better than we were before. That's what we do here in blogland...we "listen" to each other, don't we? When we're reading someone's blog, we're not talking to them, we're listening to them...and we usually leave there with a fullness that we didn't have before. That's why we develop friendships here...no sounds, just hearts quietly speaking out to each other. I love that.
Let's all see how much we can hear today, by quieting our own voices, being still, and knowing that He is God! Psalm 46:10
May you all be richly blessed ...have a wonderful Sunday!
Mary
Thank you, Sue at http://suelovescherries.blogspot.com/ for hosting Rednesday! Today Sue is celebrating 100 followers…Congratulations, Sue!
I posted this yesterday for Tea Things Tuesday, but since my granddaughter is a redhead, and is wearing a red hat for her party, I thought I would just jump in here and show it again! There are a lot of pretty reds to be viewed today, so click on the Rednesday button to the right to visit Sue’s blog for more cheery reds!
Its Tuesday and time for Tea Things Tuesday, with our gracious and lovely hostess, Kim, at www.shabbypinkandpretty.blogspot.com. If you love tea and tea things, just visit Kim and other tea lovers for more pretties!
Welcome to my tea cottage…Let me pour you a cup of tea and share some relaxing moments with you today.
My camera software is acting up, so I am posting some pictures of my granddaughters birthday tea party. I think she was 6. She is now 10. They are just toooooooo cute!
This photo is inside, opening gifts…no teacups, sorry…but I think its cute, so thought I would share!
Don’t be afraid to have a tea party for little ones with your best china…the children are amazingly aware of the delicacy, and handle it with care! They would pick the teacups so gently, and put them back down very slowly…it was adorable to watch. And they just love wearing the big brimmed hats! Being pretty and feminine begins very early, doesn’t it?
I hope everyone has a blessed day. I’ve been so busy lately, I am overwhelmed with medical letters, and “change in policy” letters from banks…and thinking about the holidays…I could scream! But I won’t…I’ll go look at some teacups over at Kim’s…bring your cup of tea and come join me!
Please pray for all of our blogging friends, our troops and our country.
God bless you all!
Mary
