~Spiritual Sunday~Freedom~

Today we celebrate Spiritual Sunday with our hostesses Charlotte and Ginger. I hope you will visit them...they have many participants that want to share inspiring and encouraging words for you today.

I would like to share this wonderful video with you. A few weeks ago, I posted several quotes made by our former president Ronald Reagan, and I included a link to this video, but I didn't know how to actually embed it in the post. I don't know if anyone saw it or not, but I believe it has a powerful message, so I'm posting it again today. Listen to the words carefully. The lyrics are under the video.

"Let Freedom Ring" by the Bill Gaither Vocal Band

Deep within, the heart has always known that there was freedom

Somehow breathed into the very soul alive

The prisoner, the powerless, the saved have always known it

There is something that keeps reaching for the sky

Even life begins because a baby fights for freedom

And songs we love to sing have freedom's theme

Some have walked through fire and flood to find a place of freedom

And some faced hell itself for freedom's dream

Let freedom ring wherever minds know what it means to be in chains

Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain

Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key

We can be free and we can sing --- let freedom ring

God built freedom into every fiber of creation

And He meant for us to all be free and whole

When my Lord bought freedom with the blood of His redemption

His cross stamped pardon on my very soul

I'll sing it out with every breath, I'll let the whole world hear it

This hallelujah anthem of the free

That iron bars and heavy chains can never hold us captive

The Son has made us free and free indeed

Let freedom ring down through the ages from a hill called Calvary

Let freedom ring wherever hearts know pain

Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key

You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring

Let freedom echo through the lonely streets where prisons have no key

You can be free and you can sing let freedom ring

You can be free and you can sing --- let freedom ring --- let freedom ring

God bless you, and God bless America, land that I love.

Mary

~Pink Saturday Sweetness~

 I can’t believe another week has flown by, and we are so close to the end of the summer of 2009!  I’m so glad, though, that even with the beautiful colors of autumn filling our blogs with decorating crafts and ideas, we can always celebrate PINK!  Thanks to our lovely and gracious hostess, Beverly at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com  for bringing us together in celebration of pink, a color that is year round, and always in style.

 

I’d like you to meet this sweet little Corolle doll.  I was in a toy store in Sacramento about 20 years ago, looking for a gift for a friend’s daughter.  When I saw this doll, I had to have her because she reminded me of my own daughter when she was little.  None of my granddaughters play with dolls…they love stuffed animals, like Build-A-Bear, and Webkinz.  They buy clothes for them, doll carriages, baby bottles and such, and play with them the way I played with my dolls when I was little.  So this doll has been MY doll.  Even though no one really plays with her, somehow she has lost one of the flowers in her bonnet, and her shoes and socks!  I think they were “borrowed” for those furry babies!

I never did give her a name…any suggestions?  I like Abby, and Dixie, and Belle.  Somehow I know she’s a southern girl!

 

Oh, to have this thick head of hair again!  I love the hat, with it’s pink flowers in the front and the pink polka dot bow in the back.

Still wearing her original dress.

Here is another of the mini tea sets in my collection. 

 

The serving plate…with a scalloped rim and covered with beautiful roses in lovely shades of pink!

 

Living proof that summer is still here…geraniums on the deck…love this vibrant pink!

A baby ivy plant in a mosaic pot

If only life could be like pink…It’s soft, romantic, feminine, calming, and  well, just beautiful!  To think that some people don’t like pink is unthinkable! That’s okay, we all have our favorites colors, but if yours is pink, be sure to click on that pretty pink lady to visit Beverly and other participants that have some lovely pinks to show today!

Have a wonderful week-end, everyone…be safe, have fun, and be sure to keep “living in the pink”!

Mary

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Happy Friday, everyone! I'm joining my sweet friend, Janice, at the Faded Cottage for her last episode of Chippy Paint Friday! I don't have a lot of chippy paint items, and Janice has run out of her own beautites to show you, so this is it. I'm going tomiss it. So today, be sure to visit Janice ....just click on that cute little shabby dog to the right, and see what she has to show you!

Click on picture for larger view

I love this little bird bell that I got at the Home and Garden Show a few years ago. I use it to get the kids out of the pool. If they don't get out right away, I keep ringing til they do, because they hate the noise!

For me, this is the last thing I could find in my house that has paint chipped here and there. I love the shabby look of anything with chipped paint, but never really got into it til blogging, and now I'm on the hunt for all things old, chipped, and white!

Have a wonderful Labor Day, everyone, and enjoy your long holiday week-end safely. Remember that it's not you out there that's going to cause that accident...it's someone else that's being careless by drinking and driving, or texting while driving...you get the picture, right?

I'll be back tomorrow with something pink...in the meantime, I'm praying that you all experience the blessings of God in your life.

Please pray for our Congress as they come back to the table for discussion on the Health Care Bill. This is a much more serious situation than our health care...there are many other conditions in the bill, including IRS involvement in your payment of your health care. I heard and read yesterday that everyone will required to have and pay for health care, whether you choose to or not. I know people that don't choose to pay for it, but that option will be gone, and IRS will step in to take the money out of your bank account...please educate yourself on this bill, and let your voice be heard...before it's too late, and you get something you didn't really understand or want.

God bless!!!!

Mary

~A Variety of Whites~

It’s White Wednesday!  Please visit our lovely hostess, Kathleen, at www.fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com to find some pretty white treasures bought to you by your blogging friends! 

I have always enjoyed this wicker plant stand that I purchased at an antique store a few years ago.  I know the geraniums aren’t white, but I couldn’t resist putting then in the stand to show off it’s pretty white details.

A close up view

This pretty frame was a find at the antique flea market…I’m sure it’s not an antique, but I love the detail.  It came with a textured white paper that I can’t seem to remove in order to put pictures there…I think the white makes a pretty picture in itself.  

  I know these aren’t all white, either, but I had to show them to you, and I don’t know of a yellow or green event yet!  These pretty doilies were in a stack of other crocheted doilies at another antique store. I’m pretty sure they were done by hand, probably as a gift, as they are in perfect condition and unused.   I saw a peek of yellow sticking out, and couldn’t believe that I found two matching!  I’m trying to decide how to display them, since I’m certainly not going to take a chance on getting them dirty.  Perhaps a pretty white picture frame?

A glimpse of the bathroom on one side of the sink.

I couldn’t get a better picture of this bar of soap, but it is some kind of a floral design.  It was a gift from a dear friend…a “just because” gift…I can’t bring myself to unwrap it…someone might mistakenly use it to wash their dirty hands!

I found this votive candle holder at T.J. Maxx about 3 years ago.  White and covered with roses…it had my name written all over it!

Here’s another picture in the kitchen in a different light, and another view of the top when it’s turned slightly.

The little soap dish was also a gift from the same friend…she finds the sweetest things!  I know, I know, it’s got blue in it…sorry.

 

A birthday present from my granddaughter a few years ago…one of my  most treasured possessions.  Of course, I say that grandCHILDREN are a wonderful treasure of memories.  I know you grandmas agree!  

I apologize for sneaking other colors into my white today…I have many whites, but these are just some things I thought you might enjoying seeing.  I’ll try to stick to  ALL WHITE next week!

White is my favorite background color…it gives me a sense of calm and space… it is known to reflect the light, and light in my house is one thing I really need.  In the winter or when it’s raining, I turn a lot of lights on, as it brings a sense of sunshine.  We do need to watch those electric bills, though, so we only have the lights on where we happen to be at the time.

Thanks so much for joining me today for White Wednesday.  Don’t forget to join Kathleen and the other participants…I’m sure they have some lovely whites just waiting for your arrival!

We have blogging friends that are in need of prayer…please check my sidebar for a couple of them…Amy, and Andrew…and there are so many others…please continue lifting them up for healing of their bodies. 

Please remember to pray for our country…there are proposed changes that none of us bargained for, so please stand strong and speak out if you are not in favor of them.  I heard just today that there is talk of a “new set of founding fathers”, because  “the original founding fathers do not deserve the loyalty we’ve given them”…friends, that is a very scary statement…please pray that God will continue to protect and bless America.

My good friend, Lynn at http://lynnslovelies.blogspot.com/2009/09/one-nation-under-god.html has a very important message.  Please click over to her blog and read what she has shared with us today.

 

God bless each and every one of you! 

 

Mary

The Ten Cannots

Good morning, and happy Monday to you. I received an email this morning, and I want to share the contents with you...I believe these statements to be true.

The Ten Cannots

by the Rev. William J. H. Boetcker

Presbyterian Clergyman in 1916

"You cannot build character and courage by taking away man's initiative and independence."
"You cannot help small men by tearing down big men."
"You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong."
"You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer."
"You cannot help the poor man by destroying the rich."
"You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than your income."
"You cannot further the brotherhood of man by initiating class hatred."
"You cannot establish security on borrowed money."
"You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift."
"You cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they could and should do for themselves."



And this...


"Property is the fruit of labor...property is desirable...is a positive good in the world. That some should be rich shows that others may become rich, and hence is just encouragement to industry and enterprise. Let not him who is houseless pull down the house of another; but let him labor diligently and build one for himself, thus by example assuring that his own shall be safe from violence when built."

"To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards of men."

Abraham Lincoln


These are really wonderful truths to live by, don't you think?

Have a wonderful day, everyone, and may God bless you all!

Mary

What Do We Teach our Children

Please visit Charlotte and Ginger, our wonderful hostesses for Spiritual Sunday. Just click on the blue sky to the right.

When I first read this story, I was so moved by it...I hope it touches your heart.

"A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in- law, and four-year old grandson. The old man’s hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table, but the elderly grandfather’ s shaky hands and failing sight made eating difficult. Peas rolled off his spoon onto the floor. When he grasped the glass, milk spilled on the tablecloth.
The son and daughter-in- law became irritated with the mess. “We must do something about Grandfather, ” said the son. “I’ve had enough of his spilled milk, noisy eating, and food on the floor.” Therefore, the husband and wife set a small table in the corner.
There, Grandfather ate alone while the rest of the family enjoyed dinner. Since grandfather had broken a dish or two, his food was served in a wooden bowl. When the family glanced in Grandfather’ s direction, sometimes he had a tear in his eye as he sat alone. Still, the only words the couple had for him were sharp admonitions when he dropped a fork or spilled food.
The four-year-old watched it all in silence. One evening before supper, the father noticed his son playing with wood scraps on the floor. He asked the child sweetly, “What are you making?”
Just as sweetly, the boy responded, “Oh, I am making a little bowl for you and Mama to eat your food in when I grow up.” The four-year-old smiled and went back to work.
The words so struck the parents that they were speechless. Then tears started to stream down their cheeks. Though no word was spoken, both knew what must be done.
That evening the husband took Grandfather’ s hand and gently led him back to the family table. For the remainder of his days, he ate every meal with the family. And for some reason, neither husband nor wife seemed to care any longer when a fork was dropped, milk spilled, or the tablecloth soiled."
———————————————————————
"Children are remarkably perceptive. Their eyes ever observe, their ears ever listen, and their minds ever process the messages they absorb.
If they see us patiently, provide a happy home atmosphere for family members, they will imitate that attitude for the rest of their lives. The wise parent realizes that every day the building blocks are being laid for the child’s future. Let us be wise builders and role models."

I was at the hospital once, washing my hands in the ladies room, when a young woman came in with an elderly woman. As the elderly woman was using the toilet, the younger woman badgered here by continually telling her to hurry up...over and over again, without taking a breath. The poor woman told her, "I'm trying, I'm trying..." I was so upset and angry. I politely told her to be patient, that a person can't help how long it takes them to use the toilet. She glared at me, waited about 10 seconds and started in again. When the woman was finished, she came out with tears in her eyes, looked at me, and just hung her head down as she headed for the door. The young woman grabbed her arm and "helped" her out. I just stood there for a moment and prayed for both of them.

We're all getting older...if we're fortunate we will reach a ripe old age and will even need a little help getting around. I hope I taught my children well. Pray for those that were not taught to be patient and kind...pray that God will change their hearts.


Mary

~Pink Saturday and Roses~

This is a beautiful summer day for sharing our pinks with Beverly at http://howsweetthesound.typepad.com .  Thank you, Beverly, for being our gracious hostess for this wonderful event.

I thought about embroidering a pink rooster, so I could continue the fun of the rooster party, but I’ve spent all my time looking at the fantastic roosters, so no time for needle and floss!  So…I have put together a little vignette of pinks that go well together for you to see.  I just put them together on my dining table, but am looking for a place for the two pictures…they are printed on canvas, I believe, and I bought them when I went to tea last week.  The bath salts  and room spray were a birthday gift, and will go in my bathroom, while the Old Country Roses shoe, which was given to me as hostess gift  for my Shabby Chic tea will find a place somewhere in the living room. I found the pink glass rose stem at a dollar store, but not THE Dollar Store.  I bought 16 of them, one for each of the Rose Petals in my tea club as a favor for a tea I gave three years ago.  The pearls are real, and were given to me by my grandfather when I was only 15 years old.  I have three strands of them, plus earrings.  They are very special to me. 

 

           

 

Thank you so much visiting my tea cottage today.  I hope you enjoyed my little contribution to Pink Saturday…now click on the Pink Lady to the right and join Beverly, who has posted a long list of participants waiting for your arrival! 

If you haven’t seen all the roosters at Barb’s Rooster Party, they’re still waiting for your arrival…believe me, it’s worth the time to see them…they’re fabulous!

My cottage is always open, and I would love it if you could stop in for a cup of tea.  It’s always better with two…or three…or more! 

I know there are more precious bloggers that are dealing with illness.  For all those in blogland that are in need of prayer, please let your requests be known so we can pray for you!

May God bless each and every one of you!!!

Mary