tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69411894655560262612024-03-13T12:47:46.006-07:00Just Call Me GraceSaved by it...Living in itKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-27605989546883726462011-12-22T08:28:00.000-08:002011-12-22T08:28:01.495-08:00A Kids View of the Christmas Story
Merry Christmas everyone!Love,Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-437156892264816492011-12-15T12:59:00.000-08:002011-12-15T12:59:44.106-08:00Mary Did You Know? I didn't know what God planned for my children's lives when I gave birth to them.
Neither did Mary, the mother of Jesus.But I know better now, 31 years into motherhood, that they are His, just as I am.Since eternity past He has had marvelous plans for all of usand I've witnessed the fulfillment of many of them.So did Mary.May Jesus fill your heart with His love this Christmas seasonand Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-92061299890066095552011-08-12T00:01:00.000-07:002011-08-12T10:57:59.615-07:00Teddy Bear Tea Party: Part 2-Invitations & the pink flamingosHey, that title could be the name of a rock band!
Thanks for dropping by to help me celebrate myOne Year Blogoversary!Your presence blesses me on a daily basis! Your comment love means a lot to me!
It's been so much fun planning for this party. As I made up the guest list, I thought of all the wonderful women and girls who bless me and my daughter with their friendship and I wanted toKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-78566929867322459302011-08-11T23:58:00.000-07:002011-08-12T10:08:36.641-07:00Teddy Bear Tea Party: Part 1-Preparations
Sonja already has a collection of Teddy Bears
Before we ever knew we would be grandparents, preparations were underway to spiff up the place for my Teddy Bear Tea PartyAugust 20, 2011When we knew my Daughter would give birth in May, I wanted to give her a party here where she finished her growing up years with our friends from school, our church, and the community. But her Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-26707108818486786732011-08-09T09:53:00.000-07:002011-08-11T06:11:16.311-07:00Sonja at 7 weeks
A couple of weeks ago, my son and DIL invited their Facebook friends to a s'mores and bonfire party that night in their backyard. Trouble is, their backyard is nearly 3 hours away. I called 'em and asked if I could come up to enjoy their party and stay overnight, too. They agreed and all I had to do was kiss my Dear Husband bye-bye, gas up the car, and Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-73203523548794586922011-08-02T11:21:00.000-07:002011-08-10T10:41:17.368-07:00Praise him?
If only you had paid attention to My commands, your peace would have been like a river...
Isaiah 48:18
A precious friend, newly married, called me last night needing prayer for her and her husband. They'd had a fight, one of several in recent days, it turns out. Through tears, she spilled out a few pertinent details. I, too, with memories of being a new bride, teared up Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-52957351827215361292011-07-27T00:00:00.000-07:002011-07-27T00:00:14.299-07:00She is a daughter of the KingJust want to catch you up on some of what's happened in our lives since our first grandbaby was born.
She was baptized into God's family on Sunday, June 5th.
In attendance at this joyful event: Parents of SIL, pastor, SIL & Daughter #2 holding grandbaby, Dear Husband, Moi, Son & DIL, Mom, SIL & Daughter #1
4 Generations of our familyWe had brunch together at the same Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-43575003739365745172011-07-22T10:19:00.000-07:002011-07-22T14:34:02.770-07:00Christmas In July
My daughter received these peonies to celebrate the birth of her first-born.
No, you're not cross-eyed. They are out of focus.
I played Bible roulette again this morning with my Women's Devotional Bible. I pick it up from the side table and read whatever page it opens to. Do you ever do that?
Today I happened upon this poem by Anne Ortland, a Christian musician and Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-55184317489697468072011-07-20T11:43:00.000-07:002011-07-20T22:59:07.874-07:00A Well-Watered GardenSaturday was a drizzly, cool day. It's July, folks! I say that more for my benefit than yours. Some of you are sweltering in triple digit heat and would be glad for some cool, moist weather, right? We, however, have waited 9 months for our normal sunny, dry summer. It ain't happenin'!
The Lord of the heavens and earth has seen fit to provide more moisture. So IKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-47816163608647091072011-07-16T14:38:00.000-07:002011-07-16T20:13:44.578-07:00A New Old Friend
Her smile hasn't changed a bit!
"A friend loves at all times..."Proverbs 17:17We graduated from high school 41 years ago. We had a few classes together and I remember a quiet sweetness about her. She had a warm, sincere smile for me. But we ran with different crowds and didn't hang out much. I was excruciatingly shy, so I didn't pursue a closer relationship with her.And yet, last Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-82280355426750600422011-06-25T10:30:00.000-07:002011-06-25T10:36:32.419-07:00It was a very good weekAnd here's why:I'm working as an aide for Migrant Summer School. MSS is for children of the parents who work seasonally on the farms surrounding our town.7 hours of being with our kiddos-all 30 of them.They were so great, seemed eager to be there.Most of them speak English, but several have only been here 6 months and so the very-able teacher translates her directions constantly.  Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-28304576887013377732011-06-15T11:54:00.000-07:002011-06-18T10:03:07.498-07:00An Announcement...of almost Biblical proportions! To us, anyway.So without further ado, may I present:
Our granddaughter fresh from God on May 24th at 5:05 a.m. 7lbs. 4oz., 18 3/4"10 fingers. 10 toes.Blue eyes, fine hair with hints of blond and copper.
Welcome to the world, little angel!
14 hours old
Here's the blow by blow:
May 23rd, 9:00 p.m.-9:30 p.m. Talking on the phone with D#2
Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-87119235824998925962011-05-22T21:21:00.000-07:002011-05-22T21:41:41.322-07:00A Rose By Any Other Name...would smell as sweet.Does Shakespeare's quote apply to grandmas, too?Not that grandmas smell.At least I don't. Do I?Never mind. Let's not go there.Here's the deal: I'm wondering how to refer to myself when I FINALLY become a grandma.
That's right. We're still waiting on baby!But our daughter and SIL have a game plan:She will be induced on Wednesday, May 25,unless Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-3611624519347717002011-05-16T21:23:00.000-07:002011-05-18T07:04:02.807-07:00Even Solomon...I [the LORD] will love them freely...I will be like the dew and the night mist to Israel;he shall grow and blossom like the lily and cast forth his roots...Hosea 14:4,5
Our son and DIL gave me these lilies for Mother's Day.I took this photo thinking I would use this verse for today's post:And why should you be anxious about clothes? Consider the lilies of the field...they neither toil Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-43791603532210430082011-05-10T10:31:00.000-07:002011-07-22T10:09:17.371-07:00All Means All I got to celebrate Mother's Day at Anthony's restaurant near where our kids live. This was the view from the window.Yes, it was a gray day. But we Northwesterners choose to look at the bright side of the weather.Notice the clouds reflecting in the water.The evergreen and new-growth green of the slopping hillside.The boats gently bobbing on the quiet water.After brunch, we Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-14241779579899996742011-05-04T00:01:00.000-07:002011-06-04T08:33:34.735-07:00Daydreaming a prayer for my GrandbabySaturday morning, while paging through my Bible and reading various passages, I stopped at Proverbs 23:12-26.Since the impending birth of our daughter's and SIL's BABY! BABY! BABY!is constantly on my mind these days,a blessing/prayer began taking shape in this Grandma's heart.I began daydreaming that I was praying it over her/him in the womb.
May you always apply your Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-49913186545387321942011-04-30T11:30:00.000-07:002011-05-09T15:05:21.477-07:00Baby quilt update and other happy thoughts
These are the fabrics that will decorate my Grandbaby's nursery!
Oh, I have such a wonderful day planned!Today I get to make my Grandbaby's crib quilt."Get to" because 2 months ago I injured my shoulder in a fall and wasn't sure how/if I'd be able to do it.
Long story short, after multiple stops and starts, including buying fabric on the internet-wrong type of fabric, had to Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-64222073057692417202011-04-25T13:24:00.000-07:002011-04-25T22:36:07.344-07:00A picture of comfort
Today I received news that a friend's great grand baby had died inutero. She asked me to keep the family in my prayers, as they are, of course, devastated.Weeping with sorrow, I typed out my prayer:that they would be comforted in knowing their baby is sitting on Jesus' lap, waiting for them in heaven.
For the record:It is NOT my intention by this post to make their tragedy about Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-23231203469447111612011-04-20T23:01:00.000-07:002011-04-25T10:11:57.574-07:00Christ the Lord is Risen Today!
I wanted to share my favorite Easter hymn with you. It's so triumphant, so joyful!
Thank you, God, for your plan for the salvation of all mankindby means of your Son's death on the crossand resurrection from the dead.
I know that my Redeemer lives! Alleluia!
Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, "WhoKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-15349818659015713452011-04-19T10:52:00.000-07:002011-04-26T10:44:08.206-07:00Apres Monet-If you squintJust wanted to give you a glimpse of the tapestry of colors from my kitchen sliding door.Since it's not in focus If you squint, you will see what Monet would have painted if he'd had a few free mornings to capture my spring tapestry with oil paints. And a French accent.Pretty good save for a crummy photo, huh?No?
Apres Monet or "In the style of Monet"
Okay, now on to the Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-4382848149493218632011-04-18T12:35:00.000-07:002011-04-18T12:35:05.099-07:00Being one fleshMany years into my married life, I began to wonder what it meant to be "one flesh" in marriage.
It sure didn't feel like we were one flesh. I began to ask the Lord about it.
But I often rebelled at His consistent answer to my query:
You must die to self.
Life is a series of opportunities to die to your own needs, desires, opinions.
Your Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-85559000680028207942011-03-25T11:35:00.000-07:002011-03-25T11:45:27.559-07:00Free Pretty Things For You!Isn't this pretty?
Snagged it from a new team member at a site I'm sure you've been to-and if you haven't, you need to-
Shabby Blogs.com
The folks there dream up and give away (=FREE)
lovely blog backgrounds, buttons, blinkies, post dividers, and more.
This morning I was cruisin' SB's site and met
Keren Dukes from Free Pretty Things For You.
So I helped myself to a few of her prettiesKarenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-92136599377747019342011-03-23T20:31:00.000-07:002011-03-23T20:31:20.276-07:00Empty Nest Are you on this end of motherhood? How did/do you deal with it?Are your friends, activities, job, husband, and homeenough to fulfill you, allow you to live your purpose in God's plan?
Been there. Still do it. Or, at least, tell myself to do it.
But I struggle.Struggle, as in "I miss my kids so much my chest feels like it's going to burst!"That began when our eldest Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-29527259728482285472011-03-22T22:35:00.000-07:002011-03-23T13:59:01.012-07:00Worth More Than Sparrows
See her beak?
Even the sparrow has found a home and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young-a place near your altar,O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.Psalm 84:3
A hummingbird built her nest on the lower branch of our fir tree about a month ago.Since then we've had lots of rain, wind, and even 4" of snow.I really thought she'd desert her nest after the Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6941189465556026261.post-35236451656179414912011-03-22T11:15:00.000-07:002011-03-22T15:33:36.106-07:00Continuing Saga of......Karen vs. the Grandbaby's Quilt.Do you ever feel like once you make up your mind to do a project,
like I did yesterday,a MILLION other things start screaming to be done?My head was bursting yesterday with MUST DO'S:Buy this cookbook and study it so I can help Mom's caregiver plan her menus.
Call her dietitian to discuss.When I got to Barnes & Noble, I located it right away.But that wasn't Karenhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15353687786613631098noreply@blogger.com4