All 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 noticed a patch of blue sky and said,

"It's turning out to be a lovely day!"

By contrast, on Saturday our dogwood was glowing in full bloom during a sun break 

as I finished tying  my grandbaby's quilt.

Last Monday I secured  the edges with decorative machine stitching.

It's not perfect, but a whole lotta love went into each stitch. 

True Confession:  I chose Contemporary Christian instead of listening to Country music.

Decided that, as I worked, I'd note lyrics from the songs that spoke to my heart about God's plans for grandbaby's life.  More often than not, lyrics for these songs are based on verses from the Bible.

What better way to pray/sing blessing into his/her life?  

[Don't think that's possible with Country music.]

Yes, it took twice as long to tie the quilt, but it turned my nervous anticipation into peaceful joy.

And, TA DA!

Here's the result:

7 days before her due date!
As close to being a mommy on Mother's Day as a girl can be, without actually holding her baby.

We squinted happily at being together under the patchy blue sky.
Sweet DIL, DH, Son, moi, D#2, SIL
D#1 and other SIL were in Europe

This morning I read this:

And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

2 Corinthians 9:8

As I anticipate my daughter's labor and delivery, 

Jesus applied His Word to our circumstances this way:

"I will give her the gift of My grace in this, too.

Because I love her and her baby, 

they have My boundless provision of mercy and love to protect them.

For giving birth to this new little life is, indeed,

a good work!

So do not be afraid, O little [Karen],

for I myself will help [them].

{Isaiah 41:10}

To which I reply, "Thank You, Jesus!"

Grace, mercy, and love be to YOU today, too, friend.

Love,

Linking with

Ann at A Holy Experience for Multitudes on Monday.

This is a blog hop I whole-heartedly recommend.

The blogs I visit here are nearly always worthy of the time spent reading them!

I truly wish I could figure out how to add Ann's graphic here without the html code.

Again, I ask for my readers' help with this.

Also linking with

Internet Cafe's Word-Filled Wednesday

Christ 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 mankind

by means of your Son's death on the cross

and 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, "Who will roll the stone away from the entrance of the tomb?"

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away.  As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed.

"Don't be alarmed,"he said, "You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified...

Mark 16:2-6

We're spending Easter Sunday with our children.

We will be attending worship with them and then enjoying a lovely ham dinner at our son and DIL's home.

Don't think we'll have an egg hunt, but who knows?

My thanks go out to Melanie, at Only A Breath, for offering  these free buttons.

Hope you have a blessed Easter celebration!

Love,

Linking with
Lynn at Spiritually Unequal Marriage for

Michelle at SomeGirl's Website for

Emmy's Closet for 

"Monday, Monday...

so good to me.
Monday, Monday,
it was all I hoped it would be.

Actually, it was Friday and Saturday that were all I hoped they'd be.
One of my goals for Project 2011 was accomplished:
Make plans with my husband to improve our marriage.
On Friday evening and Saturday all day,
we attended this marriage conference at our church:
Cultivating A Thriving Marriage
I should mention that growing together, instead of apart,
is a mutual interest.
I didn't have to twist his arm.
God is answering 20 years' worth of prayers  
as He begins a new work in us
in our empty nest season,
just before grandparenthood.
He is teaching us a deeper meaning of
what it means to be one flesh.
Remember that term from your wedding vows?
Seems so long ago.
Jeepers, it was long ago!

On Friday evening, we sat with 2 other couples, and, over dinner, 

chatted about our first dates, honeymoons and favorite vacations.

.

Did I mention the meal was catered? 

I didn't have to plan it or cook it.  

I wasn't on the committee to set up, serve, or clean up, 

(The youth group did that!)

and there were lemon bars for dessert.

I passed up brownies for lemon bars.

I know!  Crazy me!

Which would you rather have?

My Knight in Shining Armor,

was at my side.

Throw in friends and good food.

The weekend was shaping up to be 

one of the best we've had as a couple 

for a mighty long time.

After dinner, 

Ben and Janet Burns, national speakers at 

Family Life's Weekend to Remember marriage conferences, 

were introduced and spoke with humor and sensitivity about 

the differences between men and women.

Her thoughts:  "Where is our relationship headed?"

His thoughts:  "The car needs and oil change."

I'm certain about this:  
Everyone who reads this has noticed 

this apparent disconnect between the sexes, right?

Right??

Since Friday night was supposed to be a date night,

there was another special treat in store for us:

A local Christian couple, married for 35 years,

Mark Hanson, a Grammy-award winning guitarist,

and his wife, Greta Pedersen, the 2009 Artist of the Year for Young Audiences,

 performed for us.

(You can check out Mark's videos on youtube, too.  I've only linked to one here.)

On Saturday morning, Ben reminded us,

as is usual at each one of the Family Life Conferences we've attended, 

to make these our priorities:
 God first-Vertical relationship
Spouse second-Horizontal relationship

He said he and Janet experience conflict in their marriage.

And so does every other married couple, Christian or not.

Another thing I feel certain about:  
This is not new news.
Is it?

Well, phew! 
The DH and I aren't the only couple in church 
who have some doozies conflict.

They equipped us with useful scripts and methods to use to
work through our conflicts

in God-honoring ways, with love and truth.
Yes, marriage is work.  Every.  Single.  Day.

Everything they shared can be used by newlyweds as well as folks who've been married for decades.

One of the best things about the conference was that many of our friends were there.

When we first met, 17 years ago, we were all raising teenagers

a trying time even if you have "good" kids.

Together, we went through the stops and starts of 

launching them,

only to experience the empty nest.

College/jobs/military service, weddings and/or out-of-wedlock pregnancies, 

and grandparent-hood were next.

By God's grace, we are all still married to the partners of our youth.

It's so encouraging to know that these dear friends 

are still committed to their marriages 

and that they rely on Godly instruction to thrive, together, till death parts them.

Several times during the weekend I wondered,

"How do people get through married life 

without God

and a church family?!"

Thank You, Lord, for the tools we came away with this weekend.

We're so grateful that You will help us learn to use them.

Thanks, too, for our church family with whom we get to share 

the mountain tops and valleys of life here on earth.

Not by might, nor by power,
but by My Spirit, says the LORD...
Who despises the day of small things?
Zechariah 4:6, 10

My God shower His grace, mercy, and peace on you today!

Love, 

Linking up with

Cate at Moments of Whimsy

and for the first time with Drowsy Monkey for

and Danielle for

and Darcy for

and Katie for

and the Latte Lady, Janet for

Here's My Game Plan

You may or may not have noticed my weight loss ticker hasn't moved much lately.

Sigh...

The GOOD NEWS

is that I was able to manage a .8# loss

over the 2 week break from my Weight Watchers meetings!

woot!  Yea, ME!

But I'm back in the saddle 

The DH and me at 9000' in the Rockies.  August 2008

with meal planning.

My Dear Husband loves a hot, home-cooked meal 

when he comes home from supporting our lifestyle.

So here's my game plan for dinner for the next 7 nights:

All of these recipes are from a pre-Points Plus Plan

Weight Watchers cookbook called

Meals In Minutes.

Shepherd's Pie 

Warm Cassoulet

Beef Stew Italiano

Roast Pork with Herb Crust

Moroccan Turkey Ham Tagine-I have to buy pitted prunes, coriander, and curry to make this one.

Fish Chowder Pie with Bacon

Herb Cheese-Stuffed Shells

Gettin' hungry just typing it all out!

Since we're expecting snow

-not a big deal to some of you-

I better get my rear in gear and go to the grocery store

to get stocked up.

Nobody knows how to drive in snow around these parts.

You haven't forgotten that you're WONDERFUL

have you?

But I trust in you, O, LORD;

I say, "You are my God."

My times are in your hands...

Praise be to the LORD,

for he showed his wonderful love to me.

Psalm 31:14-15, 21

God bless you with grace and mercy today!

Love,

Linking up with
Annett for

Ashley & Vic at For The Love of Blogs 

for 

For Lori @ Random Ramblings of a Stay At Home Mom

Although I've only been blogging since August,

 I've "met" enough of you to know

that you have hearts as big as all the outdoors

of God's green earth.

I figured that you would want to rally in support of this young woman.

Lori, an under 30 SAHM to 2 small children, has lost her husband. 

You can read about it in her post for today.

In the face of this tragedy, 

the best thing I can think to do at this moment is pray:

Oh, Lori, I'm sitting here in stunned disbellief of what you've just told us-your precious life mate is gone!
So here is the love I leave:
Jesus, gather Lori and her 2 little ones close to Your tender heart. Rock them gently in Your almighty arms. Dry their tears and guide them through this valley of the shadow of death. Send folks across their path who will comfort them with comfort only You can give. And let them be caught up in Your peace that passes understanding. Amen.

It's a God-thing that I even know of her situation.

Yesterday I let myself get sucked into 

the vortex of the internet.

All afternoon.

And evening.

Not proud of that.

As Pioneer Woman says, 

I have the jiggles to prove it.

But God seems to have redeemed that time.

The LORD works out everything for His own ends...Proverbs 16:4

Came across Cate's January 6th post about 

Project 2011 @ Moments of Whimsy, 

a Thursday meme

that I've decided to participate in this year.

More on that later.

Near the bottom of that post, 

Cate had belatedly linked up with FlogYoBlog Friday 

in support of Lori and asking for prayers

for Lori's husband, Tony.

Lori's own January 6th post for

FYBF was a plea for prayers.

According to Lori,

we, her fellow bloggers, 

are her community for support.

To me, that means 
I have an opportunity to walk alongside

this young woman and her children

with words and actions of Christ-like love.

What can you do?

Please go to her link at the beginning of this post

and leave her some love.
You can also join those of us who have 
donated to Lori
by clicking on 
the Pay Pal "Support Lori" widget 
on my sidebar.
Thank you for your generous hearts!

Oh, Jesus, even though I know and love You,

I'm wondering how Your 

LOVE

will shine forth in Lori's circumstances.

Use me as a vessel of Your love.

Pour me out for Lori's sake,

whatever that means.

Amen.

The LORD is close to the brokenhearted

and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalms 34:18

May God's grace, mercy, and peace be upon you today

and always.

Love,