Hummers So Close Their Wing Wind Blew My Hair

Wow, what a memorable morning.
Woke up after sleeping 9 straight hours without waking up...miracle, thank you Jesus!
When I took Ikey out, the hummingbirds were just everywhere wondering why there was no juice in the feeder.  So I went straight away and got it off the porch, cleaned it and filled it up.
When I went out to the front porch to turn it over to let the juice flow down and the reservoir fill up, the birds began to fly up to me.  I'm standing there holding the feeder and they are all around it.  I remain totally still, continuing to hold the feeder.  It's less than 12" from my face.  Talk about "up close and personal".  I'm just sitting here with this look of wonderment and disbelief on my face...really, the breeze of a hummingbird's swift moving wings on my face?
A hummer lands on the other side and begins to drink.  I can see him through the glass!  I peer around and I can see him.  The three I saw start that dashing about like they do and I just stand there.  THEN, one lands on the side perch where my finger is, touches his feet and his feathers to my FINGER.  He is 6" from my face, basically sitting on my finger, drinking!  Oh my Gosh!  I'm holding my breath.  I am beyond blown away.  The red throat just glittered.  As he backs up and just flutters in place, literally my eyelashes are moving from his fanning.  Crazy unbelievable.
I decided to hang the feeder and just stand there.  They swirl around me so close I just know they are going to hit me, but they don't.  They are all over and around me, literally blowing my hair.  They land and drink and I'm just in awe.  I decided to grab my phone and try to get a photo.  My phone is about 6" from the feeder.  In this photo you can just barely see on bird off to the left.  You really just see his white belly under the light fixture.  They were however, way closer than this one appears in the photo.

After a while of this just unbelievable experience I decided to let them enjoy breakfast so I moved off to my rocker on the porch and watched from a distance, just listening to their fluttering wings and their chatter to each other.
God, you truly are a God of wonder.  Oh mighty God of wonders, you are amazing.  I love you day and night.  In the struggle and in the blessing, you are mighty, you are worthy, you are holy.  I praise you for blessing me daily with your awesome sights and sounds.

1 Chronicles 16:8-19

Thank God! Call out his Name! Tell the whole world who he is and what he’s done! Sing to him! Play songs for him! Broadcast all his wonders! Revel in his holy Name, God-seekers, be jubilant! Study God and his strength, seek his presence day and night; Remember all the wonders he performed, the miracles and judgments that came out of his mouth. 

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.
Blessings and love to you, xoxo.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7F-B2DLvAQ  for Chris Tomlin live

Lord
of all creation Of
water earth, and, sky The
heavens are Your tabernacle Glory
to the Lord on High God

of wonders beyond, our galaxy You
are holy holy, The
universe declares Your majesty You
are holy holy, Lord

of heaven and earth Early

in the morning I
will celebrate the light And
as I stumble through the darkness I
will call Your name by night God

of wonders beyond, our galaxy You
are holy holy, The
universe declares Your majesty You
are holy holy, Lord

of heaven and earth

Gratitude...Sometimes It's Hard

“If we do not feel grateful for what we already have, what makes us think we’d be happy with more?” — Unknown 

When I saw this on a post this morning, I knew it was God talking to me.  I'd been listening for him this morning and he spoke to me through someone else, which he often does. After the quote it says unknown...I believe it was spoken by God.

I live in a community where oil production has become a huge industry.  While it has trashed our countryside with oil tanks and pump jacks, gravel pads and destruction of the land, our roads are littered with 18 wheelers carrying bad water, gravel and oil.  I grumble about it all under my breath.

It has however, created great wealth for many, some who already were doing financially well and some who were not.  I've often asked "why not me"?  I've judged who should get it and who should not based on their character or what I think I know about them.  Seriously?  I know nothing this side of heaven.

The truth is, it indicates I'm not grateful for what I have.  And seriously, what I have is all I need.  I'm not doing without.  I'm not hungry or thirsty.  I'm not walking naked or in torn and tattered clothes.  I'm not scraping the bottom of the barrel.  I'm not sleeping in the street.  I'm not walking 10 miles into town.  I'm not begging on a corner for money.  I am not alone without family nor am I friendless.

I've eaten breakfast this morning and had tea on the front porch of my quaint little house in the country. I'm dressed, after a good night sleep inside with the air conditioner on.  I'm ready to go where ever I need to in the car sitting in my driveway.  I kept my healthy grandson for two days and an overnight this week.  I have a pup I adore.  I'm headed to a friends for a holiday weekend.

This stuff is all temporary anyway.  The greatest prize is heaven.  I just needed a reminder.

I am blessed abundantly and I must keep my eyes on my prize.
My God is a God of many blessings.
I pray to be a child of gratitude and the greatest prize is my goal.  What more do I need?

Philippians 3:14 

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.
Blessings and love to you, oxox.

The First Sixtieth

60th Birthday

There are several of my friends who are turning 60 this year.  The first one, Janet, has a birthday on January 7th.  Yesterday Janet's daughter had a surprise breakfast gathering for her in her honor.  As it turned out, it was not a surprise.  A few weeks ago Janet began expressing to her daughter NOT to plan ANYTHING for her birthday.  She said it over and over and with such enthusiasm that her daughter began to feel she would be "in trouble" if she did.  So A admitted the event to her mother.  I don't think A had to tell Janet all the details, like who was attending, but enough to settle things down and get the ok for the event from her mother.
When A arrived with her mom and and Janet's only grand daughter, Janet had a huge smile on her face.  She was thrilled, it appeared to me, at the gathering of all the friends who had turned out to celebrate her birthday.
To my surprise, I knew all but two of them and I had heard of them but had not met them previously.

The 60th Birthday Gathering

 Some of the rest of us had been on trips together with Janet.  There was no one there who knew Janet less than 10 years (except her son in law and grand daughter).  The rest of her friends attending were admittedly "old" friends.  These were friends she had met through reading and books, music, work-design, and some she'd met through other friends.  I believe, of the friends there, I had known her the longest (although she has friends she had known longer than I, they were just not able to attend).  I've know her 32 years.  I met Janet when her daughter, A, was 3 years old.  A is now 35 WITH a 3 year old of her own. Isn't life something.  We worked together in one of our first interior design jobs after we had both graduated from college.  We were fast friends.
Through marriages, divorces, marriage and divorce again, we held each other up.  Through births and deaths we have been there.  Through agreeing and disagreeing; through thick and thin, through hell and high water, we are still friends.  Thirty two years requires a lot of growth and a lot of change.  It has not always been easy.  I believe however, God puts people in your life for a reason.  Thirty something years ago, in a job we both disliked, God saw fit to put us there together.  I'm so glad.  What a blessing she has been to me!  She has made a difference in my outcome and I thank God for her.
While I ended up in social work, Janet has gone on to be a fabulous interior designer who has changed the lives of other people through her ability to see something from nothing and to create something awesome out of someone's dream.  She has incredible vision and amazing talent.  She does such an amazing job, her clients become her friends.  They also come back and use her skills again later!  Both those things say a lot.  She is generous with her knowledge and her resources.
To one of my best and "oldest" friends, Happy 60th birthday...may you have many more and may the best be yet to come!  xoxo

Janet, Paula, Me.  This is three of us, October 2007.  We've been around the block together!  That's me with seriously short hair and no make up and about 20 pounds heavier.  My friends don't seem to have changed a bit.  Check out these photos from yesterday...

Me, A, Jane, Janet and Paula...we are family!

Ecclesiastes 4:9-10

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ Two are better than one,
    because they have a good return for their labor:
¹⁰ If either of them falls down,
    one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
    and has no one to help them up.

I pray God moves us all "forward" into the next steps of our lives, together!

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.
Blessings and love to you, xoxo, happy trails!

Happy Trails My Sweet Boy

March 28, 1992 -- October 15, 2013

As the trumpet sounded, the heavens parted, making a way for him, a beautiful horse, a kind soul,  a kindred spirit.

The day I brought him home.

 Happy trails to you, until we meet again.
Happy trails to you, keep smilin' until then.
Who cares about the clouds when we're together?
Just sing a song and bring the sunny weather.
Happy trails to you, 'till we meet again.

Thank you for every mile we traveled and every trial we conquered.  Thank you for blessing my life.

You are a great champion.  When you ran, the ground shook, the sky opened and mere mortals parted.  Parted the way to victory, where you'll meet me in the winner's circle, where I'll put a blanket of flowers on your back.

Good by my sweet friend.  I'll see you in heaven as the trumpet sounds.

xoxo

Do you give the horse his strength or clothe his neck with a flowing mane?

Do you make him leap like a locust, striking terror with his proud snorting?

He paws fiercely, rejoicing in his strength, and charges into the fray.

He laughs at fear, afraid of nothing; he does not shy away from the sword.

The quiver rattles against his side, along with the flashing spear and lance.

In frenzied excitement he eats up the ground; he cannot stand still when the trumpet sounds.

Job 39:19-24 (NIV)

** In honor of the Anna, Denise, and Jimmy who gave him many wonderful years of a great life and loved him as much as I did!**

Words From Joel Osteen

Occasionally I watch Joel Osteen.  He was recently on and in Guideposts Magazine (a magazine my mother loved and always ordered for me).  I've been trying to watch Robert Morris at Gateway Church in the Ft Worth area on Sunday mornings.  They have a live broadcast.  However, Robert Morris has been on vacation for several weeks.  He'll return next week, thankfully.  I turned on Joel this morning who was speaking about healthy homes and to husbands and wives.  It was a great message.  It was about husbands and wives honoring each other, building each other up, speaking words of encouragement, appreciation, thankfulness.  Pour in honor.  Approve of your spouse.  Build them up.  Do not push your spouse down.  Be generous and free with your love.  People never get tired of hearing how much you love them.  Compliment your spouse.  Start their day by complimenting them.  Don't compare your spouse to someone else's.  Find the good things in each other, whether small or few, and speaking them out so your spouse hears you love them.  He spoke about listening with your eyes (as well as your ears), looking a each other when you speak, giving your undivided attention so they feel and are heard.  When you talk about the good, you draw out the good.  Focus on and magnify their good qualities.  How husbands treat their wives has a great impact on  how children respect and honor their mother.  Treat your husband how you want a wife to treat your son.  Treat your wife how you would want a husband to treat your daughter.

These are the words that he looked into our eyes and into the camera and said at the end.

**to the husbands**
"Your first mission field is your own family, bless your family, speak a blessing over your family, over your marriage. You are men of valor, men of honor, men who rise up like Solomon and bless their wives, men that make their children a priority, men that speak a blessing over their family.  
**to the wives**
"you are a woman of faith, a woman of honor, a woman who keeps pouring the honor in, I can say Like Solomon, there are many beautiful women in the world, but you excell them all, you radiate strength, beauty, intelligence, dignity, you are one of a kind (I LOVE THAT).  
**to both**
Make sure you are taking care of the gifts God has given you, they are not always going to be here, Be generous with your words, I love you, I'm proud of you, I'm glad that you're in my life, express love on a daily basis." 

While it's too late for me, if your married, or not married yet, and you get a chance to listen to this particular sermon by Joel, Healthy Families, do it.  It could make all the difference.

Ephesians 5:33

However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.
Blessings and love to you, xoxo
REMEMBER...a blessing is not a blessing until it is spoken!

2013 Tax Day

Every year I worry a bit about taxes, or the fact that I might not have paid enough in and owe some bucks to Uncle San. With the changes in the tax laws via the President, I was even more concerned this year.  My brother in law is kind enough to do my taxes for me. This year I was blessed.   The tax form indicated that not only would I not have to pay, but in fact, I would get a return of some $640. A big yahoo and a sigh of relief!!

I didn't think too much about it as I signed the form and sent it in to the IRS. After a few weeks, I began to think “that check ought to me coming in any time. What have I been putting off and wanting to buy?” The thought easily came to my mind of a want and a need, a sewing machine and a vacuum cleaner, in that order. I've been wanting a sewing machine for a long time. I have only had a place to put it and use it since I got my art/bedroom set up. So now I have the place. My current vacuum cleaner just doesn't work. It's not even that old, it just doesn't have any suction. It needs to go in the trash. In a country house with three carpeted rooms I need a working vacuum cleaner.

So there. Sunday I in fact wrote on my little “project/need to do/activity” list these two things...

With income tax return,

1. buy sewing machine from Walmart and

2. investigate and buy one of the Dyson Ball vacuums that has the best reviews.

Yesterday, Monday, the income tax refund arrived. Woo hoo! Yesterday, Monday, I called the local auto shop to see about getting my brakes checked. They've been making a weird noise. Truthfully, I don't know what bad brakes sound like. The car continued to stop just fine. I just didn't know what else it might be so have them checked I thought. The lady at the shop said to bring it in tomorrow, Tuesday (which is today).

So today, on my “to do in town” list, I had drop off car and deposit tax return check, in that order. So I did. I wasn't going to have time to shop for either the sewing machine or the vacuum today, but they remained on my list to do. I still needed to do a little “discovery” work on which ones to buy, which ones had the best reviews and were the easiest to operate.

As it turns out, fixing the brakes (which were worse than bad) turned out to be $460. Bummer! That only leaves about $180. I have to say I am disappointed. I was looking forward to getting these two things off the list. I was looking forward to sewing and getting something I would enjoy creating things with. I was looking forward purchasing something to create a cleaner house. I know I cannot buy the vacuum with what is left over. It's not enough.  So do I go ahead and get what I want or save a little more and get what I need, putting off the sewing machine a little longer.

I have a friend who says “I'll have to wait for my next oil check before I buy that". There will be no oil check here.

On the much more positive side, I need however, to be grateful that God provided this IRS check just in time to pay for my brakes which I obviously needed much more than a sewing machine or a vacuum. God provided just in time. That's what he does.

Philippians 4:19

And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.

Gratitude is something I work on all the time. Being content in my circumstances is what I work on all the time. Knowing God is good, that I do know all the time.

I thank him for meeting my need, my most important need. I am truly blessed.

1 Timothy 6:17

Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.

Blessings and love to you, xoxo.

(I apologize if this sounds a little too "poor me".  It's not really, it's just how I was feeling when I wrote it.)

This is "The Life"

Blessed, that's what I am, truly.  I live a simple life.  I don't have a lot of money.  I don't have a lot of worry, or stress, or issues, or family problems, or money problems, or hard work.  I don't have it all.  I have what I need.  I have a relished life filled with peace, and quiet, and love, and beauty.  I have my family who loves me.  I have a life others would love to have.  When I hear my friends speak of their troubles and their difficulties, I quickly recognize how blessed I am and I thank God.  Who knew but him that after all the things that I've lived through, that right now, this is where I would be?  I wish I could say I never complain.  I wish I could say I never wish I had something else.  I wish I could say I never say I wish this was different.  But I can't.  I do know that I would not trade my life for anyone else's or give it up or take a big risk and lose it all.

This week when Baby Gray was here and we were outside swinging and we were laughing and he was smiling and opening his arms wide and saying "How much do I love you", it just confirmed beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is where I'm suppose to be.  This is my life and it's filled with love.

And as the butterfly flew by (right in front of us where he could see it) watching us play (butterflies are a sign my mom is looking down from heaven with love), I cried.

God is good.  He may not answer your prayers the way you hoped he would or you thought it should be.  He may do it better than you ever dreamed.
Still dreaming and praying in my little house!

Ephesians 3
²⁰ Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.

Blessings and love to you, xoxo.

Be Thankful Psalm 100:4

Psalm 100:4

New International Version (NIV)

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.

Just last night the friend I had dinner with said "how's it going".  I told her, "in my life, I have no complaints.  I still strive to be content no matter what my situation is.  I don't always succeed at that, however, it doesn't take long for me to listen to someone else's story and realize how blessed I am.  My family, my home, my health, they are all great.  My life is good.  My life is "going" great".  Of course that quote is not exactly what I said but the content is accurate.  We discussed the health of some of our dear friends, the financial situation of some, how HARD and long hours some of our friends have to work.  We discussed "life".  At any time, life can take that downward turn, that turn that sends you straight toward God in a rapid pace.  Until then, strive hard to live grateful, live blessed, and stay close to God.  Try not to wish for someone else's life, someone else's stuff.  If possible, enter everyday in a feeling of gratitude, and be blessed.  

I found this poem on a friends blog.

Be Thankful

Be thankful that you don’t already have everything you desire,
If you did, what would there be to look forward to?

Be thankful when you don’t know something
For it gives you the opportunity to learn.

Be thankful for the difficult times.
During those times you grow.

Be thankful for your limitations
Because they give you opportunities for improvement.

Be thankful for each new challenge
Because it will build your strength and character.

Be thankful for your mistakes
They will teach you valuable lessons.

Be thankful when you’re tired and weary
Because it means you’ve made a difference.

It is easy to be thankful for the good things.
A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are
also thankful for the setbacks.

GRATITUDE can turn a negative into a positive.
Find a way to be thankful for your troubles
and they can become your blessings.

Author Unknown

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV

Encourage one another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.

Blessings and love to you XO

I Won the Lotto and I Didn't Even Gamble

Extraordinary!  That is what my last 7 days were.
First, I spend Monday through Wednesday with my daughter in Las Vegas.  We didn't gamble really.  We didn't even know exactly how.  We shopped and walked and watched the National Finals Rodeo twice!  We got massages in a fabulous spa.  We dined like princesses.  We had filet minion in our hotel room for breakfast.  We drank mimosa's and champagne.  We laughed and we cheered.  It was a great week.  I was a bit disappointed that I did not get to connect with my friend Lee Ann, but I "snapped out of it" and moved on.

Our only set back was my daughter came home to a family full of stomach virus and a house full of germs.  She got it too several days later.  All are recovering now.

Then today I got a phone call from T-Paw who said "I've hired a helicopter.  What are the kids doing this afternoon?  Want to come over and ride in it?"  Well, yeah!  Consider me there.  I've never ridden in a helicopter.  Never really given it a lot of thought, but it sounded awesome.  Baby Gray and his dad were headed over too but my daughter unfortunately was still not feeling quite up to par so she stayed home.  BG, my SNL and I headed out first in the Ranger while T-Paw stayed at the house continuing to finish up some cake baking he had started.  Our Ranger group headed off into the pasture looking for deer and hogs.  BG was able to sit on my lap and drive the Ranger almost by himself.

We were fortunate enough to see deer and hogs on our drive.  When we went to find the horses for Baby Gray, we found Mosey with a couple of big cuts along his forearms and legs.  We got him back to the barn and doctored him up some.  There was nothing to stitch up, and it was really too old anyway, but a couple of pretty big jagged scrapes.  BG even had time for a little "giddy up Mosey".

About that time the helicopter showed up.  BG, his dad and I were on the second leg for going up.  BG had not brought a coat along and they told us it was cool up there so we had to make do with one of T-Paws old jackets.  BG looked sort of like a Pac Man.

BG had a great time.  He was not scared not one bit, of the helicopter or riding in it.  What a big brave courageous boy!!

After Baby Gray's short ride I was able to go with some other folks for a longer ride over the ranch.  It was so so cool.  This particular type of helicopter had no doors or anything, just open sided.  I was brave and courageous too!

What an amazing week.  Within 7 days I did two phenomenal things I had never done before...attend the National Finals Rodeo in Las Vegas and rode in a helicopter.  This week did feel sort of like winning the lotto!  And Baby Gray did two things he had never done before...drive and fly!

A big shout out to JT/T-Paw for making those two things possible!  He's got a generous spirit for sure.  Here's to a week of once in a life times and hope I get to do that agains!  Blessings abounding for me for sure!

Ephesians 1:3
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.

Happy Thanksgiving

Praise God, from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heavenly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.

Psalm 128:2
You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours.

Blessings and love to you!

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.

Post Script to "And They Lived Happily Ever After" 10/30/12 Post

Wonders still abound here in the country!

Post    http://thegoodlife54.blogspot.com/2012/10/and-they-lived-happily-ever-after.html

My true hope was that those 2 little doves would live happily ever after and for a long time.  I do know today that they are still alive and well.  SEVERAL times this week I have come home and found them relaxing on my front porch.  They flutter off to the tree they were raised in when I walk up the stairs and see them, but they stay close.

In fact, they were on the porch when I walked out this morning. (Tomorrow morning I need to look out the window first to see if I can photograph them still on the porch). They flew into the tree.  Here they are.

They always eventually move closer together.

I believe they are still fledglings, still getting the feel of life on their own and I suspect mom is still around close just to be sure.  They have yet to "fly the coop"!  I don't know how long they will be around, but I will enjoy them until then.

Back in September I was watching a dove roost on her nest...  http://thegoodlife54.blogspot.com/2012/09/nesting-dove.html

Her nest did not make it through a wind storm and I never got to see those little doves grow up.  However, God has shown me how the life cycle does exist in the life of these two little doves.  He has shown me that through a difficult time you can come out on top.  He has shown me that you can make it through and live a good life.  He has not only shown me that in the life of these two little doves, but in my own life as well.  So the cycle goes on and on, and through my life living in the country I will continue to be blessed by wonders of nature and wonders of life.  May your life too be truly blessed.

Job 5:9
He performs wonders that cannot be fathomed, miracles that cannot be counted.

Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.

Blessings and love...

With or Without Marshmallows

With marshmallows for me!   Hot chocolate that is!

Today was the first cold day of fall and hot chocolate was absolutely called for.  A northern blew in sometime early this morning in a huff and you could feel the difference.  The wind blew all day, hard.  I don't believe the temperature ever got above 50 degrees here today.
Ikey and I, we just hung close to the house, close to some hot tea, grilled egg and cheese sandwich for lunch and chili with rice for dinner.  I wish I"d had a tamale or two to go with it.
Ikey insisted on being in my lap all day and has only been out three times!  Generally he's got to check out every scent in the yard.  Today, however, he just did what dogs do and headed straight back to the house...in a hurry!
Tomorrow is suppose to be sunny and cold.  Another perfect day.

Deuteronomy 28:2
All these blessings will come on you and accompany you if you obey the LORD your God:.
Encourage One Another, continuing the journey on fresh paths.

Blessings and love.

An Unexpected Treasure

There is something about treasure hunting through zillions of booths, and tons of stuff that thrills me.  Just looking for that one thing I love is fun to me.  It's not really something I grew up doing and no one else in my family really enjoys it.  Guess I'm a bit of an anomaly in my family.  However, there are tons of folks who love this past time!

This week was a bit like Antique Roadshow.  On my first day at Warrenton we went into the "fields" to look for bargains.  The things we found in the more populated areas seemed to be more expensive.  It was getting close to six and most places start shutting down about then.  I had an idea that I had seen on Pinterest that I wanted to try to duplicate over my mantel.

Finding the items to make it was on my list of "keep your eyes open fors" at Warrenton.  We had about an hour in the "fields" to search for things.

First I found the pickets, 18 of them, painted, shabby, white, perfect, for a steal (in my opinion) $15.  I explained to the sellers about my idea and that I was also looking for a metal star.  A really friendly gal at that booth took me around the corner where a guy was selling some stars.  We found a couple, but I decided to take the pickets home that night first to check it out and sure they were the right size before purchasing the star.

Here is the start of my version.  Looks like they would fit.

So next day at Warrenton, I went back and bought the star first thing.

I'll have to do a little work to put it all together but I think it will be great.  I also thought that if I decided not to use it above the fireplace, it would look great at the entrance gate to my house.  So regardless, it was a good buy.

The guys selling at this booth were really friendly.  One of them makes fabulous wood pieces for mantels.  I hope to visit him about that in the near future as his shop is only about 50 miles away.  While at this same booth they had several tables of just "stuff" lined up.  I picked up a couple of other things, a cool tin thermometer with a horse on it and two very neat ceramic pumpkins.

Great greens and brown colors.  Love these!

I also spotted this horse.

I have seen these Painted Ponies at places like Dillards and Macy's but never really looked at them.  I actually like older horses to collect better, however, the pony was $10 so I figured how could I go wrong?  I didn't really look at him closely until I got home.  He was very pretty with brilliant color and had very intricate details.  The The black lines going up his sides are actually charred pine trees that have been burned and have no foliage.  So I googled Trail of Painted Ponies "Wildfire" (it's title) and discovered that this pony is valuable.  "Wildfire' was the first of this line to be retired, thus making him very special.  He is actually worth about $150 (with the original box and tag it's worth about $350).  I'd say a pretty good "Roadshow" find.  I'm thrilled.  While I have no intention of selling this pony, it's cool to know it's special in it's own way.  Being "retired" is a GOOD thing!  This was an unexpected treasure no doubt.

Here are a some of the other horses I picked up.

 Grindly pottery.

 California pottery.

Probably from the 1950s.  He has a little chip on his ear and just really needed a home!  He was $2.

Day two brought about a lot of horses of another color as you can see.  Usually I just look for one special one, but they were just every where on Day Two.  What's a horse lovin' girl to do?

Horses are like people I guess, all different kinds, all different colors, different personalities.  God made us that way.  Each of us is a treasure to Him.  And He blesses each one of us.  Look for your blessings today!

Isaiah 2:7
Their land is full of silver and gold; there is no end to their treasures. Their land is full of horses; there is no end to their chariots.

I've got one other really good Antique Days story to tell, so stay tuned till then...

Encourage one another, Continuing the journey on fresh paths.

Blessings and love...

"Courageous" The Movie

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”


Courageous!


This is a very powerful and touching movie about the Godly, Christian role of a father.  If you have not seen it, I recommend that you do.  It has a very strong message.  The message is below.


To Fathers...
Leave a Godly legacy.
Love God with all that you are.
Love and mentor others who need help and direction.
Be a man whose Heart is willing and courageous.
By God's grace you can do this.
You have responsibility for you family.
Raising children, mothers are not intended to carry this weight alone; a child desperately needs a daddy.
None of us recognize the priceless time we have with our children.
We must courageously step up to be and do whatever it takes to be involved in the lives of our children.
It means more than just being there, it means to walk with them and be a visual characterization of their Father in heaven.
Protect, discipline and  teach them about God.
Teach them to have integrity and respect.
To be responsible men and women.
Who will be accountable to God to the position of influence he has given you?
You will realize that your job and your hobbies have no eternal value, but your children do.
If you just live for yourself you will waste a valuable opportunity.
Regardless of your mistakes, pray for forgiveness and love God with all that you are and teach your children to do the same.
A Godly father will guide his family and love them.
He will teach them to follow Christ.
He provide and protect for them.
He will break the chain of destructive patterns of his family and 
teach his children to do what ever God calls them to do.
We all want God's favor and blessing on our home.
Pray for and bless your children for whatever they chose to do.
Be men of courage and fathers who fear the lord.


                                   


Joshua 24;15  "As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord"


I was blessed to have this father, a man who followed God and lead his family to the Kingdom!

                                        
                                            In Loving Memory
                                  November 2,1924--July 26, 2010
Encourage One Another


Continuing the journey on fresh paths.