This is my very own purple clematis vine. I moved it here from our last house. It had just started blooming when we moved. I figured since we owned both houses at the time, it was still mine. I'm glad I dug it up and moved it. When I see it, I am reminded of the blessing God gave us when He planted flowers in the garden.
Take time to appreciate the beautiful things around you.
What makes YOU happy when you see it?
~Joan
Waking up to the smell of bacon frying is a wonderful start to ANY day, but this one was super special. My children (and I'm sure my WH had part) planned so many nice surprises for me.
The sign on the front is from Proverbs 31:28. Although I aspire to be a Proverbs 31 woman, I fall short all the time. The entire verse says, "Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her." It's still my goal, lofty as it is. The colors you see inside this big jar are slips of paper, rolled up and taped. Each of my 8 children wrote things on the papers...things that they wanted to thank me for. There was also a package of Hershey kisses in the mix. Delightful!
They all chipped in and got me a beautiful corsage to wear to church. It was quite possibly the most beautiful corsage I've ever seen. Five baby pink roses with baby's breath, a silver bow, and some tulle for filler. So thoughtful.
Knowing my love for flowers, they also presented me with these beauties. They are freesias. They smell like Tang breakfast drink. Really!
Below is a close-up. I can plant these outside after they die, and then can enjoy them for years to come.
It has been fun and enlightening to read some of the slips of paper in the blessing jar. Rachel (10) wrote, "Thank you for all the birthday presents you bought me for other people, then let them think they were from me." Isn't that sweet?
From my 18-year-old son..."I love you so much!" Ahhh...these will put a spring in my step for a long time.
It ended up that I did NOT help with the rehearsal dinner Friday night. I was still not completely well. My eldest daughter went to help in my stead. I did prepare all the food and drink I had volunteered to do though. Some of our family went to the wedding Saturday AM. It was lovely.
Below is my husband (and unseen son) Saturday afternoon carrying out what might be the world's ugliest and most uncomfortable living room furniture in existence. You know the ugliness to life ratio? The uglier furniture is, the longer it lasts.
We've had this sofa and equally horrid love seat for over 12 years. They were old when we got them. Enough said. It just hasn't been a priority to replace them.
I've been checking craigslist.com for a used ping pong table for our children. On a whim this past Friday, I looked at furniture. We've been wanting new (to us) furniture for our living room for a long, long time. The children have been developing scoliosis (or so they've told us). Each night at family time, I have looked at their pathetic postures and wished for new stuff. Stuff with straight backs and pretty fabric, all at a low, low price, of course.
To my joy and delight, I saw the sofa below (and matching love seat) on craigslist.com. The problem was that it was fairly far away. The good news is that the couple was only asking $100 for the SET of the two. The even better news is that my WH and son, Luke, went and bought them for us Saturday afternoon. But the best news is that they are Thimbleberries navy, green, and burgundy. SCORE!! That means that they match all my quilts.
Something that was funny (to me anyway) is that they were listed as "good for a starter family". With 8 children living at home, I think we are well beyond a starter family, but I really like this set. Look just like new and smell good, too!
I considered this a sizable Mother's Day gift for myself (the time invested as well as the expense). But I was in for a GREAT surprise the next day.
Stay tuned,
~Joan
