Christmas Present - Hope

Today I've been given "Hope"
Yes, there is hope for me!
Even though my living room looks like this-

I've taken down Autumn decor but not much
Christmas decorations going up.
All this 'mess' is packing for our move in a couple weeks.

I have managed a couple things to put out to keep reminding me it's Christmas. But then Christmas is a heartfelt time, not just decorations.

 This was my breakfast this morning,as I had my daily devotion.
Sweet Potato Pie and Earl Gray Tea.

 I love my 'Spode, Christmas Tree' Trio.

I will 'sing' praises for I have been given
 "Hope"


 I sat down with my Bible and "Our Daily Bread" book this morning for my devotion, with my pie and tea in hand. God has used the writers of this little book to teach me and lead me so many times. 
This morning in the quietness of my livingroom, in my favorite chair, I opened my bible and as I did the word, "HOPE" filled my mind as if it was floating around in my head, I only had to reach out and grab it. So I did!  

I realized there is hope, in our Lord, we just need to claim it by faith.  He's always there, His spirit remains faithful even when we douth. I was reminded to put my 'faith and trust' in Him, his plans are always for my good. 

Hebrews 11:1
Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen.  

God has  been faithful in the valleys of my life, as well as when I was on the mountain top.
It's in the valleys where we learn the most, if we are willing to listen with our hearts.

Praise God, He's always been there in the storms of my life, as He promised. 

Proverbs 3:3-5
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart,and lean not on your own understanding: In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths" 

There is security in knowing my Lord will lead me each day. I just have to be willing to follow where ever he leads. 

Dear Lord, wherever you lead us,
may I always love and serve you 
with all my heart.
Amen 

Have a Blessed Day,

Sylvia

Linking to Roses of Inspirations  
             Mosaic Monday
                 Rose Chintz Cottage 

Christmas Past

I titled this post "Christmas Past" 

since I am not decorating at my home this year, I will show

you some photo's from Christmas past. This is

from a Christmas in the  '90s, These are my dolls

enjoying Tea with Santa. Many of these I have

given to my two granddaughters.

 We are packing to move within the next couple weeks. I hope to be able to decorate in our new 

home. 

My daughter gave me this Caroler in 2002 for Christmas,

I love her and still use her today.

  

My sister gave me this sleigh a few years ago.

I loved filling it with ornaments. 

  

I found these candle holder deer, at a thrift store

a few years ago. They were gold and I painted 

them white. I love white!

Every year just before Christmas my grandchildren and I have a cookie bake day.  Hopefully we will still be able to do it this year also. We may need to have it at one of there homes. We make gingerbread men each year, this is a photo from a couple Christmas's ago. They do so good decorating them.

 The fiber optic Angel Tree Topper is a favorite!

Love my Holly Christmas Teacup my daughter gave me last year.

Yes, even Madi let me dress her for Christmas.

 

It's always nice to remember pass Christmas's 

and the fun and Love that surrounds it, but 

let's not forget what the True meaning of Christmas

is. 

Hope to see you tomorrow for Christmas Present!

Have a Blessed Monday!

Sylvia

Joining Bernideen's Tea Time, Cottage and Garden Party 

A New Song

Being patient and waiting can be so hard at times.

When life isn't going exactly like we want it to.

Low days that causes us to stop and consider what 

is or isn't 'just right' . When we rush into making

choices or decisions instead of considering the

consequences. Most of us can relate to this. I certainly can.

Psalm 40:1-5 tells us of a time in Davids life when he was depressed and at a low place, when he needed rescuing.

Verse 1

"I waited patiently for the Lord, and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry".

Waiting patiently isn't easy, especially for me. I like to ''get things done'' when I think they should be--but maybe that isn't the right timing!  My Lord is patient and many times in my life he's waited for me to realize this. When I wait for His directions then it begins to unfold and life gets better. I am at this place now waiting for His timing!

verse :17

"I am poor and needy; yet the Lord thinketh on me

thou art my help and my deliverer; make no tarrying, O my God.

The last 6 weeks has been hard in our life,

making decisions that will change our lifestyle,

waiting and praying over each one and still 

waiting for it all to come about.

God has put 'A New Song' in my heart and on my lips.

"I Want my Lord to be Satisfied with me"

One glorious day Jesus came and made me whole

He completely then satisfied my soul.

Now as I face lifes dark troubled stormy sea.

I wonder if He is satisfied with me.

I'm satisfied with God's great redemption plan.

I'm satisfied it's sufficient for all man.

I'm satisfied with his work at Calvary,

but is my Lord satisfied with me.

Lord give me strength, give me courage, make me

bold.

That I may lead some lost sheep into the fold.

That I might stand unafraid to move for thee. 

That you might be fully satisfied with me.

Chorus

I want my Lord to be satisfied with me.

I want my life to be what He'd have it be.

And when I come to that great eternity 

His smile will say that He is satisfied with me.

As I wait for the next chapter of our life to begin I pray "God's Will be done".

Have a Blessed Sunday!

Sylvia 

Did you Know?

Did you know that you can delete your blog and then come back 2 months later and undelete it!

 Like the butterfly that changes from a cocoon into a thing of beauty, I fill so blessed to be able to come back again.  I have missed each and everyone of you, even though I did try to visit as many blogs as I could and keep up with what was going on with you through Google Plus.

There have been so much going on in my life since I last posted.

My daughters, granddaughters and I went on our annual girls retreat.

Went to a nearby Festival!

 Wanted this sign but talked myself out of buying it!

My Grandkids are "The Best and Cutest"

We went to Pine Mountain for the weekend.

Had a great time.

 

Went to a fall festival where they had a great 

Car Show, all these cars brought back memories of my younger years!

Spent time with family, which is always a Blessings!

There has even been a change in Time

since I've been gone!

Thanksgiving (sorry didn't take photo's)

 

 We even SOLD our home!

Since I won't be here in it for Christmas, I thought I'd just say this now!

We are waiting on the closing date to be set!

I have been busy cleaning, showing it and looking for just the right place for us! 

It only took 6 days to get an offer. I am having so much emotional feelings now but know it's for the best!

I have missed everyone and was going to wait until we were moved and settle to start over with blogging but just couldn't wait any longer. It's so good to be back with all you dear sweet ladies!

Have  a Blessed Day!

Sylvia

Let the Fall Festivals Begin

Saturday my hubby and I drove to Warm Springs, 

which is only a 30 minute drive, to our first Fall

Festival this year.

It had pumpkins galore!

 

And the largest prettiest red apples!

All kinds of booths, just about anything you could

want.

Just down the road not even a half mile, is the

Little White House where Pres. Franklin D. Roosevelt stayed when he came to Warm Springs.

 

He was known to stay at the Warm Springs Hotel on occasions also.

Our favorite place to eat when we go to 

Warm Springs, is the Bulloch House Resturant.

Early this year it burned to the ground. 

Wasn't it pretty, especially at night during Christmas!

It is in the process now of repairing the Victorian Tea Room building, which was a favorite of mine also, but it went out of business a few years ago.

It will be the new home of the Bulloch House until they can rebuild on the same spot.

They serve the best Home Cooking ever! People comes from miles around to eat there. They hope to 

reopen in this new place by the first of November.

 These two pumpkin wreaths were hanging on two

windows in front of a store. They look like they would be so easy to make. Pretty too!

Enjoy all the Festivals this Fall !

Have a Blessed Autumn!

Sylvia

Enjoy this day the Lord has blessed

us with!

Sylvia

Apple Butter Pound Cake

I've had my Southern Lady magazine for

a few weeks now, and every time I looked

at it I really wanted to make this cake on the

cover.  It's an Apple Butter Pound Cake.

I finally got up the nerve to make it.

The recipe is long so I won't try to 

post it.  It takes an hour and 20 minutes

to bake (and the good Lord knows I am 

not a patient woman).  15 to 20 minutes

just to mix the ingredients. Then placing

dough in the bunt pan 1/3 at a time. Cooling

it until it's completely cooled. Another 15 minutes

to make the glaze. Oh and to start at first you have to mix up a pecan,brown sugar and butter mixture. Anyway I started at 4 o'clock P.M.

and it was 8 o'clock when I finally finished it.

Maybe I am just a little too slow!

Now mine didn't turn out as pretty and white like 

the photo in the magazine. I forgot and didn't cool 

my glaze completely before I put the confectioners sugar in. my bad, I did say I am not very patient, didn't I!

It was good, even if it doesn't look as good.

And even better with a cup of Tea !

I love how my plants Loves this cool weather. They are growing and doing so good. Just don't like thinking it won't be long before the frost will 

come and take it all away. 

Have a Blessed Day!

Sylvia