The Power of Changed Lives

Do you ever get discouraged?  Does it sometimes seem that evil is prevailing?

Just watching 30 minutes of the nightly news can do that.

But there is a HOPE.  And it is alive.  No matter how desperate the situation, lives can be changed.

Take the time to watch this ... it is SO worth it!  I guarantee that you will see yourself or someone you love in this video.

I don't usually cry over you tube, but this really touched a tender spot in my heart.

The MS patient made my tears spill ... amazing!

Tell me what you think.

100th Post and a GIVEAWAY

I was brainstorming on what I wanted to say for my 100th post.

I considered '100 Things I Love'.

But who would actually read it, or care?

Then (when I was PMS-ing) I considered 

'100 things that Annoy Me'.

No, no, that's not right.

How about something really profound?

Ummm.... still working on that one.  Can I get back to you?

After much consideration, I decided that it really doesn't need to be about me.

I want to celebrate you.

So I'm having a giveaway.

I haven't been super creative lately, so I don't have anything cute and homemade to entice you.

But I am practical.

How about this?

Starbucks $5 giftcard and a great cookbook!

You'll have plenty of time to go sip a latte and decide what to make for dinner, because the meals in this book only take 30 minutes to prepare.

Here are some yummy options:

Spicy Broccoli Cheese Soup

Fettuccine with Lemon Pesto and Shrimp

Coca-cola Sloppy Joes

Chocolate Hazelnut Napoleons

I will randomly draw a winner on Thursday night and post the winner on Friday morning.

Just leave me a comment and you'll be in!

Why I Luv Grapevine

I have this huge grapevine wreath that my MIL gave me a couple of years ago.

I love it because it is so versatile.

In winter I add a wintery bow with some white berries and some evergreen.

In spring I use a pastel bow with spring flowers and maybe some eggs.

In July I usually stick some flags, red berries and white flowers in it.

For the fall it looks like this:
The best part is that I don't have to hot-glue or wire.  Everything just sticks in and stays!

I'll let you know what I decide to do for Christmas ...

Apples Anyone?

We are home again.

Sigh.  Back to reality.  Back to schedules and school and laundry.

But I'm not ready.

So I'm going to find my happy place and pretend that I am still here:

Rocking on this front porch of my friend's farmhouse.  Isn't this restored home beautiful?

You won't believe the surroundings!  It is nestled deep in the NC mountains.  It boasts 3000 blueberry bushes and hundreds of these:
Yes, glorious apple trees!
One word to describe the orchards that surround the house:  Picturesque!  

Ah, the cool mountain air, the rustle of leaves, the buzzing of bees ... oh, wait.  I don't like bees.

Time to snap out of it and enjoy the gift of today.

While I'm munching on these:

Sunday Rest

Blessed is the man who listens

to Me

watching daily at my doors

waiting at my doorway.

For whoever finds Me

finds LIFE.

Proverbs 8:33-34

Clippity Clop No More Rain Drops

We've been in the mountains since Tuesday and today (Saturday) was our first day without rain.  Sigh.  While it has been a fun, relaxing week, we were so excited to have a nice day.  And beautiful it was.  My girls and I had the opportunity to take a trail ride.  
Yes, she's fabulous, even on a horse.
Is it too early to choose our Christmas tree, because I like the 3rd one on the right.
Oh!  Did I mention it is starting peak week for fall colors here in the mountains of NC?!

Wish you were here!

October Bliss

My favorite month is here!!!

OCTOBER

To celebrate this month, my friend Kimba is having a pumpkin party. Check out her blog for more great ideas.

Our dear friend, Tim, just returned from the NC mountains.

All of this came from his farm!

Isn't God's bounty beautiful!!!

I love the colors of fall.

While we don't get a lot of changing of the leaves in the month of October here in the south, we take all we can get ... and then we fake it:

We planted a big decorative grass plant this summer. It grew to be about 5' tall. Since it is an annual, I know it will be gone soon, so I clipped some of its feathery plumes. I added it to my fall fakery and put it into one of my favorite pots.
Just one more picture of God's bounty. These came from my uncle-in-law's farm:
For a previous fall decorating post, click here.

Now grab some hot cider, sit by the fire with a piece of apple pie, and check out Kimba's pumpkin party!