Saturday Fun

 This morning our oldest daughter had all the girls over for a tea party.  What a delight-breakfast was so good; Carrie made tea sandwiches with honey and bananas, goats yougurt for us with granola on top, sliced apples with peanut butter and dried cranberries on top and fresh fruit.  The ladies had their choice of tea and the girls had juice.  It was such fun.  Above you can see all the llittle girls, except babies, decked out in finery.

The two oldest with the second youngest. 
I tell  you that my girls are just so creative and make our times together so fun.
Here it is so very windy and cold so hubby and I will be staying in today and staying warm.
Noreen

Happy Friday

My day will be filled with sewing and spending time with our youngest and her girls while tomorrow brings another girlie tea party at our oldest daughter's home...such fun, so many memories to be made and the gentle training of young girls.  As our day dawned bright and sunny but with a cold wind blowing, thoughts of a warmer climate crossed my mind-knowing how dear hubby would rather be there than here. 
Whatever your weekend holds dear ones, may your days be blessed and your wanderings bring joy.
Hugs today,  Noreen

Thankful Thursday-Online Community

My dear friend Lynn @http://unequalmarriage.typepad.com/  is hosting TT today and her topic is online community and who your closest friend is.  Well, if you are like me, it is so very difficult to pick one or two cause you all feel like best friends to me.  However, I've decided to highlight two gals, many of you probably would choose these two ladies or argue with me that they are your closest blogging buddies.  This challenge was a hard one for me gals-just know I could list about 15 of you that I feel like best friends with.  Maybe one of these winter days/weeks I will take time to highlight more of you. 
So the first lady I'd like to mention is Beth @ http://aninstrument4hisglory.blogspot.com/; I have gotten to know Beth over the last year,quite well and she truly is a treasure.  Her deep faith and love for the Lord ministers to so many; she is a pastor's wife as well as ministering online to so many.  When you read Beth's posts, she takes you right to the heart of the matter and always shares her passion for going deeper still spiritually.  Please visit Beth today-you won't be sorry.
My next closest friend that I want to tell you about is Becky @http://holidayinthesun-becky.blogspot.com/,
Becky and I have known each other for over two years now and she is one of the greatest blessings the Lord has ever given me.  If I had to just pick one friend in my life, Becky would be the one.  Becky and I have never met face to face but we are truly linked heart to heart.  We have much in common and she has to be the most encouraging and fun gal I know.  She and I have been praying for a long time now about meeting and spending some time together and I'm hoping this year might just be the year. If you haven't met Becky yet, please visit her today-you won't be sorry. 
Of course I can't finish without telling you how incredible Lynn and Dineen are.  These gals have been around a long time as well and bless each gal that visits them.  I have had the honor of getting to know them over the last three years; they have such an incredible ministry.
If I didn't mention you today-don't worry, I will on some future day. 
For more TT posts please visit Lynn.
With much love to you.
Noreen

Tuesdays Truth

Morning friends,  Firstly I want to wish our youngest daughter Kim and her hubby a Happy 8th Anniversary.
How quickly the years have flown by, filled with laughter, joy, fun and some tears.  They've got four little girls, ages 5,3,2. 9 mos who have brought such fun into their lives and of course into ours.  Kim and her hubby are a wonderful couple and we are so very proud of them.

Today's devotional from Jesus Calling: "I am leading you along the high road, but there are descents as well as ascents.  In the distance you see snow-covered peaks glistening in brilliant sunlight.  Your longing  to reach those peaks is good, but you must not take shortcuts.  Your assignment is to follow Me, allowing Me to direct your path.  Let the heights beckon you onward, but stay close to Me. 
Learn to trust Me when things go wrong.  Disruptions to your routine highlight your dependence on Me.  Trusting acceptance of trials brings blessings that far out weigh them all.  Walk hand in hand with Me through this day.  I have lovingly planned every inch of the way.  Trust does not falter when the path becomes rocky and steep.  Breathe deep draughts of My Presence, and hold tightly to My hand.  Together we can make it!"

How often we shrink back from trials but sometimes the blessings in the trials far out weigh the trials themselves.  When my sister was in the final leg of her journey with cancer, I remember thinking that walking through it with her daily was such a trial, one I wouldn't choose.  Yet, by the time she finished, I realized it was one of the richest gifts I'd ever been given-to walk through it with her and be there until the end.  What a gift she'd given me by allowing my alongside her.  I most certainly would have chosen life for her but that was not her path at that time and I'm thankful that I was there for her.  There were days when she was definitely the stronger one emotionally, I remember sobbing to her that I wasn't ready for life without her. If we would but keep our eyes on the perfector of our faith we would not shrink back but instead just grab His hand and trust.

In His Grip, Noreen

Monday Musings

Happy Monday dear friends~how was your weekend?  Ours was very nice; Saturday our granddaughters were here for the day and it was such fun!  Yesterday hubby and I went on our search for things to wear for our Victorian dinner in Feb.  I found a burgundy velvet jacket to wear with a long black dress and once I add some lace it will be perfect.  Hubby did find a jacket at a costume store that will work; now that we have some things lined up we can relax and just enjoy the party.  I will say though that this has brought up a topic of conversation with our youngest daughter because back when she was in high school she had a dark green Victorian style dress with velvet collar and matching boots but being the woman she is, she gave it away because she didn't have a need for it.  Our other daughter however saved all her formal dresses in case she had daughters and they wanted dress up clothes.  Such a contrast in personalities and we cherish each daughter.  I've done things like this before; in fact after I had children I gave away many of my preschool resource books not realizing that down the road I would go back into teaching.  So it made me wonder how does one know what to get rid of and what to put away for another day?  When we moved I also gave away several costumes that might have come in handy at a later date.  I did keep tons and tons of costume jewelry for my granddaughters though. 
Hubby and I are finally feeling like we've beat this nasty cold bug-hopefully it will be the only one this year.
Have a warm and wonderful day and smile-the world will look better.
Noreen

Happy Friday

So gals, are you doing the happy dance because it is Friday?  I always look forward to this day even though we aren't working, guess old habits die hard.  Well yesterdays study was good~I love the fellowship, accountability, and of course digging into the Word.  After the study my girlfriend and I went to Whole Foods for lunch(for those not familar with this store, it is a health food store as well as deli/backery) they have the best salad bar ever and it is a favorite place that I can get gluten free salads etc.  We headed to several costume stores and a thrift store after that.  I got some ideas but I'm here to tell you that I won't spend $90 to rent something for a dinner.  I think if I was participating in real life enactments it would be different; my friend may have a jacket and top that would work for me otherwise the only other thing I can think of is that we do have an old Southern Bell dress, from when my girls were in high schoo, and maybe if I added lace to the top that might work????  I also might hit GW on Monday to see if I can find something; when we moved here I gave a lot of my nice outfits away that would be suitable so I don't even have a nice evening skirt/dress I could wear.  Hummmmmm. 
We are off to the Mint this morning and it should be lots of fun except that cell phones and cameras are prohibited so I won't be taking photos my friends.
Have a wonderful day and fun filled healthy weekend.
Hugs, Noreen

Good morning my friends,  I'm so thankful that it is Thursday and that I am feeling better; still have the cough but girls I'm back on track and so glad to be able to be out and about again.  Hubby and I have spent the week inside just staying warm, working on puzzles, watching some t.v. and trying to beat this thing.   Today my ladies study begins again and I'm looking forward to it.  I haven't seen Priscilla Shirer before but am told she is an incredible teacher, so looking forward to today.  After the study,a girlfriend and I will hit a costume store in a nearby town because hubby and I are going to a Victorian dinner and wouldn't you know it-we don't have a thing to wear.  I'm going to see if there are a few items that we can get that will give us the look without the price-know what I mean?  Tomorrow our whole gang is going to the Denver Mint on a field trip and we are all very excited.  On the way home, I hope to stop at a wonderful bakery that carries the most incredible gluten free french bread you've ever tasted.  My hope for today is that I can get through the study without a coughing fit.
So how are you?  How has your week been?  What blessings has our Father poured out on you?
From here in cold Colorado, warm winter wishes.
Noreen