Knowing God

WHO IS THE GOD OF LOVE?

As we who do not belong to this world, our perception of God differs from those who do. Many opinions are figments of an imagination, and no figment or fancy ever saved one’s soul. So how do you measure your beliefs about the Lord? Hold them up to the revelations in His Word – the Bible. Isaiah 5:8 – and learn His ways.

It is impossible to have a personal relationship with Him based on reason or ideas, or rational thoughts. It simply doesn’t work that way – the answer is Faith, You can learn to live by faith by getting close to Him through his Word. However, God never imposes on us. He must be discovered and joyfully received for He is a loving and just God – loving all of humanity, even those who reject Him. Those who come to Him in repentance – turning their back on sin – will have life everlasting in His kingdom, because God is love.

TEA TIME

When was the last time you went to a tea party? Well, I hosted one for 28 people the other day – the proceeds are going to the wives of 5 African missionaries. After all, isn’t it the men who always get the funds?  A tea seemed the appropriate way to raise the $600 we ended up making.  $150 of that was from the sale of handmade jewelry – ‘fair-trade’ beads hand polished and painted by African women.

Do you know the difference between high tea and low tea? I assure you it is the opposite of what it sounds like. Low tea is held in the afternoon and supports all the elegant things you may think go with high tea, i.e. china tea cups, silver serving dishes and ceramic tea pots, and hopes for white gloves and wide brim hats.

The dining room table set for 6, baby carnations shared space with the ceramic tea pot





Angel fountain in living room, background sound to dining room

Entry hall where people signed in

2nd outdoor table set for 6

Outdoor table for 4, pond behind for background sound

Butlers pantry, decorated with children and sea shells

 

High tea is held at night and is referred to high tea because it is served off a high table! It is the last meal of the night and generally consists of a heartier fare than small decorative cakes and colored mint candies and dress is casual.

I have included a few pictures of tables – we had 2 outside decorated in red and four inside decorated in yellows, pinks, blues and white. Enjoy.

Traveling Again, Still Writing



I just returned from a Flair and Dare trip. First to Los Osos (means the bears) by Moro Bay where I rearranged pictures for my sister and her husband (he is an artist) after they remodeled. They like to cover the walls with his art work. I only made changes to the living room and dining room but did not photograph the rest. See below. 

Living area

Dining Room

 

The next stop was to my other sister’s in Alameda. I did some minor rearrangements there. So there are only a couple of pictures. The living area is long and narrow with the kitchen at the far end.See below.

Got the plant stand at Big Lots and the new rug from Sally's for $29.00 (Yeah)

Looking from the entry. Palm from Home Depot special $20, Cool lamp from Sally's for $5.00 (Yea!)

Looking from the kitchen toward the entry. Throw pillose on sofa from Sally's.

I took my writing with me to do some editing and to my surprise (though I should know better than to be surprised) my allegorical fantasy needed lots of reworking. I really like writing this stuff, it is fun. I have not completed the story yet, and have no idea when it will be done.

I also took my Crystal Pines Trilogy with me. I combined the published work of Morningside (#1 in the trilogy, published separately) with the middle story, Winter’s Inn, which was never completed and Crystal Pines, published first but is last in the trilogy. I am enjoying this project because since publication of Crystal Pines, I have wanted to make a lot of changes – true editing was never done.

The reason I am completing the trilogy is that a publisher called me and wanted to do a second edition of Crystal Pines, but I did not feel that it was worthy of one. This inspired me to make the changes necessary and complete the entire work. Don’t know when it will be finished, as it stands now it is over 550 words on 8 ½ by 11 paper with 1 inch margin.

I sent my Gifts for the Road story, about Jesus, Joseph & Mary’s travels to Egypt, out to another publisher but have heard nothing. I am going to send it to several all at one time. God Willing, it may someday get published –I don’t plan on self-publishing. That is it for now.

Spring Roses

Once again, I want to share more spring roses from our garden, thought I would also throw in a picture of the new me, though I am not nearly done with the Nutrisytem plan.

Pink & yellow roses on coffee table, small bird is $1 store special

My favorite the long stem pink roses with silver bell in front,

And who could go wrong with yellow, on the dining table, candle holders were salvaged from a give away location where I play bridge.

Couldn't resist showing this on my butler's pantry, basket is from sister, birds are from Mexico City, Gesha doll is from Japanese factory here in town, and the little Sumo man, love him, was $.49 at Goodies. 



Lost 20 pounds on Nutrisystem 6/02/2013

Update, New photos, new decorating

My beautiful red camilias match the red furniture in the family room

It has been awhile since I entered anything new here, my apologies. I went through a bit of writers block, but have recovered sufficiently. First, though, I took to redecorating our living room, well not really redecorating, but rearranging. I went through the house and gathered pictures and tables that I was tired of seeing in other rooms and switched them out. Also, I have included a picture of the beautiful camellias from the garden, since the roses are not in bloom yet. 

THe entry - this picture was in my Bible study Room and the stand was in the dining room

A combination of the elite and the salvage, Figurine is Armini,  the fern is from Safeway, an the blak pot is from the thrift store. THe table wads in some corner, and it is neat beause under the glass are tiny elephants and Japanese goodies.



My Yardrow elephant with my $5.00 bouquet of red roses from Wal-Mart. The coffee table is an end table that stands tall and makes a fine coffee table between the love seat and sofa.



The mirror was too heavy to move, it was over the stand in the entry. The tea cart was in a corner and it fit just right between two dining room chairs.
 

 THe table behind the loveseat was in the entry

 my office, turn your head sidewise, don't know how to fix it. Pictue in the background was in the entry.

   I went through a bit of writers block, but have recovered sufficiently. I had entered a partial story, an allegorical fantasy, but was I really stuck on an ending. I finally decided the story should just be set aside for another time.

   Finally afterthe holidays, I became inspired with a really wonderful allegorical fantasy – inspired by God. I have to give him credit, of course. And how do I know He inspires me, because during my Bible study time every morning, I always come up with ideas of what to add to the tale.  Anyway, I am having fun – what is the story about? I don’t want to give anything away, but I can say that there is a variety of characters. Some are celestial, some regular humans, and of course the bad guys.

   I have joined a critique group, Sunrise Christian writers, http://sunrisechristianwriters.blogspot.com/ and the critiques’ I’ve had from the group are good, and they love my allegory. That is encouraging, so much so, that I have written daily for the first time since the summer. This will be a long novel, so I will not be putting it on the blog, like I did the short stories.
         I am still waiting to hear from Waterbrook Press, Random House’s evangelical division about my story of Jesus, Joseph and Mary’s trip to Egypt, ‘Gifts for the Road’. It has been almost a year, and there’s been not a word.  April 3, I will email the editor and give her a week to respond. If she doesn’t, I will start sending the story out. Thank you Lord, for I am rarely discouraged, just persistent.

Christmas Time and Holiday Decor

 

 Table decor

 This is the first year that my husband and I are staying home without any family and that I have not put up my myriad of Christmas Decorations. I kept it real simple with just a tree and part of a large Manger Set. Getting the tree was great fun, I went to the 5:00 am Black Friday opening of Home Depot, around the corner from us, and purchased a 7 & 1/2 ft. tall pre-lighted tree. I can make the lights either white or colored. I love the color ones. We  entertained guests for supper, you can see part of the table above. I used pomegranates, parts of small pointsietta branches and favors stuffed in coffee cups - the favors were little fuzzy bears, snowmen and reindeer ornaments from Costco in an 8 pack for $4.97. Such a deal! The beautiful red and white dinner dishes and cups were from, of all places, the $1.00. I was shopping one day and had my basket full when I discovered these dishes. Well, I promptly emptied my basket and cleared the shelf of dishes, cups and bowls of service for 6. These are just a few of my secrets.

 The great tree.  

Partial Manger Sceen

The butlers pantry with Lenox Snow Queen

Close up of Snow Queen, the two snow birds were my mother's

Thanksgiving decor

Thanksgiving décor/dinner

The entry table

Dinner for 8

     Well I am at it again, doing one of my favorite things, flair & daring as I get things ready for company for Thanksgiving dinner. This year we will have 8 people – just the right amount. For our table, I purchased at the $1.00 store, little picture frames for place cards.  I always like to seat my guests rather than give them a choice; that eliminates the possibility of having all the talkers sitting together and incorporates the silent ones so they are not forgotten. I have never had anyone complain about suggesting where I want them to sit.

     For the plates at the table, I picked them up at the dollar store also, a great buy that I needed when I hosted a dinner for 12. The silverware is sterling, inherited. The table cloth is from Ross’s and the runners are from the dollar too. 

Priscilla & John, Pilgrims


Flowers in family heirloom

 

     The décor on the coffee table is of a $5 mum plant put into a true family heirloom, as are the 2 vases on the entry hall table (one vase is on its side on purpose (if in an obvious place, most people want to stand it up) the turkey next to the vases holds a votive – I’ve had that for a while and can’t remember where I got it.    

      In the pantry is a large pumpkin with a lid from my mother, as the small pumpkin on the side table that I put flowers into. Back to the pantry – the orangey vase in background, I picked up at the Goodwill and paid too much – I think $3. Wow. In front of the mirror the red vase, which I got at the grocery store for $10 – another big expense, is standing with two pilgrims – Priscilla and John - that I bought at a craft fair on sale for $7. Now that was a bargain and I love them.  The porcelain pumpkin in front of the candles I got at the dollar store – love it. Well there you have my Flair and Dare Ideas on how to spiff up your decorations on the cheap. However, I always think it is good to mix expensive with not so dear, it keeps me humble. Oh yes, I forgot to mention the most important thing - the menu: Vegetable Tray, crackers & cheese spread, Roasted & Stuffed Turkey..Cranberry sauce, jellied & home made, Curried Pea, Mashed PotatoesTurkey,Taragon Green Beans, Sweet Potatoes, Rolls & Butter, Fruit Salad, Pumpkin Desert

Pumpkin with flowers

Flowers in family heirloom

Mothers pumpkin with lid and goodwill vase behind Armani figurine of girl walking dog, pangry includes a cheap plastic night light of Jesus, given to me by grandaughter, Samantha