Gift From God

Let's face it, these are difficult times. There are many people who are struggling to make ends meet. Our family is without exception. I've been unable to work for a little over two years now due to a back injury and a recent diagnoses of a rare neuromuscular disease. My husband (aka My Hero) hasn't been able to keep food or water down for days at a time because of a failed lap-band. Needless to say, his health has been deteriorating and yet he still gets up and works (amazing). His work as a DME salesman and certified ATP (he assists people with getting the proper seating for power wheelchairs) has been declining because of medicare's constant price cuts, doctors' offices unwilling to do the required paperwork required by insurance, and various other aspects of working in sales. We have no income, no insurance, and no savings. Grim outlook to say the least.

Back to my Hero and his health, or lack of. To say he was dying would not be far from the truth. He would always try to hide the pain he was in and he rarely complained. Likewise, I would try to hide my tears. Our lives together have not been long enough, and I do not want to lose him. So, not knowing what to do or where to turn, I got down on my knees and prayed. I asked God for guidance and He gave me an inspiration. I wrote a letter to one of the local hospital's president. I told him about our financial situation and of the dire health of my husband. Could he please help us? I sent the letter along with a prayer and awaited a reply. My husband received a phone call from the hospital and was told that they would be sending him an application in the mail. He filled it out, sent it back in and was approved for an operation to remove the lap-band! PRAISE THE LORD!

My husband met with the doctors, had all the preliminary work done and had his surgery. It has been a week since the operation and he has been able to keep every bite of food, and every drink of water down. We knelt down together and thanked God for His love and mercy. God cares. He always has. He always will.

"Fear thou not: for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." Isaiah 41:10

Giveaway!

If you enjoy french country, you'll love a chance to win a $100 gift certificate giveaway hosted by Lidy at the French Garden House and Cynthia's Cottage Design. The items that Lidy has on her site are really pretty and perfect for enhancing the beauty of any home. For your chance to win go to: http://cynthiascottagedesign.blogspot.com/2010/11/beautiful-holiday-give-away.html and post a comment. Good luck and Merry Christmas!

Garden Inspirations

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photo by Chris Meech

photo by James Doyle

photo by Linda McHam

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Homes Decorated With Snow

I was browsing through homes that were for sale, when I came across these homes. They reminded me of my childhood and I had to share them with you. I don't think they need further decoration, do you?

A Walk in the Park

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday. Thanksgiving just happens to be my favorite time of the year. Our family has always been very close knit and I love spending time with them.

Although spending time with family never gets tiring for me, I do love the moments when my Hero (my Hubby) and I can steal away together. This past weekend we went for a walk at Red Clay State Park. The air was cool, the sun was shining, and the sky was the most gorgeous shade of blue. The trail was covered in leaves that crunched with our every step. We walked hand-in-hand taking pictures here and there, all the while laughing, and talking together. It was wonderful! Walking/hiking with my husband has always been my idea of the perfect date....and yes, I still melt when he takes my hand in his.

The weather has been so unusually warm, that the roses my husband gave me are still blooming.....in November! It did freeze last night and they are turning brown around the edges, so I thought I'd better take some pictures just for proof. They smell wonderful too! I'm also posting pictures of the park. Hope you enjoy!

                        This is the paved trail around the Park's cabin, barn, meeting place etc....

  These steps lead down to the spring. You can see to your right the water. There are leaves covering   some of it, but it is a large spring surrounded by a horseshoe shaped, steep embankment. The water is          crystal clear and 18 ft deep. To the left of the walk is the creek that is fed by the spring.

                                    The creek. It's a great place to wade in the summertime!

              The place where council meetings were held. This is where the Trail of Tears began.

I wasn't the only one admiring this rose!

My Favorite Flowers

I love hydrangeas.

My Grandma had a snowball bush growing in her yard. Now thanks to my wonderful Hubby,

 I have one too!

He also bought me pink climbing roses and planted them on either side of the arbor we were married under. They are still blooming....and it is almost December!

I have planted peonies twice, but haven't had much luck with them....yet.

As a child, nothing in the world smelt better than the sweet fragrance of lilacs wafting through my bedroom window. It is my all time favorite flower not only for it's smell, but for it's beauty.

Beautiful Things For The Home

I want my home, (especially my kitchen), to be a place that once you walk into it, you are immediately struck with a sense of warmth and nostalgia. I found some things from a charming little shop in England called Berry Red that are just lovely and have a vintage feel to them. Here is the URL  for the shop http://www.berryred.co.uk/ and some photographs as well. The store is owned by Karon Hamilton. Hope you enjoy.

OK. So the last photograph isn't for inside the home, but it does want make you want to stay a while doesn't it?

Pure Joy

I saw my oldest daughter off on a mission trip yesterday. It was so much fun to see the excitement she had in her eyes! What a lovely, kind young lady she has turned out to be. Her Daddy and I are so proud of her. Our youngest is home on break and I am loving having at least one of my children home! I do not like having an empty nest and relish the times when my children are at home, at least a little while. My youngest is vibrant, beautiful and caring....just like her oldest sister. I am a very lucky wife and mom and loving my family is Pure Joy.

Thought Provoking Question

"Where does your lap go when you stand up?".

Tigger

Beautiful Places

Our family loves to hike and explore nature. These photos were taken by my very talented husband on one of our short hikes. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

This is Ozone Falls in Ozone, Tennesee.

My husband leaned out over the edge as far as he could to take this photo. I was in the background sucking in my breath and asking him to please be careful.....much to his delight.

This tree was a short distance above the falls on the bank of the river.

 The mushroom is so intricate and so delicate.

At the bottom of Ozone Fall. I bet this is a great place to swim in the summertime.

Doctor's Office

I signed my child in at the doctor's office and then we proceeded to find a seat and wait. It really wasn't that crowded, but the people waiting to be seen were scattered about the room. We found two empty seats next to an elderly gentlemen and sat down. I leaned slightly in his direction and asked, " You won't bite if I sit next to you will you?".  His tired, worn face broke out into a smile, he chuckled a little bit as he softly said, "No". A conversation soon began and we reminisced about our childhood years, each remembering the way our grandmother's could bake the best pies. A lady across from us joined in on the conversation and soon the office began to feel more like a friendly gathering place. I found out that the gentleman next to me had served in the Korean War. "Thank you for what you did," I said. A sad and somewhat pained look came over his face as he replied, "I was 17 years old when I joined the military. From 17 to 21 I served. Some things we had to do, I still struggle with. I have nightmares about it still." Tears began to well in his eyes as he haltingly told me some of the horrific things only service men know about. I didn't want to imagine the scenes that must have passed before his young, innocent eyes. It made me want to somehow take away all the pain and suffering he experienced, but all I could do was sit there and listen. Another younger gentleman joined in on the conversation. He had served in Vietnam. He too had similar experiences. My heart went out to both of them. They both had been exposed to asbestos in the military and both were now suffering because of it. It didn't seem fair that these once young, innocent men had to step out into a new and terrifying world. Our conversation ended abruptly as my child's name was called; but I couldn't help leaning over both of them, giving them hugs, and whispering a thank you in there ears.

That experience gave me a deeper appreciation of the people who defend our freedom. Freedom always comes at a price. It requires sacrifice, heartache, and pain for those who obtain it. It reminds me of another Man, a Man who gave His life to save the whole world. He willingly took on heartache and pain to be our sacrifice. He was beaten, battered, and bruised. He was derided, spit upon, and betrayed. Yet He bore it all, for He knew that if He didn't our freedom from sin would be lost forever; we would be lost forever. We have a lot to be grateful for. We can be grateful to the men who fought for, and won our freedom. We can openly, and without fear, worship our Lord and Saviour. The Man who fought for and won our eternal freedom. Have you whispered a thank you to Him today?

It is an awesome experience when you realize that the Holy Spirit is moving and directing your life. For the past couple of weeks, either in my daily devotions or in church, there has been a recurring theme brought to my attention and that is to place my complete trust in Christ. Now, that is easier said than done. We are afterall, creatures born into a world of sin and self reliance. How many of us can truly say that we live our lives like George Mueller, or the patriarchs of old? I dare say the majority of us cannot. I want to give everything to God, to trust Him implicitly.

Living Room Inspiration

My living room has wall to wall paneling (way too dark for my liking), beige sofa and loveseat, red and green accents and LOTS of books. I would love to brighten up our living room and have it look like one of these fantastic photos. I don't remember where I got them, but they are beautiful aren't they? Which one do you like best?

I love the beadboard, floral accent pillow and the vase overflowing with flowers!

I love everything about this wonderful space!!!

Wouldn't you love curling up in that white chair while reading your favorite book and enjoying the warmth from the stove?

I love white slipcovers and LOTS of pillows!

I love just about anything with a rose floral pattern in it.

This room is perfect in the fact that it just feels so homey. Love the style and warmth of this room.

Red. Floral. Red floral loveseat. How can you lose?

Ooooooh.....Aaaaaaaah.