Draw Near...

This Thanksgiving was very special to us.We had two wonderful Thanksgiving's spent with our closest friends. Thursday was sweet and simple, and relaxing. My friends wouldn't let me do a thing. I tried..They wanted to serve. It was so nice as well as their fellowship. Then on Saturday we spent another wonderful filled day with friends, food and fellowship....It was so wonderful to spend time with friends who truly care for you, who will and have been there through the thick of it all. Friends who will take the brunt of your pains. We are truly blessed with the friends we have...And the food, was out of this world wonderful.
 
After Saturday nights dinner we just hung out all night talking, laughing and watched a movie...snuggled down in our jammies till late at night and had a sleep over. These will be cherished memories we will forever keep close to our hearts. Real friends are hard to find I must say. These ones are keepers.

We have all ( my family) learned many lessons on that fact. It has been revealed to us in many ways the last couple years. Some ways have been gut wrenching and hurtful and others have shown their true colors while there are the few who have stuck through as loyal, genuine, caring relationships. It has been a hard lesson to swallow in some cases yet I can say those lessons were for our good and surely God's way of revealing to us to see what is bad, what is rotten and what is false as well as what is good, what is pure, what is true. This has only made us grow closer in many ways as a family but especially has only drawn us closer to Christ. It has opened our eyes to see the ones who are really there, the ones who will forever have your back. So, now as we move into the next chapter of our lives...We have started to let go of those rotten apples among us, so that we may draw ever more closer to our Lord who will never forsake us. In time we will heal, put it all behind us & move on and rejoice. The weight is lifted.
And sometimes that is what you must do. Let go of things that weigh
 us down and yes, sometimes that means letting go of certain
people in your lives and holding on to the ones who lift you up in spirit and prayer.
 
I am thankful to God that He gives these hard lessons to us,
even though it may be uncomfortable or painful in that moment.
The heavy load was purchased by His blood...
For me and my family, so that we don't have to bear it.
*****
Draw near to God and He will Draw near to you.
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66. The love of Christ and knowing
we can draw near to Him.
67. Bountiful blessings
68. Thanksgiving Fellowship & Fantastic Food
69. True friends
70. Truth

It's Not Up To Me...

Today I am having virtual coffee with Amy over at Lucky Number 13. I have been meaning to participate forever...and finally got over there to have coffee with her...In my case it is tea, since coffee really messes with me in a bad way. So, as I was sipping my tea, my heart was heavy this morning. It is coming close to graduation day for my dear Mr. Darling, from his four year Seminary stretch. I just can't believe the day is almost here and we still don't know where we are going. Good thing is he has a lot of Professors and fellow Pastors passing his name around the country. So with prayer we hope to find out where God wants us to be.

14 years ago we lived in California...and I left with a really bad attitude about California. I said I would NEVER come back. We spent 10 happy years in Washington state where we thought we were going to settle for the remainder of our days. Mr. Darling was working a full time job and going to school  working towards a better life for us and giving our lives to something a lot more meaningful. He started working towards his passion to becoming a Pastor. Then the opportunity of seminary came along which meant moving....to CALIFORNIA. Oh my...really? I knew this was an opportunity of a lifetime and who was I to stand in the way of God's will. I prayed and kept my mouth shut. We moved and knew it would only be temporary. God has a good sense of humor I tell you. I came back here with a better attitude than I thought...Yet part of me still would begrudge the possible fact of staying here. But it is not up to me. There are States being thrown around right now with possible Pastor ships. Illinois, Virginia, Georgia, North Dakota, Florida. When Florida came up I couldn't resist opening my big mouth, declaring a huge NO. I lived in Florida for a couple years as a child, I remember Florida, I didn't like Florida. But low and behold it upset Mr. Darling to the point where he didn't want to talk to me. Uh oh, I should have kept my mouth shut. Oh Lord help me keep my mouth shut. It is not up to me if it is His will to move us somewhere I may not like. I came back to Mr. Darling with a fat apology realizing that it is not up to me and if a wonderful opportunity arose to move to a State, perhaps one I didn't like much, I can't stand in the way of God's will. For God knows what is best for us.

The hardest part of leaving though...Even though we don't know where yet. Is leaving family and friends behind. We have grown close to our church family, spending every week with them, having them in our home, going to theirs. These people we will miss. But it's not up to me.
 
If you were really here having coffee or tea with me...I would share these things with you...and hope to be a good listening ear to whatever is on your heart as well. I would pray with you and hope you would pray with me too. Even though this is a virtual coffee and I was able to write out what was on my heart...This really did help telling you all this. It brought me back to God...that I can't and shouldn't lean on my own, to give it to Him, to pray...giving my heavy heart and burdens no matter how big or small they are over to Him. I am at peace now. Just knowing it is not up to me...And that is okay with me. I don't really want to make that decision alone. I pray He will shut my mouth when I have crossed over boundaries, to be there for my husband through this time, a time we are living by faith alone. For if the opportunity arose to take over a Pastor ship somewhere, It is not up to me where that will be, it is where He wants us to be.
Thanks for joining me. Please do come back again.
****
51. Knowing I am not alone, I can lean on the Lord for everything
52. Thankful for this huge opportunity, one we will glorify God with
53. Realizing it is not up to me...It is up to God
54. Finding contentment and peace through prayer.
55. Being there for my husband, brings more peace to our home.

My Heart Is Full....

Yesterday, the sun was softly glimmering through my windows leaving a lovely glow throughout the house. I love those sort of days. Truly breathtaking. Even when your very ill. You heard me right. We are ill again. It all started in the lungs, with a lovely fever, the perfect sore throat and pounding headache topped off by an angelic cough and flattering runny nose. Fun, fun. I was down for three days this week.Not fun when you were just getting into your mojo. just praying that it's not phnemonia. I need to get myself together...I have an order in for my shop and a tea party to plan this weekend...And it's Friday...Oh no, it's Friday already and the week has slipped away.
   
 I also continue to think of the many gifts and blessings my life has, some are right there in front of me and some are hdden, just waiting to be found. I am not about to let the flu get me down, even then I can think of the many blessings I am ever so thankful to God for. My heart is full of them.
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13. The way the sun shines through my window on a beautiful Winter morning.
14. True love.
15. Each step I take is never taken alone.
16. Soothing a sore throat with tea.
17. Seeing myself in my children.
***
Have a blessed Friday.

Happy Birthday Mr. Darling.....

Today is My dear Mr. Darlings birthday. Today he turns 40.
 
I thank God for him everyday. Happy Birthday to my love.

Today I am thankful for:
96. My dear Mr. Darling being born.
97. Mr. Darlings dimples
98. His sweet XOXO's
99. Mr. Darlings loving heart
100. He is a man of God.

Back In Time....

  
This weekend we went back in time to the days of The Civil War. Where President Abraham Lincoln was President and we were at war between the North and the South. A time where ladies wore big gowns and hoop skirts with their hair up , where men wore button ups and trousers and children went to school in little one room school houses. We hopped on the stagecoach to be a part of a special 150th Civil War Anniversary Event at the HistoricVail Ranch.For the Re-enactment of the discovery and arrest of the Showalter Secessionist Party in November 1861.There were Displays, costumed soldiers, camps, and demonstrations...With a Barn dance that evening which I will blog about next time.   
We met soldiers dressed in their uniforms, holding their rifles and pistols as they shot off many rounds for the spectators. There were lovely ladies in full gowns and pretty hats making braided ribbons, selling their goodes at the merchantile and roaming around with parasols.
 

     
We also met a very talented artist who was working on his little peg soldiers...His drawings are brilliant and depicted the era with fine skill, and brought everything to life. You can see his love for American history in detail and passion. If you love or know someone who would appericiate Historical art from that era or bygone days be sure to click the links.
    

We learned much about the history of the Civil War to our very own history in our town during that period. It was quite fascinating really.

   
They also provided yummy homemade cookies and apple cider to keep us warm as it was a chilly afternoon. We enjoyed conversation with many of the people among us learning as we went along and trying to grasp the time at hand...We felt as if we were truly in the past for just that moment.
       
The firearms were shot off periodically which would make you jump when you least expected...Yet only gave the feeling of that day even more authenticity. It was really a delight to step back in time hearing the sounds and smelling the cool air while taking in the sights with our own eyes....It was almost magical since we are really into history. I love anything that brings history to life and this just cut the cake.
     
Another memory we will cherish of that day was a visit with this man...His name is Malcolm Barnett....He has lived in our town his whole life as he is a 4th generation member of his family who truly has roots and knows all the history of our little town. He sat with my kids and I for some time showing us pictures pointing out his great grandfathers and even pictures of  himself as a young boy from a book that was written with all the history of our city. It was so sweet. He was the sweetest soul .....
     
My visionary taste buds were on full tilt. It was a day that really in many ways blessed us. I am not sure how many spectators felt the way as I did this weekend...But I sure did appericiate the effort and time that was put into this weekend...As they work to preserve our history through these means.
  
If you ever have a chance to do something like this in your own town...I encourage you to go and feed your family some history come to life...it is a fun interactive, hands on way to enjoy the fruits of the past.
***
Today I am thankful for:
91. History
92. My town
93. Re enactors
94. To touch, to feel and to see wonders
95. Our freedom