Snow in the Country

Around our neck of the woods, 

you either live in the town or the country.

Just a few of my favorites 

from the country.

Thanks, Kim Roberson for the photo of your grandparents smokehouse. 

Makes me think of The Shack.

I'd like to have a visit beside the fire with PaPa.

(A great read!)

The home of Keith and Robin McDonald

I sure would like a home in the country. 

It feels like Christmas.

Yes, I got my Winter Wonderland.

Even if it was for only a day!

Made by Elizabeth and Ethan Daniel

I love a Lady in Red.

Weather man says to expect more next week!

Yippee!

Happy Weekend, 

Bonnie:)

WANTED: Help with ETSY

Can anyone tell me how to 

set up by ETSY shop

as a button on my blog???

I have lots of vintage

items in my booth

that are just not selling.

These kind of pretties are not selling for me, 

and I'm not just giving them away

or selling for nothing.

So, I'm thinking about trying ETSY again.

This sweet little ironstone teacup 

would sell if I marked it down to 50 cents.  

I'll keep it myself for that!

Nobody is buying.

Is anyone having any luck 

with their ETSY shop?

I just brought 5 pieces of 

canvas art home.

These are my questions:

1.  How do I get ETSY link on blog.

2.  Do you think these items will sell on ETSY?

Thanks for your input. 

Bonnie:)

New Finds From the Flea Market and Old Finds From Storage

As you know, we got the promised snow
and it's another wet, cold day
but warming up with sunshine.

My kids have sent me word not to drive.
(They know I'm hopeless even in perfect weather.)

So, I'll share with you a few of my finds

and adds from my storage.

I found the wicker mirror and the doilie 

at our local flea market.  

I talked my buddy down to $3 (1/2 price)

for the mirror 

and $1 (1/2 price)

for the doilie.

The hankie was my granny's
and my daughter carried it in her wedding bouquet.

The cup and saucer is my sister's, 

inherited from her husband's

great, great grandmother. 

She said, "Keep it."

I say, "No."

Her daughter, my niece will want it one day.

So, I'm borrowing it.

Perfect stitching.
Isn't it delicate and pretty?

Another of my sister's cups.

These crossed the Atlantic 

when his ancestors made their 

way from England.

This was an extra cup to her OLD English transfer ware. 

This ladies' hankie I found at the flea market.

My daddy, The Preacher Man, 

carried the other in his pocket. 

It still smells like him.

They all need ironing.
They are going back to the chest anyway,
so, oh well!

Here's To a Cool, Sunshiny Day,

Bonnie:)

My Daughter Shares Her Heart

I know.
This is my second post today.
What do you do on a snow day?

Our daughter and her husband 

have decided to share their journey.

Dear Friends:

Troy and I are now starting the six-week journey of IVF (in-vitro fertilization). These last two and a half years have been long and hard, but we take this next step with confidence, knowing this is the next right step for us.

We should start taking medicine in the next few days. We’ll start taking shots around the first part of February. We have a significant appointment with the doctor at the end of February to check our levels and do some testing for the embryo transfer. We’re expecting the egg retrieval and embryo transfer to be around the first part of March. Quite honestly, any IVF calendar is a moving target; at this point, these dates are estimates, at best.

I (Christy) recently read a book for school entitled Never Eat Alone. It’s all about the importance of building your professional network. The concept of “building it before you need it” stuck with me more for personal, rather than professional, reasons. We learned several tough lessons about authenticity and community over the past few years. It is hard to be honest with ourselves and our spouses, much less other people. And it’s even harder when the deepest questions of our hearts don’t have easy answers. People typically don’t like questions; we much prefer answers. This is especially challenging in our Christian context where we have been taught all our lives about good and evil, right and wrong, and yes, questions and answers (we were Bible quiz nerds, for goodness sakes). Upon the suggestion of trusted friends, we are writing this now because we know we need you and want to be intentional about sharing this journey with the people we love.

We know we need community. Recently, we have been attending a new church in Mt. Juliet. We don’t know if we’ll be there forever, but it is the right place for us now. We don’t know a lot of people there yet and have not had a chance to plug in – that will take time. We know that our church decisions have changed some of our relationships, simply because of proximity. That being said, we would like to make a concerted effort to stay in touch: schedule Sunday lunches, dinner, etc. We want to hang out with you to talk about things other than IVF. JWe want to know what’s going on in your lives too, the good and the bad. If you think of us over the next couple of months, feel free to give us a ring or a text. We’ll do the same.

We still struggle with the concept of prayer, though we find ourselves muttering them in spite of our questions. I have long taken comfort in this verse, “Meanwhile, the moment we get tired in the waiting, God’s Spirit is right alongside helping us along. If we don’t know how or what to pray, it doesn’t matter. He does our praying in and for us, making prayer out of our wordless sighs, our aching groans. He knows us far better than we know ourselves, knows our pregnant condition, and keeps us present before God.” (Romans 8:26-28a) We went to a service recently where the pastor described a dark time in her own life. In a pastoral staff meeting, she shared with the staff that she couldn’t pray because she was too angry and broken. The senior pastor simply said to her, “That’s okay. We’re praying for you.” My mother has told me that many times before, and I hope it is true. Just last Sunday, our pastor preached on the subject of fear and the hope of peace in Christ. He shared the story of the writer of the song, “It is Well With My Soul.” At the end of the service, the music pastor got up to lead the congregation in the song. Before singing, she said, “The last time I heard this song was at my son’s funeral 11 weeks ago. I can’t get up here and pretend that I feel the words of this song. And if you don’t feel them either, that’s okay. I’m not up here because I’m strong or because I’m brave. I’m here because I love Jesus.” I was blown away by her transparency and willingness to share so openly the deepest parts of her heart. We are more on this journey feeling many of those same emotions, but we are stepping into the pathway of God’s peace, even though we cannot feel it now.

Feel free to share this news, if you want, with others. After two and a half years, we are pretty open about our fertility journey. We think this kind of openness is really important for not only us but also others who may be struggling with similar situations.

We love you and are grateful for each of you. Thank you for allowing us to be real with you as we begin a process where we are not promised any particular result. While we may be too protective of our hearts to have high hopes for this process, we are confident and happy to know this is the next right step.

Love,

Troy and Christy

For your reference, we’ve included a link to the Resolve website. Resolve is the national infertility support organization. I know everyone won’t want to read this, but I know some find this sort of information hepful.

http://www.resolve.org/support-and-services/for-family--friends/infertility-etiquette.html

This difficult journey began when Troy discovered he had cancer 6 years ago.  However, it became increasingly difficult when they didn't get pregnant as quickly as they had anticipated.  The 2 1/2 journey refers to the time of IUI, miscarriage, anger, doubt, fear and a faith that has been shaken to its core.  

Praise God he is cancer-free and they are coming to place of acceptance and hope.

Again, I bring their faces before as you bring them before the Lord. 

  

Snow Day

I awoke to this...

Saw on Facebook,

that one of my mail carrier friends 

is already out and about. 

I think some of my snow drifted 

across the street.

First Baptist Church,

beautiful!

From the looks of the sidewalk, 

we got about 2 inches. 

I put on my hooded jacket, gloves, 

and took a stroll.

Here are a few of my favorite homes that I haven't shared before. 

There are so many different style homes around 

my neighborhood.

This is when I'm glad I don't live in the big city.

After my walk, 

I made a snow milkshake.

It wasn't as good as I remember.

Happy Snow Day, 

Bonnie:)

Dancing a Jig

It's Snowing!!!!

My church

This GA girl is dancing a jig.

Downtown Gazebo and it's still coming down!


WooooHooo!
Bonnie:)

Rules for Living Life Through the Game of Baseball

Missing my Nashville babies 

and becoming quite sentimental 

as I thumb through the 

pages of my scrapbooks

(yes, no digital scrapbook for me).

This is my (our) son,

Daddy's man,

but always 

Mama's boy.

He calls me when he wants and needs to talk

about life stuff.

He calls his daddy when he wants to talk

about fun stuff.

In our 35 year of marriage, 

there were some difficult times

as would be expected. 

During one of those years, 

as a little fellow, 

Chad asked, 

"Mommy, are you and daddy

going to get a divorce?"

(Divorce, no.  Kill him, yes!)

"No honey, what makes you say that?"

"I'm just gonna tell you, 

if you do get a divorce, I'm going to 

live with my daddy."

His daddy taught him

how to live life

through the game of baseball.

Before he could hold a bat, 

he was running the bases 

and sliding into home plate

at his daddy's softball practices.

These were his Daddy's rules for living:

"Keep your eye on the ball."

"Sometimes you'll get hit hard.

Take the hit and move on."

"Don't just stand there, swing the bat

and run with all your might."

"Watch for the opportunity to steal

and take it."

"Be a Team Player."

Chad incorporated some these values 

in his Salutatory address 

at his high school graduation.

1.  Keep your eye on the ball.

Keep your eye on the goal.

Chad was always goal-oriented.

"Let us keep our eyes on Jesus,

the Author and Finisher of our Faith."

Hebrews 12:2

"Do you not know that in a race only

one gets the prize. Run in such a 

way as to get the prize."

* I can't seem to find the reference.

Very early, he said he wanted to

Play college baseball

(He did, even though his coach

said he wasn't college material), 

Be Valedictorian of his class

(He missed it by only a few points.)

Be a doctor

(He decided he wanted to be a husband and daddy first

and became a Physicians Assistant.)

2.  When life throws you a curve ball, 

take it and move on.

"Endure hardship as discipline, 

God is treating you as sons."

Hebrews 12:7

Life has not always been easy for Chad. 

He was an ADHD child.

He had many fears

as the result of someone who

threatened his life

over a "don't-tell-anyone 'secret.'

or I'll kill you, your mama, your daddy and your cissy."

He spent many years in therapy.

God healed him completely.

(That's a different blog post 

that will never be posted.)

3.  Swing and Run.

"Therefore we also, since we are surrounded 

by such a great cloud of witnesses,

let us lay aside every weight,

and the sin which so easily 

entangles us and RUN with endurance

the race that is set before us."

Hebrews 12:1

His daddy taught him well, 

and the determined young man

has become quite the spiritual leader

of his home and role model 

for this precious one!

A great husband and daddy.

Thank you letting me share my heart

these past few days.

Bonnie:)

The IVF Journey Begins

Today, I need to share my heart.

You, my blog friends, have

become my prayer partners, 

for which I am so thankful.  

Most of you know,

how long we have been praying for a baby,

6 years. 

I'm so ready to see this smile again-

ready to see my baby girl laugh like she once did,

ready to see that twinkle in her eye again.

Ready to see her celebrate again,

Ready for her heart to sing again,

Ready to see the craziness,

Ready to see this incredible love
shared with a child.

(This was taken when our Connor man, her brother's baby,
was born.)

Ready to have her experience 

the love and joy that is beyond 

any love she has ever known.

Praying that the arms that have held others, 

will one day very soon, 

hold their own.

If being a good husband is any indication 

of what kind of daddy he will be, 

this man will be the best!

Cancer could not claim him

and neither will infertility defeat him!

After 7 IUIs and a miscarriage, 

they will finally start 

the IVF process this week-

one step at a time.

On Wednesday, she will start birth control, 

as crazy as that sounds, 

to start a new cycle.

She and Troy will both

start on antibiotics. 

(Don't ask me why!)

She will have her own personal

fertility nurse who will be 

with her through the entire process.

She's afraid of so many things,

afraid it won't take,

afraid it will take and

afraid of loss,

afraid of what people will say, 

afraid of what people won't say, 

afraid of looks of pity, 

afraid of looks of excitement-
just afraid.

Today her emotions are all over the place, 

Troy is off on business, 

and I'm six hours away.

I say, 

"I will come."

She says, 

"I'll be okay."

So Jesus, 

will you give her peace while she waits. 

I know I've shared all of these photos before

but I just want these two faces fresh

in your minds as you bring them before the Lord.

Thank You for your Prayers, 

Bonnie:)

4 Pics/1 Word

Ok, here goes. 

You know the game, right?

4 pics-1 word

I'll make it easy for you.
1.  Palm Tree
2.  The Waves of the Ocean
3.  My Daddy
4.  A Tree Planted By the Water
(HINT: remember the Bible verse)

____   ____  ____  ____  ____  ____

I'll give you another clue.
Same word.

1.  The Bible
2.  The Flag that represents a great nation
3.  A Summer Thunderstorm
4.  A church that's stood for 64 years

So, have you figured out the above???

You didn't cheat did you?

Ok, I'll give you the first letter, S

and the last letter G.

Okay, you don't have to buy letters.  

Solution:

S T R O N G

STRONGER:  Finding Hope in Fragile Places,

the name of the Ladies' Bible Study 

that I am teaching.

My prayer as we begin:

"God, I want to know you more.  

I want to learn and grow and understand

YOUR powerful words.

In so many ways, 

I desperately need to become stronger, 

so teach me about WHO YOU ARE

and the strength YOU give.

Bring your light into my dark places.

For these next weeks, 

help me to focus on YOU.

Just YOU, Lord. 

Amen."
--Angela Thomas

Join Me On This Journey,
Bonnie:)