Blogger Header: Should I Change or Keep the One I Have?

Friends come and go, 

but God always gives us something in return.

The past 5 years have been the hardest years of my life. 

I think of the song, "Blessed Be the Name."

I've posted a link to the You Tube video.

I so much appreciate my blogging friends 

who have supported me and prayed for me 

and encouraged me.

You know who you are!

You are a blessing!

I'm showing some of my collage blog headers 

from the past couple of years. 

Christmas

This and That

Milk Glass Hobnail

A Fall from Pinterest

White Lace and Promises

Ironstone and Clocks

Can you tell me, 

Which is Your Favorite?

Should I change or keep the one I have?

Bonnie:)

Blessed Be Your Name (worship video w/ lyrics)

Today I Needed to See the Pink Peek Through

Went to see Uncle Junk today.

Found this great watering can.

It's not vintage, but has been used often, 

chippy on the inside.

The baby doll stroller IS VINTAGE!

The wicker is broken some, but the wheels are just fine.

You know I'm jumping up and down about the pink patina.
Love, love, love!

You can even see the pink peeking through.



Today I needed to see the pink peek through.

I've had to fight the dreaded malady of Bipolar Disorder all week,
the depression part is debilitating at times.
 It only takes one small incident to send me sinking.
Today I felt myself sinking.

I only made two stops and I was ready to go.
The jump-up-and-downs are just that, up and down.

Today I went to visit a hurting friend.
I was afraid and tired.

She lost her 36 year old daughter to cancer last week.
She had a 10 year old daughter.

My friend has been dealing with her own illness for 25 years.
She knows pain every day.
She feels isolated and alone.

I know isolation.  I know loneliness.
But nothing like the pain she now knows.
I stayed two hours.



I felt better.
I think she did too.

Fun in the Sun

This is what our little boy was doing today.

Fun in the Sun at Splash Pad

Love my Babies.

Bon Bon:)

Dreaming of a Shop

Cornerstone was my dream.

One of my best friends owned the building, 

decided to set up shop, and 

asked me to manage it.

It felt like mine.

The shop was open 

Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

  

I loved the brick walls.

I loved the staircase.

The building was full of character.

I loved going to auctions.

I loved digging in the box deals.

I loved making the old look new
and the new, old.

I loved creating sweet vignettes.

I loved making each spot feel like home. 

I didn't enjoy

the dusting, 

the cleaning, 

the vacuuming, 

the summer heat, 

the winter cold, 

and all that comes with maintaining an old building.

I LOVED the customers.

At first they were many.

In less than a year, 

we were struggling.

The little town was folding up

and decisions had to be made.

We closed shop, 

then another closed, 

and then another.

My dream and vision folded with it.  

My kids say, 

"Bring it all to Nashville, Flea Market every 4th Saturday

rent a small booth and you'll be in business."  

Maybe the dream is not too far off.

What does your dream look like?


Bonnie:) 

Things I Enjoy About Summer

Yesterday it felt like Spring.

Today it feels like Summer.

These are the things I enjoy about Summer.

A pretty tablecloth and mama's special plate makes everything yummier.

eating fresh fruit from the local farmer's market,

enjoying a picnic or barbeque and ice cold watermelon,

picking the best home grown tomatoes in the bunch,

a tomato sandwich with loads of mayo, salt and pepper,

ice cold water on a hot and humid day,

drinking ice cold Coke and RC cola from a bottle,

home made pickles,

and feet in the sand and sea.

These are a few of my favorites Summer things. 

What do you like most about Summer?

Bonnie:)

For This I Prayed

For better or worse,
for richer or poorer,
in sickness and in health,
to love and to cherish
til death do us part.

When I was expecting my babies,
I lay my hands on my tummy and prayed for them.
I prayed for their friends and the one for whom they would marry.

I can honestly say for these I prayed...

This is my favorite photo of my daughter on her big day.
It was a very hot and humid day in August.
Her curls were loose and her shoulders were slumped
in contentment that her day had been a perfect one.
Can you see the sweet smile of joy?

For this I prayed.

She married her best friend.
When we dropped her off at college, six hours away,
I told him to take care of her, never thinking that he
would take care of her forever.

For this I prayed.

My baby boy left home to pursue a college career in baseball.
He met the girl of his dreams.
He brought her home to meet us the month that
they started dating.  I knew she was the one.

For this I prayed.

We didn't lose a son or a daughter,
we added two to our family.

For this I prayed.

My daddy performed Christy and Troy's ceremony,
but my parents never saw Chad marry.

Sometimes we don't get what we pray for.

A brother and sister who adore each other.

For this I prayed.

Nothing like sweet little flower girls.
The one on my right is my niece.
(Can you believe she's the same little girl on my mama's lap above?)

A little girl prays for a wedding like this all of her life.

In both weddings, we decorated with jars and milk bottles.

The little pot contained seeds in burlap

and was used as a place card.

Both couples continue to work through the best and the worse,
the rich times and the poor times, and
yes, there has been sickness and health.
I believe that through it all they continue to love and cherish each other.

For This I Prayed,

Bonnie:)

(My oldest followers have seen these photos before.
 However, I never tire of telling this story.)

Wardrobe Reveal

Wardrobe reveal...

The photo can't do it justice.

#1.   I am not a photographer.

#2.  The lighting is bad.

#3. My little Cannon Sure Shot is shot!

#4.  The phone camera just can't cut it.

The inside will hold my mama's quilts

and maybe some vintage dresses will hang on the rod. 

I pulled in a crate from outside to create a vignette atop the wardrobe.

Changed out the glass for ironstone.

I think it created a more primitive look.

Did I say that this was a piece that my brother-in-law

found beside of the road???

Room Reveal coming soon. 

Miss these babies on this Holiday.

This is a favorite of my baby and his baby boy.

Centennial Park in Nashville, TN

He's saying, 

"Look Daddy, the baseball mound."

Today I Pay Tribute to our Vietnam Veterans

Happy Memorial Day!

I'm sharing a few photos from 

a blog post a couple of years ago.

The singing of our National Anthem and watching 

our flag wave in the wind always gives me chills,

and THE Red, White and Blue always brings tears to my eyes. 

A child of the 60's and 70's, I was not allowed to watch

the black and white TV past 9 o'clock.

Daddy made sure that we were in bed before the 11:00 news.

The nightly news showed the graphic, horrific results 

of the Vietnam War.  I heard it all from the confines of my bedroom

and couldn't go to sleep long after.

I admit to praying that God would not take my

brother or my boyfriend or any of my friends to fight in the war. 

As a child of the 70's I never will forget.

I live beside a man who fought and was without honor for many years. 

I am thankful that our flag still stands.

I am thankful for the men and women who have served 

and who continue to serve our great nation. 

And yes, I am thankful that our nation finally

paid tribute and gave honor for those 

who gave their lives, their minds and their bodies 

to a war that some deemed unnecessary.

Thank you Vietnam Vets. 

Yes, we honor you today. 

Bonnie:)

One of my favorite linen towels. 

Awesome tribute to our Veterans in the Braves Pre-Game Show.

Honoring all branches of service.

Chills and tears. 

Stacks: When is Too Much, Too Much?

I like stacks...

stacks of books,

stacks of magazines,

stacks of baskets,

stacks of dishes.

When my children were small, 

we'd stack blocks.

We'd stack block 

   upon block

       upon block

            upon block

               until

                     they

                         all

                                  came

                                           crashing

                                                     down.....

It was a fun game.

My cupboard is much the same.

I squeeze as much in one place as I possibly can.

After all, I like to show off my wares.

Don't we all?

But sometimes more is too much,

and less is more. 

We stack and pray that the pieces don't topple.

I like activity, 

always did.

Shoot!  I even made a career out of it, 

Activity Director.

Before the children left home,
we rarely had an evening alone.

There was a men's softball game two nights a week, 

often followed by a youth game,

church league volleyball 

and recreation basketball,

 baseball practice and games, 

theatre practice and plays, 

youth choir practice and concerts,

vocal competitions and literary

Wednesday night youth meeting.

Those were the every week things

depending on the season, of course. 

Not to mention summer youth activities, 

children's camp, youth camp, Six Flags, Stone Mountain, 

Braves Game, Gross Food Night, Game Night, Fundraisers, and Retreats. 

Throw in teaching on Wednesday nights

and Sunday School, morning worship and

Sunday night service. 

We stack one activity on top of the other

on top of another, on top of another 

and there's no room to squeeze in one more thing

and wonder why we crash.

But, we like to show off our "wares."

We want perfect children who look smart and achieve much

 look good, and behave well.

When is too much, too much?

We fill our lives with so much 

and pray nothing falls apart. 

I wanted my children to have what I didn't have

encouragement, affirmation, goals and dreams.

However, in the process I wonder if I pushed too hard.

One Summer, I had a near breakdown.

I just couldn't do it anymore.

I was in major burn-out.

I quit my job, 

took a year off

to regroup and prioritize.

(Sometimes we can get too busy even in the church)

It was the best thing I ever did.

  

Martha and Mary were sisters. 

They had planned a dinner for Jesus.

Martha couldn't get Mary to do a thing.

Not to mention that she was sitting at the feet of Jesus.

"GET up and HELP me!"

"Lord, don't you care???"

"Martha, Martha, the Lord answered,

"you are worried and upset about many things, 

but only one thing is needed.

Mary has chosen what is better, and 

it will not be taken away from her."

Luke 10:41-42

I must confess, 

sometimes the clutter in my cupboard

and the magazines on the counter

and the books on the desk

becomes overwhelming.

And so does LIFE.

Is Your Much Too Much?