Always Close...

Microsoft desktop picture

Yesterday afternoon, towards the end of another long week at work, my desktop wallpaper changed to this picture.  I thought "what a great pic to end my week...".   A rainbow is a sign of better things to come and after the stressful and extra hours over the past two weeks, I needed that reminder.

Well the "better things" started with a 3 day weekend.  Can I get AMEN?!

This morning I was able to work on the log cabin quilt.  It was nice to be able to do so after not working on it for two weeks.

One of the best things so far this weekend is the opportunity I had this afternoon to spend time with family members I don't get to see very often.  Some of my aunts and uncles from Alabama and Louisiana are up to visit this weekend.  One of my uncles, my uncle Harold, I haven't seen since I was a young teenager.  Listening to him talk today, the sound and inflection of his voice, reminded me of my grandpa.

Growing up, due to my dad's occupation, we were on the move every three years or so and were not in close proximity to most of our family.  I wonder sometimes what it must be like to be near most of your family all your life?  What is it like to be there for them through hard times like heart break or grief, to help them through it so that they don't make choices that could harm them or they regret later?  Or to be there for them in the happiest of times, like the birth of a child or the addition of a new family member through marriage, or even to celebrate an accomplishment they've had no matter how big or small?

Though I don't get to spend a lot of time with most of my family, I cherish those times I do get to see them, because I don't know when I will see them again.  I have been blessed with a loving family on both sides and I wouldn't give it up for anything in the world.  My family is always close to me in my heart and thoughts and are continually in my prayers.

I took quite a few pictures today and plan to put them in a scrapbook.  I found a scrapbook yesterday at a local flea market and it has all the decorative pages in it.  The theme is "Family & Friends".  So the pics I took today will be perfect for it.

My first day off for the Labor Day weekend has been a good day.  I trust your weekend has started out good too.

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What's Up With That?

Lately there have been things that just make me say "hmm..." and make me wonder about them.  For example...

On the way to visit with family today, we met a police car on the highway driving towards us.  The car was moving slower than normal and as it got closer to us it moved to the yellow line, and after it was past us it swerved over the yellow line.  What's up with that?

Then there is a spot in the road on one of the highways I drive that has a sign that states "BUMP", indicating a bump is ahead in the road.   Well it is not a bump, it is a dip.  I know they have signs that state "DIP" to indicate a dip in the road.   Were they striving for a bump and just did not accomplish their goal?  What's up with that?

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I guess that's all I have for now.

Until next time, enjoy your weekend!

Hugs,

Sonia

Focus

I was finally able to work in my sewing room this weekend.  I haven't been in it at all this past week due to my work schedule.

At the end of my week I had in 60.61 hours.  My long week caught up with me Friday afternoon and I fought off falling asleep as hard as I possible could, but I felt that my coworkers would hear a loud thump as my head hit the desk.  So I had a strong cup of coffee hoping it would help. Though I have to admit the afternoon drowsiness is something I battle frequently with this current job.  Some are days are just worse than others.

I've been thinking of what I need to get done in the next sixteen weeks.

• Finish the log cabin quilt
• Make small love quilt
• Make Christmas stocking for exchange
• Make wall hanging/place mat from last year's fat quarter from guild's Christmas party
• Other gifts I want to make for family and friends

Hopefully things will begin to level out and I will have time to work these projects.

At the beginning of the week I decided to focus on blessings instead of the frustrations and long hours the week promised.

• Monday: after a long day I saw a beautiful rainbow on the way home and a beautiful starry sky at night.

• Tuesday: stepped out of the house to a cool morning, a nice change from the hot muggy ones. 

• Wednesday: coconut cream pie - it's been a very long time since I last tasted coconut cream pie, this was a yummy blessing.  It was also a day of good song's going through my mind.  Songs like "it's alright, have a good time cause it's alright yeah it's alright" and "His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me". 

• Thursday: a favorite sweater of mine was returned to me.  I didn't realize it was missing, I thought that it was in the clothes hamper waiting to be washed.   One of the local churches catered our lunch today and the oatmeal raisin cookies were the best I have ever tasted.  

• Friday:  enjoyed a phone call with my son.  He is doing well and starting school and teaching next week.  He is going to be very busy.   I also got to leave work earlier today than the rest of the week.

By focusing on blessings, it helped my week go better.  I was tired and wore out by the end of the week but I was not frustrated or stressed to the max and that is essentially the best blessing of the week.  :)

So if you feel discouragement coming on... start focusing on blessings that come your way.

Hugs,
Sonia

Near panic...

We are going through a conversion at work and are going live with a new system on Monday.  So we are having to get everything from the old system taken care of this weekend before the new system goes on line.

I have to say today went pretty smoothly.  We are on call tomorrow in case there are last minute things that need to be taken care of before Monday.

There have been inspirational sayings going around to keep everyone positive.  Sayings like

"Remember: TEAM, Together Everyone Achieves More!" 

and

 "Attitude is the difference between an ordeal and an adventure".  

We even have inspirational M&Ms.

Come Monday, it is indeed going to be a new adventure at work.  Hopefully the transition will continue to go smoothly.

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Someone told me the other day we have 4 months until Christmas.  I nearly went into panic mode.

So I have added a Christmas countdown to help keep me on track.

Christmas Countdown

Until next time...

Have a great weekend!

Sonia

Put me in the mind of...

I stepped outside this morning to cool air and was greeted with a good morning song by frogs, birds, and crickets.  There was a light fog this morning and as I topped a hill that overlooks a valley, the fog was like gossamer fabric draped over the meadows and trees below.  The sun was just coming up and the sunbeams that broke through the fog made the dew on the grasses glisten.  It was truly a beautiful morning as I drove to work.  The cooler temperature put me in the frame of mind for Autumn, my favorite season of the year.

 Hugs,
Sonia

Confectioners Bliss

At work we are going through a conversion and needless to say there is a lot of tension and stress in the air.

The mother of one of the ladies I work with knew things were getting stressful and decided to cook up a batch of peanut butter fudge for us.  I believe she is of the society who knows "stressed spelled backwards is desserts".  The fudge was delicious and it did make that moment in time, when you savor the rich peanut butter taste, less stressful.

Here's the recipe.

Peanut Butter Fudge

3 cups sugar

1 1/2 cup milk

2 heaping tablespoons peanut butter (your choice of chunky or smooth)

1 stick of butter

1 teaspoon vanilla

Mix the sugar, milk and peanut butter together in a pan and cook to the soft ball stage and remove from heat.  Then add the stick of butter and vanilla.

Mix with an electric mixer until it loses its shine and starts to thicken up.  As soon as it starts thickening up, pour out onto a buttered plate or pan.  Let it cool down completely and then cut into pieces.

It's the little things that happen, to let you forget if only for a moment that it's really not that bad, that make all the difference.  The peanut butter fudge didn't take the stress away, but it sure did make it taste a little sweeter.

Thanks to the kind lady who took time our of her daily schedule to bring us a moment of confectioners bliss.

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GOOD NEWS

The last blog, or the one before it, I mentioned a medical test that came back abnormal.  I went back to the doctor, a biopsy was sent off, but the good news is it came back benign. 

Thanks to everyone who kept me in prayer.  I believe it is the power of prayers being answered for my good test result.

Until next time...

Hugs,

Sonia



like sparkling crystals

Yesterday afternoon I laid down for a nap.  As I closed my eyes I could see the sunlight from the window through my eyelids.  I decided to try to relax and knew that I would soon fall asleep and the light would fade.
Just at the point of dropping off to sleep, the room got dark and the fan stopped running.  A storm blew in and we lost electricity.  I knew without the "white" noise of the fan, I would not be able to sleep.  So I got up and went to the living room.

My husband and I opened a couple of windows across from each other to let air flow through the house. Then I sat down on the couch and closed my eyes.  I began to listen to the sound of the falling rain.  Hearing rain fall and the sound of thunder rolling in the distance has always been soothing to me.

 There's something melodic about it and it speaks to my soul.  It's music from the Almighty Creator.

Even the birds were singing their praises as the rain fell.

 The wind blew and the small wind chime I have hanging out front sang out until the wind tangled it up.

After the rain stopped I went out took pictures of some of the plants.  In the sunlight the raindrops looked like sparking crystals on the plants.  My pictures didn't capture the sparkle but I think they turned out pretty anyway.

It turned out to be a pretty afternoon.  It has been so muggy of late and the rain cooled the day down.

I stepped out in the early evening hours and took this picture of the moon.  

I know a few young ladies who are very close to or past their due dates and I've heard the old wives tale about a full moon putting a woman into labor.  I know at this point each one is ready to have her precious baby.  

I looked back and saw that my son was born during a new moon phase and my daughter was born in during the last quarter phase.  So as to the old wives tale, I say if the baby is ready to be born during a full moon phase then he/she will be.   I got to thinking about old wives tales and realized they have been around for a very long time.  The Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Timothy 4:7 "But refuse profane and old wives' fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness."

So I will pray for these young ladies and their babies to have a safe delivery in their due time.  If you know a young lady who is ready to deliver, please lift her and her baby up in prayer.

Here's wishing you a wonderful week!

Hugs,

Sonia

Remember these?

I saw these throw backs at a flea market on my lunch break today.  :)

Always there...

There are times when I need to spend a few hours alone... Just me and God.  Today was one of those days.  When I have that kind of day, if I'm staying home, I wait until everyone leaves the house.  I remove all distractions, books, projects, phone, t.v., radio - anything that might distract me from my quiet time with God.   This time alone is more than my daily time I spend, this time is for deeper communication, healing and restoring of spirit.

This past Thursday I found out a test, that was run at my previous doctor's appointment, came back abnormal and I am scheduled to go back this week for a talk with my doctor and have another examination.  You can imagine, the worst scenario goes through your mind when you receive a call like that and it did.  I prayed and asked God to give me peace and He has.  I have been able to sleep with out it weighing on my mind, but deep down it was still there. So, I knew I had to do something today... spend some time alone with my Heavenly Father.

In times like these I am often drawn to the book of Psalms. Today's scriptures that helped me and answered some questions, were as follows.

Psalm 33: 18-22  Who can help me?

Psalm 138:7-8  Who is there when I walk through troubled times?

Then I came upon scriptures that have helped me in the past.

Psalm 116:1-2 Who hears me when I cry?

Psalm 118:24 Who is in control of the day?

Psalm 103:1-4 lest I forget all His benefits.

At the end of my time alone with the Lord, I am ready to face what ever comes my way this week.

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Remember in my last blog I mentioned a magnetic board I was making out of an old baking pan?  Well here it is finished and hanging up in my sewing room.

This week there were some new blooms in the flower pots.

Moss Rose

Angle Wing Begonia loaded down

Coleus bloomed - didn't know they would.

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Some of our dishcloths need replaced, so I crocheted a couple last night.   I plan to do a few more.  

I like the smaller one the best and plan to make more of that size.  The way the smaller one is crocheted gives it ridges to help with the cleaning.

So through times of trial, times of productivity and times of enjoying the beauty of God creations remember HE is always there, you are never alone. 

Have a great week!

Hugs, 

Sonia