Planning A Long Weekend

at the cabin!

I'll be going to enjoy some R&R at our mountain

retreat , planning on spending some quality time

with my husband and youngest son before

we head out for our Mission Trip next week.

My son Jason and his girlfriend will be joining

us and my sister and brother-in-law too!

We'll spend some time hiking the state forest,

head over the mountain to the Big Valley for

the farmers market.

While we're out that way I always stop at Dairyland Antiques

I love this giant cow out front!

Another stop for vinatge goodies,

and lots to see.

I will also try to get out to Lewisburg

a quaint town with lots of shops

and victorian homes.

and then I'll have to stop at Roller's Mills Antiques

three stories of all sorts of wonderful things!

I may not have time to write a new post before

leaving on our Mission Trip but I'll be sure

to post some photos when I get back.

Hope you are all enjoying your summer!

Is Your Glass Half Full or Half Empty?

'Change your perspective by changing the labels

used to identify your feelings, for instance,

anxious butterflies become eager anticipation.'

Approach your life as if everything is a blessing,

even difficult times can bring needed lessons

or opportunities. Instead of worrying, try prayer.

Instead of panicing over the unknown, embrace change.

Rather than allowing dread to fill your days,

offer yourself  to assist those in need.

A simple change in your perspective can

mean the difference between a bad day

and one filled with grace and love.

Teens Help Those Who Can't Afford Repairs

Just another quick look at what we'll be doing in ten days! My son Alex and I have been on five mission trips in five different states and can't wait to get to NH to begin serving!

Church Youth Group Work-Camp

In less than two weeks our church's Senior High Youth Group will embark on our yearly Mission Trip to serve those in need. This year I will travel with 54 young people and fellow leaders to Franklin NH to serve as Jesus has asked us to do... the kids work hard all year to raise funds, they give up a week of their vacation and pay their own way to paint houses, build decks and wheel chair ramps, whatever we are asked to do to help those who cannot help themselves. In doing so we also share our love of God and teach of His love by example. This is by far the highlight of our summer!

Spiritual Sundays

"There was once a king sitting on his throne...

It pleased the king to raise a small feather

from the ground and he commanded it to fly.

The feaher flew, not because of anything in itself

but because the air bore it along.

Thus am I, a feather on the breath of God."

Abbess Hildegard of Bingen

http://bloggerspirit.blogspot.com/

White Wednesday

I must admit to having a bit of a blogging

block lately. I find myself not sure what

I wish to post about or what I could share that

might be of any interest to anyone

other than myself...

(white petunias from my garden)

so today when I was visiting some

other blogs I came across a

'White Wednesday'

party over at Kathleen's

Faded Charm Cottage

http://fadedcharmcottage.blogspot.com/

I have enjoyed visiting Kathleen's blog

for some time and have always

loved all the 'white' images shared

by her participants but have never been

brave enough to jump in myself.

So today I was ecouraged by Jane at

Mamie Jane's

http://mamiejanes.blogspot.com/

and her beautiful photos to give it a try.

Hey, I've got nothing else to share so here goes...

(loosestrife that grows at my cabin)

(my white oleander trees)

( a snowy night at the cabin)

(the white sandy beaches from our vacation in Florida)

and

(a tall drink of water in a white cowboy hat)

please keep in mind that the following images

are from Country Living Magazine

and represent things that simply catch my eye.

a white vanity much like the one I had as a young girl

creamy white cotton thread

vintage white milk glass

old white stoneware

the cozy clean look of an all white decor

and one big comfy chair to sit in!

Hope you'll take a few moments

to visit all the other bloggers

over at White Wednesdays!

I've Been Missing In Action...

I can't believe it's been so long since my last post.

The end of the school year always gets crazy,

so many year end meetings, award ceremonies,

end of church activities for the kids are

just a few of the commitments filling my calendar.

Last Thursday my son Jason turned 30

(not sure how this happened since I barely feel 30 myself)

That meant, baking a cake, planning a get together

and having company to celebrate.

Then this young man, my youngest son Alex,

made his Momma quite proud by

earning his third Academic Letter Award in high school.

This meant  attending an award ceremony.

All wonderful reasons to celebrate...

but keeping me very busy!

Add to all of this year end book studies,

final meetings for High Schoolers at church,

etc, etc, etc...

So all of this brings me to a huge apology

for not posting and not visiting your blogs

as often as I like :(

I've been busy using my new

zoom lens, an anniversary gift from DH.

Our yard is full of birds nesting, enjoying

the feeders, bird baths and splashing in the pond.

My oleander trees are in full bloom!

They aren't winter hardy in this region

so I plant them in very large pots

and then winter them over indoors.

Some of my lupines,

and portulacas,

my yellow tea roses

and orange climbing roses...

all doing quite well right now.

I hope this little visit to my yard

makes up for my absence.

Now I'm off to visit all of you!

Have a marvelous day, whatever you choose to do :)