Hurray for the red, white and blue!

(Kim's 100 texture, overlay, 30% opacity)

It's the U.S.A.'s 238th birthday on Friday!

I thought I'd have a little patriotic photo shoot to celebrate.

(Kim's 0603 texture, soft light 10% opacity)

I had fun trying out some different textures.

 (Kim's 1412 texture, darken, 50% opacity)

The hubs and I are in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada for a little getaway.
We will be here for Canada Day on July 1st and enjoy the festivities and fireworks here,
then we will be back in the U.S.A. for the fourth of July for all of the festivities and fireworks there!

(texture-Kim's rainy day, soft light, 20% opacity)

I do believe red, white and blue are my favorite colors!

(texture-Kim's xanthe texture overlay, 20% opacity)

Whether you're celebrating in Canada this week or in the U.S.A. 

 I hope your holiday is fun, safe and blessed!

(no texture)

(Kim's evolve texture, darken, 80% opacity)

(texture-Kim's elevate-soft light 20% opacity)

still following,

texture-twist

Noticing the gifts and thanking the Giver...

It's not just about counting my blessings, like some sort of positive thinking.

It's noticing the gifts and thanking the Giver.

It's seeing Him and His character revealed in the blessings, in the beauty.

He is the giver of all good things because He is goodness Himself.

And so I notice, count and record His gifts and thank Him,

and fall a bit more in love with the Giver.

******************

Since 2009 I've been counting my blessings thanks to the prompting of Ann Voskamp.

 I continue to count my thanks

piling up gratitude day by day

in my little black journal.

(and capturing some of my blessings via my camera or iPhone)

#4805-#4834

6/23/14-

-homemade muffins and fresh cantaloupe

-a thrifted cup and saucer

-devotions by the river

-oldest granddaughter and oldest grandson skipping rocks in the river-

them deciding to get wet, clothes and all

-holding my youngest grandson

-eating a healthy dinner

-going on an evening run

-the hubs and I watching our favorite show together

6-24-14-

-my son-in-law's birthday

-watching the grandkids while my son-in-law and daughter went out

-making my son-in-law his birthday request-rhubarb crisp

-a new topical Bible

-walking at the fitness trail with my hubs

-cold, sweet, juicy watermelon

6-25-14-

-time to write

-a productive day

-making vacation plans

6-26-14-

-just sitting and holding my grandson for over an hour, and him bright eyed and awake

-a phone call from my brother

-prayer and worship with our church family

-staying up late and watching a movie with the hubs

6-27-14-

-a sweet "date day" with the hubs

-a bargain on some new tees to replace my old ones

6-28-14-

-getting everything on today's to-do list done

-juicy local raspberries for jam making

-texting with my girls 

-a helpful hubby

6-29-14-
-our church
-a fun bbq/potluck after morning worship
-heading out of town for a getaway with my hubs

gratefully yours,

I am not overwhelmed...

Naomi in the Biblical book of Ruth, told everyone to call her Mara, "bitter", after the death of her husband and two sons. I too have been tempted to label myself when life's storms have raged against me. "Overwhelmed" has been one of the labels I've been tempted to wear. Thank God, that He has been patiently, persistently teaching me to sift past the feelings of my emotions and the tumultuous thoughts of my own mind and to listen to the voice of His Spirit residing in my spirit.

Nothing can touch the stronghold within where He abides, where His Word reigns supreme, where emotions don't rule but Truth does. No trial, no storm, no principality or power, can separate me from the Lover of my soul or shake my King off His throne. The stormy seas may rage all around me, but in my spirit there is peace.  My Prince of Peace is in control, and all is well. 

still following,

Also happily linking up with the lovely Lisha Epperson.

Friday Faves...Breakfast Cookies!

I'm not fond of big breakfasts first thing in the morning.

Give me my coffee and let me savor that while I wake up first.

Then maybe I'll have a smoothie made with greek yogurt, fruit and flaxseed  

or some greek yogurt topped with a bit of homemade granola and fruit.

Healthy and easy are my usual preferences.

My daughter told me I should try the Breakfast Cookie recipe found in 

Shauna Niequist's fabulous book, Bread and Wine.

She makes them for her family and my granddaughters love them.

I finally made them, but as is my usual modus operandi, I tweaked the recipe.

Here's her recipe with what I did in parentheses.

Breakfast Cookies

In large bowl mix together:

3 large ripe mashed bananas

1/4 cup coconut oil (I used 1/4 cup peanut butter warmed in the microwave about 30 seconds)

1 teaspoon vanilla

Add and stir until combined:

2 cups rolled oats

2/3 cup almond meal

1/2 teaspoon sea salt (I used kosher salt)

1 teaspoon baking powder

2/3 cup shredded coconut

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/4 cup chocolate chips

Form the dough into 12 (1/4 cup sized) balls and place on parchment lined baking sheet.

Flatten the balls of dough a bit.

Bake 350 degrees for 14-16 minutes. 

(in my oven they took 18 minutes)

These are not too sweet, full of nutrition, and great with a cup of coffee.

Even the hubs, who loves his morning eggs and toast, gave these a thumbs up!

It's almost FRIDAY, friends!

Have a HAPPY, HAPPY Friday

and

a BLESSED weekend!

                  

Jennifer Rizzo's Fabulously Creative Friday

An unforgettable vacation moment revisited...

The summer after Mama died, my husband and I and my sister and her husband decided to use the money she left to us and visit Prince Edward Island, where she was born, and to spend some time in Maine, where she had grown up.  We had visited our family in Maine before, but had never been to Prince Edward Island to see the homestead there or the family members still living there.

Mama was a descendant of one of the first French families to settle in P.E.I.  Everywhere we drove on the beautiful island, with its soft rolling hills dotted with grazing sheep, we saw little markets, landmarks and streets labeled with Mama’s maiden name.  Popping into one of those markets, we told the owner about our Mama being born on the island and asked about her possible relationship to the owner of the little store.  Being a descendant of the family, we were immediately dubbed islanders and told that our part of the family was from the other end of the island.  Sure enough, he was right.

We had come to the island, never having met any of the relatives that still lived there.  Our older sister had visited there previously and had given us a name and phone number of a family member to contact.  After we checked into the little hotel on “our end” of the island, we phoned her and she and her husband gladly escorted us around the island.  We visited the little Acadian museum with all of the genealogical records of our family.  We visited the homestead that our great grandfather had built on the island, and saw the very bedroom where our mama had been born.  Mama’s cousins still live in the beautiful homestead with it’s view of the sea past the barn and fields.

The highlight of the trip for me was visiting Mama’s ninety something year old cousin and her husband.  They lived in a wee little home that was neat as a pin.  We were warmly welcomed inside and invited into the little kitchen where we gathered in a circle of chairs.  Mama’s cousin was still as sharp as a tack, in spite of her age, and clearly remembered Mama.  She excused herself for a moment, then came back and handed me an envelope.  Inside was a letter Mama had written to her, with a photo of Mama as a young teen.  On the back, in French, was written, “the one born on the island”.  Mama was the only one of the “Maine cousins" that had actually been born there one summer when our grandparents were in P.E.I. helping on the family farm.

There in that little kitchen, we learned that Mama’s cousin was married to THE fiddler of P.E.I.  He had quite a reputation and had even played for the Queen on one of her visits to the island.  We were so pleased when he got out his fiddle, and began to play for us.  Seated next to him, Mama’s cousin’s tiny feet "step danced" along to the tune he played.

Though not a word had been spoken about God or the Bible, I felt my eyes begin to tear up a bit, as I sensed the presence of God in that moment.  There was something holy about the welcoming acceptance as a part of the family, about being readily welcomed into their home, about the genuineness of the love and acceptance offered to us outsiders.  A beautiful joy filled that kitchen, and my heart, as the fiddle played on and ninety year old feet tapped along to the tune.

still following,

   

Also joining THOUGHT PROVOKING THURSDAYS 

at 3-D Lessons for Life

Also linking up to "Your Best Vacation Story" at The High Calling