super hero cuteness

"Gram, the Spider Man costume still fits," says Gus.

Wishful thinking Gus.

(but I didn't tell him)

"As long as you can squeeze into it, it is all yours," says Gram.

I found these pictures from back in May.

Too cute not to share.

Walt is a combination of Bat Man and Super Man.

"But Gram, we don't have a Spider Man mask."

"Why don't we make one I say,

we will need red construction paper, some string, and a marker,

Gather in the kitchen and we'll make it there."

It was my idea to choose white chalk to accentuate the eyes.

Gus thought it turned out perfectly perfect.

Big brother Archie joins in the fun.

And later Spiderman just wants to take off his mask and watch a show.

Walt has shed all of his super hero garb and is back to the basics.

Childhood is brief and fleeting.

Plenty of time to play and pretend,

and then it is gone.

So glad I have these blessings from the Lord.

And they were gathered to us from around the world.

all & everything

"I didn't know it then,

 this truth that sinks deep into my bones now ~

It is not our productiveness "for" God that counts,

it is our worship, 

our time at His feet.

It isn't our public life,

the accolades and the "well dones,"

the applause of the world that matters.

It is our silent, continuous reach for Him in the places where no one is watching.

It isn't our "world changing" that makes any difference,

it is the way we let Him change and shape our hearts to be more like His.

The only thing that matters is Him.

Not what we "do" for Him,

But that we know Him and His precious Son Jesus Christ."

Katie Davis Majors from her blog ~

Ten years ago she started Amazina Ministries in Uganda.

This quote completely blew me away.

I have lived seventy-one years to finally see the absolute truth in what is said.

Anything we do for God is of His making and design and He will bring it to pass.

Anything else is "wood, hay, and stubble.

To sit at His feet and to hear His word.

That is all and everything.

c

churches & roses & blue rubber gloves

So...

No church until 4:00 today.

A group is using the camp at Wesley Gardens this morning. 

We got bumped until this afternoon.

That's a good thing.

Nice to shake things up a little.

Feel like a fish out of water being home on a Sunday morning!

Why don't you come join us?

We are having dinner together after the service in the big house.

Great time of fellowship!

Okay...a flower saga.

Bubba saw a blurb on the internet,

where else,

that explained how to grow beautiful long stem red roses in your own backyard.

I went back to Whole Foods and bought another dozen roses.

Here they are...

This is where it gets a little sketchy...

You buy twelve ordinary yellow potatoes.

While arranging the roses, cut off as much of the stem as you desire.

Using a drill with a bit,

make a hole in the potato.

Insert one inch of the rose stem into the hole in the potato.

(wear blue rubber gloves) 😯

this last step is optional.

Plant the potatoes with the rose stems inserted into some rich black dirt.

Cover the potatoes completely.

Keep in a partly sunny spot.

Keep moist.

Keep hoping that in about three months

 I will have my own long stem roses growing in my own backyard.

What do you think are the chances this will work?

I'll keep you posted.

🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹🌹

🤞

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Will talk to them daily.

Hope the animals don't come and eat the potatoes.

out & about

This morning I went to run some errands.

All of us have to do that every now and then you know.

My first stop was Barnes and Noble.

I am so thrilled...

was able to get a hardback book I've been so excited to read for 50% off.

I always wait for the paperbacks to come out.

It takes a while.

So excited about this...

My love affair with World War II historical fiction continues unabated!

Such an intriguing period.

Couldn't come home without a big bouquet of gorgeous roses 

and some deliciously scented soap.

Life is sweet this afternoon!

If you haven't read my previous post please do.

It tells the amazing story of God's salvation...

what He has done for us!

So much, hard to take it all in.

May I suggest meditating on the truths contained in those few short paragraphs.

I can't stop talking about Jesus.

God's way of salvation

"God devised and planned a way of delivering us.

He made the way of salvation Himself.

Man did not ask for it,

man did not want it,

man did not know what he needed,

man was not consulted,

he has not put in a single suggestion.

Salvation is entirely of God from beginning to end.

Hence,'by grace you have been saved,' and nothing less.

What a display of the being and character of God!

And then the wonder that He has done to us what He has done,

that He should have made of us what He has made,

that we are already quickened,

that He has put a principle of spiritual life into us who were utterly, absolutely, hopelessly dead.

He has put new life into us, His own life; He has raised us up together with Christ, we are alive to Him,

we have the new interests and the new outlook,

we are seated in the heavenly places.

He has done all this to us already.

And, when we are finally there in glory,

when we finally leave this earth and go home to be with our Lord,

we shall be absolutely perfect, without spot or even a wrinkle or any such thing.

And He will have done this for us.

He will have made us ready even while we were still on this earth."

God's Way of Reconciliation

Ephesians 2

Martyn Lloyd Jones

Oh what high and lofty doctrine this is!.

My mind can scarcely take it in.

Lord, when things on this earth get hard and scary

help me to meditate on these things and take comfort.

It is all You my God,

You have done this for us.

May Your name be glorified and exalted!

❤️

the life of a reader

These nine vignettes describe me perfectly.

There is nothing better than reading a good book.

The one in the middle is especially true.

A feeling of great sadness descends upon me when a good book ends.

I want more!

I want the story to go on and on.

I have 3 different books going right now.

My book stack of "books to be read" is in the bottom drawer of my nightstand by my bed.

The running list of books I want to read is always in my purse.

Nothing makes me happier than knowing I have a good book to fall asleep with.

I am rereading a chapter in a book right now because it was so beautifully written.

Yes, when I see Gone With The Wind I am transported back to my youth,

I keep all of the books I love.

If anything ever happens where I can't buy books anymore,

I have a whole library in the attic.

Somehow this is very comforting to me.

And, lastly,

there is nothing better than going into a bookstore.

I take a deep breath.

get a huge smile on my face,

and dig in.

One never knows what treasure she will find.

I'll be at Barnes & Noble on Thursday.

They're having a 50% off sale.

🙂

Books!

One of life's great joys!

📚

these roses...

...were so beautiful.

They lasted a week,

they opened up fully,

they filled the room with their intoxicating scent.

I bought them at Whole Foods.

When I saw these I couldn't resist.

The color was not quite red, more on the pink side,

so rich and extraordinary.

Their packaging said they came from Ecuador.

Flowers always point me to God.

Only the Creator of the universe could devise a bloom like these.

And He gave them to us for our pleasure...

for us to enjoy.

The perfect gift to give,

a way to lift ones spirits,

to show love,

to bless another.

It is raining.

What is better than an afternoon nap on a rainy afternoon?

God waters the earth

which makes everything grow.

From our food to the grass, trees, and flowers,

they all depend on the moisture that God sends down to the earth.

Without His provision our land would be parched and dry, uninhabitable.

Thank you Dear Father in heaven for all of the ways You bless us.

Everything we have comes from You through Your son Jesus Christ.

Even the air the we breathe comes from you.

I praise You and thank You!

❤️

just booked...

...our fall beach getaway.

Bubba knows how much I love to live right smack in front of the ocean.

We are waiting until it cools off a bit.

So there will be...

walks on the beach,

sleeping with the windows open to hear the waves crashing on the shore,

reading on the deck,

Nothing to do but relax and rejoice in the beauty of it all.

Cannot wait!

💙

dog days

There is nothing better on a hot August day

 than floating around in the condo pool

 with a couple of your grandkiddos.

The sun was scorching hot but

the water was cool and refreshing.

We kept Lucy and Walt for a few days last week

 so that Erika and David could take a little getaway.

The other 3 boys went to stay at a friend's house.

We packed our time with lots of fun.

Lu and I went to see Toy Story 4.

We loved it!

So well done!

On Wednesday evening Granddaddy took us out to eat at

Pearl's Saltwater Grill.

What a treat!

Probably my all time favorite restaurant in Savannah.

The hushpuppies smothered in honey butter are divine.

We left there with huge smiles on our faces.

Saturday we had a brunch at David and Erika's house to honor Archie.

We have now officially had him longer than he was in the orphanage in China.

He invited some friends and picked the menu...

The breakfast casserole we have on Christmas morning,

Fresh sliced fruit,

Blueberry muffins made by Lucy,

and a big box of doughnuts from Baker's Pride.

Needless to say, a great time was had by all participants.

School starts tomorrow for these kids and Eli too.

Jake has another week before he goes back.

It has been a wonderful, exciting, carefree summer but,

all good things must come to an end.

Time to stuff their little heads with lots of knowledge

and the good times which being in school bring.

May God bless and keep every single one of you in

His perfect plan.

Gram

happy birthday erika

Erika and I agreed...

these birthdays role around very quickly.

Seems as if we are always celebrating somebody's big day.

It is really hard getting everyone looking 👀 in the same direction.

This one was the best.

She got some amazing gifts.

Lucy made this quilt.

She got each of her brothers to sign a square with their personal touch.

Lots of hard work.

I love that she puts her sewing machine  to such good use.

A very sweet Archie hug.

Nothing like the love of your children.

Granddaddy and I gifted her with a shower of luxurious towels.

We had talked about how all of our linens need to be replaced periodically

but no one wants to actually go out and buy them.

Sadly, they become dingy and threadbare.

That's what's in the beautifully wrapped package,

(I love to wrap presents)

🎁

"And her children rise up and call her blessed."

Proverbs 31: 28

❤️

Erika's favorite dessert that I make is 

The Atlantic Beach Pie.

To many more birthdays sweet wife of my son.

Love,

Grammy

the play part of my trip...

I went to Florida to work.

But, of course, I played some too.

I have two very creative, funny grandsons that make me laugh out loud

several times a day which is just what I need.

Jake and Eli manage to put up with this old lady they call Grammy quite well.

On our late summer evening trips to the Dairy Queen,

(Granddaddy surprised us with a DQ gift card)

the excitement and hilarity was over the top.

We would get our treats and then ride over to Singer Island to the beach.

These times were "laugh till you cry" moments.

By the way,

I am still drinking vanilla milk shakes quite frequently...

The only thing that goes down through my sad mouth smoothly without causing any pain.

Early in my stay at the Hollingsworth house,

the air conditioning went completely out.

Never a good thing in late July in South Florida.

(Or anywhere else for that matter)

Because of the heat our work was put on hold.

So,

we went to the movie theater where it was nice and cool.

We decided to see The Lion King because it was on the boy's bucket list.

I sat through the whole movie thinking that the animals were real.

They looked so life-like, but they were actually computer generated.

Of course this caused this outburst from my daughter and her sons...

"We cannot believe that anybody could be that dumb."

Of course this made for more laughter, shaking of heads, and looks of

"Is this woman for real?"

This picture was before I made a fool of myself.

😜

The wonderful AC guy finally came later that evening. We welcomed him as it he were Santa Claus coming with a big bag of gifts.

amanda & me

I just got back from spending a week with Amanda.

She invited me to come down to help her organize and get ready for school.

Jake and Eli have one more week before

"Back to School."

We tackled their play room and made it shine.

(more on that and more in my next blog.)

We had a great time.

Lots of work and just enough play.

My memory bank in my head is overflowing with the good times.

Lots of laughter and fun!

I am a blessed Mom and Grammy.

❤️