"Welcome Home"

-A yellow rose symbolizes friendship, happiness, and warmth-

This week my "Heart & Keeper of the Home" mentor group planted a rose bush in honor of my Mom. We have done this for a couple of years now in our group. After the passing of someone dear to us instead of sending perhaps 12 bouquets of flowers, that would soon be gone, we decided to plant a rose bush from all of us, something that would last. On one such occasion I was searching the rows and rows of rose bushes at my favorite nursery in town, a little overwhelmed with the choices when I came across this beautiful yellow rose named "Welcome Home", I knew I had found just the one for our group gift, as we are comforted knowing our loved ones are welcomed into Heaven, their eternal home - healed, whole, and complete! Now with the passing of my Mom this last June a rose bush was being picked out for me...
I was reading up on this particular rose after my dear friends planted it and read, "it is a rose that radiates warmth like a light in a window." I loved that. It reminded me of each girlfriend surrounding me in the picture, each one of them have brought me warmth from their love and support and have been light in the dark days of my grieving.

I picked this spot in the yard for them to plant the rose bush, because when I sit in the living room to read my bible and do my devotions this is what I look out on. Thank you!

"You are the light of the world.
A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket,
but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all that are in the house.
Let your light so shine..."
Matthew 5:14-16

Storm Warning

Never make a permanent decision in a temporary storm.
No matter how the storm may rage today remind
yourself that this too shall pass.

"Be still, and know that I am God."
Psalm 46:10

Watch For His Leading

Waiting is

much more
difficult than walking.
Waiting requires patience,

and patience is a rare virtue...
But God has a purpose in all His "holdups".

Watch for His leading!

"The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord." Psalm 37:23




from Streams in The Desert

Set The World On Fire

"We have shared together
the blessings of God."
Philippians 1:7



This is one of my favorite pictures of our girls,
taken at Heritage House in Riverside.
What a day it was getting us all together. Some of the aprons we're ones we'd sewn in our group, a few were borrowed or part of our collections, others were treasures passed down from one generation to the next.
All have a story to tell for sure!

As our girls are setting their world's on fire for the Lord in their places of work or school, homes, dorms or apartments - all are in places of ministry.
As I think of our girls and you I am listening to Britt Nicole's "Say It" cd.
The song I return to over and over again is "Set The World On Fire". So often I'm certain He is calling me to big and bold things (and sometimes that is the case) yet lately the Lord seems to be bringing me back again and again to do the small and simple where it quietly gets done, and I am content with that when I remember that that is where He has lead me.

from the song -

"I, I am small but
You, You are big enough
I, I am weak but
You, You are strong enough to
take my dreams
come and give them wings
Lord, with You
there's nothing I cannot do."

What's He calling you to today?

What A Crisis Reveals

"Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith?"
Matthew 8:26

"When we are in fear we can do nothing less than pray to God, but the Lord has a right to expect that those who come in His Name should have an understanding confidence in Him. God expects His children to be so confident in Him that in any crisis they are the reliable ones. Our trust is in God up to a certain point, then we go back to the elementary panic prayers of those who do not know God. We get to our wits' end, showing that we have not the slightest confidence in Him or His government of the world; He seems to be asleep, and we see nothing but breakers ahead.

"O ye of little faith!" What a pang must have shot through the disciples - "Missed it again!" And what a pang will go through us when we suddenly realize that we would produce downright joy in the heart of Jesus by remaining absolutely confident in Him, no matter what was ahead.

There are stages in life when there is no storm, no crisis, when we do our human best; it is when the crisis arises that we instantly reveal upon whom we rely. If we have been learning to worship God and to trust in Him, the crisis will reveal that we will go to the breaking point and not break in our confidence in Him..."

My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers (August 12 reading)

He is a place of refuge. He can be trusted and relied on. Praying He strengthens you to be the reliable one to your family and friends.

Parting Song of Hope & Comfort

The Heart & Keeper Group visited Montana and were the guests of the Burnt Fork Ranch two years ago this coming fall. Not far from our bunkhouse was this sign that we followed to a most charming chapel in the woods. A place that would become our favorite as we sought the Lord and spent much quiet time there. It became such a place of refuge and comfort as He always desires to meet with us whenever we seek Him.

I did say charming!

A peaceful place we all eagerly journeyed to,
as we could sit at His feet and drink in His promises.

Above the foyer was a wonderful church bell,
we did not ring it until our last visit to the chapel the day we flew home.

Each one of us pulled on the rope that hung down from the bell tower as we exited,
letting its ring be our parting song.

The Lord had surely filled our cups to overflowing.
Notice the lettering on the bottom of our shoes -
MOMtana
as this trip was affectionately dubbed!

More Beach Days Ahead

Summer Retreat at Newport Beach in 2010

"O Lord, how manifold are Your works!
In wisdom You have made them all.
The earth is full of Your possessions-
this great and wide sea,
in which are innumerable teeming things,
living things both small and great."
Psalm 104:24-25

The Heart & Keeper of The Home
"The Silver Suitcase Society"
August 20, 2011
Linda & Kari are hosting down at their place in Newport Beach!
Kari is preparing a Home Interior Presentation!!
More details to come!!!

___________________________________________________________________

Keep your swimsuit in shipshape year to year with these simple tips:

1. If you've been in the pool or ocean, soak your swimsuit in cold water for 15 minutes before washing it in the gentle cycle or by hand.
2. Never put your suit in the dryer. Instead, roll it in a towel to soak up the excess water-wringing it out can stretch and pull-then, let air dry in the sun.
3. Before storing away after the summer, throw your suits in the washer one final time to remove any chlorine or salt water that might be lingering.

From author Linda Cobb.

T-shirt Dress at the Bradley's!

Getting together in July for
The Heart & Keeper of the Home "Silver Suitcase Society"
was a delightful gathering at Lyn and Amber's home!

Sweet and precious Mom's and daughters.

Katy and Kari

Kayla, Amber, Chelsea, and Melony

Linda, Lyn, and T.J. (What's that in Lyn's hand?)

Christy, Teresa, Myself and Chrissy

Chrissy and Ruth

Katy and Amber with my sister Harriet and my twin sister Lorna.
It was a delight to have them join us!

Yummmm. Strawberry Shortcake!

T.J. and Chelsea

Ruth and Katie

Melony, Kari, Amber, Katy, Chelsea, and Katie.
Katy's in her finished dress, more pic's to come of finished dresses!

Post Card Pillow

Soothing, calm, lavender

Post Card Pillows

This little treasure caught my eye at Patina's here in Riverside.

If you look closely you'll see it has been stamped to look like a postcard, adorable!

I thought you'd like to make one...

"For we are to God the fragrance of Christ..." II Corinthians 2:15

You can make this for any season or occasion by changing the fabric and filling,
for Christmas pick holiday material and fill with cinnamon and cloves.

Instead of stamping perhaps you'd like to personalize one by
hand writing a thank you or sentiment to a friend,
even better a handwritten bible verse!

Perhaps you college girls would like to make one for the girls
you are going to share a dorm room or apartment with!

For a bridal shower you could write out the wedding date
and the bride and groom's new married name.

For a baby shower you could write the birth date
and the meaning of the new arrivals name.

You can fill your pillow with bath salts and scented oils

or lavender.

Pick out your favorite stamps

Tie it all up and your done!

Now for the step-by-step:

First I must explain this sweet group of friends who are a part of my demo. Once a month for the last several years I have gone to quilt night at the home of our friends Gary & Lynn. What's nice is our husbands come along they love to play board games and catch up in the other room (but not too far from the kitchen where all the handmade and baked goodies are.) Well we may live in a big city and go to a big church but this group is like a small church where everyone knows your name and everyone cares about you and we pray for each other and share our hearts around the table as we work on first one project and then another. Tonight we made the Post Card Pillow.

The first step is cutting a piece of material 7" for the width and 8" for the height.
(Tip: Keep in mind if the print of the material is too busy
you won't be able to see the stamping as well.)
Stamp the bottom 4" of the material.

Turn your material right sides together and sew a 1/4" seam.
Turn right side out then machine stitch or hand stitch one end of your pillow.

Fill your pillow up 3/4 full, (you can fold a piece of paper into a cone to help get the lavender or bath salts into you pillow, if you like.) Stitch up your last open side.

Kathy (l) & Sue (r) decided to hand stitch their pillows.
All these ladies are dear friends but Kathy especially
as her wonderful daughter is married to our son, Andy!

Judy used a decorative stitch on her machine to sew her pillow up,
a zig-zag stitch looks great also.
(Tip: where any sewing has been done you can use a glue gun if you prefer.)
Lastly tie it up with a pretty ribbon in the center,
and a suggestion Lynn made, you can even tie or pin a charm or button in the center
of the ribbon, how cute that would be!

A finished project!

front row: Sue, Emma, Sami Back row: Me, Shirley, Judy, Kathy, Lynn, and Renee

Girl Talk

You're Invited to Girl Talk tonight at Harvest!!
Meeting each Thursday night for the month of July ONLY!
7pm to 9:30pm

I attended yesterday at Harvest's Orange County Campus and was so blessed and encouraged by the morning event I wanted to make sure you knew about it. The first half an hour was such fun with home and party examples, patio chandelier and ceiling draping for a festive summer (or any season) look. Coffee filter and burlap flowers, a personalized burlap banner, chalkboard food markers and much much more! That was rounded out with book reviews and book give aways! Then we settled in to the meat of the morning, the guest speaker was (and is tonight) Catherine Martin whose teaching and sharing brought me such a picture of where I want my heart to be this summer and it begins with my QUIET TIME! That is what Catherine shared on, I think you will be blessed and encouraged, hope you can make it!

From Catherine:

The P.R.A.Y.E.R. Quiet Time Plan

Prepare Your Heart
Read and Study God's Word
Adore God in Prayer
Yield Yourself to God
Enjoy His Presence
Rest in His Love

"Draw near to God and He will draw near to you." James 4:8

P.S. The picture above, I had to post. It is a happy and festive plate that Pam brought over some goodies on and I love it! Well you know OUR group and their history with plates, I might have to keep this one for awhile! The plate reads:

Creating harmony through common bonds
Connecting with small acts of kindness
Laughing together
Sharing

P.S.S. There was an actual plate sighting (Yes, OUR plate) this weekend at Janie's!! Wayne is on high alert for not disposing of the you-know-what in the you-know-where. In Wayne's defense at least this plate is bigger and heavier, and glass! It certainly couldn't be mistaken for a mere toss out!! (I hope!)

Gestures of love...

"Grace is God's love touching you..."

Thanks to all of you who brought meals over, they were wonderful! I will be sharing some great recipes with you from those meals, like Linda J.'s Carmel Coffeecake that is a family recipe from her Grandma (Yummmm) and a delicious bbq turkey meatloaf!!!! Also a main dish from Pam that was Chicken n Sausage Spaghetti with vegetables that made us want more!!

I love the plates in the above picture!! Sandi brought her famous brownies and we had to clear them out so you could see the saying on the plate, just trying to help!

God's love has touched our family in so many ways this last month through all of you.
Thank you for your kindnesses, prayers, gestures of love, wonderful meals, flowers and much much more.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort."
II Corinthians 1:3 NIV