What a Card!

I love this picture of my sister, Jo.  She cracks me up!  She was working hard when she looked up at me over her glasses!

Every year for as long as I can remember I have received a card in the mail from JoEllen on my Birthday.  When I got married, Wally started getting one too.  When we had kids, they all began to get cards also.  Multiply this by the six siblings in my family…and all their spouses…and all their kids!  Whew, that’s a lot of cards.  But guess what?  Jo’s nieces and nephews grew up, got married and started having babies!  So the cards multiplied to another generation!  Do you know who accomplishes this feat each year?  My Mom. And she has done it for years!  She collects the cards and has Jo sign them when she is at home, addresses the envelopes and sends them back to Shepherd’s with Jo.  If Mom doesn't get it done by the time Jo leaves from her Christmas visit, Jo kind of nags her until she sends them in the mail.  It’s true, Jo can be a little naggy!  And I’m pretty sure she hounds her poor housemother at the beginning of each month to get the cards in the mail on time.  She looks at the calendar, and she can recognize the names and she really knows when the Birthdays are coming!

This year I thought I would help my Mom out. So for Christmas I was going to make a card box for JoEllen and put a few cards into it for her.  Then I thought I would have her over one day and we could make up a few more.   But, on one of my trips to Sam’s Club I saw a pretty cute card box for only $8.00…and it had a lot of cards inside.  So I bought that instead.  I am so glad I did too!!  On the day Jo came over to make cards, I was a bit flabbergasted to look at the list…43 Birthday Cards!  Who are all these people?  A good chunk of the Birthdays I did not even have written down anywhere.  Not to mention Anniversaries…I asked Mom if she sends out Anniversary cards too?  “No,” she replied, “we dropped those a few years ago!” I guess I do not think of all my family as much as I thought I did!  And I’m pretty sure there are a lot of family members that probably do not send Jo a card on her Birthday!

So here is Jo working on some of her cards…

She liked using the Sizzix to cut and emboss.

Here’s a few favorite cards.  I tried to be sure Jo’s brothers and sisters had a handmade card.  Many other family members did as well, but I did use my Cricut to mass produce a few! 

In addition to making the cards, Jo signed them.  That was a lot of work for her!  I hope this doesn’t spoil it for you Robin, but I thought it was so precious, I took a picture! 

The card box all loaded and organized!  And one tired but satisfied card maker!

 I know there have been lots of times I have taken Jo’s card for granted when it arrives.  I have often thought, “It’s just a card.”  Now I know the work that is behind getting that card in the mail.  If ever a card is sent with thoughtfulness, it is from Jo…she truly is thinking of me! 

Thankful Thursday

A week ago today Wally and Kenny left Denver about 7:00 pm and drove forty hours to arrive in Pembroke, FL on Sunday evening.  How thankful I am for their safety on the road and a smooth move for Kenny and Becky.  I am thankful for family and friends who have blessed their lives.  I am thankful for this new ministry and home for Kenny and Becky.  And my heart is full of praise and thanksgiving to God, Who leads every step of the way!

Kenny flew into Denver last Wednesday.  We headed out to our house after work where Kenny collected his childhood treasures and some furniture we were passing to him.  Then we met up with Wesley at his part time job (Chikfila) and had supper!  Loved seeing my boys together again!

Thursday Wally still had to work so Kenny did some errands and they finished getting ready for the long haul.

 
Grandma and Grandpa came by to see Kenny off. How thankful I am for their love and support of their grandkids, and their godly influence on all our lives.

Then Wally and Kenny hit the road…hard!  They arrived in Muskogee in time to have breakfast with Wally’s Mom.  Though the boys did not take a picture of Kenny and Grams, I am again reminded of the love of family and especially the care and prayers of grandparents.  The guys got a shower and were back on the road by 9:30.  They arrived in the mountains of Newland, NC at 1:30 am!  They ran into thick fog and freezing rain.  In the morning there was 2” inches of snow on the ground.  I’m so very thankful for their safety. 

They slept until 9:00 am and then friends arrived to help load all of Kenny and Becky’s worldly possessions into a 16’ truck.  From the many moves Wally and I made, I always remember feeling a bit humbled by the fact that all that I found of value in this world could fit inside a pile of cardboard boxes!  The packing and clean up was completed and about 5:00 they drove off the mountain to Becky’s parent’s in Spindale, NC.  Dinner and a full night of sleep followed…well, sort of.  At 5:30 in the morning they were on the road again! 

By 5:30 that evening, the caravan arrived in Pembroke Pines, FL.  It is about halfway between Miami and Ft. Lauderdale.  Wally and Kenny unloaded the motorcycle and some large things in the back of the truck.  Then the new church family descended and the truck was unloaded in fifteen minutes!  And the new family also stocked the pantry and fridge for Kenny and Becky.  What a blessing!

So, the trip was fast and furious and covered with God’s many blessings!  One of which brought Wally back home to me, safe and sound!

The Denver Tea Room

My Mom, sisters and I tried a new spot for our Christmas tea this year.  It is The Denver Tea Room in downtown and they are housed in the Holiday Chalet Bed and Breakfast.  It was fun going somewhere new and even better because we were not disappointed.  We were in a room to ourselves and had a great time.  To begin with they bring out a “sniffing” tray of all their teas…you can take a little sniff and see what you might like.  We each had a pot that they kept refilled and hot!  I chose a tea called black currant and it was so-o good.  Jo chose vanilla cinnamon and it was a close second on how good it was.  My Mom had a chocolate mint and Robin went with peach!  The food was delish also…we had lemon curd for our scones and I had not had that in awhile!  Yummy!

Here’s Jo having a “sniff”~

Here we are, Robin, JoEllen, Sherry and Mom~

Jo, working those ornery sugar thongs~

Our time together was truly a gift.  The Christmas stuff behind us and the New Year before us…we were just relaxed and unhurried.  It was an encouraging time of just sharing where we were struggling and some spiritual desires and goals we had. 

The B&B had a little vintage boutique and we enjoyed trying on the jewelry and hats…feathers seemed to be the thing in hats and even a bird’s nest or two!  so, “Sister’s of a feather, flock together!”

How to Fix the Perfect Cup of Tea

When my girls were here over Christmas, we went to Mrs. B’s Tea house in Littleton for Tea.  Andrea and I have had tea together many times.  This was Becky’s first time.

Elaine had her first tea when she came to Colorado as a new born. It was a Christmas Tea with my Mom, sisters, Andrea and I.  She mostly slept through that.  When she was about four months old, I visited Andrea and Elaine in Virginia Beach we went for tea at a very nice English tea room.  She was a little more awake at this tea and very much interested.

Since then Elaine has been practicing her tea skills by sipping tea with Mommy and having many bathtub tea parties with Nolan. So she was all set for our tea party at Mrs. B’s.  She knew just how to make the perfect cup of tea…

First, help Mommy pour out…

Carefully add cream, if you like

Sugar, one lump or two?  Perhaps three?

Carefully stir

Then, enjoy

A sweet goes nicely with tea

And when the tea is all gone, just be as cute as you can be!

The New Year

Happy and Blessed 2013 to you!  Whether you are ready or not, it is here!  Usually, I am not.  But I have actually been thinking already on the fresh start to the new year and things I want/must change.  What is it about changing the page in the calendar that makes me a little more energized to do this, I do not know!  As you are perhaps planning to give 2013 a makeover from 2012, I hope you have considered your spiritual life as well.  I used to have a Pastor who challenged us each year and encouraged us to be in God’s Word each day.  One year he gave us a planning sheet to fill out that incorporated all areas of life and I still look at that.  I truly miss his admonition to be in God’s Word each day, and yes, even to consider reading the Bible through in a year.  My sluggish heart needs accountability!

I did actually read through the entire Bible a couple of times and it was such a blessing!  I want to repeat it but I often feel defeated before I start since eight months of the year I am in Bible Study Fellowship and it is hard to do both in a meaningful way.  But this year I going to try again and I have a different plan to follow. 

Last fall I bought a daily devotional book called Sitting at the Feet of Jesus by Joanna Weaver.  I have read her book Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World and it is one of the most practical books on Christian living I have ever read. She has two other books, and I am in the middle of the one and hope to read the third this summer, Having a Mary Spirit, and Lazarus Awakening.  I gave Sitting at the Feet of Jesus to my daughters for Christmas this year.  In the back of the book is a Bible reading schedule for the year and the one I am going to use this year. This plan looks very doable. It is just a couple chapters a day, you rotate between the Old and New Testaments,  and read  in the Psalms and Proverbs  each day, which I love. If you are interested, Joanna Weaver has a Facebook page and a blog, Becoming His. She is going to journal her Bible reading this year on her blog. You can go here to download your own Bible reading schedule…you can customize it to start on any day or in any book of the Bible. So I hope you join me.

For Christmas this year Andrea gave each of us a Bible Reading Journal and I love it. It may have to be a yearly gift…hint, hint!  At the bottom of each page is a verse from Psalm 119.  In the back she added a Prayer Request section, a tracker for checking off each Book/chapter of the Bible and a Daily Reading Tracker, that just kind of gives you a visible accountability to how you are doing.  I know I am going to both use and enjoy this!

At the front of the devotional book is a prayer that I just love and want to make it my own.  I truly want to reach the end of 2013 a changed woman because I am in God’s presence each day!  Happy New Year!

Lord Jesus I give You my life.
I invite You to have Your way in me.
Take me and break me.  Shake me and make me.
Fill me and spill me.  Change me and rearrange me.
But whatever You do, Lord, don’t leave me the same.
Spirit of wisdom and revelation, I welcome Your work.
Open my eyes so I can see…my ears so I can hear…
I choose truth over comfort, challenge over complacency.
Lord, make me forever Yours.
And most of all, make me like You.
Amen

Thankful Thursday

I am very thankful for my family.  I am also thankful that this fall and this Christmas I was able to spend time with lots of family.

On our motorcycle trip in October, we spent a night with my brother and his family.  Marty is the founder/director of Whisper Mountain Christian Camp in Robbinsville, NC.  I have visited the camp before but this was the first time to be in their home.  My sister in law, Patti and niece Cassi made a delicious supper.  Then we stayed up until midnight chatting and visiting.  In the morning over breakfast we did the same thing. 

Shaun and Cassi also work in the camp ministry

I’m a Great Aunt to these great kids…Selah Rose, Kinsley, and Tegan

The weekend before Christmas we had a nice visit with Wally’s sister and her family.  Marlin is also a Christian camp director of Camp Grace in Wyoming.  They lost everything this summer in a fire and are in the process of watching God rebuild that ministry.

Nicole, Marlin, Leah and Michael

I’m also so thankful for my own family here in Colorado.  Here’s my two wonderful sisters, Robin and JoEllen.  Jo doesn’t look too happy here, but she really was.  We just didn’t capture it!

Here’s Sherry (Me), Robin, Jo, Scott and Mom and Dad!

I am especially thankful and grateful to have all of my own kids home for Christmas this year.  We’ve been having a great time together…I hope to show you some of that soon here on the blog!  All of them are in a transition time in their lives…ministry, home and job changes.  Who knows what 2013 will bring and where they all may find themselves.  So I find this time together especially precious.

Family ties are precious threads, no matter where we roam,
They draw us close to those we love, and pull our hearts toward home.

It’s Still Fall

So according to the calendar, it is not winter for two days yet.  Which means it is still fall.  Which means, I should not be too embarrassed to get these last pics up of our trip in October.  So set aside your Christmas spirit and take in a bit more fall foliage!

This first tree is called the Tree of Shame.  It’s branches bloom out in pieces of motorcycles!  It is is quite interesting.  I thought it was amusing too until I heard that actually several people every year lose their life on the Tail of the Dragon.

Our ride home took in more beautiful scenery and the Blue Ridge smoky Mountains.  Becky, being a southern gal got particularly excited at some of the vistas.  But this Rocky Mountain gal, was right there with her.  It was pretty amazing!

Beautiful Hillsides…

Big Waterfall…

And Little Bitty Waterfall…

Beautiful tree lined roads…that ‘s Kenny and Becky on the curve…

And then the Blue Ridge again as we headed back to Kenny’s house.

Is it any wonder why they call it the Blue Ridge or the Smoky Mountains?