Engagement Pictures~ A Leap of Faith

Laura and Josh...."at last"...having a little trouble getting the wedding pictures loaded...posting soon, I hope!

Gina Brown of "Captured by Grace" took this cool shot.


Happy Leap Year
Lezlee

East Texas Getaway

I had a four day weekend, because we hadn't used a snow day, and William had a day to burn before March, so we went on a little trip to Mineola, Texas.  I would recommend Pine Tree Bed and Breakfast the food was yummy and the atmosphere relaxing.  Here are some pics I snagged from the internet...it was mostly rainy when we were there, but still nice to sit on the porch.  The lake is not part of the B and B, but you get a perfect view of it to enjoy,  with all kinds of birds coming up to the many feeders on the property.

I'll just let the pics do most of the talking...


This is at the back of our little cottage...Hollee's Cottage, where we stayed two nights.

This is in the back yard of the owners house,
 where they will light a fire for you
 and provide s'mores fixin's.
 The cabin where you see the little back porch, to the left, was our place.

 A front view of Hollee's Cottage...it sports brown paint, now, but still as cute, just a little doll house.

So sunny, even with our rainy days...light came in so prettily.  They provided Direct TV, dvd's, and good reading material.  I started the book, "All About Him", by Denise Jackson (Alan Jackson's wife), so now I have to buy it, to be able to finish, lol.  It really is good.  Also, we brought along the dvd, "Courageous"...very worthwhile movie. There is a little electric fireplace in this room.

The cottage had a tropical theme...this was the only wildly decorated room and not my favorite decor.

I might have just gone for a more subdued lake cottage theme, but it is fun. 

I did LOVE the little bed against the wall, though.

This dresser matched the wardrobe in the bedroom.

Isn't this kitchen too darling?  On the other end was a sunny table and two comfy upholstered chairs to take in the  lake view,  while enjoying the wonderful breakfast, brought to the porch at 9:00 each morning. 

 I could get used to this kind of life, right quick!

The bed is a queen, which is what we are used too, but it was almost too soft.

We didn't have wine, like in this pic, but they did leave some delicious cheese cake in the little pink fridge for us and William let me eat both slices, hee hee.

There are antique shops galore along with plenty of eating places in Mineola, even a playhouse....It was a fun little getaway, close to home. 
This trip fell right after Valentine's Day and right before our 34th anniversary on March 3rd.

 If you find, like many of us, you can't get away for a big vacation,
then take my advice and do a mini vacation,
they are sometimes less stressful and therefore can be more fun.

Still Vacationing
Lezlee

Nursery Glider

my daughter, Jodi, recovered this glider for her sis-n-law, she did a great job!
Lezlee

Finally...My Fresh Towel Holder, Chalk Board, and Button Snowflakes

Well, we finally made it to Mindy's to pick up my sweet red rack! I purchased from her FB page...but first, we wanted to stop at a couple of other favorite places...they were not open, yet, so I took one look at the two gals waiting in the car next to us, and asked, "Hey, do you want to follow us to another cool place, instead of just waiting around for these stores to open?" After they answered, "Yes."   I warned them, U-turns would be involved and sure enough, I was right, but it was worth it!  And, I was happy to bring some new shoppers to The P!  Would you have followed complete strangers down winding country roads, just for the promise of good junk?  Oh, we got some other good things, wait and see!

 

I  used a chalk pen to write on here...

I told my family, when I bought new towels,

"Now, you guys can use these...I just wanted some new ones." 

...Still, everyone who came in kept asking me....

so, when I wanted to write something on the flat surfaces, 

  I just thought, shoot,  I know just the thing!

...Still, no one has used one!

Another finally, lol, 

finally, my sign doesn't say "Merry Christmas" anymore! 

I thought "my heart" saying would be appropriate for Valentine's.

and finally, I love my button snowflakes,

so ~ they will be renamed, stars, after the winter season...

and stay up indefinitely !

Finally
Lezlee

Work is Not a Dirty Word!

This post was first written, a couple of weeks ago...intended as a personal journal, but then, I decided to share, because sharing is one reason I enjoy blogs best... above FB or Pinterest…we share.  Most times we are like-minded, having common interests, that's what brought us together… although …We don’t all agree, think, or believe the same, yet we still tell our tales and graciously open our homes to one another.  Like many of you, when I spy an anonymous pin I yell, “Hey, that is my bloggy friend, so in so’s, house, store, or project!”  And, feel such pride in you...just like you do in me.  I’m thinking I could recognize many of you, on the spot, at a garage sale or Goodwill!  With that said, I am sharing my personal feelings, today, and will get back to the junk later.

Work is not a dirty word, but it certainly can clean up some dirt…and while procrastination surely would describe some of my past years, it has a dreadful future. Therefore, I choose work, as my WORD this year, but as you can see… by the late date, I do need to Work on my procrastination habits, most blogs are already posts past the word of the year party…

I am speaking of the act of working, not merely a paying job, but actively moving toward goals by the force of my efforts…Since I work at a Jr. High, I actually can regurgitate the scientific formula for work…so let me show-off!

Work = force x distance

So, according to this formula, even if I push at something all dang day, with the greatest of force, as stubborn as a mule, never giving in up…but it (the piece of furniture, a situation, or perhaps an attitude) doesn’t budge, not even one iota, no distance gained, no moving toward a goal …equals NO WORK.

Bunches of Force x No Distance = 0 Work Applied

My life only works because of Jesus, so my work plans must begin in His Word...God rested after His work of creation and declared it good...letting me know God worked way before sin came into the world and it was GOOD!

John 6:27
Do not work for food that spoils, but for food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. On him God the Father has placed his seal of approval.

O.K., my desire isn’t to spin my wheels working for things that can’t last.  Instead, I desire my work to have enduring qualities…to have impact and to matter for all eternity and Jesus, who 
gave me eternal life, will give me this work, yea!  And… I can say, while I may never receive the Good House Keeping Seal of Approval, God has placed His Seal of Approval on Jesus, who gives me my work!

Colossians 3:23
What ever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men,

Hmmm... Throw myself into my life, with abandon, freeing myself in regards to what people may think, whether anyone appreciates or approves.  I will look to God, as my boss…a perfectly loving, just and wise boss… who, thankfully, is full of mercy, and loves me beyond measure, this is to whom I will work and look to for my worth, not man!  This “what ever” could be cleaning a toilet, junking with friends, making cookies with grand kids, or reading a test…even blogging. God wants me to live my whole life with my whole heart…offering my whole life as my work.    
What ever!

1 Thessalonians 4:11
 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you,

Well, I'm a LOUD Texas girl...and I feel God doesn't want me to change that so much, But..Hey, don’t gossip and cause strife. When I get bogged down with others business, my work doesn’t get done and I hinder others from the work laid out for them, lastly…yippee…physically work with my hands!  
               Jesus, himself, was a carpenter. 

Ephesians 2:10 

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Now, this is so cool, on many levels…

First, I am God’s work, fearfully and wonderfully made;

knit together in my mother’s womb.

Also, I originated from the dust of the Earth. 

God, himself, reused dust to create man, 

so repurposing is in my genes, lol.

Next, I was designed from the beginning for works, 

good works…eternal impacting work, created by God, 

tailored just for me, enabling me to walk in these works, exactly fitted to me

…not search endlessly for, chase after, or struggle with,

but merely walk!

Alright, my chosen word, “work”, is not a dirty word, it is my life…every nook and dusty cranny …discovering anew, day in and day out, whatever it can be…I’m walking … leaving this pragmatic world behind and trusting in Jesus, makes me believe in childhood dreams again…

and just maybe the cow may indeed  jump over the moon!

 a little more of our train theme Christmas Tea...just cause a blog post must have pictures!

Walking to Work 

                        Lezlee

Vintage Valentine's Banner

When I took down my Christmas Banner, 
                          my  white curtains looked so cold and lonely...

So.... Happy Vintage Valentine Banner!

Miss Mustard Seed gave me this sweet idea...
                        red extra wide seam binding, using a zig-zag stitch....LOVE!

The hearts are just a toilet paper roll cut in to strips, 
          then squished into a heart shape...
                                         you could paint and glitter them...
                                                      got lots of ideas for the tp rolls!

a sweet little Teddy with a red heart!

The sun was shining so, here in Texas, it was hard to get a shot!

LOVE

Lezlee          joining a party at Honey's

Hand Made Frisbee Golf from Junk

Here is a fun junking project...

Frisbee  Golf made by my son, Josh ...(oh, yeah trying to get the wedding pics posted) made

 from mostly discarded items...old stools, hoola hoops, closet hanger brackets...I need to get him to explain,oh yeah, duct tape was involved...I am pinning this to my "Parade Party" ideas...we, Jodi and I , are gathering ideas for a low-key old fashioned parade day!  It is in June...

galloping on!
Lezlee

P.S. Did y'all know most city parks have Frisbee Golf?  It is a free, fun day at the park...the special Frisbees are fairly inexpensive...so pack a picnic and get out there when Spring has sprung!

Back to the regularly scheduled Christmas Tea Tour posts soon...I think!