Double Blessing...

Some of you recall my friend Paula who has adopted twins from Ethiopia (I had asked you to pray for her and her family many times).

Well yesterday I had a special treat! I finally got to meet those sweet little girls. They are so teeny, tiny. Their smiles light up a room and those eyes... gorgeous. When I arrived at Paula's mom's home the twins were at the kitchen table with their Aunt Laura writing the alphabet. Paula says they enjoy pushing buttons that light things up... remotes, telephones etc!

Adjusting hasn't been easy, but the Lord is blessing their family. Please continue to pray for Paula and her family as they transition into a new chapter of their lives. The challenges are there, but the blessings out number the challenges!

Before I left I had Paula take a picture of me w/ the girls. Candace Selam is the one with the sunglasses on (I called her Hollywood) and Sarah Fikir is the other twin who was not so happy at the time because her sunglasses needed fixing. Mama was going to take care of that task quickly! ;) They were so cute with their itty bitty ipods that Paula filled with Ethiopian Children's music. (that helped with the flight back from Ethiopia)

I cannot wait to see how the lives of these blessed little ones unfold. A new world, a new family... and smiles as big as the sun! I am definitely buying a plane ticket to Nebraska sometime soon! I miss my friend! I don't think I realize how much until we can have a few moments together when she comes to Indiana.

Yes, yesterday was a double blessing for me... I got to meet the twins and spend time with my dear friend Paula!

Love you Paula!

Wishing you all a Blessed & Happy 4th of July...

Being who is the Beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, that will be; We unite in rendering unto Him our sincere and humble thanks for His kind care & protection & for the great degree of tranquility, union and plenty which we have enjoyed; We most humbly offer... our prayers & supplications to the Great Lord and Ruler of Nations.

~ George Washington

Blessed is the Nation Whose God is the LORD

~ Psalm 33:12a

Praying today for our nation. That as a whole we turn our face back to the LORD and worship Him in Whom our true freedom lies.

God bless you my friends, and may God continue to bless America!

Garden Party!

Last Wednesday I posted a picture of my pup sitting on the loveseat of our new patio furniture. Some of you might remember that last Christmas we cyber tours of our "Christmas Homes". That's when I thought - why don't we have a garden party! Let's share pictures of our gardens, yards, landscaping and patios. Jim and I live on our patio in the summer (at least in the early morning and later in the evening when it's hot and humid! As a matter of fact, we enjoyed our coffee and the papers outside today. It was lovely. We love working in the yard and getting our hands dirty. I am hoping that as summer progresses I can share photos of our veggie garden.

So... throw on your floppy hat, flip flops and take a mini tour... after, enjoy some lemonade and enjoy all that God has to offer us on a bright summer day!!!
Welcome to our home...

The next three pics are from one of the hosta gardens we have...



I love geraniums! Have quite a few located around the house

We have quite a few wren houses around our yard... I love wrens! The male is like a little real estate agent. In the spring he will fly around to suitable nesting locations and place a twig or two inside. The female will fly around and then decide which home she prefers! This year... she picked this crock-like bird house. We put it out on a whim and w/in a week she found her sturdy home! The babies are tweeting inside now. She's a good housekeeper as well. She cleans out all the "gunk" if you know what I mean.

The side of the house and our hummingbird feeder. They truly are amazing! What a delight God has given us in these mighty little birds!

The View toward the garage and front patio


If you look closely... you can see that the flower pot is held in a wire chicken.


I have moon flowers that hopefully will soon be vining up and then blooming on the trellis behind the chicken. Moon flowers are white and open in the evening. I wanted to also plant morning glories to grow up the same trellis, but didn't get around to it. Morning and evening color would have been great!

The front patio. We enjoy meals out front and out back!

Elephant Ear Hosta

Top of one of the birdbaths

Endless Summer Hydrangea

We have loads of Day Lilys

Remember "Where's Waldo"?

How about "Where's Jet?

Backyard

Back Deck area... I got the concrete cat the spring after my beloved cat Bruce passed away!

I have yet to put flowers in our bicycle planter

Our Rock Speakers... Rock!

Jet's Love Seat

I love sitting hear w/ a good book on a lazy, summer afternoon.

Sit back and enjoy some lemonade w/ me....

I sure hope you will join the Garden Party and give us a glimpse your gardens etc.

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

~ John 15:5

In the Good Ol' Summertime...

The first official day of summer is this coming Sunday! Although many of us have been experiencing summer activities... the caledar tells us it's official on Sunday.

As I have said in the past, I am a "seasons" kind of gal. Lemonade, swimming, lazy days on the patio, cookouts, lawn games, catching fireflies, listening to the birds sweetly sing their song, sitting in my rocking chair on the front porch perusing a favorite magazine while sipping on iced tea! Ah the luxuries of summer!

Up top is a picture of my beloved Jet. Yes... we purchased new patio furniture and guess who was the first to take a seat? Yes, Jet. I think he has claimed the loveseat as his own! As a matter of fact... he's out there now lounging in the sunshine. We were still putting the furniture together - now that's a story, and he promptly staked his claim! I do believe he is enjoying the warm temps too!

With summer approaching I thought I would throw out an invite! Let's have a garden party! I would love to see pictures of your yard, your gardens, your patios! A picture tour of our summer sanctuaries! I am going to start taking my pictures today! I can't wait for you to see all the new patio furniture! I just love the set! Very comfy! So, make some lemonade and let us sit back and enjoy our own cyber garden party! Hope you will stop back to check out my tour when I get the pics up! And I hope you invite us along to your lovely home!!!

Enjoy summer my friends!

Welcome Home!

Many months ago I asked you to pray for my friend Paula & her family as they were in the process of adopting twins from Ethiopia!

Well, after many, many months of excitement, heartache, joy, fear and a lot of prayer... Candace Selam & Sarah Fikir have made the long journey from Ethiopia to Nebraska, USA!

Thank you to all who lifted up their voice in prayer along w/ me for my friend!

Please visit Paula (here) and read a bit about the trip and see pictures of these darling girls and the family God chose especially for them!

... and Paula... Happy Anniversary to you and Tom!!!

Love you!!! K