Fall Has Arrived!

 I guess it is a toss up between fall and spring when asked which season I like the best.  Because the heat is so harsh in Arizona I think fall tends to win the title of favorite season because it brings cooler days and they are so appreciated.  When you appreciate something it will always cause it to be more special.

Yes, we finally have the air off and the windows open!  Fresh air!  Days when the round face displaying temperatures finally stays under a hundred at 3 PM and wakes you to 68 degrees of sunshine in the mornings.

Having coffee on the patio is once again such a wonderful part of our day!  This past weekend we enjoyed fresh strawberry scones along with that coffee  :-)

I so enjoy pulling out the boxes of fall decorations to officially end summer and welcome fall to our home.

It has been so long since I put up a fresh post I wondered if I would still know how - but hey, it really did all come back to me quite easily.  

Hope you are enjoying the change of season in your home as much as I am.

Monday Memo: Junking

No time for blogging today because my sister is visiting.  We are headed out for a day of junking.  Wahoo.

On This Day In History . . .

July 17, 1973 found me getting off a Greyhound bus in Mesa, Arizona to begin a new life.  In tow was my 2 1/2 year old red headed little boy who the kids at Sunshine Acres Children's Home would come to nickname, "Fireball" for that red hair.

The bus made its' destination from Visalia, California where two years earlier I had been the first single person to adopt a child.  The Lord gave me my son June 4, 1971 and I spent two years praying for a place where I could make a living for our newly formed family and yet be a full time mother.  The opportunity came when Carol Whitworth, CEO answered the phone at Sunshine Acres Children's Home and told us they normally did not hire single people but at this time they did need someone to help the nurse take care of any children that might become sick and need temporary extra care away from the dorm and other children.

"Fireball" and I lived and worked at the home and it did completely answer my prayer for a place that I could provide for our needs and yet be a full time mother to my son.  In December of 1979 Jason and I adopted Anthony who was just barely 3 years old.  If you know the rest of the story you know that Anthony found a father for he and his brother and a Precious Husband for me.  Precious Husband and I were married in the Sunshine Acres Chapel with all the Acres kids in attendance nearly 30 years ago.

All in all I lived and worked at this amazing ministry called Sunshine Acres Children's Home for 12 years.  It was nothing like it is today but still no one can tell me those weren't the best years of my life. 

On this day in history 40 years ago I came to live in the desert at a place lovingly called, Miracle in the Desert.  It provided a miracle for me as an adult just like it has provided for hundreds of children all these years later.  

I hope you will take a few minutes and watch the You Tube about the home and see for yourself what an amazing place it is. 

Monday Memo: Who Could Resist?

I know, I know, the last thing I need is another coffee mug but tell me who could resist this baby?  I found it when we took our niece and her hubby and our next door neighbors to Cracker Barrel for breakfast a couple of weeks ago.  

I am not real fond of blue but this cup is just too perfect and that yellow!  Love it!

And this face?  Well, it just says, "Good Morning Sunshine!" all over it!!

Peace and Contentment

I just finished reading, With Love From A Mother’s Heart by Glenda Revell and I was very blessed by it.

Let me share a few lines from chapter 8 which is entitled, Peace and Contentment.  Mrs. Revell writes:

LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. Psalm 16:5

“Every aspect of our lives -- the things we possess, the people with whom we live and interact, the work we must do, the abilities we own, our health, our intelligence, our looks, even the weather -- is given to us by our gracious, all-knowing Father.  Our peace and contentment are not determined by what He chooses to give, but by the attitude with which we choose to receive what He gives.  What is given today may be far different from that which was given yesterday.  Tomorrow, it may be different still.  Yet our peace can and should remain constant.”

Our peace and contentment are not determined by what He chooses to give, but by the attitude with which we choose to receive what He gives.

 Oh yes, Dorothy!  Take note!

Psalm 16

1Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge.2I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing."3As for the saints who are in the land, they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.4The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. I will not pour out their libations of blood or take up their names on my lips.5LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure.6The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance.7I will praise the LORD, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.8I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.9Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure,10because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay.11You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Adopting Again?

Even as an "older woman" adoption is still in my blood.  This adoption is not of a precious red headed 8 month old or cute little blond 3 year old but these little ladies above have come to reside in my home and they too make me smile.

I am not one to name my things like some people might name their car but I decided this is different.  These little ladies need names.  So I have decided on Mary, Jerry and Sherry.  They all sing and I guarantee they will bring a smile to even the most serious of folk.

Little Jerry came to live with me last year on my 63rd birthday.  My Mom gave her to me and she sings, "Will You Still Love Me When I Am 64?' (Beatles Song).  How appropriate huh? And yes, Precious Husband still loves me this year at 64!

Little Mary I purchased this spring with my Mom in mind but she kind of grew on me.  Precious Husband encouraged me to take her to Mom anyway so I did but she just rolled her eyes.  Well, I simply brought it right back home with me, after all who wants to be adopted into a home where someone isn't just thrilled with your presence?

Then there is Little Sherry, she was Mom's and I have always loved her and made it known so when we downsized Mom from independent living to assisted living Mom sent her home with me.

The three little ladies like quite cozy all sitting together in my sanctuary on the green chair.

Simple

Simple.

 Candles, pearls, candle light, dried rose petals

 and vintage cut glass.

Simple.

It's what makes this woman smile.

Simple.

. . . let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds 

and praise your Father in heaven.  

Matthew 5:16

Hummers Welcome Here

Precious Husband text messaged me, "Come see."  He was doing some watering in the front yard and there were at least two baby hummingbird and their momma flying all around in spite of 117* heat.  So brave and friendly they simply stopped to pose for my camera.  Oh, I love hummingbirds!  Maybe we have so many because of the easy availability of water with the small fountain on the front porch and the big waterfall pond in the back yard.  Whatever the reason they like our yard I sure am happy they do.

My front door seems a favorite perch along with the porch light.

Below are the photos I took when I started out the front door to find out what Precious Husband wanted me to see.  These two photos are taken through my screen door.

Please make yourself welcome little hummers.  I am so glad you are here.

All things bright and beautiful,

All creatures great and small,

All things wise and wonderful,

The Lord God made them all.

He gave us eyes to see them,

And lips that we might tell,

How great is God Almighty, 

Who has made all things well.

--Cecil F. Alexander, Hymns for Little Children, 1848

Forty-Five Lessons Life Has Taught Me

Back home from California and trying to get back into my normal routine. Having the 4 TLC's over for the weekend and then Sunday when their mom and dad come to pick them up we will all have tacos for supper :-)

I have had the following in a draft for several months and this morning I read it again in an email from my favorite cousin so thought I better get it out of draft and on its' way for you to be encouraged by it too.

Have a great weekend.

Written By Regina Brett, 90 years old, of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland , Ohio

"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most-requested column I've ever written.. My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:"

1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will.  So stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry..
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now... Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
25. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ''In five years, will this matter?".
26. Always choose life.
27. Forgive everyone everything.
28. What other people think of you is none of your business..
29.. Time heals almost everything. Give time, time.
30. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
31. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
32. Believe in miracles.
33. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
34. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
35.. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
36. Your children get only one childhood.
37. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
38. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere..
39. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
40. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
41. The best is yet to come.
42. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
43. Yield.
44. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.

California in Pictures

After outliving 3 husband my 87 year old mother has lived the last 5 years in a beautiful independent living complex but recently suffered a physical injury and reluctantly decided to move into assisted living.  In order to help with her care and move I came to California 3 weeks ago.

While here we had our annual family reunion on my father's side of the family.  The temperature that day was 108* nearly hot as it is at home in Arizona.

On my birthday Mom was feeling pretty good so Precious Husband and I took a 30 minute drive to Three Rivers and had lunch on the river at Gateway Restaurant.

Precious Husband took this picture of him giving me a birthday kiss while we waited for our lunch.  See him sneaking a peek as he adjusted his phone for the picture.

After getting Mom settled in here new abode Precious Husband and I headed to the coast.  We have a lovely place here in Cambria for two nights.  Today we walked around the little town and snapped lots of pictures on my IPhone.  Tomorrow we will head back to Arizona and home sweet home after we have some more seafood and clam chowder of course.

Morning coffee on our patio overlooking the creek.

We had brunch at a great little restaurant called Creekside Cafe where I took this picture of the birdhouse.  We ate on the patio.

The rest of these pictures were taken as we walked down the streets of Cambria, California and also the  Pacific Ocean here in Cambria.  I am always amazed at how beautiful the flowers and vegetation are here at the coast.

Cambria by the sea!

The Face in the Mirror

No matter how long or how closely we walk with the Lord I believe there are times we need to hear this message.  I ran across this on Face Book and it encouraged me.  Hope it encourages you too.

My Own Secret Garden

In Arizona it is rare that you find a secret garden.  Lots of cactus yes, but not too often a secret garden.  My Precious Husband has begun to give me the next best thing - a special little niche.  I thought it would be fun to take pictures so when the plants mature and it all becomes gorgeous I can have pictures of how it all began.

The butterfly bench was purchased in honor of Aunt Jo after she passed away.  It is very special to me because we shared a love for butterflies.  The trellis we purchased on a recent trip to Prescott and hopefully soon it will be covered with jasmine or honeysuckle vines and flowers.

As always I am thankful for my Precious Husband and his loving ways of making me happy.  I am looking forward to sitting with him on our butterfly bench in our very own secret garden.