the road to a friend's house is never long...

There is nothing sweeter than meeting new friends and discovering that the world is indeed as beautiful as you believed it to be.

update on Earl

I am soooo happy.

Guess who I finally found? A few days ago I printed Earl's picture on a postcard and mailed them out to all the Angie Hill residents I could find in the hometown Earl described to me and lo and behold....Angie called me this morning! THE Angie - the one we have all been looking for for so long. God is good. We talked and talked about her dad. She shared that she thought he may have died and they had put out a missing person's report on him a couple of years ago, but nothing ever happened. The best part is that she loves him and wants him to come home. We now have each other's contact information and tonight when I feed my Friday friends - someone is going to have a big surprise! I'm even going to call her so she can talk to him while I'm there. See? Being patient does pay off! All praises need to be directed to the ONE who made it all possible though and I thank each of you who posted Earl's picture on your blog. I feel like together we did a BIG BIG thing. This is a beautiful day, is it not? I'll keep you posted (hopefully with pictures) on the travel arrangements. That may prove to be the most difficult of all since he doesn't have any identification. God is so good.

...and I hope you like jammin' too...

I find myself getting inspired by the smallest things I encounter. I wonder if I have always been like this and am just now more aware of it or if moments are beginning to force themselves on me so that I might wring them of every drop. I have been so busy and yet I feel I have so much to accomplish. It has been a while since I have gone to bed this exhausted. My little jam endeavor has been off the hook, crazy, wild. Never would I have imagined the response. It has been a blessing and it is something I really enjoy doing. I even ordered some cute little calling cards because I got tired of making them all by hand. Sadly, the kids have had to postpone their trip to Africa...too many things going on at once, but that's ok. I believe things happen for a reason. When they are able to go in a few months, they will be better prepared. Tomorrow, Susanna (my son's girlfriend) arrives back home from her trip to Kabale and we will have lots of pictures to soak in. Something tells me it's best for everyone to stay close to home for a few months....to better prepare, to pray, and to enjoy some family time together. As per a request or two I am putting the jam paypal option back up on my blog...for as long as jam is available. I thank (from the bottom of my tired little heart) those who have shown support by purchasing jam and/or left encouraging words. I think those of you who visit here are incredibly special and unique....just like some of the jam requests I've received!

this little light of mine...

These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers.

Take these words along with the image when you post your award.

I received this cute little award from Annette, a very special friend and fellow blogger who I love for a number of reasons, but mostly because she is real. What you see is what you get. She tells it like it is and she is just so precious in her spirit that I consider her to be an angel here on earth. The words on her blog are like a patchwork quilt--they are colorful, warm, and reflect a number of things on her heart...always honest and precise. Thank you Nettie for just being YOU...I'll pass this little gem on with careful consideration to the meaning behind it.

Even though I have been incredibly busy...too busy to post, I often sneak away from my work long enough to find refuge in a few of your blogs. I love everyone, so selecting just a handful is a task that tugs at my heart, but these blogs do it for me....they often bring me peace in one way or another - and for that I thank you and offer you this cute little "award" to adorn your blog.
So take it, pass it on, spread the joy...and know there is a corner of appreciation stored in my heart for the way you bless my day when I visit your blog.

Butterfly Gardener

Road Sage

Faith Of A Single Mom

Jules Stones

Just BEing John-Michael

a Valentine thank you ~

Some of you are sweet generous souls who I have never met and you have touched my heart by being proactive in your belief that one person CAN make a difference…
You allowed compassion to drive your efforts…
You wished and prayed right along with me and helped me spread the word…
…and you helped make the world feel just a little smaller…

To my sweet blogging friends who have posted Earl’s picture (prior to today) on your blogs, I have a special Valentine gift of love just for going the extra mile (and a genuine heartfelt thank you for your kindness). Please email me your mailing address so I can get your gift of gratitude mailed to you!

As for Earl, he continues to be homeless and I continue to ask him questions hoping he will provide me with new information he may have remembered. The contacts who were helping me in Columbus, Ohio (where Earl's daughter is supposed to live) and Sweetwater, Tennessee (where Earl is from) feel they have exhausted their resources. I have placed ads in both of those towns with no success. Angie Hill is turning out to be a difficult person to find! Meanwhile I keep pretty close tabs on Earl and he always manages to make me smile with his witty remarks and sincere appreciation of my efforts...he really is quite a character. Thank you to everyone who has asked about him or whispered a prayer...your thoughtfulness has been very encouraging and some of your emails have been a blessing in my day.

ornament exchange

Join the fun and spread a little Christmas cheer!

Sign up for the Christmas ornament exchange by

November 24th ~

1. Specify with your comment if you prefer a certain color of ornament or if you want to be surprised. Example: Jane Doe - Gold please! or Jane Doe: Surprise me!

2. Send your mailing address to my email from the email address you would like to receive your buddy's information at.

3. Look for the details and name of your ornament exchange buddy on November 25th.

4. Purchase (or make) and mail your Christmas ornament out by December 1st.

5. When you receive your ornament share it with the rest of us by posting it on your blog!

Simple, sweet, fun. Doesn't get any better than that!

You do not have to be a regular reader of this blog to participate...everyone is welcome!

you go girl

Kimberly, YOU are BOLD and BEAUTIFUL for participating in the 3-Day Susan G. Komen Walk for Cancer this weekend. You are my hero! and I wish I could be there to walk with you or in the very least, cheer you on. But I will be there in spirit cheering you on from California, wearing pink each of the days and shouting "You Go Girl"...these flowers are for you!

a perfect blend of friendship...

I've been so busy lately, so my blogging has been sporadic...imagine my surprise when I took a moment out to play on blogger and discovered I had been gifted this cute little friendship award. Thank you Lisa
from "My New Thing To Do"...you've just made my week with your thoughtful kindness ~ truly, I thought this was so sweet!

In accepting this award I understand I have to answer a few FRIENDSHIP questions, so here goes:

1. Do you have the same friends since childhood? I have a few friends I keep in touch with from "way back when" but most of them live pretty far away. Annette is the only friend I can meet up with for coffee from my childhood days. I've known her since the third grade!

2. What do you value most about your friends? Every word that they speak, every smile they share and every thought they trust me with...I value everything about them.

3. Are your friends sounding boards? When it comes to bouncing ideas around, yes! When it comes to getting advice from them, no...not usually...when I need help I go straight to the Master.

4. What is your favorite activity to share with your friends? It depends on the friend. I can be a coffee drinker, a shoe shopper, a backpacker, a yoga buddy, a recipe swapper, a bible study companion, a meal server...any of these things at the drop of a hat.

A friend is one

to whom one may pour

out all the contents

of one's heart,

chaff and grain together

knowing that the

gentlest of hands

will take and sift it,

keep what is worth keeping

and with a breath of kindness

blow the rest away.

~ Arabian Proverb ~

I would like to pass this FRIENDSHIP award on to

Kimberly

and

Annette

Some days they are the wind in my sail

Some days they are a quiet walk

always they are a friend,

with a kind word

or

a smile to share.

the first day of fall

It's the first day of Fall! Good things are going to happen today...I can just feel it! I've been so busy this past week with multiple projects...hopefully I'll have some leisure time this week to get around and visit all of you! But without further adieu...today is the day for the coffee drawing!
















I loved all of your coffee stories and quotes
and some of you mentioned the drawing on your blogs...thank you.
















All of the names went into a little bag...
I gave the bag a little shake, shake, shake....















I reached in and pulled out one name...

The lucky winner of this drawing is Karen from Faith of a Single Mom!

Congratulations Karen!
Please email me your address so I can get these delicious coffee beans to you!
(Also let me know if you need me to grind them).
Thank you to everyone who visited and entered the drawing.
Have a happy first day of Fall!

I Love Your Blog Award

Patti from Treasure Barn gifted me with this sweet award and I think it's just precious that she would take time out from her amazing creations to share the love...thank you Patti for being so thoughtful. I am suppose to share with SIX of you, so the following are the blogs that touch my heart on a daily basis...I believe these ladies would bring me chicken noodle soup if I were sick and I think they would be a hoot at a pajama party and I know for sure some of them would call just to say Hi if they hadn't heard from me in a while...

gosh, I just love you guys!

p.s. I know from past experience that some of you ladies prefer not to pick these little "awards" up and that's OK...I'm just letting you know

I LOVE YOUR BLOG...don't feel obligated to adorn your blog spot with it if you do not want to.

Annette from Just Annette

Kimberly from Walk the Beach

Donna from Cottage Days & Journeys

Lisa from My New Thing To Do

Jules from Jules Stones

Annie from Annie's Blog

GRACE restored

Today was blessed with such a rich experience I really cannot find the words to describe it. This morning when I woke up I prayed and invited God to be a part of my day and I asked Him to please just bless me with guidance and put me where I needed to be, to deliver me into the hands of the homeless with His sweet loving spirit present so I would feel protected and as I went about my day I knew I couldn't just show up empty handed so I cooked a huge pot of Goulash and buttered two loaves of french bread and warmed it in the oven and off I went without a soul knowing where I was going. I didn't know where I was going. I went to the usual homeless hangout at a park across town and it didn't feel right so I let God have the wheel and before long I was parked in front of the city library. I sat in my car for a minute and then I gathered my offerings and approached a man who was eyeing my food. I asked him if he was hungry and he said, "Yes, ma'am" and from that moment on I was in the presence of the most gracious appreciation I have ever known...His name was Donald and he had only one arm and asked me to help him open his bottled water...we conversed and I told him I was surprised there weren't more people out that I could share my food with and that's when he pointed to a little park adjacent to the library and told me they were all over there...so over there I went. There were about fifteen homeless people gathered in their little cliques. I introduced myself and went around shaking all of their hands asking them if they were hungry. There were a few gentlemen passed out on the grass so I didn't get to officially meet them until some time later. I served them and had originally intended to eat my dinner with them, but when I saw there might not be enough food I decided to wait...after all I've had a meal today. I wish I could remember all their names....There was Tami, Robert, Amanda, Lori, Jim, Earl, Rita....and now the mind is whirling...but all their faces are etched into my heart. I heard countless stories...each one precious and I was amazed at how they look out for each other. I heard stories about how they were treated by the police and public in general, about where they sleep, about their families, their travels....they couldn't share enough and the blessings were just pouring down as they continued telling me their stories and concerns. Earl is from Tennessee just trying to get back home, Tami wanted to save her food for her husband (he was one of the gentlemen passed out), she told me he had pneumonia but couldn't get his prescriptions filled...Lori french braided Tami's hair and I commented that I thought it was beautiful so she offered to french braid my hair and of course I accepted...we didn't have a hair elastic so she put her Nascar cloth bracelet in my hair to keep it tight....it turned out perfect. They had many questions for me as well and were very surprised I wasn't there through a church but on my own free will...none of them asked me for money, but they did give me some pointers if I ever needed a good spot to get some. If I would have had money with me I would have given it all to them.....gladly. As it began to get dark I thought I should get on home as they all needed to scatter about to find their individual safe nests for the night. They surrounded me, thanked me, some hugged me, but all of them made me feel comfortable even the guys that finally "woke up" from their naps. I'm leaving out so many details and stories that could be shared here but I think this post is quite lengthy and so they might have to spill out on another day...but just know that we have an amazing God and He has favored the poor with His grace...I can't wait to get back and feel it again. Set your inhibitions aside and trust that we are meant to love one another...and oh, how eyes sparkle when we do!

Tuesday's Treasure

I was most thoughtfully awarded this "blogging with a purpose" award from Jules and since it is the first token I have received since I began blogging in July 2007 I am claiming it as my treasure today! Although I am not quite certain what my PURPOSE for blogging is I'd like to think I am simply "here to live out loud"...famous words by French Activist/Artist Emile Zola...but he is dead, so he won't mind me keeping his words alive I'm sure. As part of receiving this honor I believe it is customary to pass it along to FIVE people and so I will, but along with passing "the torch" so to speak, I would like to add a personal note to each of these special people and let them know how their purpose is met in my heart, despite what their purpose might actually be in blogging. Please accept this from my blog to yours and know that a lot of thought went behind who I chose, although I would have preferred to stretch it to a few more people, I will keep with the tradition with these FIVE:

To: Annette ~ who has provided me with unconditional friendship since the 3rd grade and whose blog is authentic and real, adhering to the spirit of visiting an old friend on a relaxing porch with a glass of suntea on a summer day.

To: Kimberly ~ who has become such a dear sweet friend, always uplifting and encouraging, whose blog provides me with inspiration in countless ways and she genuinely cares...I can feel it.

To: Phyllis ~ who has provided me with friendship and scripture to read every single morning, whose blog brings me joy and quiet time, two things I need to kick start my day.

To: John-Michael ~ for keeping a welcome mat out for me even when I don't agree with everything he has to say, he keeps loving me anyway, because that's just who he is, and whose blog serves as a refuge I can actually get lost in because he so eloquently articulates an inspirational balance between life's questions and answers.

To: Debbie ~ for making me laugh out loud on most days so that my family wonders if I'm truly OK, and for sharing real life in a real way, whose blog is not only entertaining just from her sheer personality, but also inspirational in the down-to-earth-, keepin'-it-real aspect.

Everyone who visits my blog is a real treasure to me, all for different reasons, and I thank everyone who drops by from the bottom of my heart. I have genuinely come to care for you all and I am honored to call each of you FRIEND.

" A friend is one to whom one may pour out all the contents of one's heart, chaff and grain together, knowing that the gentlest of hands will take and sift it, keep what is worth keeping and with a breath of kindness blow the rest away."

- Arabian Proverb

peace * friendship * appreciation

sweet thoughtfulness makes my heart smile...

I received this in the mail yesterday

from Patti at Treasure Barn

made especially for me

a little card that reflects my blog,

very creative...

oh, and a bookmarker too,

all festive in a hand-painted envelope...

thank you again, Patti

your friendship is a blessing

what a precious little haven this blogosphere

has turned out to be where we can learn and share,

pray and laugh, meet new people and in the process

probably learn a little about ourselves.

Just goes to show it doesn't take someone being present to know a smile.

an email to share

Time passes.

Life happens.

Distance separates.

Children grow up.

Jobs come and go.

Love waxes and wanes.

Men don't do what they're supposed to do.

Hearts break.

Parents die.

Colleagues forget favors.

Careers end.

BUT.........

Sisters are there,

No matter how much time and how

Many miles are between you.

A girl friend is never farther away

Than needing her can reach.

When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you

Have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life

Will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on,

Praying for you, pulling for you, intervening on

Your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the

Valley's' end.
Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk
Beside you...

Or come in and carry you out.

Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters,

Daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law,

Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties, nieces, cousins, and extended

Family, all bless our life!

The world wouldn't be the same without women, and

Neither would I.

When we began this adventure called

Womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or

Sorrows that lay ahead.

Nor did we know how much we

Would need each other.

Every day, we need each other still.

Pass this on

To all the women who help make your life meaningful.

I just did.

Sacred Sunday

There are days that are made beautiful, not by my love for the cleansing rain or the glimmers of sunshine that soak through my skin, wakening me to the promise of newness...but by the surrounding of God's grace through lovely outreaches of gratitude and expressions of sincerity. I am very observant these days of all the ways He reaches in my heart and stills my spirit so that I might recognize and appreciate all that is born of friendship...both new and old...sweet sentiments through the mail and thoughtful words by phone...all I'm certain, sent on the wings of angels to teach me more about myself through two little words...thank you. These words are humbling to me...I want the warmness in my heart to surface as a smile and say "You are welcome...", but instead it surfaces as rosy cheeks in a blush that makes me feel vulnerable that I have opened up to another and been received most graciously...am I worthy of such appreciation? Surely I am delighted by its presence, but these words alone are such a gift that I stumble over them not nearly as graciously as I would like...why is that? I hear these words throughout my day and think of the trivial things they are applied to and then when I hear or see them through the special effort of deliverance I am halted in my tracks suddenly dumbfounded, but my heart is filled with the sincerest appreciation of my own because of it. I in turn wonder if I am lacking the grace of expression in those gifts I receive from God...when he nudges me with His sweet spirit, do I stand dumbfounded...not knowing how to react? When I am graced by His gifts do I harvest their meaning and share with others the beauty of recognizing what He has layed before me? How might I be more graceful in pointing out the abundance of His love...through friends...kindness...and the swelling of my own heart. Truly, most days are sweetened by His touch...I pray that I might not fumble with His grace and let words so precious sit unspoken upon my tongue....thank you and you are welcome...

Father, I pray with a joyous and grateful heart of all things you deliver unto my path....for the blessings of friendships and the gift of words..."thank you". I pray that I might receive them in the grace in which they were delivered and offer them up to you Lord. Amen

dear hearts

I’m so happy you each received your Valentine Day SuRpRise! I myself received a GREAT deal of joy putting them together and mailing them out. As I was writing each of your names out, it dawned on me that friendship is so refreshingly undefined…it reaches in and around the everyday and blossoms when we least expect it. It makes no difference if it is new or old; it draws us in out of a mutual understanding that we are different from one another, but not so different that we cannot appreciate what commonalities may exist. I do believe that friendship multiplies blessings and I feel very blessed with the friendships that are developed through this blog. You each lift me up in your own little way and I always look forward to “visiting” each of you. Thank you so much for giving me the JOY of sharing and I wish for each of you to have a very special Heart Day doing whatever makes you happy.

Dear Hearts...

Here’s the scoop on the Valentine give-away. I read through the official give-away blog linky site and it says I need to link my blog to their site so that others can be aware of my give-away…and I thought, “Why would I want to do that?” I do have a generous heart and maybe on a later date I might consider this as an alternative, but I want my first special Valentine gesture to go to someone who has actually invested some of their time “being a friend” and quite frankly I am grateful that those numbers are relatively small because I would not have time to read and comment sincerely on everyone’s blog…so you ladies are the elite, the cream of the crop, my chosen posse….and without further adieu I would like to inform each of you that you are ALL winners in my heart, so if you have ever left a comment on my blog (of the unspam kind, and yes anonymous ones count, because I really do know who you are) then you should send me an email by February 1st with your name and address so that I can SuRpRiSe you with a little token of friendship in the upcoming days of February. No strings, no hoops to jump through, no questions to answer…just try to be a gracious recipient of someone who appreciates you for no other reason than for just being YOU…and besides this is fun, don’t you think?

heartfelt thanks

Just a short note (because I'm sneaking away from homework - shhh) to thank everyone for sharing such wonderful treasures of the heart. I really enjoyed your pictures and stories. It just makes this world seem a little bit smaller. It's very interesting to me what we can learn and I think the little effort it takes to foster friendships is well worth the time spent. I always look forward to visiting your blogs...everyone is just so...well, nice and I look forward to getting to know each of you better.

Secondly, I thank you for your prayers for Jacob. He ended up getting a new heart valve while he was in surgery to go with his new pacemaker. The surgery took eight hours and everything went well. Last night when I checked with my sister they had just removed all of his breathing tubes and he was breathing on his own. They will watch him closely in ICU for a few days and then he will stay in the Ronald McDonald house for two weeks before he gets to come home. I know prayers go answered everyday, but it isn't until they are your own that you truly appreciate how amazing God is.

Quiet Time

I'm not sure how it worked out, but Lacey and I ended up home alone tonight. It is actually very nice. The house is quiet and I do not have any pressing school work to do (for a change). This gives me a chance to breathe and think and appreciate. Last night I met up with my friend Linda for coffee. She just got back from Italy and had lots of pictures to share with me. They were so beautiful! She went so many places and her pictures were rich with history and culture. I really want to go someday. She said it was only about an eight hour flight. I think I can handle that. She brought me back a box of chocolate/espresso candies called "Pocket Coffee". They are quite delicious! Visiting with her was so nice and we actually closed Starbucks down, so time got away with us, but I can't wait to do it again. I forget sometimes how much I miss some of my old friends until I see them again. If I could just talk more of them into blogging, it would be a wonderful thing. Right now I'm just enjoying some "me" time. The house is clean, the laundry is finished and I know none of this will last for very long. I would run a big bubble bath and light some candles, but just as sure as I do everyone will be home. Lacey has the right idea. She is curled up in the papason chair without a care in the world. Of course, she does that everyday...ah, to be a pampered pooch.