• my story - Potpourri

    Joy and Sorrow

    January 4, 2012 - By 

    The older I get, the more I see it: the look — the longing look in a mother’s eyes when things didn’t turn out like she hoped.  It’s not necessarily disappointment or despair or even bitterness — it’s just sort of: sorrow.   There’s another look, too — it’s the hopeful look in a mother’s eyes at the mention of one of her children, a memory or an event from days gone by… it’s joy.  Joy is in her eyes. Well, that’s what I’ve come to think motherhood’s all about:  joys and sorrows.  Motherhood is a call to sorrow; Motherhood’s a…

  • Devotionals - Homemaking - Homeschooling - Motherhood - Planner - Streams - Desert

    Doing a new thing

    January 2, 2012 - By 

    Based on past performance, many of us can attest that doing a new thing is hard.   This is where some of us fall off the cliff — or don’t even try!  It takes determination to not allow past performance to thwart us from trying or doing a new thing! Doing a new thing is tough.  Especially when that new thing takes will power or money — few of us have much of either.  And,  as we age, we have this daunting fear that past results (things that were good before they stopped being good) don’t necessarily mean that today’s performance…

  • Devotionals - Wayward's - Womanhood

    This Could Be…

    January 1, 2012 - By 

    As I read year-end letters, more Christmas cards and letters, headlines and articles, a common theme is always revisited this time of year — sure as New Year’s resolutions, are the slogans and affirmations: Out with the old, in with the New! This Year’s the Year for You!  The sentiments may have very different motivation, very different context, but the intent is the same: This year’s going to be the best year ever! And they always are.  Today. Today is the first day of the New Year… clean, fresh slate, an unmarked calendar, a new dawn, a bright new day…

  • Devotionals

    Crowned with Goodness

    December 31, 2011 - By 

    May the Lord, indeed, crown your year with goodness ♥ and may the coming year be your most blessed year in the Lord.   Praise waiteth for thee, O God, in Sion: and unto thee shall the vow be performed. 2  O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. 3  Iniquities prevail against me: as for our transgressions, thou shalt purge them away. 4  Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy…

  • Potpourri

    Another Year Is Dawning

    December 30, 2011 - By 

    Another Year Is Dawning Lyrics ~ Frances R. Havergal, 1836 -1879 Music ~ Samuel S. Wesley, 1810 – 1876 Another year is dawning! Dear Father, let it be, In working or in waiting, Another year with Thee; Another year of leaning Upon Thy loving breast; Another year of trusting, Of quiet, happy rest; Another year of mercies, Of faithfulness and grace; Another year of gladness In the shining of Thy face; Another year of progress, Another year of praise; Another year of proving Thy presence all the days; Another year of service, Of witness for Thy love; Another year of…

  • Potpourri

    chapter 2011

    December 30, 2011 - By 

    God bless you& your thoughts and may He establish your dreams & plans as you close ♥ Chapter 2011 and open ♥ Chapter 2012. With love from the ♥ of the home.

  • Family - Motherhood - Potpourri

    It’s the week before Christmas and…

    December 16, 2011 - By 

    It’s the week before Christmas and all through the house, mother is ____________ and the family feels ___________. I posted this @ Welcome Home on Facebook… but it’s so important that I thought I’d share it here.  I’ve been posting brief year-end countdown thoughts on Facebook @ Welcome Home.  In the new year I hope to post daily home notes and verses for encouragement. More housekeeping and sorting today. Don’t be afraid to box up stuff you really don’t use — as you’re cleaning and preparing for festive dinners and/or visits from family & friends. Whatever you box up today,…

  • Family - marriage - Potpourri

    The Vacant Chair

    December 16, 2011 - By 

    I’ve entitled this blog entry The Vacant Chair — a title that’s not original with me, but the title of a poem I’ll add to this post in a moment.  The poem was written by a dear saint, the husband of a precious friend who passed into heaven earlier this year. It’s interesting that the poem should come in the  mail today… as I have been thinking of several different ones who have ‘vacant chairs’ at their tables again this year.  I think of the mothers and fathers who stand at the glass watching for the wayward son or daughter,…

  • Potpourri - Slices of Life

    Christmas Letters

    December 14, 2011 - By 

    I love receiving Christmas letters each year — I read them — some, many times. I read them to the family and take the enclosed photos and hang them on our kitchen cabinet doors.  I love the letters for so many reasons — maybe for as many different reasons as the number of letters received each year. I often wonder how many drafts some writers attempted before the resulting letter was complete.  I say this because I attempted to write our Christmas letter no less than a dozen times this year.  Each draft wordier (no surprise there!) than the previous…