Treasure Hunting

One of my favourite 'pass times' in the winter is treasure hunting...

many stores are clearing out merchandise, getting ready for spring...
this makes it fun and easy for bargain shoppers such as myself, to find a sweet deal on just about anything.

Today ,I'll share a few of my sweet deals...

I happen to love white dishes, so I was happy to complement my collection with this one I found recently for all of one dollar!

perfect alone,


               or with a few shells....






or one hydrangea.

this lace skirt is one of my favourites...

it's off of a clearance rack for seven dollars.

I found the necklace yesterday for two dollars.

it has a pretty, iridescent look.

         this little bird reminds me spring
               is on its way....


   and to everything there is a season.
          Ecclesiastes 3:1

                     a lovely mug,with a favourite verse 
                                               was another clearance rack find.

I laughed with delight when I found this tin box a few weeks ago!

It fits perfectly into my bathroom, and I just love what it depicts with these adorable,little girls.They seem a bit perplexed and curious!

(brings back memories of my own cherubs at that age.....:)

        Well, happy treasure hunting...
                           but may your tangible treasures            never be bigger than the intangible.Lucy~




linked here...http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.ca/


http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.ca/

My Word of the Year

The beginning is the half of every action...

Routine began anew this morning.
 And  I am the one who loves the hum of routine most days, except for this morning I was calling recant.
 I need another day I say and I pull the throw up around me, after I've made the lunches and breakfasts and combed hair, and prayed  with them and waved to the bus driver.
The world outside my window had been softly and  regally draped in a pure, white garment.
It was ever so still and quiet. Hushed was the word.
 I don't want to move...BE Still and KNOW that I am God.
Be still, still, still.Psalms 46:10

I am pondering my word or words for the year. I like the idea of having a word that resonates a theme for the coming 365 days. Last year I went with the small; but ever so mighty word YES.
The word that keeps  coming back to me as I consider this is RESPONSE. I talked about it here.(thank-you Amy)

Last years Yes,was a response.This year I'd like to "bear it in mind" a little further.
So many times I cannot change the outcome, but my response is entirely up to me. This was something I thought about while hubby and I watched the absurd movie Ground hog Day last week. While I certainly don't condone everything about this movie,it really impacted me how Bill Murray ultimately came to the conclusion, after nobody believed his strange tale of repeating the same day; that his own RESPONSE was the pivotal key to his own happiness.(Inspiration and observations come from the most unlikely things sometimes.)
The way I respond is up to me... ,whether someone arrives late or on time,
hold or relinquish,give or take....HOW I respond is what is important!
So much is a response,and has the power to change me! I have a feeling I may learn some frightening things about myself but I am ready for the challenge!

Even when I think I am NOT responding, that alone is a response.

 I have a couple more words that I'd like to integrate in 2013, that I will share with you another time.

       How about you, Do you choose a word for the year?

Of Clutter, Colds and Chaos

                                                                                                             these magnets tell it well..

Beyond the colds , clutter and chaos.                 
I sense a calm.
For my spirit knows nothing stays forever.
This is but a murmur on life's sea.
So when a fevered child lies restlessly waiting for life to resume to normal, I say quietly "what is normal?" 
There surely are different kinds of normal.

Today it was chaos that is the normal here in the holidays, with children ;plus a couple extra around . 
Deserted toast crusts lie on the carpet, left by child who has been on the couch with a fever and cold.
Grocery bags brought home from a quick jaunt to the store, line up by the counter ready to   find their place eventually.                                                       
"Mom we can't find the all the pieces for our game," call a couple girls as they set chairs up in rows to play airplane.(The game is for the passengers.") Can you come? They implore, "West Jet is now open!"
"Sure," I oblige," I've always wanted to fly!"
Imaginations soar as they welcome me aboard.

"Yes" please do come in,    I greet second daughter's friend here  to help with a school project. Soon  computers are set up  as girls laugh, and talk about what has been new in their lives over the last two weeks. Resuming homework seems like a vague proposition.

"Oh no" I realize I missed starting the drier when the time of use was at it's lowest for hydro,quickly I go to check and am pleasantly surprised to see it full of dry clothes. Thank-you, I murmur as I close the door to retrieve later.







Later in the afternoon we take a
two minute drive to our school and soon we're sliding down a hill on toboggans and sleds. Hysterical laughter erupts when the school bell rings loudly, right on cue, holidays or not!
Hot chocolate warms us up when we come home.

The Christmas tree here looking dejected and forlorn, such a contrast from short days ago,

when it twinkled and held mystery and intrigue.    







The Christmas cards and photos smile on, serving as reminders of what was and what can never be taken away from our hearts..... memories.....precious memories.





This is a wee snapshot of my day. I really should have gotten a few more pictures, but quite truthfully I wasn't really thinking about photo ops today! This evening as I sat down here, it came out like this. 


these shots were earlier in the week:
   some winter fun...

                                          four wheeling fun with GT.
                                                                                                               

                                

a skate in the city...

                 
                 finally here is our winter campfire we had on New Years Day.

  Hope your first week of 2013 was happy and healthy, if it wasn't
                 just remember it can always get better.....CHEERS!

linked tohttp://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.ca/

Is It Really That Simple?

Recently I was a spectator at a hockey game. Every time I watch this sport I am struck at the end of the game when the two teams line up after the game is over, to shake hands with their opponents. The poignancy and power in such a seemingly simple action moves me.
 I commented to the person I was with "this is my favourite part."" Because it's over," she  teased. " Maybe," I acquiesce.


But as I consider this further I decide it is more than that.

It can best be summed up in one word RESPONSE. 
Isn't that the critical element to what life doles out?
 Response; how is my response to that outstretched hand of life, 
         that may at times I feel have played harsh and unfair?
Can I extend my arm and shake the hand that has been playing against me for the whole game?

How do I respond to those sudden changes to my day that require a bit of grace and bending for someone else?

My response to a cutting remark from someone,  is the key to further pain or beautiful blessing.
I hope this makes sense, but response can make a huge difference to my day.

 I stand at the window of a new year, and look at all the footprints in the snow of children and dog and skis and sleds.
 I think about what may or may not come to pass this year and how so much of it is beyond my grasp.....
                   except for one  small but monumental reality,my RESPONSE.

I hold out my hand with courage and HOPE beyond my own.

New things, shiny things, have a certain awkwardness that I am not sure I am ready to embrace, but tentatively I stretch out my hand to accept the one being offered in a truce like manner,and
I gratefully accept the chance to get up and TRY and hope my response will be worthy.

                I just love the Serenity Prayer ,but it really is 
 all about the last line....so I have this plaque on my wall as a reminder 
 where to find wisdom.










Thank-you Susan for the book you sent, and this bookmark, which I will treasure, with the serenity prayer on it.






still gratitude abounds here:
275-sleeping in,276-daughter's who want to read  Bible through this year,277-having a campfire with friends in our woods,278-turkey soup,279- a fun New Years eve,280-skating outdoors on New years eve and admiring the lights in the city,281-impromtu invitations, 282-generosity,283-watching Ground hog day with hubby and laughing at the absurdity,284-Divine protection,( I say this a lot because I mean it a lot!) 285-cross country skiing,286-staying up late,287-observing characteristics in my children that make me happy,288-learning to tell them,289-libraries to visit,290-organizing and decluttering,291-hanging up the new calendar.