What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?

What Do You See Outside YOUR Open Window Today?
Remember: "When God closes a door, He always opens a window!" You never know what might be out there waiting for you!

Sunday, October 27, 2019

Weekend Reflections



 Wondering how everyone's weekend was?  Ours was pretty good, for the most part.  Saturday morning we went "to town" with the "kids" for breakfast and to visit a sale at a "warehouse" behind a vintage furnishings store...but before I get into that, I want you to see a couple of the interesting murals that are painted on walls of buildings in downtown Palatka.  This one below is a picture of that downtown street, judging by the scene it must have been in the 1800's...and there was a tightrope walker with the circus that had come to town:




This gives you a better perspective on where this mural is painted on the side of the building:

Here is another one on a building across the street from that one.  There are many such interesting and historical murals throughout the downtown area of Palatka. Sometime I will try to get pictures of all of them to share with you. They are fascinating!

We went to breakfast with our "kids", at the Magnolia Cafe'.  (Same place I went for my birthday a few weeks ago).  Sorry kids, I caught you with your mouths full...

Same thing, sorry hubby...He was trying to swallow his biscuit before I took the picture! LOL.


And here I am, sharing my cup of tea with you:

I thought the chandelier above our table was worthy of note:


As were these photos of an old truck on the wall...

From breakfast we walked into the store next door, "Urban Farmhouse", where our kids have sold several of these farmhouse style console tables that they build:


And from there we went into the "warehouse" that was having a sale of some old items that still needed to be refinished or repurposed...I did find something that I am going to be doing as a project, but I will save that for another post so I can give it more time and space...

It was a great morning...and then the kids went home and worked on building more tables because they had more orders! And later in the day they came to our house for supper...the first real "fall supper" of the season...I forgot to take a picture...but we had a delicious fall meal. My daughter in law provided baked acorn squash and mashed potatoes, and I cooked a pork shoulder roast in sauerkraut and apples in the crock pot all day long, which was perfect with the mashed potatoes and squash.  We also had some zucchini squash with onions to balance out the meal.  (Followed by a Marie Callender's Coconut Cream pie for dessert! I didn't want to heat up the oven since it was not a very cool fall day after all)  I was so happy when my daughter in law said she loved sauerkraut...I was a little nervous because I didn't ask her before hand if she liked it.  I mean, these kids are just about to celebrate their 2nd anniversary in a couple of weeks...so I don't know everything about her yet! But what I know I love. We are so blessed to have her in our family!

On a more somber note, I learned this weekend of the passing of a very dear friend in New Hampshire.  I have not seen this friend for several years since we haven't been able to get back up there, but our friendship goes back many years from when we served in the ministry there and she and her family were members of our church.  My friend has not been well for the past few years, but I was surprised to learn that she was in hospice care this past week and then passed away early Saturday morning. It really hit me by surprise and I guess I feel a little guilty that I had not been very communicative with her for the past few years. You know, we get busy in our own lives and sometimes distance and circumstances keep us apart...but her passing has hit me kind of hard. She is the second very dear friend that has passed away in the last few months, and they are both named Sharon, and they both have last names that begin with "W".  And they were both amazing Christian women who gave of themselves so much to others...never expecting anything in return.  Here is a picture of me with this friend, along with another  mutual dear friend. Sharon is in the middle:

This picture was taken in 2014, when our son was dying of cancer in a hospice house in Maine. My friend Nancy, on the far left, was my son's mother in law, and she was there with us as family. But my friend Sharon came to visit us, to comfort and encourage us at a very difficult time. What is interesting is, Nancy and I are grandmothers to our grandson Noah. Nancy and Sharon both share a grandson who is a week younger than Noah (and is also Noah's cousin!).  So we were all becoming grandma's at the same time...and that was 20 years ago!

If you are a facebook friend you have already heard about this, so I apologize for repeating the same thing.  Sharon used to send me little notes, often with a lady's cotton handkerchief tucked inside...and she would always quote the title to the song "His Eye is on the Sparrow" as a little word of encouragement.  I said earlier that when I learned she had passed away, I imagined I could hear her singing, "I sing because I'm happy! I sing because I'm free!"...as she is now free from her body of death and enjoying the joys of heaven (and reunited with her hubby after several years) in a brand new heavenly body. 

Years ago, when we moved away from NH, my friend gave me these special things:

She knew I liked dolls, and she gave me this sweet doll, who I named "Rose of Sharon". (Little did I know then that someday I would also have a daughter in law named Rose!) 

She gave me this plaque, which reads:

I have often thought of Sharon as one of those special "angels sent down to walk with me." A truer friend one could not ever find.

And last, but not least, when she learned that I was having some surgery many years ago, she sent me this very soft and cuddly bunny, along with a wonderful soft cotton nightgown. I wore the nightgown until it finally wore out...but the bunny continues to comfort me and has served me well through several surgeries. I call her my "Boo Boo Bunny", because she fits perfectly over any place that is hurting and keeps me from re-injuring myself...but also because she is a reminder of a very sweet, humble, compassionate friend that I am feeling very sad to no longer have the joy of seeing here on earth...


But praise be to God, through Jesus Christ, as believers we know that we will one day be together again in heaven for eternity!  There will be many happy reunions on that day...but most of all, we will finally see Jesus face to face, and sing the story, "Saved by Grace" by Fanny Crosby

Please treasure your friends and family...write that note, send that card...don't put it off...that is what I am learning the hard way. 

Have a blessed week...hug a neck and tell your friends and family you love them!

24 comments:

  1. I'm so glad you can now get together with the "kids" just because. It really is a blessing. I'm sorry about your friend but the angels in heaven are rejoicing that she has run a good race. It is hard these days to keep in touch with friends and even family near or far so it is a blessing when we are able to do so. I'm glad you have a precious memento of her to give you comfort. Hugs and have a nice week ahead.

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    1. We are very thankful to be near our kids. They are very dear and special to us. But we are also thankful to be making some good friends here in our church as well. Thank you for your kind thoughts. Yes, Sharon has run a good race. She beat breast cancer but then had Parkinson's, and I think it all just finally wore her down. I know Jesus was there to welcome her "home" at last.

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  2. My deepest sympathy in the loss of your dear friend.
    I love the photos of you and the "kids" enjoying breakfast and shopping. Congrats to them on the sale of their lovely tables.
    I all love the murals. The tightrope walker reminds me of Walenda's crossing of Tallulah Gorge here in GA!
    God bless you today. xo

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    1. Would you believe, my husband was there when Wallenda crossed Tallulah Gorge many years ago (1971 I think). We were living at Toccoa Falls College at the time, and hubby was a part of the civil defense team that went to help out that day. I did not go, but wish now that I had. It was quite a memorable day! Thank you for your kind words. It seems as though the older we get, we are saying farewell to too many of our friends who are close in age. So thankful for heaven's promise!

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  3. My sympathy for the passing of your friend...so many blogging friends I feel are truly real to me more so than family (does that makes sense?)? I hope you have a lovely week ahead, smiles.

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    1. Yes, that does make sense. Because we are in almost daily communication here, sharing some of our deepest thoughts and daily activities...and our own family and some friends don't pay that much attention. But then again, even though I had not seen this dear friend in several years and had not heard much directly from her because of her illness (she had Parkinson's) I knew that we were still the same friends as always in our hearts, and when we see each other again someday in heaven we will rejoice to be together as friends again. Time and space will no longer be an issue. Praise God.

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  4. Thank you for your post. I want to always treasure friends and family. Have a blessed week.

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    1. Thank you, Karen. Yes, we sometimes take our friends/family for granted, and then we are taken by surprise when God calls them home suddenly. We need to always be ready...but also need to treasure the times we can together here.

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  5. Heavenly. That's the only word I can find to say about this post.

    "I mean, these kids are just about to celebrate their 2nd anniversary in a couple of weeks...so I don't know everything about her yet! But what I know I love. We are so blessed to have her in our family!"

    :) oh...I bet things like this make her feel very loved.

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    1. Thank you. I don't know if she reads my blog, but I think she knows how much I love her. She was such an answer to prayer for our son, and for us too. One of those special miracle stories.

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  6. Oh my, I enjoyed reading about your Saturday. Your fall meal sounds so good, I've never had pork roast with sauerkraut and apples, I must try that. Sorry to hear about your friend's passing, she left you with some precious memories.

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    1. The pork roast with sauerkraut and apples is so easy. Just add a can (or bag) of sauerkraut to the roast, and slice an apple to mix in with the sauerkraut. I also added a can of low sodium chicken broth to add a little more liquid. Cooked in the crock pot on low for about 8-9 hours. (I did seer the roast before putting it in the crock pot to seal in the juices). It was great! The apples help sweeten and tone down the sauerkraut flavor, and also add moisture to the meat. Easy peasy! Thank you for your kind thoughts. It just seems like too many of our friends are passing on at our "young" age. I guess I thought we'd all live to be old ladies. But God always knows best...and we have eternity to look forward to.

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  7. Enjoyed your post dear Pam. I have been to Palatka several times many years ago but for the life of me cannot remember seeing the mural. Very interesting. What a great get-together with the kids! You sound and look so very happy Pam. I am so sorry about your sweet and precious friend. YES...we surely do need to take the time to visit, send a card, phone call, something. My friend told me about this song she wanted me to listen too and first of all, I am so glad I chose to listen to it alone because I was a total mess with tears. But one of the lines in the song said, "love the people that God gives you because one day He will want them back". How we take family and yes, precious friendships in our lives for granite at times. Enjoyed all the pictures Pam. Hugs and blessings, Cindy

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    1. I don't know how long ago the murals were painted, but it is a part of the restoration of the old downtown area, and almost every old building has a mural painted on it. Even one of Billy Graham being baptized. I will have to go find that and take a picture of it to share. Palatka might be a good place to meet sometime! I don't know if I've heard that song, but I can imagine it would choke me up so probably won't listen to it right now. I've been a little "choked up" everytime I think about my sweet friend. I didn't know she was that sick, and that makes me feel so bad.

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  8. What a fun morning you had with your son and dear DIL!! I love the murals. Lakeland has some too and it sure brightens up the area. I am sorry for the loss of your friend, Sharon. I did express my condolences on FB and know how much she meant to you. Hugs!!

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    1. We did have a great day with our kids...so thankful to have them so near by. Someday I will have to come to Lakeland and see the murals and YOU of course, along with other sights! Thank you for your kinds thoughts. It's just hard seeing so many dear friends go so soon!

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  9. So sorry to hear of the passing of your dear friend, Sharon, Pamela. By showing us those precious gifts she gave to you at the times you needed comfort speaks volumes about her heart and generosity. I know you will miss her!
    On the bright side, glad you could spend time with the "kids." The food looks scrumptious! And those murals? Oh, please do share more of these with us in a future post.
    Blessings!

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    1. Thank you, Martha. Yes, Sharon was a very sincere, humble, loving, and wise friend. Even though we were far apart all these years, it was always comforting to me to know she was there...and now I just feel a little "empty". But I know where she is, and someday we will meet again. She's blessed to be with Jesus already. And yes, being with our kids was a great joy. We are so thankful to be living near them, and that they actually enjoy our company too! I will be sure to post more pictures of the murals as I get around to look at each of them.

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  10. I loved seeing the murals on the buildings. Yes, we should be more attentive to our friends. We never know what is in store for them or us. I had a similar experience in July. I love that Rose of Sharon doll. That bunny rabbit is precious.

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    1. Thank you, Cecelia. Yes, it is hard to say "good-bye" to our friends, but we know that in Christ, we will see them again someday. Sharon was such a dear, sweet and wise friend. I am glad I have these mementos, but I miss knowing that she is here...I guess I wasn't expecting her to go so suddenly. That's why we should always keep up with our loved ones and friends, because none of us is guaranteed tomorrow. BTW, did your camera come yet? Just wondering!!

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  11. I don't eat pork but I do like smoked turkey or beef Polish sausage and I cook that with well rinsed German sauerkraut and apples. Then I boil potatoes and make potatoes in parsley butter with it. Its very good.
    Sorry about your friend.
    I know what Linda means about blogging friends and I wonder if it is because we talk and share ourselves and our lives. That is something many don't do anymore, they just chit chat but no reality is shared as we often do. It pulls people close. I love my blogging friends like family. I wish we were all in one area together.

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    1. I am sure the smoked turkey or beef polish sausage would also be very good with the sauerkraut and apples. I like the apples especially cooked with it to make it milder and sweeter. And potatoes with parsley butter sounds delicious too! Thank you for your kind thoughts. Yes, I agree with you and Linda that we feel closer to one another here because we do share more of ourselves on a regular basis, sometimes daily, whereas many of our "friends who live in close proximity" may not have the time to communicate as regularly...and we don't often have the time to just sit down and really visit. We may see each other in passing at church or work or wherever, but people are generally too busy to visit and "chit chat" over a cup of tea or coffee anymore. I feel like that is what we do here in blogland...we have a virtual tea party going all the time, and it is delightful! I also love my blogging friends like family, and I agree with you...it would be so wonderful to be in one area together...but then we might fall into the same "trap" of not visiting as often as we do here. Someday maybe we will have a room in heaven where we can all meet and chit chat for eternity! :)

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  12. Beautiful post, Pam. I'm so sorry about the loss of your friend. She really was special.

    Loved the pictures of family trying to eat breakfast while you kept snapping pictures (I've done the very same thing!!)

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    1. Thank you, Barbara. Yes, Sharon was such a sweet, humble, and compassionate friend. I feel so badly that I wasn't aware that she was that sick. She didn't do Facebook or blogging, having Parkinson's, and she lived with her daughter and family. But I would see pictures of her on Facebook with her family, and she always looked good. I'm not sure just what precipitated this final downturn, but it may have just been a gradual decline. AT any rate, I feel badly that I was not aware and her passing really took me by surprise.

      Yes, the kids were trying to swallow quickly so I could take their pictures...but of course you know me... I am rather impetuous and spontaneous...gotta get that picture now or I'll just forget! LOL.
      Thinking of you with your family this week, and praying all goes well. Take your time and try to enjoy your time together as much as possible. You will be so glad you did. Take care. Blessings...

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