A Blog About Nothing? No, That's Not True

It seems as though I should be writing something...but I can't figure out what it is.  That is how my mind has been working (or not working) here lately.  Lots of thoughts go round and round and yet they don't appear to come out here...(Remember the little song, "The music goes round and round, whoa oh oh oh oh oh, and it comes out here"?)  (Tommy Dorsey days...before our time)

Yeah...that should tell you something...my brain is stuck in gear and it keeps going round and round...but nothing happens...So...this may just be a blog about nothing!  Remember the Jerry Seinfeld show...they said it started out as a "show about nothing"...and look what a hit it became!  So maybe there's hope for me yet!

Maybe I just need to get back to my "roots"...

and write about what I know...

This was the Psalm we read this morning in our devotions, and this is what I know best:  

Psalm 145 (portions thereof)

1.  I will extol You, my God, O King;

And I will bless Your name forever and ever.

2.  Every day I will bless You, 

and I will praise Your name forever and ever.

3.  Great is the Lord,

and greatly to be praised;

And His greatness is unsearchable.

4.  One generation shall praise 

Your works to another,

and shall declare Your mighty acts.

5.  I will meditate on the glorious splendor

of Your majesty,

and on Your wondrous works."

Yes, this is where I need to be...back to my roots...God's Word...where it all began... and every day, regardless of what other stuff may seem to be so important out there in blogland...I need to remember that my first order of business is to glorify God through the pages of this blog...to meditate  "on the glorious splendor of Your majesty and on Your wondrous works."  

There are plenty of blogs out there on every topic under the sun...and that's quite all right.  I sometimes dabble in other things too...and like to tell about it...but if I get too far away from my base...God's Word...I begin to falter and lose my focus.  Thankfully:

14.  "The Lord upholds all who fall,

and raises up all who are bowed down.

15.  The eyes of all look expectantly to You,

and You give them their food in due season.

16.  You open Your hand and satisfy the desire

of every living thing."

21.  My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord,

and all flesh shall bless His Holy Name

forever and ever."

You know, we have an awesome privilege here in "blogland"...to be able to declare God's "mighty acts"...and to "speak of the might of God's awesome acts."    I fear that someday someone may try to take this wonderful privilege away from us...and before that happens, I want to do my part to

11.  "They shall speak of the glory of Your kingdom,

and talk of Your power...

12.  To make known to the sons of men His mighty acts,

and the glorious majesty of His kingdom."

I hope you agree...this is what it's all about.

It's not  a blog about nothing at all!

It's about the most important thing in the universe!

13.  "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,

and Your dominion endures throughout all generations."

Praise God!!!

Amen!

(Pictures from around my neck of the woods, some from last year's deer families and also some from this year...they are just getting started...so hopefully there will be more to come!)

Motherhood: A "Labor of Love" Rerun from 5/9/10

This is a rerun from Mother's Day 2010, still appropriate today...read on:

"Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her: 'Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.'"  Proverbs 31:28-29

I imagine this is the key verse for today's celebrations...Mother's Day...an opportunity for children, both young and old, to show their appreciation for their Mothers in some way.  A phone call, a card, some flowers, taking her out to eat, serving her breakfast in bed, planting a new rosebush or other flowering plant in her yard, building her a birdhouse, going on a picnic that she doesn't have to prepare...these are all typical ways of showing our love and appreciation for our Mothers on one day of the year.  Some of my most favorite Mother's Day gifts were the home-made cards and gifts made by my children with their own little hands.  No matter what the gift, just the fact that you made the effort to show your love in some outward way means so much to the recipient of this gesture of love. 

This morning in my devotional reading the theme was about peace...based on John 14:27, "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you...Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid."

We mothers often have a difficult time finding peace...and keeping our hearts from being troubled or afraid.  How often during the years of raising our children can we remember having a sleepless night because we were concerned for the safety or well-being of one of our children? Perhaps we were hurting due to the loss of companionship with a child, whether because of him or her being away from home attending college, or off to battle in the armed forces, or other circumstances beyond our control...possibly a child was lost...lost in soul, a prodigal wandering far from the security and safety of home.  Whatever the reason for the separation, a mother's heart yearns for that comfort of knowing her child is safe and happy, no matter how old the child may be.

Someone shared this idea of a way to deal with this kind of worry, anxiety, or fear, and I like this concept...ask yourself, "Could this be labor?"  Instead of fighting against the fear, sorrow, or pain...give in to "the labor pains" and let them take you to the time of giving birth.  Working with the labor pains instead of fighting them brings you to that place of giving birth to new life...new hope, trust, and a sense of peace. Surrendering your anxiety to God allows Him the opportunity to give you rest.  For those of us who have experienced the pain of labor, we can remember the joy and peace and complete rest that followed the birth of our child...That is the same rest that God wants to give us today.

If today has not been a day of total joy for you as a mother because you are wrestling with the pain and anxiety of overwhelming concern for or loss of fellowship with your child, why not give this idea a try...surrender your control over these "labor pains" and let God take charge and bring you to a new birth of peace. This is a new concept for me as well...and I am working on it too.

May God's peace be your peace today. Amen.

This Rose of Sharon bush is blooming today for Mother's Day.
This bush was planted in memory of our son Matthew in the Memorial Garden at our home.
These blossoms are the first of the season, and I consider it
a heavenly bouquet, sent from heaven from our son just for Mother's Day.
What a heavenly gift!

Some Mother's Day Thoughts and Some Huge Answers to Prayer

Tomorrow is Mother's Day.  I have a lot of different kinds of thoughts going around in my mind.  Mostly good. Some a little sad...some quite glad...and most very, very thankful.

I've already written a lot (or shared some re-runs) of posts about my own mother for Mother's Day.  I've  mentioned my mother-in-law quite often as well.  If you click on any of the links above that are highlighted, you can re-read some of those posts/thoughts from times past.

Tonight I think I will just list some of the wonderful ways God has blessed this Mother's Day...for me, and for others.

Today we surprised my sweet mother in law with the whole family showing up at the nursing home to wish her a Happy Mother's Day! She was totally surprised and thrilled.

Here we are all together:

This is "Nanny" with her grand-children who were present...

And here she is with her two sons:

And also with some good friends who came along to help us celebrate with her...

As you can see, she was a happy Mama!  We had such a good time...and I know she hated to see us go, but yet she is so content there that she wouldn't want to go with us for anything!
This is a huge answer to many prayers, and we are very grateful to the Lord.

This was just as much a Mother's Day gift for me as it was for her. It was wonderful to have our family together and to enjoy this time of joy and laughter. After our visit in the nursing home, the family enjoyed a great lunch together at a local fun restaurant...and we had such a good time no one wanted to leave there either!  Plus, the good news was...it was finally raining outside! Such another huge answer to many prayers!! So it was great to sit inside the restaurant and visit and not rush outside. The waitstaff didn't even seem to mind that all 12 of us were taking up so much space for so long!

I have another special reason to be joyful...but nothing is official and I can't tell anyone yet.  I'll have to wait for permission from others before I can spill the beans.  But it's exciting to this mother's heart, and another HUGE answer to many long years of prayer...so stay tuned.

These lovely flowers are from one of my sweet sons and a friend...









Another happy, but kind of bittersweet thing happened for my mother's day celebration.  I went to the "Memorial Garden" this morning...the place we have set aside as a memorial to our son Matthew, who went to be with the Lord three years ago...and I was so thrilled to see these special flowers blooming there for me for Mother's Day...I believe a special bouquet from Matthew:

This beautiful Rose of Sharon flower is the first bloom of the year!  This bush was planted in memory of Matthew, selected especially by his wife when she was here for his memorial service.  I hope she will see this post and know that it was blooming for us for Mother's Day.  (She lives in Maine, so isn't here very often...but I will be sure to share this with her)

  This is another picture of the same blossom, but it was just so pretty with the early morning soft raindrops on it...another blessing of the day...and there is another bud waiting to open maybe tomorrow?  On the real day for Mother's Day?  We'll have to check and see in the morning...

And these Easter Lilies have become "Mother's Day Lilies"....blooming about a month too late for Easter, but perfect timing for Mother's Day here in the Memorial Garden.  Another special blessing.

I was so thrilled to see them finally blooming after waiting all month since Easter wondering when they would ever appear!  God's perfect timing!  And there are several more waiting to open...maybe tomorrow as well!!!

While I was sitting there in the Memorial Garden (this evening), this little Hummingbird flew up to the feeder for a drink, and I happened to see her just in time to get a picture...

I was also enjoying the chiming of the beautiful copper windchimes that were created especially for Matthew's Memorial Garden by a dear friend of ours...The Dove of peace is at the top, followed by a moose, a fish, and at the bottom a sunburst, (but I don't think you can see that in this picture)  These are all things that remind us of Matthew...he was an avid outdoorsman from Maine.

Just another side view of the garden...getting very full of shade and more beautiful every day...especially now that we've had a little rain!

I read this Psalm this morning in our devotions:

Psalm 98

1.  "Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!

For He has done marvelous things;

His right hand and His holy arm have gained Him the victory.

2.  The Lord has made known His salvation;

His righteousness He has revealed in the sight of the nations.

3.  He has remembered His mercy 

and His faithfulness to the house of Israel;

All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.

4.  Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth;

Break forth in song, rejoice,

and sing praises.

5.  Sing to the Lord with the harp,

with the harp and the sound of a psalm,

6.  With trumpets and the sound of a horn;

Shout joyfully before the Lord, the King.

7.  Let the sea roar, and all its fullness,

The world and those who dwell in it;

8.  Let the rivers clap their hands;

Let the hills be joyful together before the Lord,

9.  For He is coming to judge the earth.

With righteousness He shall judge the world,

and the peoples with equity."

I would like to repeat the first part of the first verse...

"Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!

For He has done marvelous things!"

Yes, He has done marvelous things, and this mother is very glad.  Yes, He has given us some "huge answers" to prayer in so many ways...and has caused us to rejoice in the marvelous things He has done.  Oh, yes, there have been some very sad times and heartbreaks...but our God is a loving and merciful God...and

"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing;

You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness,

To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent.

O Lord my God,

I will give thanks to You forever."

Psalm 30:11-12

Amen.

I pray that each and every one of you sweet mothers reading this will be blessed on Mother's Day and beyond...and that you will be able to say of the Lord:

"Oh, sing to the Lord a new song!

For He has done marvelous things!"

Happy Mother's Day!

The Pie Legacy - Updated for Friday Foto Friends

This post was originally written on 5/5/2012...and since this Friday Foto Friends day also is the Friday before Mother's Day, I thought it would be appropriate to share this one today.  I wish I could say that those pies were just baked by me here today...but alas...that hasn't happened in a while!  It's been a bit too warm for pie baking here recently...but reading this sure makes me want some of my mother's pies again!  

So, I hope you won't mind this little walk down memory lane with me today as we look forward to Mother's Day and invite our Friday Foto Friends  to come in for a taste of homemade pie! Click HERE to go over to Deb's at Breathing in Grace and meet our other Friday Foto Friends

Original Post 5/5/2012:

"Her children rise up and call her blessed..."  Proverbs 31:28

I really hadn't planned to write about my mother today...but somehow I haven't been able to get away from the memories...so I may as well put it into writing...

It all started when my husband suggested that I make some homemade applesauce today, and he proceeded to peel and cut up the apples. Since he was doing the hardest part...I suggested that perhaps I should just make an apple pie instead of applesauce.  We then took a vote of all the family members present...two of our adult sons and us...and as you can imagine, everyone voted for pie!  Therefore I proceeded to take stock of my ingredients to make sure I had everything I needed...and of course I just happened to have everything...so there was no getting out of it today!

My Mom---Always enthusiastically baking
pies for every holiday...even the 4th of July!

So, what does that have to do with my mother?  Well, only that my mother was somewhat famous for her pie baking...not just in our home and family, but even in the small town in which we lived...everyone loved Dorothea's pies!  Town's people often requested that she bake pies for them for their Thanksgiving dinners and paid her for them!  I don't know how she found the time to do it! She worked a full time job and had a pretty busy life with her own home and family and church activities as well...but somehow she found the time and the recipients of her delicious home-made pies were always most grateful! 

Because my mother's pies were always so scrumptious and perfectly baked...right down to the tender, flaky crust, I was always a little timid about baking pies, knowing that mine could never be quite as perfect as my mother's! But that's okay...I prefer to remember hers as always being the best...no matter how much I may practice. Her two most famous pies were  #1: Coconut Cream Pie with Meringue, and #2: Apple.  She also made Mince Meat pies for my Dad and my brothers at Thanksgiving and Christmas, but that would not make the top of the list for me!  Her Pumpkin pie was also a great favorite.



This weekend (in 2012 when this was written) happens to be the 6th anniversary (now, in 2017, it has been 11 years) of my mother's passing on to glory...and as I stood at my kitchen counter rolling out the pie dough I couldn't help but think about the fact that I was, in my own way, carrying on her legacy. Not that my pies will ever be as spectacular as hers...but they will be a way that I can honor her memory and continue the tradition of making something extra special for my family to enjoy.

My son quietly came in and took some pictures of me working in the kitchen...and as I looked at them later, I thought, "I really don't look much like my mother, but I felt like her today...and I sensed her presence with me, looking over my shoulder as I worked the pie dough and and as I put the ingredients together to make the pie just the way I know she would've done.  It was an ethereal connection...as if she was standing next to me, just a breath away, and I found that very comforting.

Upon looking forward to Mother's Day next week with mixed emotions as I have for the past six  (now 11) years, I find myself still missing her just as much this year as I did the first Mother's Day without her, (which incidentally was the Sunday following her death).  They say it gets easier with time, and perhaps it does...but what I find now is that I want to celebrate my mother's life rather than be sorrowful.  My mother was a godly woman with many wonderful talents and qualities.  She wasn't perfect...but she was the Proverbs 31 woman in so many ways. I thank God for that heritage most of all. 

"Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her;

Many daughters have done well, but you excel them all.  Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,

But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.

Give her of the fruit of her hands, and let her own works praise her in the gates." 

Proverbs 31:28-31

This Coconut Cream Pie, baked from my mother's recipe, was an afterthought today, when I
realized I had made too much pie crust for one pie!  It was a
delightful afterthought, I might say!

My husband definitely gave the Coconut Cream Pie a Thumbs Up!

Mmmm...Apple pie---fresh out of the oven...almost as
good as Mama's!

Anybody want some pie?  Y'all come!

Baked in loving memory of my mother,

Dorothea Tedlie Mursch

January 6, 1917 ~ May 7, 2006

I love you Mama.

Things That Make Me Wanna Cry Tears of Joy -Revisited

The following post was written originally on 10/23/13, but I was looking for some "mother's day" thoughts and this one popped up, and even though it wasn't written specifically for Mother's Day, I think it fits.

This same son is now 40, and currently is living at home, so I get to see him and tell him I love him every day now...which is something I don't take for granted anymore.  After losing one of our precious sons to cancer three years ago, we never let a day go by without telling our sons (2 adult sons, both currently living at home, at least for now) that we love them...and we tell them to be careful when they go out the door to go to work, and we pray for their safety...and we always are relieved and thankful when they return home safely each night.  Little things like this story written below are precious moments...again, not to be taken for granted.

So, at this Mother's Day time of year, I know many of you mothers are expecting something special from your children.  But I say take a moment each day to say a prayer for your kids, no matter how old they are or how far away from home they may be...and let them know how much you appreciate all the little ways they demonstrate their love for you throughout the year, not just on this one day.

Original Post from 10/23/2013:

I was kind of missing my youngest son this afternoon.  He's 36, and lives not too far away, but works a lot of nights and weekends, so he doesn't get home to visit much anymore. I actually called his cell phone on my way home from work today just to say hi and tell him I loved him and that I miss him and we'd love to have him drop by sometime or give us a call. Of course, it went directly to his voice mail because he was most likely at work. Since he's a cook at a busy restaurant I knew he couldn't answer his phone. But I just wanted to touch base with him and let him know I was thinking about him. He'll probably call back tomorrow when he wakes up.

Well, a few minutes ago I went into the kitchen to get a snack and then into the adjoining dining room to close the blinds for the night.  As I shut the blinds I paused and looked at my special "Tea Time" Calendar that is on the wall

above the bookshelves where I keep my books about tea parties and a few tea pots, cups, cookbooks and other "girl stuff".  I usually don't write on this particular calendar because it is kind of a keepsake, with beautiful photos and recipes, and stories about tea time.

This is a standard Christmas gift from my sister each year and she knows she'd better not forget to give it to  me or I'll be asking if she forgot where she put it! (Our mother used to buy gifts for us ahead of time and then forget where she put them when it came time for Christmas).

Anyway, I happened to notice that something was written on the first day of the month, October 1st. I didn't recall writing anything there, and I was pretty sure my husband wouldn't write on this particular calendar either as it is a little out of the way of the telephone and the other spots where we usually write our appointments.  So I looked a little closer, and realized that this was our son's handwriting...(and spelling)

with his own special brand of goofy faces...it says,
"Scott changed your calendar w/love"...

I guess you know I cried.  I missed him today, and here I discovered that on October 1st, he was here and wrote on my calendar such a precious message..."w/love". 

I know I've seen him here at least once since October 1st, but this is the first time I've seen this note.

It's stuff like this that makes me love my kids more and more. Yeah, he's 36, but he's still my "baby".  I guess I'll always be kind of mushy when it comes to my kids, no matter how old they are.

Postscript added later as I was replying to a comment from a friend:  "Isn't it amazing the little things that bring joy to a mother's heart? Think how much more joy we bring to our heavenly Father when we say words of praise and love from our hearts to Him...I should've added that above, but it's still sinking in."

Now this calendar really is a "keepsake"! And my son? Well, he's a "keeper" too!

What kind of things make YOU want to cry tears of joy?

Be a Barnabus!

It seems as though I'm running around in circles in my head...not focusing on any one thing, but bouncing from one to another and not accomplishing much in the process.

(These little bunnies were running around and around in circles this morning, chasing each other and going from one blade of grass to another...)

I've wanted to write something fresh and meaningful and deep...but it seems as thought I've run out of the fresh, meaningful, deep stuff, and seem to be majoring in the stale, frivolous, and shallow...

These Sandhill Cranes seem to be stuck in the sand and are trying to figure out where to go...

Perhaps we all go through such stages in our daily lives and in our spiritual journey as well.  I'm not sure how or when I got off track...but it feels like I have been floundering and am bogged down in the soft sand, unable to get any traction to get going again.

But this morning in my devotions I read about Barnabus, whose name is also translated "Son of Encouragement" according to Acts 4:36...and what I read this morning was actually in Acts 11:21-26, particularly verses 23 and 24:

"When he (Barnabus) came and had seen the grace of God, 

he was glad, 

and encouraged them all that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord.

For he was a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith.

And a great many people were added to the Lord."

And I felt encouraged just by reading about Barnabus, "a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith," and how he was remembered in the establishment of the early church, primarily at the city of Antioch...and how "the disciples were first called Christians in Antioch."  (Acts 11:26)

Wow! What a powerful testimony!!! Barnabus doesn't have a lot of information written about him in the Bible, but what is written is so powerful...to be known as a "Son of Encouragement"...and to be one of the early church "missionaries" that actually helped set us apart to be known as "Christians" tells me that his witness and faithfulness encouraged many many new believers in their walk with Christ...and that is a worthy and holy calling from God.

We may not think that what we do here in our little blog-land has all that much impact or value...and probably Barnabus, being a humble but devout and committed man of God, didn't think at the time that his role of encouragement would have that much of an impact on the future of all Christendom...but this story tells me that every word we say...every thought we share...has an impact.  If we are believers in Christ, our impact should be that of encouraging our sisters and brothers in their faith-walk...sharing what the Lord has taught us and shown us in our personal devotions and activities that has brought hope and encouragement to our own lives.

We may feel down and out and frustrated and burned out and be struggling with our own fears and heartaches...and yet, somehow, when we share here what God is doing in the midst of our struggles...and how He has blessed us with such joy and beauty all around us even when we may be hurting or grieving or wishing we could change things beyond our control...we do not realize how God may take our story and use it to lift up someone who is falling...someone who may be on the brink of giving up...someone who is lonely or frightened and feel they have no where to go or no one to turn to...and they can see that God is here with us in our struggles...and that gives them hope! That brings encouragement to their hearts...and the spirit of Barnabus is alive and well in us whether we realize it or not...just by being faithful to say what's on our hearts....

We never know...but what I DO know is that this lesson has encouraged ME today!  It has turned my focus outward instead of inward.  I want to be a Barnabus...I want to encourage my fellow sisters and brothers "that with purpose of heart they should continue with the Lord..."  Don't give up!  Keep moving forward in your walk with Christ.  Rest when you need to rest...refresh your hearts by spending time with the Lord...alone if necessary...don't try to do it all...lean on the Lord...and He will give you what you need to keep going....

I would like to take a moment to thank a fellow blogger, Mary at http://visitswithmary.blogspot.com/, for her wonderful post today from her Praise Journal.  Just when I was feeling down and frustrated about what to write, what to say, what to do...I read her post from her Praise Journal, and even though she didn't say a lot herself...it was the impact of what was quoted and shared that just seemed to be what I needed today to get back up and get moving! So Mary Jane, you get the award today for being a "Barnabus" to me...a "daughter" of encouragement...and I'm sure you didn't even realize that what you posted would have that effect.   That's what I'm talking about!  Just be faithful to say and do what ever the Lord lays on your heart...and it is going to speak to someone out there!

So, friends...just be faithful to the Lord and He will work through you...even when you are feeling down and out...He's always there...ready to encourage you and those around you when you least expect it!! You just might be a Barnabus to someone today!

A Vintage Moment

This is the post I really wanted to post today for Friday Foto Friends, but I couldn't get it together in time, and also those bears just wanted to steal the show!

Anyway, this past week we did something kind of special in a bittersweet kind of way.  I know many of you are aware that several months ago we had to place my sweet Mother in law in a nursing home after years of sharing her care-giving back and forth (Click HERE for more about her story) between my husband's brother & family and us.  The good news is she loves it there and is doing so much better than we ever dreamed could be possible...and that has been a real positive answer to a very difficult dilemma.   But now we are faced with what to do about her home and the furnishings that are still there.  We can't sell the house yet because of legalities, but we don't want to leave all of her things there for others to break in and steal or in some other way vandalize.  So the decision has been made to start cleaning things out and taking the things that are valuable in any way...(sentimental or otherwise), and then we will donate what's left to a local charity.

So, this week we met our brother in law there and we made some decisions about what was being kept, and what would have to "go".  Consequently we came home with a truck load of some furnishings and other "vintage" items that were sentimental.

The "vintage" items are the things that I loved the most, and I thought you would enjoy seeing a few of them.

First of all, I have a soft spot in my heart for vintage linens of any kind, but especially some that were embroidered or hand made in any way.  And most especially if I know who did the needlework...then that makes it ultra special, no matter what the condition.

My husband's grandmother used to embroider pillowcases, tablecloths, table doilies and other special items.  Way back when we cleaned out HER house after her death, I received a lot of things that she had made...but not all of them.  Apparently my mother in law had saved back some special ones to keep herself...and these are some of what we found.  I split up some of the items to give to my sister in law so she will have some for her family as well.

I just love these pillow cases.  Thankfully this matched pair was in pretty good shape and still functional...

This lovely table runner for a dressing table or chest of drawers top has this sweet little girl with her poodle design on both ends.  Sadly, the other end is badly stained, and I am studying on ways to clean it without damaging the fragile fibers and threads. Any suggestions out there are very welcome!

There was only one of this designed pillowcase...but it is also so lovely and in great shape.

This is another table runner that has several bad stains...so I will need to gently clean it if I can...

This is one of two monogrammed pillow cases...PM stood for Pearl Martin, who was my husband's grandmother (His mother's mother).  I wanted this because my original initials were also PM for my maiden name...and when I got married, I kept my maiden last name as my middle name and added Steiner, which made my initials PMS.  There have been many fun conversations over that!

Here is another pair of embroidered pillow cases...the lace edge is a little torn in places, but otherwise they aren't in too bad of shape.  I just love the colors!

Now here's a real beauty! This is actually a flower vase!  These styles of vases were very popular back in the 50's...and this one is so beautiful...I just couldn't resist her! She actually reminds me of my mother in law, who was a beautician and always kept her hair so lovely!

Here's a picture of my mother in law and my father in law, back when they were newlyweds.  They were a very handsome couple.

Something else we brought home was this vintage bed, which originally belonged to my husband's father's family...and is the only piece of furniture we have that came from the Steiner side of the family.  It is a full size bed with a headboard and footboard...probably dates circa 1930's or thereabouts....

I love that I can finally use this vintage sheet (Click HERE for more about this sheet!) that I got some time ago and didn't have a full size bed to use it on...

And I also have a place to use these wonderful pillowcases (for special guests!)

And we also got this lovely quilted bedspread that came with the bed, which originally belonged to my husband's Aunt Nelly. (It's not an antique quilt, but just very pretty and perfect for this bed)

I had to wash it and hang it on the line to dry first...and thankfully the chickadees have moved out of the birdhouse beside the clothesline, so no birdies did anything to laundry while it was hanging there...

And of course, this lovely vintage bed needed a doll...so I pulled this sweet little "Brush Arbor" doll out of a dresser drawer and thought she looked just right on this bed...at least for now... I may change dolls periodically depending upon my mood...

Here is the information about this doll, which was given to me as a gift many years ago by my brother in law.

So, I think it is fitting to end this post with a picture of my sweet mother in law and my hubby, on one of our recent visits to the nursing home. She has been learning to paint and color and play Bingo, along with making new friends there.

Proverbs 31:28-31

28.  Her children rise up and call her blessed;
Her husband also, and he praises her:
29. “Many daughters have done well,
But you excel them all.”
30. Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing,
But a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised.
31. Give her of the fruit of her hands,
And let her own works praise her in the gates.

I probably could save this post for Mother's Day, but since that is coming up soon, this will help set the tone for that celebration!

Have a blessed and happy weekend my friends!!