Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day! I've always gotten a little amused, because on this special day lots of folks "claim" some Irish descent. I happen to be among them-LOL! From what I was told as a child, there truly is some Irish blood on my Mother's side of the family. Now that I have 3 redhaired children, they could certainly pass for having Irish heritage! ~ When I taught kindergarten, St. Patrick's Day was always a fun time with the children. A leprechaun would "visit" my classroom while we were on the playground, and he would leave little notes for us---along with making some harmless "messes" in our classroom. The children loved searching for him, and then discovering the "gold" he left for us (chocolate candy wrapped in gold foil). ~ I have also enjoyed reading the history of why this holiday was started, and the Christian heritage of St. Patrick. Whatever you're doing on this day, I hope you're having a blessed day filled with sunshine. * I'm including a picture of Sweetums as she celebrated St. Patrick's Day last year!*

A PROMISE FOR SPRING

I've just finished reading another book by Christian author, Kim Vogel Sawyer, and LOVED this story! A Promise for Spring is set in Kansas in the 1870's and tells the story of a young English woman trying to adjust to life on a sheep ranch. Her fiance asks her to stay until spring; if she's still unhappy then, he will pay her fare back to England. ~ As she always does, Kim Vogel Sawyer writes in such a way that you are drawn into the events of the story and feel the emotions of the characters. A Promise for Spring also shows amazing ways God can work --touching a hardened heart and using situations that appear hopeless to result in a positive outcome. ~ Kim Vogel Sawyer was already one of my VERY favorite authors, and after reading this book I am once again reminded of why I love her writing style. If you are a fan of historical romance, you should read A Promise for Spring by Kim Vogel Sawyer. HIGHLY recommended! : )

The "Babies" are One Year Old!!

I cannot believe it's been an entire year since a stray Calico cat had her four kittens on my front porch! Animals are much smarter than many people realize....this Calico knew whose porch she needed to use as a "maternity ward". Anyone who knows me at all knows I am the "ultimate CAT person" - LOL! Even though I already had several cats, I certainly couldn't turn away this sweet Calico (now named Patches).

The original plan was to keep one kitten and find excellent homes for the other three....but after tearfully placing one white kitten (Simon) with a loving owner, I just never found homes for Levi, Delilah, and Moses. SO.....Patches and the three remaining kittens happily live in my home now - - along with two older cats. Yes, they're a LOT of work (especially the litter box cleanings) but they are so worth it. I cannot imagine a home with no kitties now! Happy Birthday Babies!!

Last Chance, California

I recently finished reading another book from Summerside Press, Love Finds You in Last Chance, California by Christian author Miralee Ferrell and LOVED it !! This well-written, entertaining story is set in 1877 and centers around a young woman who suddenly inherits a ranch when her beloved father dies. She's determined to be successful, but realizes she needs help. A young wrangler comes into town, along with his very young son, and is soon hired to work on the ranch. ~ Lots of action, mysteries, and a developing romance kept me turning pages. The way Miralee describes the characters and settings made me feel that I was actually "watching" the story....it really came alive for me, and I love that in a book! I can honestly say I was sorry to reach the end of this book - - I wanted to continue reading about these characters. ~ I highly recommend Love Finds You in Last Chance, California by Miralee Ferrell for a delightful, never-dull book!

Humble, Texas

I've recently finished reading another book from Summerside Press, Love Finds You in Humble, Texas by Christian author Anita Higman, and I definitely recommend this book. I enjoyed Anita's style of writing, and if I had to choose one word to describe this book, it would be: ENTERTAINING ! I was never "bored" while reading the story, and I especially liked the bits of humor Anita used in her characters' thoughts. Love Finds You in Humble, Texas tells a present-day story of two sisters who are in love with the same man. As I read I was never sure exactly what would happen next, which of course kept me reading and interested! Anita's characters are realistic, and the faith message is woven in throughout the story (without being "preachy"). The secondary characters are even interesting too, which made the story all the more a pleasure to read. ~ If you're looking for an entertaining Christian book, read Love Finds You in Humble, Texas by Anita Higman. Now I'm looking forward to reading more of the Summerside Press "Love Finds You" books, AND more books by Anita Higman!! : )

Remembering Daddy

Two years ago today (January 22) my precious Daddy went to Heaven. Although he had been quite ill, we all expected him to recover, as he had always done in the past. He was a survivor, and we expected him to survive his health issues that had begun just a matter of weeks before his passing. Over the years, he had overcome some major heart problems, prostate cancer, and other serious conditions. I firmly believe one reason is because he wanted to be here for us: He was ALWAYS the Daddy! He felt his job was to take care of his family, no matter how old his daughters were. When we'd do things for him, he would always say: "It's not your job to do for me; I'm the daddy---I'm supposed to do things for you!" ~ A graduate of Georgia Tech, my Daddy was the smartest man I've ever known, and as a hospital volunteer said shortly before his death: "Your father is a walking encyclopedia of knowledge." I couldn't agree more.~ By the world's standards, my Daddy wasn't a wealthy man, but by his standards, he was. He loved his family so much, and he also loved animals. (He had five cats at the time of his death). It was very hard after my sweet Mama passed away (they'd been married almost 64 years!) but Daddy's cats were his companions. Over the years, whenever a stray cat or dog wandered into the yard, Daddy made sure the animal was fed and cared for. He loved wildlife too, and sent many donations to help care for sick or injured wild animals, in addition to the Humane Society. ~ But the most important thing about my Daddy was that he truly loved the Lord, and so now we have the comfort and peace of knowing Daddy is in Heaven, and we'll see him (and Mama!) again one day.

Happy New Year!!!

Wow! I've heard lots of folks commenting about how quickly 2008 flew by, and I agree. Although my days are not nearly as hectic as they used to be since I'm no longer teaching school, the time still seems to slip away too fast. ~ It's really made me stop and think lately about where my time "goes." As Christians, we are called to be good stewards of our time, and I'll be the first to admit that time management is something I've struggled with for quite a while. As we welcome a brand-new year, I'm praying for the Lord to help me use my time wisely. Due to my back condition, routine tasks often take longer than they used to, and that is frustrating at times. But I want to focus on the most important tasks this year, and do those things first. ~ I pray that all my family and friends are blessed with a safe, healthy, happy 2009, and that we'll always put the Lord first in our actions and thoughts. Happy New Year!! ~ (I'm including a picture of Sweetums as she celebrated New Year's Eve last year!).