You are an inspiration to someone {if you know it or not}. There are people that I have known for years and others for a short time, but they all have touched my life and inspired me in many ways… Thank You for being a part of my life!
These storage boxes from Present & Correct are sturdy and pretty. A good motivator to clean up and clear out things.
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This is a whimsical and simple illustration of art supplies {source}. To me, if you can draw a heart, you’re an artist. Fill a blank piece of paper full of hearts and post it on your inspiration board, the refrigerator or frame it up. For me, I enjoy taking 10 to 15 minutes to just “doodle” a simple picture. With each new picture drawn, the confidence and creativity level will grow just a tiny bit more. Go for it!
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Classic quote and a great reminder, there is not another person like you.
Do you iron bedsheets and pillow cases? I didn’t until I met Grace Anderson-Skari (I will usually iron the pillow cases and maybe the sheets). I will remember Grace for the simple things such as ironing, fresh linens and cookies, as well as the love of family, strength of faith and beauty of spirit.
It’s the start of the advent calendar time! This advent calendar is just as lovely today as it was when The White Company featured it in the 2010 Christmas season. Beyond being a”pretty” display at Christmas time, how, what and why was this tradition started? My lovely friend Sherry recently explained it on her website, Kains on the Creek. Please go and check it out {here}.
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Every year my kids have looked forward to counting down to Christmas day since their little fingers could grab an ornament and hang it on the Christmas tree. Hannah, my oldest at 15 and Grace at 12 are still enjoying their advent calendars. Over the years the sign of wear and tear has become obvious and a little more care and patching up are needed. I’m still in search of one more for my son. The last time I saw the Christmas tree advent calendar was on Ebay and the bidding price was over $300! I will wait and hope to find it somewhere else for a lower price (thinking … $10 – $20). I don’t think my son is all that concerned about it as I am. He’s quite content with his “three” Lego advent calendars. Having traditions, family time and discovering the meanings to Christmas traditions with our kids are precious. Thank you Sherry for your insight into the history about the advent calendar.
Here is Hannah’s well used and loved Advent calendar
On October 3, 1863 President Abraham Lincoln established Thanksgiving as a National holiday to be held annually on the last Thursday of November.
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Abraham Lincoln’s Thanksgiving Day Proclamation
The year that is drawing towards its close, has been filled with the blessings of fruitful fields and healthful skies. To these bounties, which are so constantly enjoyed that we are prone to forget the source from which they come, others have been added, which are of so extraordinary a nature, that they cannot fail to penetrate and soften even the heart which is habitually insensible to the ever watchful providence of almighty God.
In the midst of a civil war of unequalled magnitude and severity, which has sometimes seemed to foreign States to invite and to provoke their aggression, peace has been preserved with all nations, order has been maintained, the laws have been respected and obeyed, and harmony has prevailed everywhere except in the theatre of military conflict; while that theatre has been greatly contracted by the advancing armies and navies of the Union.
Needful diversions of wealth and of strength from the fields of peaceful industry to the national defence, have not arrested the plough, the shuttle, or the ship; the axe had enlarged the borders of our settlements, and the mines, as well of iron and coal as of the precious metals, have yielded even more abundantly than heretofore. Population has steadily increased, notwithstanding the waste that has been made in the camp, the siege and the battle-field; and the country, rejoicing in the consciousness of augmented strength and vigor, is permitted to expect continuance of years, with large increase of freedom.
No human counsel hath devised nor hath any mortal hand worked out these great things. They are the gracious gifts of the Most High God, who, while dealing with us in anger for our sins, hath nevertheless remembered mercy.
It has seemed to me fit and proper that they should be solemnly, reverently and gratefully acknowledged as with one heart and voice by the whole American people. I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, and also those who are at sea and those who are sojourning in foreign lands, to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens. And I recommend to them that while offering up the ascriptions justly due to Him for such singular deliverances and blessings, they do also, with humble penitence for our national perverseness and disobedience, commend to his tender care all those who have become widows, orphans, mourners or sufferers in the lamentable civil strife in which we are unavoidably engaged, and fervently implore the interposition of the Almighty Hand to heal the wounds of the nation and to restore it as soon as may be consistent with the Divine purposes to the full enjoyment of peace, harmony, tranquillity and union.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.
Done at the city of Washington, this third day of October, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and of the independence of the United States the eighty-eighth.
Freedom is not free. The freedoms we cherish for over 200 years endure because of these men and women in uniform who kept our country safe.
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A Thanksgiving prayer.
“God of peace, we pray for those who have served our nation and have laid down their lives to protect and defend our freedom. We pray for those who have fought, whose spirits and bodies are scarred by war, whose nights are haunted by memories too painful for the light of day. We pray for those who serve us now, especially for those in harm’s way. Shield them from danger and bring them home. Turn the hearts and minds of our leaders and our enemies to the work of justice and a harvest of peace. Spare the poor, Lord, spare the poor! May the peace you left us, the peace you gave us, be the peace that sustains, the peace that saves us. Christ Jesus, hear us! Lord Jesus, hear our prayer!” DistrictofCalamity
Thank you to all the men and women who have served our country.
Dan Coakley (Army) · Vern Cook (Army)· Paul Keating (Marines) · Steve Miyamoto (Air Force, navigator) · Bud Morris (Coast Guard) · Chip Morris (Army) · Norm Morris (Coast Guard & Army Reserve) · Chris Swan (Navy) · Glenn Szalay (Air Force) · Ted Weigold (Marines)
If you are a Veteran or know of someone who is, we would love to hear from you.
We voted by mail a few days ago. Does your “one” vote count? We have experienced the power of voting here in Washington State in the 2004 election. Only 129 votes separated the two candidates, Dino Rossi and Christine Gregoire to determine who would be the next Governor. Your one powerful vote matters, go and vote or mail it in!
