Bags packed but didn't go

Well , my bags were packed and I was ready to go see my new grandbaby, but I came down with a sore throat and headache....so it will have to wait. I don't want to expose them! (Although I did get to see him for a few minutes on the day he was born!)

On my way

I will be off this week visiting my new grand baby and it made me think of my old old doll I had as a child. I got the doll out and scrubbed it up and cleaned the clothes . I am going to show it to my granddaughter. Plus I have magazines and yarn (just encase a get a moment. I also finished an afghan for myself this week!

Baby Alden is home

Alden is born

Well Alden was born with the full moon and tropical depression, OF COURSE! He was over a week late and I forgot my camera in the rush up to my daughter's. So these pictures are of pictures taken with my phone!!! HA, desperate.

He is 8 pounds 2 oz and has the noble nose, Ha. So far all is well. He was born on July 20 at 12:31 am Sunday morning. My daughter failed to tell me she had been having contractions every hour (just one an hour) until she was having them 20 minutes apart. We threw everything into the car so we could be up there to watch our granddaughter while her mom (my daughter)was having her baby boy. They had to call a sitter for an hour because they had to leave for the hospital before we arrived. But it all worked out. Hopefully things will continue to go smoothly. Her mother-in-law arrived Sunday evening and will take over for a week. Then I will go up for a while. Precious gift!

nada

Well, Alden (my grandson) , has still not been born!! He is over a week past his due date. So I made this tablecloth--not sure what the 2 have to do with each other except I know I will not have much time once he is born. WEEEELLL, that is not accurate. I won't have much time when I go to visit! Praying for a safe delivery for all when the time comes.

Thoughts

Just thinking about the beauty of the church of God. I was reflecting on how each of us reflects the glory of our creator in that we all are creative. I am always amazed at how each person in the body of Christ has creative instincts......with some it may be cooking, sewing, decorating, computering, gardening, poetry, making up music, fixing up homes, making up games or stories, writing, etc......the list goes on and on. It is fun, when you get to know someone just to discover this aspect of their personality. God created such a variety!!

Also I have seen that some in the body can't get enough of God's word and spend lots of time in it and studying it in depth. There are others that spend more time in prayer and reflection. There are some that worship him more by singing and looking at creation. But I have seen that all of these complement each other. I think often the church throughout the ages had limited access to God's word. They would have to go to church to hear it. ...or they would have to memorize it because they didn't have their own copies. We are to meditate on his word day and night.....not just read it, but I have seen that this meditation can come through different means. Such means as discussing, putting it to music, etc. I can see I am helped by the different kinds of personalities in my church and what a beauty is the church! What a richness that we sometimes take for granted. The diversity is what makes it so rich and alive....and so reflective of the greatness of our God.

Waiting for ALDEN's BIRTH

Well I AM GETTING ANTSY WAITING FOR MY GRANDSON TO BE BORN. THE DOCTOR PREDICTED THURSDAY. MY DAUGHTER FELT IT WOULD BE TODAY. WHEN I GET BLUE OR ANTSY then MOVING FURNITURE ALWAYS MAKES ME FEEL GREAT---WEIRD--IT MUST BE SOME PSYCHOLOGY AT WORK. MAYBE A CREATIVE INSTINCT INSTILLED BY THE CREATOR? SO I MOVED MY BED AND BOOKCASE IN MY BEDROOM. ALSO THE ROCKER.

I FRAMED THE PICTURE WE GOT FROM OUR VACATION ON OKRACOKE ISLAND.

I AM INCLUDING THE PICTURE BELOW OF SOME STENCILING I DID A LONG WHILE AGO TO COVER UP THE MARKS FROM WHERE A BANISTER USED TO BE ON THE UPSTAIRS LANDING. (ANOTHER WEBSITE MENTIONED WAYS WE CAMOUFLAGE STUFF the blog was :

http://catherineholmanfolkart.blogspot.com/2008/06/creative-concealment.html) Now if you click on this picture you will see some cat litter--it is near his poopeee box!
THEN I CAME UP WITH THE IDEA OF USING THE WOODEN SUPPORT FROM AN OLD TABLE TO PUT MY CANDLESTICK ON---WE ARE USING THE TABLE WITH ANOTHER BASE.

I PUT MY BLUE BOTTLES IN THE WINDOW.

AND I MOVED THIS LITTLE CABINET INTO THE CORNER.

I ALSO moved some chairs and tables in one of the living rooms. (I must be driving my hubby nuts!! but he is used to it by now!!) So hopefully ALden will come into this world soon, or who knows what may happen!!!

significance

Listen to John Piper's sermon from June 29th (on his website--desiringgod.org)--I love what he says about the way we spend our lives (it needs some reflecting on by me)-


He speaks about us being wrapped up in our toys...wasting our lives on meaningless things "when our souls could explode with significance." He is referring to Psalm 96 and how we are to "Declare his glory among the nations". He says basically that if we aren't doing this then we are a dying church. He also says that when the Spirit of God is at work new songs are being written and we sing unto Him.

Ps. 96:

1--Oh sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all the earth!
2.Sing to the LORD, bless his name;
tell of his salvation from day to day.
3. Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous works among all the peoples!
4.For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised;
he is to be feared above all gods.

Fake or REAL

Boots cannot make up his mind---are they fake or real?

STILL WAITING FOR ALDEN TO BE BORN!!!

Hanging around

The squirrel in the pictures below are a picture of how I feel this week. We are waiting for our grandson to be born. I took these pictures through my window so they are not the best!!

I thought it was funny how he hangs completely upside down as he eats the seed.

military training etc

This is my youngest son. He is in ROTC at the University of South Carolina. He is at the beginning of his senior year and is headed out on Sunday for army leadership training ( LDAC--leadership development and acceleration course) at a base in the Seattle area. If you happen to read this, offer a prayer for Him . He is not the type to be nervous , but he is a bit anxious about this particular training. It is pretty tough. We pray he would do his best and that God would use this in the leading of his future.

My daughter's baby is due on the tenth. So our prayers continue to be with her.

My Mother-in-law, who has Alzheimer's expressed fear and a feeling of being crazy. It is a very difficult time in her life. What a fearful disease.

My Father-in-law is making good progress on recovery from his stroke, but he has a very long way to go.

Life is pretty amazing. I like this quote from the Mitford series: "St Francis de Sales had spoken ably to that: 'Do not look forward to what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you tomorrow and every day. Either He will shield you from suffering, or He will give you unfailing strength to bear it.'"