A New Way Of Thinking For Me

Today I read Donna’s yesterday’s post, about her nephew Jazz, who’s life was ended by way of a stabbing, I was deeply saddened. It was two years July 1st, and yesterday would have been his 23rd birthday. Please pay her a visit of encouragement, it is so much needed by her and her family. Donna's Story

I got to thinking about my own situation. I can relate to her loss because, I loss one of my daughter’s by way of a drunk driver. She was only 20 years old at the time. I can think to myself that she had a full life ahead of her and I could become deeply saddened wondering what the rest of her life could have been, but I really can't, because that’s not what I believe. I’m now changing my words from lost my daughter to a drunk driver, to lost my daughter by way of a drunk driver, because what I actually believe is that time of departure belongs to the Lord. He has a time already planned for each and everyone of us to leave this earth. He says in his word,

To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens A time to be born and a time to die Ecclesiastes 3:1-2a

My Pastor always says the Lord wrote the play, and we’re just acting out the parts in the play. It was my daughter's time because if not, the Lord would have intervened, which He is able to do, but He had a reason, not known to me, not know to you, but all still a part of His perfect plan.
Sure the people that caused the incident should be held accountable for their actions which was indeed a wrong doing on their part, and everyone knows right from wrong.

I find comfort believing that the Lord used my daughter’s timing, to help a host of people, people on my end, people on the end of the wrong doer. Because we all suffered the pain. I know for sure that it helped me because my life was changed, it prompted me to give my life to Christ, ( you can read my testimony in my June 3, 2008 post). I’m truly thankful to for that.

There's a great comfort for me when I look at these times of departure as (by way of), and not because of. I also believe to get through the pain, we just have to lean on the Lord at all times, his grace is sufficient and I have complete faith that the Lord’s plan is perfect. . Deb

New Addition To The Family

This is Minipoo, she is the new addition to the family. Ha! If anyone would have told me this would be, I would have said with all caps, "YOU LIE!" Just so happens this little doggy used to belong to the newlyweds. They were having a serious problem training Minipoo to use the outside facilities. This resulted in Minipoo's confinement to one area, THE DOWNSTAIRS BATHROOM.

Yes, every time I went by and asked the where abouts of Miss Minipoo, she was always in the bathroom. Well yesterday out of the blue, Minipoo fell on my heart. So I called my son and told him that Minipoo didn't need to be closed off in the bathroom all the time, and that I would take her if they wanted me too. With no hesitation it was a yes! So I picked up Mini and straight to the vet we went. She got all of her shots and (OH NO!) she had ear mites. Well, we got something for that, and today I'm trying to get an appointment with a groomer because she has a few mats on her legs and a few other places.

So Minipoo although camera shy, will be in the family pics from here on. She started out trying to hold on to her title of "The Pee Pee Queen", but I'm trying to keep on top of that, as a matter of fact we're on our way outside now. Wish me luck and if you have any pointers (PLEASE SHARE)! Have a great day, and hope all of your carpets are dry!

My Daughter's Bedroom, Tweaked

I've been doing a little rearranging in here, this is Kandace's room. First of all it was a mess, and I cleaned it, and it kind of escalated from there. What I ended up doing is adding the sconces, that shelf, and the little white table by the window. I ordered the sconces to go in the den but found out when they came that I really didn't need anything else there. The shelf came from the country den, and the little table I had already.

The pictures turned out dark because I was facing the light from the windows. If I had thought about it, before I got started I would have taken before pics, that is before the clean up, I don't think Kandace would have been to happy about that, but I actually didn't think I would go this far, not today anyway.

There was a mirror over the bed, I bought this picture about a month ago, and I'm just getting around to putting it up. The little thingy above the picture is from the country den. What's that sitting on the shelf? Why that's the birdhouse I won at Rue's giveaway! It's perfect for in there. You are probably wondering what's black on the wall to the left.

Well, it's a huge black board area that my husband and I put together a few years ago when this was the room for the grand kids. I painted it, and he bordered it. As the number of the grand kids grew, we asked Kandace's if she didn't mind swapping rooms as hers was larger and she didn't mind so the black board is still in there. She even writes on it from time to time, but the grand kids missed out because my husband said, no we're not going to have black boards in both rooms. Plus there's no room for one, in the room with the two sets of bunk beds.

The little bear is mine, his name is ping. I bought him while on a singles retreat with our church years ago. He was in the gift shop at Shocco Springs Conference Center here in Alabama. I really enjoyed that weekend, they had paddle boats and other fun things to do. And the and teachings were divine. It was about living Godly lives as singles. We stayed overnight as they had accommodations for that.

The wing chair you see belonged to my daughter that passed, it belonged to a living room set that burned when I had a house fire in 2002. I was able to save only the chair and I try to incorporate it into my decor, so I'll always make a place for it.

This is the full view of the black board, you can imagine the problem I had with chalk shavings on the floor, one of the main reasons we don't want another one. The covered shelves you see are full of Kandace's over flow of shoes and photo albums. That's some of the gingham fabric I bought at Wal-Mart for 2.00 a yard. I had almost 12 yards, and it's really gone a long way. I've made some of everything with it, curtains, seat covers, etc.

I know it's little girl furniture but Kandace doesn't want me to change it, there's a grown up bedroom set in the garage but she says no, I think she just doesn't want me in there doing anything that's why I did this while she was at work. She'll be surprise when she gets home, and will probably ask me what was I doing in there. But she ought to be glad I picked up all the clothes that were thrown around. And besides I can go in there whenever I want to, it's my house.

I left all the stuff that was on the desk just as it was. It was a lot of earrings, bracelets, a couple of watches, bobbi pins, and phone numbers, etc. I moved in the candle holder on the top shelf of the hutch, it was going to be sold at the yard sale if I ever get it together. I'm trying to make sure that I don't need the things because as sure as I sell everything off I'll think of some place I could have used it.

I couldn't get a good picture here, because of the sun on the windows but, my friend Connie at Living Beautifully will get a kick out of the lace curtains. Connie I have the same curtains in each of the bedrooms, I got them from Family Dollar for 5.00 a window so I thought why not use them in each of the bedrooms they let in a lot of light.

I've had this little white table packed away for such a long time so I dug it out and it looks great here, I think. The little candle holder was from the country den, it was on top of the little shelf that was on the fireplace stoop. That picture on the table is one I bought for Kandace's when she was 11. It has a picture of a bouquet of roses tied with a ribbon and it reads... If I could wrap love in a ribbon, it would be my gift to you.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the tour....... Deb

Changes ~ & ~ The Kids Room ~ & ~ Sanwiches!

Okay, so here I am again. I've changed my mind about the "Once Upon a Time" sign. (Sigh) As whimsical as it was, I just couldn't get into it in my new den. So I put up the other signs that came with the @. And I'm satisfied with the outcome.

So the new home for the sign is in the grand kids room. I think it fits nicely and I've brought in the clowns too. :O) I'm going to give you a tour, it's a small room, but it serves us well.

Here the bears have made their home over one set of bunk beds, I used the shelf from the country den as their bench.

The night that Omari and the others stayed over Omari, asked me, "Granny why did you put those dolls in here"? "Now I'm going to be scared if I wake in the middle of the night" I told him, "you won't be scared they're only toys, but if you wake afraid I'll move them out". They didn't bother him, so they've made the cut.

The other side of the room. My little moo cow made the cut.

These are all the critters from the mantle, well not all but some, I had a shelf already that I could use to display them.

That's little welcome sign on the door has hooks for sweaters or thin jackets.

This TV has a VCR for the old tapes they watch, and a DVD for the new. It also has the front plugs ins for the video games that they have.

I couldn't resist showing you my window boxes from the inside of the room.

This is hubby, bringing in the mail, and fresh tomatoes from the garden. I think they're FANTASTIC! No, hubby's shirt is not covered with grease, it's raining. It has been raining all day, it's wonderful! First we had this big storm with lightening and thunder, now it's an off and on steady rain and I'm loving it! Anyway, "Eat Your Heart Out Dot", over at Picket's Place, I'm having fresh garden tomato sandwiches today! Dot eats them all the time. I'm having mine with mayo, a sprinkle of salt and pepper and Sarah Lee's Hearty & delicious Home-Style made with Buttermilk bread. Don't be wishing you were me sisters and brothers, join me.! It's going to be goooooooooooood! Have a blessed weekend my friends, no matter what the menu.

Deb

P.S. I'll be out for the rest of the day, I have to pick up and keep the kids while my son's go to out tonight, also this evening at five I have my savings club meeting. So I'll be dropping the kids at my sister's for 2 to 3 hours, but once I'm back I'll be visiting with you , see you tonight. Deb again

Happy Birthday Sunni! ~ And a day of browsing for me.

This is our daughter Sunni, today is her birthday. I won't disclose her age or anything but she is my husband's middle daughter. Sunni stopped by today and I asked if I could post her picture and a small tribute to her for her birthday. She lives only a few blocks from us and was on her way to dinner with friends. See that smile? It's there all the time. She is a fun loving, hard working, mother of one daughter, 11 years old. Please join me in wishing Sunni a most beautiful birthday and wishes of many, many, more. We Love You, Girl!

I hope this won't be too long but I've had a busy, busy, day. First I dropped Kandace off to her hair appointment. Silly me, I had the camera I could have shown a before and after but didn't think of it. Then I'd been summoned by my sons to pick up tickets they'd purchased over the phone to the Comedy Show this weekend at the Star Dome.

I love this place!

The Headliner for this weekend is none other than, Bruce Bruce.

Got the tickets and was on my way, I had a few hours before Kandace would be done.

So I thought I'd take a trip to one of our local Salvation Army Stores. I thought I'd look for a small end table to go on the side of the sofa in the den but I'm really leaning towards nesting tables that I saw else where.

This is what I believe to be a souvenir spoon holder, it was priced at 24.99 which I thought was outrageous.

I loved these chairs, although my picture is not good, the pair have nice detail and the one in front is pretty nice too. I didn't price them.

I'm a sucker for a leather chair but, nothing to big, so this one caught my eye. It was 32.00

I thought this was a nice leather ottoman at 39.00

This lamp had a nice base for a country room the shade would have to be changed and it was 16.99

This table and stool set was 129.00

I loved these chairs but I didn't think they went with that table but I think the chairs were being sold with the table because I couldn't find a price for the chairs and the table was 129.00.

Loved it! I don't remember what the price was.

I thought the base of these lamps were nice, but I didn't like the shades.

Here's a close-up of the body of the lamp, and they were not priced.

See those glasses on the end of the counter, there are seven of them, and they're only 2.99. I snatched them up quick.

This is a picture of the things I purchased there. The clear platter for 1.99, that large white bowl for 2.99, (it was made by some guy named Ed in 1980, he'd scribble this info underneath), the small candy dish for .99 cents, the cherub for 2.99, and the clown plagues to hang on the wall were .99 cents for the pair. The glasses are not shown because Sunni admired them, and I gave them to her.

Here are the clowns close-up, one has lost his pants and the other is laughing about it. I thought they were darling and they look like little baby clowns.

I also visited Marshalls today, this is one of my favorite stores.

This pair of birds have been here for a while, I admire them each time I'm there but I have no place for them.

These caught my attention they have a place for tea light candles I bet they are pretty lit.

This was cute also it's a sconce that resemble a license plate.

Loved these chairs, especially the iron work.

Pillows! There was a time in my life when I was addicted to pillows but they were nothing but trouble, I was always fluffing. So I got rid of them.

They had a lot of beautiful pictures.

Bling, but not to my taste.

Rose dishes and a blue one.

This white bowl was 12.99 compared to my bowl to the thrift store's 2.99.

I wanted this but decided not to get it, it was 7.99.

This was the cutest wall art in shape of a garden gate. It was 39.00.

I really liked the big pot with the leaves, second shelf from the bottom.

But I really fell in love with this one.

How about this, so funny, the hare riding the back of the tortoise.

I never fool around this aisle. I always think that maybe that stuff isn't fresh.

This statue I almost bought, but I didn't have any place to put it. It was only 9.99.

WOW! This really caught my eye! This sign is so whimsical!

It is going with me.

Alright, I guess this will do it.

Here we are. Home Sweet Home!

Out of these four wall expressions, I was only interested in the @. I thought it would be fun over by my computer desk. Now I have all the others and no place to put them. Time will tell.

I chose the Once upon a time sign to accompany it.

I think they fit perfectly together. Once upon a time @ Deb's Country Kisses......

And the new pot adds that perfect splash of color to break-up all the mono tones. I have used another colorful pot on the coffee table but forgot to take a picture of it. I hope this wasn't too long but, I had a long day. I enjoyed it, I hope you did too. Deb