to everything there is a season

  ... and a time to every purpose under the heaven: Ecclesiastes 3:1

Hello, September!  Everyone is a buzz with the crisp air, blue skies, and pumpkin spice EVERYTHING!  A new season approaches as the northern hemisphere welcomes autumn...summer is nearly at it's close and ready to put away the flipflops and start wearing our boots.

Summer, for our family, was a flurry of adventures.  It's been a while since we've enjoyed the summer as much as we did this year.  We thank the LORD continually for his kindnesses!  Curt and I were able to enjoy some roadtrips.  All together we drove over 4,ooo miles in the month of August alone!  We visited family in Texas and in Washington state.  The LORD provided the means and opened the doors for us to be able to do so.

 the little cabin we got to stay in during our visit to the Seattle area

I finished and mailed the quilt I was working on for my little sister and her family.  (She loved it!)

If you love to read, you should check out the book section at your local thrift stores.  We visited lots of thrift stores along the way and found some delightful books!  I've really enjoyed sitting down and reading book-books. (paper not kindle )  These books have encouraged me to be a better wife, mama, granny, and keeper of our home...and that's a good thing!

Here are some of the titles we found: (also available on Amazon)

• HOME COMFORTS by Cheryl Mendelson (lovely and homey..excellent resource!)

• THE ITALIAN BAKER by Carol Field (and I thought I knew how to bake...)

• IN NONNA'S KITCHEN by Carol Field (comfort foods!)
• AT GRANDMOTHER'S TABLE edited by Ellen Perry Berkely

• IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF SHEEP by Debbie Zawinski
  (this book I'm excited about because she has patterns for knitting the socks she's made along her journey .. way cool!)

• SPLENDID SOUPS by James Peterson (just in time for autumn/fall!!)

As I have enjoyed this summer of rest and restoring my soul, the LORD has reminded me that it's now time to get back to posting encouragements here .. on this blog.  I asked the LORD many times these few months, should I even write online?  Does anyone read this?  But the answer is for me to write and if you stop by and pause to read, then that's between you and the LORD.  I am just to share what the LORD puts on my heart.  

And with that, I ask you, dear reader, how was your summer? Have you given the Lord God place in your days? Are you ready for the LORD to lead you, correct you, strengthen you, and be your hope?

God the Father is sending Jesus at any moment to catch away his Bride -- are your ready?  You should be! There is no time to waste!! and read your Bible :)

Make sure your heart is pure before the LORD.

As Jesus said in Luke 21:36  Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man. 

Cleaning Out The Fridge

Hello there girls!  I just opened the fridge to get things out to make dinner and actually noticed that it's time... It's time to stop looking at the dirty shelves with stuck-on goo and actually clean it up.  Eeewwww!  Why do I wait so long!  I keep telling myself, "I'll get to that"; yet I never do.  But maybe that's only me.  I know there are many ladies out there who are much better at cleaning than I am...but I'm sure there is something dirty over there that she'll get to eventually... I was attending a short Bible study this spring and at the close of the session, the teacher suggested we all read the book of Proverbs for the next month.  Sure, I can do that.  As I was reading along, come day 6,  I saw a similarity to cleaning the fridge.   When was the last time I cleaned out the old stinky wait-to-get-to-later junk in my heart?  Those things we think aren't high on the priority list?  Things that are maybe 'not that bad'?  Let's take a look at Proverbs chapter 6 and see what I'm talking about. In verses 14-19 there is a series of bad qualities that we are to avoid at all cost...yet we too often find that they have made their way into our heart and may have even begun to grow some really nasty moldy stinky yuck.   "Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren." What things have you let sit in your heart without cleaning it up?  A little left-over resentment?  Some self serving excuses that keep you from humility and forgiveness?  Or that not-so-good self preservation and retaliation?   Left to sit, those things will grow, fester, and ruin the rest of your heart .. Clean it out!  Repent.  Humble yourself under the mighty hand of God.   LOOK UP the following Scripture verses:

• Psalm 51
• I Peter 5:6-10
• Mark 11:25-26

• Micah 6:8

DEFINE:

• FROWARD
• DISCORD
• ABOMINATION
• CALAMITY
• REMEDY
• MERCY

Write your conclusions and have a chat with the LORD... You'll feel better and be blessed in the process    

it was a good day!

This snapshot was captured during the photography session before the wedding by my sweet sentimental husband aka.. father of the groom.  We've been a little busier than usual.  Our oldest son got married to a jewel of a young lady!  We are so happy for them!!

Ahh, we get to enjoy such a lovely season of life.  At the time of this post, our son has been married for a whole month now!  I've paused much of my handwork and quieted myself before the LORD.

We need that.  "Be still and know that I AM GOD", he says to us in Psalm 42.  There are far too many unimportant things that draw our attention away from our God, the God of all hope, and of all comfort.

I pray that you will take the time each morning to sit quietly with your Bible and maybe a cup of coffee and listen to the written Word of God speak to your very soul.

Do you have a journal?  It's a great help for me to have my journal with me as I read my Bible.  I write my prayer requests and then answers to prayer.  I write my thoughts, or what the Lord is speaking to my heart.  Many many times I simply copy the verses that jump out at me. (It's great to practice my penmanship, too)

as you can see .. I need more practice :)

Until next time,

May the God of all comfort, comfort your hearts in Christ Jesus!

would you like to come along?

"Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, LET GOD BE MAGNIFIED."  ~Psalm 70:4  

Oh! I just love this time of year!!  It's mid-way through spring, and the earth is just starting to look alive again.  Well, the earth around here. We live in the high desert and I will take all the greenery I can get!  This region relies on irrigation supplied from the water from the mountains.  In the late summer through mid-spring, the water is turned "off"for outside things.  When the water is let out from the reservoir, the rivers run full, and the canals call to the ducks, geese, and critters, then things begin to really grow and the valley comes alive!

With all this lively activity, my heart also yearns for the pure water of the written word of God. As it is written,  "To the chief Musician, Maschil, for the sons of Korah. As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. " ~Psalm 42:1

So, I was talking to the LORD this morning, (I have recently finished reading through the Bible. I had a little Bible reading schedule, and I've come to the close of that.)  So, I asked him 'What can I study with you, LORD? Where in Scripture can we meet and you show me more of YOU?' And the LORD said, 'Psalms'.  Hmm...ok.. 'But, LORD, I would like something meatier than just reading through Psalms.'  Then I understood.  It wasn't just a reading through; but rather a journey through -- A Year in Psalms.

Like many who are looking for an adventure, trekking, soul searching, or just something out of the dreariness of winter, we are going to GO to Psalms .. as if it were a location .. a destination.  We will see the sights, taste the goodness, meet the people, and learn of the LORD!

I am so excited!!!!!  You are welcome and invited to join me.  This adventure will be worth its weight in gold .. actually, it will be more precious than gold as our faith WILL grow, and our relationship with God Almighty will be richer, sweeter, and stronger than before.

Computers and Paper Piece Quilts

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Hello Dear Ladies,

I've been away from you for too long..and I apologize.  Since the announcement of This Granny's House Blog, my computer has been 'down'.  I can only laugh about it, really.  The problem? Someone tripped on the power cord and yanked it out of it's spot causing it to break on the inside portion of the laptop.  Battery died.  No recharging available until the adapter was repaired...and there it sat for 3 weeks or so...But now it's all better!! and I can write to you and do the dance of  * joy! *

So while I was waiting for my computer to be ready, I started a new quilting project using the English Paper Piecing method.  I am having so much fun!!  It is all sewn by hand and requires a "slow living" approach.  Why be in a hurry? My computer is down, the house is quiet, and the laundry can wait.  

I'll post progress photos of my Honeycomb Flower Garden quilt soon (aka Grandmother's flower garden .. very appropriate, huh? *giggle, giggle*) 

Here's a great video done by a Mom and her daughter at the quilt shop :) Enjoy!!