Love, Hope and Peace

Christ loves us so much...he came to us as a babe.  He's our hope and salvation.  This is something for me not to think about only for today but something to ponder everyday for the rest of my life.

May the baby Jesus lying in the crib in the stable...dwell in your heart today and for always.

Merry Christmas!   Peace. 

Right on Schedule

We finally got the house all dressed up for Christmas.  Cards and Packages are in the mail.  Presents are wrapped.   Now...I've got to bake some cookies and set the table for Christmas Eve.  Feeling right on Schedule. 

Sunday Afternoon Stroll

We took the dogs for a walk and the scent of fall is in the air.  I can't wait for the dryer cooler weather.  Within a few weeks I anticipate a palette of splendor!

All Is Not Lost

I had just planted my mums in the planter and set them outside near the side door.  Yesterday....We had our oil tank filled and for some reason the oil man decided the hose that fills the oil tank should be positioned right on top of my mums.  I found it curious...why the hose couldn't be positioned on the ground somewhere next to the planter?   It was not to be.  I gathered the broken stems...put them in an old glass Adirondack milk bottle and set them on the window sill.  I guess all was not lost.

Today I'll be linking with  The Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingy Thursday.

10,000 angels with lanterns to light my way back home

Mom's angel she had displayed in her front yard.  Now it's in my yard.

While watching EWTN one evening...I heard a story about a woman.  Monetarily...she had nothing.  She lived in a home with dirt floors but she was rich in her faith.  Upon her death....she was unable to leave money or assets to her children but she left them the greatest gift of all.  Her faith.


   I was born into the Catholic faith.  I received a Catholic education and the Sacraments.  Most of my life I've attended mass on a regular basis.  I considered myself a practicing Catholic or so I thought.  I was going through the motions and pretty much it stopped there.  


Since...my mother passed away a year ago...I've started a journey.  I pray this spiritual journey will last for the rest of my life.  This question was asked of me last year.  If you don't know Jesus...then how can you love him?  I'm hopeful and excited that with perseverance through prayer, Sacred Scripture study, learning about the saints,  practicing the Sacraments...especially regularly receiving the Holy Eucharist ...I'll come to better know our Father by strengthening my relationship with him.     


Did you know the saints had struggles and faults of their own?  That's the wonderful thing about Sainthood.  God uses their lives as examples for us.  Even with their human shortcomings and trials ..... they became Saints and we're inspired by them.  My Catholic faith challenges us all to become saints.  


   My mom didn't force her beliefs on to anyone but she was there to discuss them if you wanted to.  I wish...I was at the same place in my faith journey when she was a live as I am now.  What opportunities I missed for some lovely conversation with her.  What I could have learned!
  
I'm blessed to have her bible though.  As I read through it ....I can see parts of Scripture that she highlighted and drew stars around.  I sometimes feel uncomfortable....that I'm trespassing into what were her inner most personal thoughts, struggles and joys in her journey with Christ but maybe that's His plan.  Maybe...with those bookmarked pages and highlighted words of Scripture...she's accompanying me in spirit on my journey. 
 I can choose to believe this or not.  I choose to believe.  A gift of faith.   ~amy



10,000 angels with lanterns to light my way back home.
Will you be glad if I come back home?
Long time I've been away.
Is it true?
Can I come back today?  
~Aaron Thompson

'10,000 Angels' from the album 10,000 Angels

Little Suitcases and Fabric Yo Yo's

I'll be linking with The Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingy Thursday.

 It's time to share with you some of my vintage finds from this summer.

How sweet are these suitcases?  What did the child who owned these use them for?  Did she use them to pack her clothes in on her way to grandmas's house?  Did she use them to store her toys?  Did she use them to store her doll clothes?  Now....I picture these treasures in a vintage decorated nursery stacked up on a shelf or displayed with a doll collection?

 I also found a bag full of fabric vintage yo yo's.  I thought...hmmm what to do with these?  I bought them and I knew exactly what I'd do with them.

Decorate lampshades?  Yep!

On a previous trip... I bought this vintage ceramic nursery lamp.  It came  without a shade.  I was puzzled on what to use for a shade.....until I brought those yo yo's home and a match was made in heaven! 

There once was an old woman.....

who lived in a shoe.  She had so many children...she didn't know what to do.

Today I'm joining Suzanne at The Colorado Lady for Vintage Thingy Thursday.

I picked up this 50's night light from an adorable antique shop called The Red Barn Antiques.  Unfortunately...hurricane Irene has forced this adorable shop in Upper Jay, NY to close for good.  Upper Jay is in the beautiful Adirondack mountains.... this pretty little hamlet was devastated from the storm.  It'll take some time for them to rebuild and recover.   
 I'll rewire the light so it's again in good working condition. 

Blessings by Laura Story

I hope you can read the lyrics to this profoundly beautiful song by Laura Story.   Her words are something to ponder. 

  

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
And we cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt Your goodness, we doubt Your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
And long that we'd have faith to believe

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
And what if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know the pain reminds this heart
That this is not, this is not our home
It's not our home

Cause what if Your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
And what if a thousand sleepless nights
Are what it takes to know You’re near
What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching(s) of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can’t satisfy
And what if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are Your mercies in disguise

Vintage Cute

Here is one of my favorite finds from this summer.  What fun I had searching for treasures.  Can you guess what these are?

They're made in Japan.

I was told that they're hat stands.  

Pretty cute...huh?

I'll be linking to Vintage Thingy Thursday hosted by Suzanne at Colorado Lady.

I hope you're enjoying the last days of summer.

Sunset on Lake Ontario

The end of summer

Like a sunset

Silent

Peaceful 

Fading away

I went up for a few days to Niagara on the Lake, Canada with my daughter and her friend.  My best friend from high school met us there and we had a wonderful visit.  So much time has passed by but we're still so comfortable and at ease with one another.   

This year I'm not ready for summer to end.

    

    

Arrived in Dublin

I'm not really a city girl.  I love the countryside and its quaint country towns.  Dublin couldn't compare to the lush green rolling hills, the colorful cottages and the emerald sea thrashing against the rocky shores of Ireland's countryside but it was wonderful to visit and learn it's history.  We arrived in Dublin just in time for 10:00  o'clock morning mass.  The mass was beautiful and we were lucky enough to see a choir that was visiting from Norway!  

The rest of the day we walked and bus toured Dublin.  Below are a few of the last pictures we took from our trip to Ireland.  Tomorrow morning we'll fly back home.  

In lovely St. Mary's church

The typical pub

A bridge designed after Ireland's beloved harp

The typical tour bus

The Streets

Molly Malone

I'll miss you Ireland.  ~amy

Tomorrow We'll Be In Dublin....

but before leaving we have a few more things to do in Adare. 

Like...we had a little bit more shopping to do.

Tea anyone?

Horseback riding.

A castle tour.  It's all in the detail.

Ireland IS as pretty as a picture!

Sweet harp music!

Thank you Lady Adare for your hospitality.

Again...it was a full day of adventure.

Tomorrow we'll see you in Dublin before we head back home.