In the meantime.....

I ordered some things for the house.

This house, or the house we will buy if this place sells.

I've made up my mind, that I will bloom where I'm planted.

As much as I long to live closer to my girls, and their families...if God decides to keep us here, then here is where we will stay.

So......I ordered some things that I was going to wait until we moved to purchase.

Then I realized that we might be here for quite a while, and maybe longer than we had ever planned.

So why not enjoy where I am, while I am here? How ever long that may be.

Besides, I will take my things with me if I move!

I will just be taking a few more ruffled pillows, bed skirts, another shower curtain, and some ruffled chair covers for the dining room chairs.

No big deal.

In the meantime, I plan to keep decorating this Lakehouse with more white, shabby, vintage, romantic, ruffles, and roses.
I haven't joined a party in quite a while, so I think I will join Kathleen over at Faded Charm.
xxoo

The Cross In Prayer

"In that day you will ask in My name..."

We too often think of the Cross of Christ as something we have to get through, yet we get through for the purpose of getting into it.

The Cross represents only one thing for us-complete, entire, absolute identification with the Lord Jesus Christ-and there is nothing in which this identification is more real to us than in prayer.

"Your Father knows the things you have need of before you ask Him" (Matthew 6:8).  Then why should we ask?  The point of prayer is not to get answers from God, but to have perfect and complete oneness with Him.  If we pray only because we want answers, we will become irritated and angry with God.  We receive an answer every time we pray, but it does not always come in the way we expect, and our spiritual irritation shows our refusal to identify ourselves truly with our Lord in prayer.  We are not here to prove that God answers prayer, but to be living trophies of God's grace.

"...I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you..." (John 16:26-27). Have you reached such a level of intimacy with God that the only thing that can account for your prayer life is that it has become one with the prayer life of Jesus Christ? Has our Lord exchanged your life with His vital life?  If so, then "in that day" you will be so closely identified with Jesus that there will be no distinction.

When prayer seems to be unanswered, beware of trying to place the blame on someone else.  That is always a trap of Satan.  When you seem to have no answer, there is always a reason-God uses these times to give you a deep personal instruction, and it is not for anyone else but you.

My Utmost For His Highest

Oswald Chambers

Remember I said I had some changing to do?
I'm still working on it.
I'm no longer a practicing Catholic, but respect some of the disciplines I learned growing up. I try not to think of "religions, and traditions"....I consider believers in Jesus Christ to be "Christians".

Writing letters.

I was cleaning out my desk today, and found some old letters, and cards.

Remember writing letters to your friends?

I used to send letters to my friend, Laurie.

We wrote back and forth all the time.

We were novices at decorating, and gardening. We sent actual photographs through the mail of our houses, and gardens.

I would be excited, waiting for the mail person during the week...hoping there would be an envelope for me in the mailbox from Laurie.

I loved seeing pictures of her beautiful flowers, and lovely home.

I miss those times.

I know emailing is easier, and much quicker...but it seems to have lost some of the excitement of those days I used to look forward to.

The anticipation of the letters, and cards. The pictures. The cherished time spent reading the heartfelt sentiments......

Things change with technology. Some good changes, some not so much.

I guess we hold on to those memories that brought us joy, and thank God for those times that warmed our hearts.

I might not use my old desk for writing letters like I used to...but it still holds a lot of special memories for me.

Dressing the column.

Since I won't be repairing the column until Spring, I decided to dress it up a little for now.

I added some vintage lace, crinkled seam binding, a religious medal, and a pretty little crown.

Love it!!!!
Have a wonderful week!

I found something!

I went to pay my rent for my booth the other day, and spotted this column that had been cut down, in another booth.

The column needs some repair, and some paint, but I really like it.

Mr. Lakehouse picked it up with the truck for me today.

Of course he laughed at the condition it's in.

He actually volunteered to help repair it this Spring.

We will try to keep with the chippy, worn look...but there are some spots that really need some fixing up.

I am still looking for a taller column for the house, but this short one does the trick for now.

It fits in with the rest of the pieces we have here at the Lakehouse.

As you sit with your vintage pieces...don't you often wonder who they used to sit with?

I bet they could tell us some stories!

Have a happy weekend*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.*.

Someone push me!!!!

It's one of those days...you know...one of those days when you don't feel like getting dressed.

You have laundry to do, but you are too lazy to even start the washer.

I usually make the bed as soon as I get up, but I didn't even do that this morning.

All I've done is eat a bowl of Special K, and play with candles.

Badness!!!

That's about it for today.
I guess I'll go blow the candles out, and  make the bed now.
I hope I've been an inspiration to you all.
AAhahahahaha, yeah, right.

Happy 2013

It's so quiet here at the Lakehouse.

No Christmas music playing. Just the sweet sounds of the Classics by the London Symphony Orchestra.

The decorations are packed away.

Just a few twinkly lights left in the hearth.

Last night the house was aglow with candle light, however...and the fragrance of balsam filled the air.

 The only evidence of the holidays is a lone snowman towel hanging in the kitchen. Although I need no reminder that it's winter.

New Years Day came, leaving me another year older.

Age doesn't bother me. I feel blessed to be here, and have more time with loved ones.

My wish for you in 2013 is good health, happiness, and that you are able to see each and every blessing....no matter how small they may seem.

Love to you.......
*****************Debbie**************