More of Our Helen Ga.Trip

I realized that I didn't even finish posting
about our Helen Ga. trip a few weeks ago.

We have a 2 bedroom condo and we visit once a year.
This is the view from our balcony.
Behind those trees is a beautiful pool. 
We had beautiful weather.  There is a clubhouse and we
are right on the river.  There is a bridge right down the road from
our condo that crosses the river.  I walked down to that bridge almost everyday.
It's not that far but I enjoyed the walk.  The river is beautiful.

We go with our BFF's and I asked her if I could put this picture on my blog
to show how creative she is.  I almost forgot to show you this. 
I go to JoAnn's and buy a jar to hold my yarn.
She made one from a coffee mate container.
Isn't she smart??/

And look at her dish cloths that she made!!
Aren't they beautiful?

There are not many places to eat out there that time of year so
we cook a lot.  This is a casserole that Vicki made and it was so delicious.
She is suppose to share the recipe with me. When she does I will let you know.

Crazy me!
I took the picture of my chicken enchiladas before they were cooked!!!

I got up one morning and cooked the guys bacon and biscuits  (canned - lol!)
before they headed out to go fishing!
Then I drove them to the place they wanted to be dropped off.
Normally they drive themselves
where they are going but they wanted to walk up the river that day.
Then I picked them up later on that day.

I stood on a bridge and got this picture. 
It was so beautiful that morning.

We just got home a few days ago from a different trip and when
I got home I found a box at my door. 
I opened the box and found this from one of my sweet
blogging sisters,  Karen!  You also need to visit  her web site!
She makes the most awesome things and has them for sale!  Go check it out!
It's so funny.  I can talk to my blogging sisters more than I can anyone!
She knew that I was going through a trial and she sent me this angel and the
sweetest card.  I will treasure this always. 
It made my day! 
Thank you Karen!!!

Today I am thankful for.....my blogging sisters!!!

Hide & Seek

I found a box over at the side of my front door a couple of days ago.
I just thought "Sweet Hunter" had put something out for the mailman.
Boy was I wrong! When he came in from work he gave me the package and
said it was for ME!!

Look at all of these goodies that I recieved from Angela!
This was the nicest surprise ever!
There is a little crocheted soap pocket for a bar of soap,
some prim magnets that she made herself and the cutest little journal book.

Angela said she thought I could make one of these!
I would love too! This is the cutest thing ever.

Look at these magnets!  I just love them.
I haven't even got to open them yet because
we were leaving right when I received all these sweet gifts.
Thank you so much Angela!
You would never know this but this came right on time. 
I have been tested this week and was feeling pretty weak.
This sweet gift reminded me that I am not alone and that
someone was thinking of me.  Thank you!

This picture came right in time too!
I was riding down the road thinking of a trial that we are facing when my phone beeped.
I just had to show you this. This is my 2 year old grandson "Little D"!
May May sent this picture to me today with a note saying.
This is "Little D" playing Hide and Seek!
I laughed so hard at this cute picture. 
I guess he thinks since he can't see, that his Mom can't see him either!
I LOVE it!

Today I am thankful for.............

                  blessings that are right on time!

*Blogger is acting up again. There are certain blogs that I cannot leave comments on.
I am visiting though.  I hope they get it fixed soon!

Thank you

I am so excited!  Look what I got in the mail!  LOVE it!
Jackie makes these purses out of plastic grocery bags!
You would not believe how nice they are unless you see them in person.

Just look at this little make-up bag!

I just had to show you one more close up of this beautiful bag!
I actually purchased this bag for my MOM!
SURPRISE MOM!
If you would like to see more that she has for sale click HERE!

And just look at all this Minkee fabric that she gave me! 
It is a huge box full with complete instructions on how to sew it!
I am so excited!

And look at this.....more Hen and chicks!!!
I had mentioned that my Mom loved them so she gave me enough to share!
And yes Vicki Lou--there is some for you!!!
Is Jackie not the sweetest ever???
Thank you Jackie!

And then I recieved this beautiful card from another blogging friend!
She makes her own cards and she knows that I love them!

Thank you Becky!
You made my day! 

And then "Big Sis" came and gave me an envelope with a gift certificate to
get a manicure and pedicure!
What a surprise!
Thank you Maranda & Lane! 
(And I am so proud that you are on facebook)!
It is a great way to stay connected friends and family.

Oh and I thought I would show you a picture of "Sweet Teen" with her car!
She is so excited.

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SNIPPETS FROM MY HEART
I want to thank everyone that has emailed
me about my Mom & sister when they had the
tornado in their town. It was a scary time and we are
so thankful they are safe. We also are keeping eveyone in our prayers.

I also want to thank all of my friends who have called,
sent emails & facebook messages,
 cooked food for us and sent cards & gifts  to
me as I go through this trial in my life with TMJ.
Most of all, I want to thank you for praying for me. 
This has been very hard for me.  I am not the normal TMJ patient.
I have already been through one surgery years ago. Now I am back in splints again and taking pain meds (I  hate meds) while trying to
avoid a very complicated surgery.
I thought it was not going to bother me anymore in my life but I found out different.
You just never know what life is gonna bring.  I don't mean to complain because I am very thankful.  I have the best husband in the world. He has been great to help through all of this.
Please pray for me as we go get the results of the cat scan this week.

I also would like for everyone to pray for a loved one of mine.
I must remember.....The Battle Is Not Mine!

Today I am thankful for.....
all of my faithful praying friends. 

Oh My Goodness!

Oh my goodness!
Look what came in the mail for me!!!!
This sweet package is from Granny J!!!
I purchased the purse from her but she sent me lots of goodies.
She sent me some fabric called Minkee. Oh I am in love with it.
It is the softest fabric ever.
And then she added some of her famous plants......hen and chicks.
Click HERE to see a post showing how she plants them.
I have mine planted and excited about seeing them grow.

This picture does not do this purse justice. 
Did I tell you what it was made out of???
Plastic shopping bags? 
She calls it Plarn.
She crochets the plarn and then adds handles!!!
What a talent!



Mine even has a lining with 2 pockets!!!
You would not believe how nice this is.
You would never ever know it was plastic bags.
It is so soft.
She sells her bags HERE!
You need to go see the one she has up now!!
It just blows my mind that she does this.



Look at this sweet fabric!!!
I love it.
Thank you so much Jackie!!!
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Remember this?'
This is the Easter Mug rug I received from Nadine in the swap that Aunt Pitty Pat held.
Well, I promise that I am not blonde........but when I showed you this mug rug, I was in a big
hurry and was headed out the door when I snapped these pictures. 
Sometimes I wonder about myself.......

It does help if you turn it over.
This is the front.
Isn't it beautiful?
You need look close at this.
The detail is unreal!
As my  Granny used to say...."Crazy Me"!

Today I am thankful for ......my blogging friend, Granny J !

Chicken Scratch & Special Gifts

Have you heard of "Chicken Scratch"?
My best friend Vicki told me about a friend of hers
that does this and makes quilts out of them.
She was so intrigued that she wanted to try it.
This is Vicki's first attempt at Chicken Scratch.
I think it looks like she's a pro!
Oh my goodness!
It is beautiful.

She told me that the pictures do not do it justice. 
I am in love with it.
I had never heard of it.
I even looked it up and couldn't find anything on it until Vicki
told me that it is sometimes called Amish embroidery.
She said that she has had so much fun doing this.
And guess what ? Vicki is gonna teach me how!
I am so excited.

I had to show you all of my surprise gifts that I got in the mail!
Becky is a great blogging friend and makes beautiful cards.
I had told her that I loved them and wanted to learn how to make them.
So she sent me a starter kit.
I have tags, ribbons, paper and lots more goodies.
I am gonna have a lot of fun with this!

She sent me examples of how she makes cards from tags!
Aren't they the cutest?

And she sent me a bonus!
She crocheted me a dish cloth.
She knows how I love them!
Thank you so much Becky!!
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Today I am thankful for......special women in my life.

Just For Me

This is why I blog.
Now don't get me wrong.  I don't blog for gifts.
But it is so much fun when you don't have a clue
that someone has thought enough of you
to send you something.............. just because.
I drove up and found a little box at my door
and thought to myself.....
For me????



I was so excited that I ran right in and
opened it and found all these goodies.
Just for me.



Jenn sent me this sweet card  and made
me some special gifts from her heart.
The note inside was so sweet and I will always keep this card.
Just for me.

  

Jenn made me this beautiful necklace out of precious black stones.
You need to see this in person.
It is beautiful.
Just for me.

These are wool felt coasters that Jenn made.
In her letter she says that they are seasonal.
She says I can use a different one each season or use them all at the same time.
I will have these out all year long.
Aren't they beautiful?
Just for me.

Jenn doesn't know this but these gifts
came on a perfect day.  You know those
days that you just need something, but
you don't know what you need.
The gifts are wonderful and I will treasure them forever
but the friendship we have means more to me
than she will ever know.
She was my Angel today and she came right on time.
Just for me.

Winter.
Just for me.

Fall.
Just for me.

Spring.
Just for me.

Summer.
Just for me.

And you have to see this.......

A watercolor painting done by Jenn.......

Just for ME!!!!!

Thank you is not enough.
Aren't bloggers the best??

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The Miracle Of Friendship 

There is a miracle called Friendship

that dwells within the heart

and you don't know how it happens

or when it even starts.

But the happiness it brings you

always gives a special lift

and you realize that Friendship

is God's most precious gift.

Today I am thankful for......precious gifts.

"Little Gifts"

I received this before Christmas from Jocelyn!
I could not believe that someone sent this for no reason except they cared.
The book is Praying God's Will For My Son and then the movie is a life changing movie.
Thank you Jocelyn!

"Little Gifts" mean a lot!
I received these seeds from Darla!
She shared her seeds last year and I enjoyed them all year long.
When I saw that she was offering to send them this year I was so excited.
Thank you Darla!!!

Look at this beautiful Dish cloth! 
I joined a swap over at Farm Girls!
This dish cloth is from Susan B. and she doesn't have a blog.
Thank you Susan!
I sent her one of my yellow and white dish cloths.
My friend Becky shared this site with me and told me about the dish cloth swap!
This was so much fun!

This is some fabric and quilt blocks that my "Cousin Nancy" sent me.
I love it!
Thank you Nancy!

My "Sweet Mother" always gives me a subscription to a magazine for my birthday.
This is the one I have enjoyed this past year!
Thank you Mom!

This is a gift from several years ago. 
My BFF Vicki found this at a yard sale and bought it for me!
When you have those dreaded hot flashes this fan is a life saver!
It goes with me everywhere I go.
Why am I talking about this fan since I have had it for a while?
Because I love this fan more and more everyday!
(smile)

I wanted to tell you about this "Little Gifts"  Campaign that Becky has going on over at her blog!

I loved this idea.  When I saw it I thought of all the gifts I have received from bloggers, family and friends.

We all want to give but Becky is showing us that it is also the little things that make a difference.

So I am joining her in trying to do some little things.  I can't always do big gifts but I can share a hello, a smile, an email or a phone call to someone that may need that on that very day.  The first day that I joined this campaign it really made me stop and think and be aware that there are hurting people everywhere. I was sitting at the hospital with the family of a sick friend and a man came to change the trash bag in the garbage can.  I had watched as he worked and noticed that nobody acknowledged him.  He looked so unhappy.  So I thought to myself....how can I brighten his day?  I am naturally a shy person so this is a challenge for me.  I asked him how he was and then we talked about the snow that was coming.  I thanked him for his service that he provided.  As he walked away he had a smile on his face and told us to be careful going home.  I ended up with the blessing. There are many people that we can not help.  Sometimes it will take a miracle and that is out of my hands except for praying.  Everybody is fighting some kind of battle but we can do some little things that might cheer someone along their way.   If you would like to join in please visit her blog.  You will be blessed.  So thank you Becky for making me stop and think about the "Little Gifts".

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I am thankful for..................the little things that make a difference.