virtual coffee:::the good news and the bad news

hello. hello. hello!

i'm having coffee with amy this afternoon today, because a.m. blogging just aint happenin' over here, friends. 

i have lots of news to share over my dunkin' donuts hazelnut flavored coffee{black, of course}, given to me from some of my sweet  friends at church.

it's funny how God takes care of even our littlest wants in this world.

it's like He thought,

"oh, you don't have any more coffee left?  i think i'll send some for you at church tonight from some super thoughtful and loving friends.  just because i love you."

yes, the Lord blesses us with our wants, too.

how cool is that?

and speaking of love, and coffee...

check this little number out.

it is very good news.

you must speed click over here right now to check out sweet alicia's amazing creations.

be warned...they sell out faster than the speed of light.

adorable, right?   oh, yes.

i will definitely be the girl who carries the cutest coffee cozy at the co-op now!

in fact, i bought two.  because two are better than one.

and my daughter and i won't have to fight over it.  ;)

soon i will post about my other goodies from her shop.  

be warned...my pictures don't do them justice.

ok, more good news: a 10 p.m. cereal date with my little guy.

the bad news: we were awake and eating cereal at 10 p.m. because he was sick.  again. or still.  not sure which one.

boo. 

notice the sicky pink cheeks and half hearted smile?  

he is such a trooper for momma.

and speaking of momma/bad news...can i just say boo to zits, too?  i am 32 now...i think i have earned clear skin. 

my favorite feature on the soon to be closing {RUDE!} picnik  is the blemish fix.

man i'm gonna miss that.

deleted!

the good news:  the girls and i have been crafting, sewing, and knitting up a storm.  well, i don't knit, but...

the bad news:  we would rather be crafting, sewing, and knitting rather than doing school books, BUT!  i do believe home-economics to be a very necessary course in life.  especially for two little girls.
eleanor sewed her very first zipper in today and it looks a.m.a.z.i.n.g!
their talents never cease to amaze me!

the good news:  my daughter has been very diligent to read her Bible and do her own devotions every day.
absolutely precious.   i snuck in on her the other morning...
the bad news:  i know i need to be a better example of this diligence to my children.  i lack in so many areas.
so, really, this is good news in both aspects.  she spends time with the Lord, and encourages us[yes, me, her mother} to do the same.  faithfully.

the good news:  i got to take TWO naps in the last two days AND cuddle with this little guy before everyone woke up the other morning.
the bad news:  the naps i took were because we have this terrible virus going around our house!  ack!
it starts off with a blasting headache with a side of the stomach flu{for some}, and finishes off with massively swollen glands and what sounds like a full sore throat.  for like FIVE days.
yeah.
you don't want it.
i can sense that you want to go wash your hands now and so do i.
it's nasty.
go ahead, sanitize away!

and lastly, just for kicks...
the good news:  we love love love our kitty!
he is such a sweet kitty and  i think he loves us, too.
the bad news:  said kitty likes to climb up my slipcovered dining room chairs, scratch at my cowhide ottoman, and he has ruined 2 cranes from this mobile that i ordered from etsy this past fall for my boys' room.
more good news: the owner of the shop is going to repair it for free!  she is my hero! ;)

well, that's all i got for today, friends.

i hope your life has been filled with lots off good things so far this week.

i'm off to go fill up my cup and snuggle with the sick boy.

later gator.

xo,

mary

{virtual coffee}

hi, friends.
how was your weekend?
mine flew by{as usual}, but was very nice.
there might be a new{er} car in the works.  woo!
we got to spend a few hours on saturday with some of my favorite people.  yay!
and we attended a funeral  joyous celebration, because of the hope that we have in Jesus!

i can't believe it's tuesday already.
do you like coffee?
i hope that you can pull up a chair, grab your favorite warm beverage{because it's cold out there!} and stay a while.

if we were really having coffee this morning, i would tell you that i woke up cold this morning and stumbled  into this little guy huddled on the floor rocking back and forth.
he was being so goofy!

i think he was cold, too.  :)
of course, he wouldn't put on pants or a sweatshirt.
whatever.
this kid is a breed all his own.
love him!

i would also tell you that my hubby and i have made a deal to try to keep the heat off for as long as possible.
i was ready to give in last night, but i think i might just be a tad bit premature on that.  :)
what was i thinking to agree to this?

63.5 and climbing this morning!
yeah, i've got it soooo bad, right?

i would tell you that the kids and i ran went to the thrift store last week
and took part in their blessed two dollar bag sale.
man, we made out like bandits.
i never spent four dollars so well.
yes, that means we got two bags, full.

vintage blue cardigan, red/gray striped sweater vest, and long sleeve hunter green shirt underneath all came from the thrifty bag sale last week.
the cowl is courtesy of my daughter, elly.

here is a pic elly took of it before it was done.
i love wearing the things she creates for me.

if we were really meeting for coffee this morning, i would tell you about henry and his crazy antics.
last night, we were watching 'Fiddler on the Roof' and he started serenading me with this song.

crazy kid.
"yes, i looove you!"

if we were chatting over coffee, i would tell you about this girl and how she has encouraged me.
she hits the nail on the head with the whole facebook thing{to me, anyway}.
i admire her honesty.
what do you think about facebook?
do you love it?
can you live without it?
it is a total love/hate relationship for me.
i love keeping up with family and friends, but i don't like how it sucks you in and steals precious time.
i suppose that would be my problem with self control{or lack thereof}, huh?
yeeeesssssss.  absolutely.
does it take away from precious time that i should be spending training my children or doing something for my family/someone in need?
yesssssssssss.
i definitely need help with time management on this one, and i am going to make some changes with His help.
while facebook can be a worthwhile and fun tool, it has to be guarded carefully like anything else in my life.

so, do you think i'm crazy or do you kind of feel the same way?
if we were really having coffee, i'm pretty sure you'd be rolling your eyes at me right now with all of this babbling.
thanks for listening, friend.  :)

well, if we were really chatting over cider, coffee, a latte, soda, or whatever your choose, i would tell you that when the kids and i start off our day reading His Word, the day goes much better.

proven fact for sure.
well, school work is calling me and so are my husband's slippers.
the temp is still 63.5 in here and i might be adding a hat and some fingerless gloves soon.
i just know you are all playing me a sad song right now.  heehee
pooooor mary!

thanks for stopping by, friends.
love you all.

xo,

 

Jesus, i am resting, resting

hi, friends.
i'm joining amy for {virtual}coffee this morning.

i like my coffee black and strong.
exciting, right?

the kids and i hit a garage sale{only one!}last week and found some pretty awesome stuff.
we picked up this vintage coffee pot and thermos for $1 a piece.
they totally made me think of amy and her cute vintage style.
she also takes the best pictures.
yes, i am jealous.   :)


so, now it's going to get heavy...

if we were really having coffee this morning, i would tell you what is heavy on my heart.
i would tell you that there are so many people around me hurting, and that makes me hurt.
i would have to say that i am a fixer.
or i try to be anyway.
and when i can't fix things, it hurts even more.
i would admit that i really don't think that some things in this world are fair.
this may seem like such a childish statement, but it's true.
i would resolve to the fact that even though life isn't fair, and bad things happen to  people that i don't always understand,
there is Someone who does.
and, oh! does He ever!
He uses these trials, burdens, and cares to draw us to Him.
because He is a shelter in the time of storm.
He may use them to draw His own back to the fold.
because He is a loving Father who chastens His children.
He may use them to encourage the weary.
because He is our strength.
He may use them to save lost souls who are dying and in desperate need of a Savior.
because that's all that really matters.
we may never, ever know.

when the tears roll and the burdens overwhelm, there is only One that i can truly rest in.

if we were really having coffee today, i would ask you to pray for my niece, Charis.
she is four years old, an absolute miracle, and a testament to God's grace.
she has been faced with challenges from the very first moment that she took her first breath into this world.
a heart transplant recipient at 9 days old.
yes, 9  days.
a true fighter, brave and strong.
she has recently faced aggressive cancer, one of the worst kinds, and has been through two rounds of chemotherapy.

she and her family need our prayers.
would you add them to your prayer list, please?
i thank you so much for them in advance.
to God be the glory.
no.
matter.
what.

so, in any season of our lives...

we have hope.
we can trust.
we can rest.

"For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD."
Psalm 117:2

xo,