Friday Decorating

Yesterday was super hot, as most every day has been lately.

But, yesterday was unique in that it was the first day in several

when I was here at the house all alone and with

nowhere to be, nothing else to do....ahhhhhh

Soooo --- I decorated !

Honestly, a day of decorating, moving things around,

cleaning as I go -- that's almost like a

Spa Day for me !!

I LOVE IT !!!!

Here are some of the little vignettes around

the house after I got through ---

MMMMM ----- a stack of vintage tablecloths and

old faded flour sacks

Just waiting to be used for a picnic or on the table out on

the porch.

If only they could talk --- the stories they would tell......

of picnics, and lunches taken out to the fields and

dinners with the family

Just some of my plate obsession, ---- I meant to say, collection

My grandmother collected a plate from every state she

ever visited -- I have added to the collection

by way of flea market and antique store finds --

That's TEXAS on top

I love dishes -- plates especially

New countertop arrangement


The soffit area above the kitchen cabinets.
I LOVE bowls too !



Above the sink
Collection of cookie cutters--
most of them old from my grandmothers
houses


Fish Bait styrofoam cup -- one of my prized
possessions.
I was so blessed to get to travel to Baton Rouge in the week
after Hurricane Katrina to
help feed people.
There was a huge stack of these bait containers
(used to hold worms and dirt)
that we used as coffee cups.

I just loved it so much --
I brought it home and
have kept in a prominent place
in my kitchen since.
It reminds me of the sweet people
I met there
AND the sweet people
I got to work with.

My kitchen blackboard
with a favorite verse --

After the crazy and challenging week we had

it just seemed appropriate.

Gwynie Pie

Updates & Random Thoughts

Tonight begins Week 3 of our summer Ladies Bible Study,

Discerning the Voice of God

by

Priscilla Shirer

I really love doing a bible study like this for many reasons:

1. I love God's Word and learning from it

2. I need to be held accountable to stay on course.

3. I need this "ammunition" in order to live life better

today than yesterday.

4. I truly love knowing that the LORD keeps on working with me,

keeps on pressing, pulling, pushing,

conforming.

That's the BEST part !

That's also the HARDEST part !

Priscilla says it this way "When we become Christians, the Holy Spirit

begins to sanctify us and change our personalities to suit His design.

We assist in the process of conforming to His image through

obedience to His Word."

And that brings me to the next "update" --

As of this morning -

I have lost a total of 9 pounds !!!

Finally -- the scale moved.

It took over 2 1/2 weeks of denying myself all kinds of good

(tasting) foods to get the thing to budge.

And I learned some important things during these few days.

1. God loves me! Okay, I already knew that. But it's so affirming

to have that love shown in yet another way.

2. It really is all about God's sanctifying work in our lives.

The only time in the history of the world that God

didn't continue to "work" on a child of His,

was with His own child, Christ, who was

perfect!!!

The rest of us ---- when we accept Christ as our Savior,

the sanctification process begins.

God loves us so, so much that He isn't going to overlook our

flaws and our rough spots and our sins.

He isn't going to leave us like He found us !

Praise you, LORD!

He's committed to us. He wants to see us

"conformed to the image of Christ",

Romans 8:29

Now, THAT is beyond cool !!!!!

3. I really CAN do all things through Christ who gives me strength !!

Philippians 4:13

4. Losing weight really is so much about obedience.

Making His desires for me, my desires for me.

AND desiring it enough to deny myself a momentary "taste-treat"

in order to reap the desired results at a later time.

Guatemala Trip Update

William got back from his week to Guatemala. The team of 16 people built

houses for four widows and their children.

They also helped at the feeding centers, played with the children

and delivered clothes, shoes, food and toys.

The work was very physical, but

the extreme altitude was a real physical challenge as well.

All those West Texas flat-landers were breathing some

very thin air !

William came home with a stomach bug and was flat down, laid out

in bed until Sunday morning.

This, of course, miffed me so! :)

I was looking forward to talking and visiting with him and

hearing all about the trip, but....

So, this week he has felt much better and I'm just now

hearing all about the trip.

Great stuff ! God is good!

The only pictures we've seen from the trip are on Facebook and I can't figure

how to get them off there and onto my computer.

BUT --- pictures will be posted soon.

Guatemala is a breath-takingly beautiful country!

You'll love seeing the pictures.

Well, that's it for the "updates" --

I'm off to help get ready for a big Hospice of San Angelo garage sale

event this Friday night and Saturday.

It's hot and dusty where we'll be working

and no potty and no a/c ! Yikes!!

Have a great Wednesday !!!

Gwynie Pie

Camp Pops 'n Pie

It's almost time, once again, for Camp Pops 'n Pie !!! We've been talking about what fun we're going to have this year. Last year was great! Lily Kate is our only camper so far. But we're certain there will be more as the years go by. What a fun time we had last year. Pops takes the week off work and we just play the whole time.


Here we are having mani/pedi day.

Lily Kate is a great helper and wanted to rinse the dishes.

She's also a really good cook. She loves to help put the meal together.

Wonder where she gets that ??

Lily Kate and Pops went for a long walk every morning after breakfast while Pie straightened up the house a bit.

Checking out the peach crop. And as the summer went on, WOW! Did she love those peaches!

Stopping off at our neighbor's field to visit with Trouble was a regular stop on their walk.

We got out my old metal doll baby bed and high chair for Lily Kate's baby to sleep and eat.

She needed to try it out first.

Yep, that's pretty comfy.

Every day we went out to the pool to "jump watti". Lily Kate is a little fish and loves being in the water.

Lily Kate and I were eating some potato chips and well....I guess I taught her a bad thing....a very bad thing!

"Hey look! See food!" Mercy, what kind of grandmother am I????

We went in to town one day to visits the Grands and to eat pizza at Double Dave's. Yummmm!

Lily Kate loves my toaster oven and "cooks" all kinds of delicious pink and purple playdough cookies in there.

"Oh man. I'm tired! Somebody take me home so I can get some rest.

Pops and Pie are wearing me out!"

So, that's some of last years pictures from camp. This year camp will be July 8 thru 12. We are already making plans -- lots of swimming,

probably some more neighborhood walks. We'll visit the Grands too. Also, we are going to take a little trip down to Sonora to visit Ronnie and Colin (and Jigs and Chrissy and Ranger). Looking forward to the 2nd Annual Camp Pop 'n Pie. This year maybe we'll get t-shirts made......

Gwynie Pie

SUNDAY

And GOD is able to make all grace abound to you,

So that in all things at all times,

having all that you need,

You will abound in every good work.

II Corinthians 9:8

Beautiful Sunday!

Gwynie Pie