Oh, how I miss blogging....

Yes, I miss you guys....hello?  Is anyone out there?   It is a bad thing to have an infrequent blog and be absent from the blogosphere.  I don't have my pics loaded on this computer....and for whatever reason this computer lets me type a few keystrokes and then it changes its mind and skips a few letters....okay it just happened, I typed a whole sentence and then in a flash it was gone....what does Charlie Brown say when things conspire against him?...oh yeah, AARRGGHH!

So in this sweet Easter season, when we give thanks and glory to God, all I dare to share--or else the computer may sweep it away, are once again some quotes....and Thanks.  For hanging in there with me and, as always, your encouragement.

~~...the world can forgive practically anything except people who mind their own business.~~
                                     ~~Margret Mitchell

~~Friendship is forgetting what you give and remembering what you receive.~~
                                     ~~Unknown

~~The best way out is always through.~~
                                     ~~ Robert Frost

~~You must plough with such oxen as you have.~~
                                     ~~ English Proverb

~~When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
     when you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
     count your many blessings,
     name them one by one,
     And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.
                                      ~~Johnson Oatman, old hymn

Happy Easter...He is Risen!

Stepping Outside...

Quotes for cheering you through the weekend:

~We are not cisterns made for hoarding; we are channels made for giving.~~Billy Graham

~It is wonderful what may be done if we are always doing.~~Thomas Jefferson

~When you cannot pray as you would, pray as you can~~Dean Goulburn

~....the cheerful heart has a continual feast.~~Proverbs 15:15 NIV

This seems a bit of a cheat but with the quotes I wanted to share, I also wanted to post something that moved me today.  I love reading Corey's Tongue in Cheek blog


Ahh, Provence!

where she writes primarily about her expat life (she's American) with her French husband of twenty-some years in Provence.  Her photos, her love of brocante, and travel has drawn together quite a nice community of bloggers, but today she shared an amazing part of her travels and I feel compelled to post.
Her visit with a long-time friend in Thailand to the Vieng Ping Children's home


precious, happy faces and a heart stirring visit

Blogging is such an amazing forum to me.  And I thank y'all that stop by and those that I read for all you share and how wonderfully you help me step outside my everyday and inspire. 

In Christ,

I'm BA-AAACK!!!

Praise the Lord!!!! Thank you to my dear blog friends for sticking it out with me and checking in.  It means so much because for the last two months my modem has been ailing and I so dearly missed my bloggy buddies and getting in touch with anyone via e-mail (I live in the boonies/sticks).  I finally stopped being stubborn and called my Internet provider (we can only get it satellite out here) and waited and waited (over three days with about a total of 4 hours phone waiting time) and voila...the problem was a on-the-fritz-modem.  I was completely offline for the last week, and today the modem (covered by warranty!!) arrived and little ol' me was so eager, I connected it myself. 

Here I be, ready to read, blog (thoughts on fall acomin', Harry Potter, and baking), and surf the web....but now it is Homecoming week for the girls (mum making, much chauffeuring, and general busyness) and my little girl at home is turning 4!!!  I will blog all, ready or not. 

Frenchy is having another giveaway and party...

I have posted a link on her blog about our last day in Paris (back in June of '08).  I do have to confess that I am seriously nostalgic about this lovely trip.  Here's hoping we will be able to travel abroad again.  Frenchy's blog is choc-full of good crafty ideas and her love of homemaking, family, and her French roots is evident.  I hope to be back to blogging soon.  This summer has had a few unexpected challenges/turns but we are all thankfully doing fine and simply getting busy as school comes on.  Happy summer to my dear bloggy buddies and I do get encouraged reading y'all's posts and thoughts.  Keep them coming.

French-y getaway/giveaway

This is actually going to be a brief post. Dear Frenchy at Le Chateau des Fleurs blog hosts a monthly French Obsession Party linking Franophiles to new interesting blogs and generously sponsors a giveaway the 1st of each month.  Stop over at her site:

French Obsession Party

and enter the giveaway by simply commenting or just join in the fun by visiting the links (hint, I added a link to part of our June '08 visit to Paris).  Happy June and Summer dear bloggy buddies!

What a wonderful bloggy world! Thank you so much.

Do you wanna know how I feel when I share stories (delightful, touching, funny stories)  with my family and they ask "where did that story come from?" and I say "so-n'-so's" blog?  I feel like I am telling them tales from my imaginary friends.  Not because my blog buddies are not real (because so much y'all share is so very very real), but because my blog life is still so foreign to my family (not one family member reads it, I tell them everything anyway) and the looks on their faces are like "Aw, that's nice for you".  Now, don't get me wrong, I am blessed with a supportive family in so many ways but for some reason "blogging" does not compute.  What gives?

Well this last week I have been in the midst of the awful "yucks", AGAIN (in the form of a blazing sinus infection).  And while I have been laying low in the posting department, I have been joyfully keeping up with the blogs I love.  Yet, I have noticed that I wasn't sharing some sweet gems from my favorite blogs with my family as much, like Elizabeth's everyday (yet extraordinary) walk through her 'hood of Cornwall,England

or Corey's exquisitely photographed week in Paris inspired by blog readers requests,

or even Debi's fabulous Kensington Palace fancy dinner in London! 

I imagined that they (family) might get a bit tired of me speaking about people and places that I did not know in the flesh.   Then two things happened this week to peak their interest.....

In the mail direct from Scotland, I received my AWESOME collection of hand crafted goodies from Karon of Dream Country Chat!:

She has a website that features her homemade goods of tea towels, sachets, cards and tote bags (fabric designed by her), and on her blog she hosted a giveaway of her "Brocante" line of items and I was lucky enough to be chosen. 

Brocante items: tote, card, post card, herb sachet, and tea towel!

 My family was quite impressed and intrigued in how I knew Karon.  When they found it was blog related it seemed to add a new dimension to my bloggy interests.  Thank you so much Karon!

This thistle was at the foot of my mailbox the day your package arrived Karon!

Then, two days later, and very much a sweet surprise to me I found this in my mailbox:

Oddly enough, my first postcard from Paris (yes, I have had the joy of being in Paris, but I never had anything sent to me from fair Pah-ree). 

The CULPRIT: Anne in Oxfordshire!

Thank you ,thank you Anne!  Little did you  know what a pick me up your card would be and what curiosity it would raise in my home.  Again came the questions, "So how do you know this person? Why would she send you a card? yada, yada, yada.." I told them that one of Anne's hobbies is sending and receiving postcards from everywhere and that she also blogs so well about her enjoyment of travel and favorite destinations of Paris and Italy in particular.  And I was happy to share that by blogging, I have had the extraordinary gift of forming new friendships/acquaintances with women (as far as my experience goes, it is just ladies) who may lead very different lives from me, but share the same delight in putting their experiences, hopes, dreams and observations in an open forum.  I have honestly received such kind words and encouragement and caring from my fellow bloggers and feel very grateful and humbled. 

So, from boonies-country Texas I send y'all a big Thank Ya! Happy Blogging and God Bless You.

A Pause for a Thank You

From Here to You:
I would like to say Thank You to Frenchy Chick at Le Chateau des Fleurs who happily blogs about her family and daily doings: all things Frenchy, crafty and lovely. She kindly awarded me a :

As this is my first time to do any type of awarding, I look forward to following the rules as stated. Yet I hope it is not bad manners that I tweak the rules a bit....okay? (my addition will be in red, in case you want to stick to the true rules)

1. To accept the award, you must post it with the name of the person who granted you the award, and a link to their blog. (unless linking up makes you uncomfortable, then , please just allow it to be a compliment that it was meant to be )

2. Pass the award on to approx. 10-15 other blogs that you recently discovered and think are great.

3. Contact the bloggers to let them know they have been chosen for this award.

I love connecting from blog to blog to find others in the blogosphere who inspire, encourage, and share their loves, likes, and life online. I look forward to posting more "shout outs" on my own but I find this award opportunity a great chance to re-post some faves and advertise some wonderful blogs.

Gifts of the Journey (Cornwall, England) Elizabeth (American)

The Beautiful Meantime (Texas, US) Steph

A Tale of Two Cities (England and Texas) Debi

Girl Meets Paris (Florida, US) Teri

Dream Country Chat (Scotland) Karon

Blessed Femina (California, US) Miss Jen

Bonjour Romance (Paris, France) Mimi Bleu

My Year in Paris (Paris, France) Jennifer K

Anne in Oxfordshire (Oxfordshire, England) Anne, of course!

Parisienne Farmgirl (Wisconsin, US) Angela

Sister One of Four (Texas, US) Marcia

Sally Annie Magundy (California, US) Sally

All these amazing women I am blessed to know: some by just what they share online and others I have exchanged "comment conversations". I am thankful for good they do online and how honestly they share their time, thoughts and joys. Enjoy!

What's next...some blog love.

London here I come. No, not at any moment soon, but me writing about it is next on deck. Right now though I have hoped each day to blog about our day to day, my favorite blogs, and some random thoughts. You know. The stuff that bloggin' is about.

Last January through April was a little hard on me. Just to share a bit, after a year of some post-baby, strange symptoms: lots of odd/random skin discoloration, random finger and toe numbness, bothersome pattern like rashes, I checked in with my family doctor (yes I had put it off for a long while) and she and some tests revealed that I have Lupus. I "exactly" have "unclassified autoimmune disorder" with symptoms of lupus/schleroderma. Lupus attacks different organs and mine attacks the skin. I feel fine, if I exercised and ate better I am sure I would feel great. There are so many out there with living with lupus that deal with so much more, so this is not me complaining.

Last January to February the pain in my fingers and hands was at its worst and what kept me on edge each day was the fact that over the holidays of '08 I had a finger wound that grew from the size of a pin head to a mushy, pink open wound the size of an eraser head. My left hand was constantly bandaged and from January to June of '09. I almost never ran my hand under water as the special bandages and the wound would not respond well to water. I am thankfully, a stay at home mom, and at the time Sophia was two and changing her diapers was always a slow process because of my wound, bandages, and general wiggling and mess. Suffice to say I was hypersensitive about my hands and stayed at home nearly all the time. My family probably never noticed a difference in my attitude because they buoyed me up during this time of self imposed home bound-ness. The Lord truly taught me so much about those that must live with chronic issues (as I said I have always "felt fine" outside of the hand issues).

Another blessing during this time was the blog world. Seems a bit odd to type it, but I know this to be true. I discovered blogs in areas of interest, i.e. travel, homemaking, faith, and family, and found daily encouragement. A number of my most favorite blogs are penned by women of faith and wonderful insight. It seemed that even across miles, while I was at home just with Sophia, and not at my best, the Lord led me to some of the best company. And for that I thank each of the dear women (whether they know it or not) for all they have shared. And the bonus of it all is that so many of my dear blog buddies are able answer comments and it is a way to be "pen pals" in the 21st century. Those of us that blog and have come to enjoy this camaraderie might find it hard to explain to everyday family and friends about our bloggy buddies. I know my dear husband who supports me in every way has taken quite a while to be convinced. If anyone has seen Julie & Julia the movie with Meryl Streep (it is great, please see it if you haven't), there is a scene that so heartfully depicts the joy of a friendship come to life from words, ideas, and feelings shared on the page: Julia Child meets her years long pen pal Avis (a woman), in a train station after they have finally planned to meet in face to face, and as Avis enters, they seem to know each other immediately, throw their arms wide and embrace each other joyfully. Such a true picture of friendship.

Now I would like to share a few of those blogs. First, I would like to attribute my inspiration for this idea to two sources: Sally Annie Magundy, who tries each Monday to share new crafty blogs for others to visit (she has such interesting crafts and resources). The other is 84 Charing Cross Road, a tender true story told solely in letters that were exchanged over 20 years between a zesty New York screenwriter, Helene Hanff and an at first formal then friendly Englishman in London who was the manager of an antique bookstore from which she made many special requests (years 1948-1968). In the book you find that each time she requested a book, he would recommend another or visa versa and her interests grew as well as their friendship.

Let's grow some more friendships:

Tongue in Cheek: Corey (American) writes about her life in Provence these 2o some years married to a Frenchman and her adventures, brocante, family, travels, all things French, and has gorgeous photos and a loving outlook. My mom now actually understands blogland because in September 2009 Corey came to an antique fair in Texas that I dragged my mom to so that I could meet this dear woman. The moment I met Corey we squealed with delight and hugged, and chatted up a storm. My mom took to her immediately (of course) and now enjoys catching up with Corey online daily.

Sister one of four and The Rogers Family: a mom and daughter (dear friends Marcia and Lindsey) write sweet family updates and encouraged me so much by being my first followers and commenters (it is such a joy), even though they live near me I have kept better in touch with them via blog and emails--see I AM a hermit.

Here's a power blog alright: The Pioneer Woman, I happened upon her blog as she was just beginning to hit readers in the high hundreds, but now this homeschooling, former city livin', cookbook writin', photographer extraordinaire, and rancher's wife, who lives on a vast cattle/horse ranch in OK blogs daily and lovingly about her life and times....I dare you not to be won over....go ahead...at least try one of her man-pleasin' recipes.

Pleasant Places: Steph is a thoughtful, dear woman of the Lord who I found when I googled my own blog because I forgot my blog address. Hee, it happens. She blogs about her latest reads, antiquing, wonderful homemade gifts and especially, her inspirations: the Lord, and her family. She started at the same time I did, is also a stay at home mom to a same age toddler, and then I noticed that she is also in Texas! and we hope to one day meet up.

Thank you truly, Sally Annie, Corey, Marcia, Lindsey, Ree, and Steph for the encouragement and goodness you add to the blog world. Cheers to all!