Yeah for Thorns!

I heard these words recited today and thought they were inspiring.

The author is unknown.

"I woke up early today, excited over all I get to do before the clock strikes midnight. I have responsibilities to fulfill today. I am important. My job is to choose what kind of day I am going to have.

Today I can complain because the weather is rainy or I can be thankful that the grass is getting watered for free.

Today I can feel sad that I don't have more money or I can be glad that my finances encourage me to plan my purchases wisely and guide me away from waste.

Today I can grumble about my health or I can rejoice that I am alive.

Today I can lament over all that my parents didn't give me when I was growing up or I can feel grateful that they allowed me to be born.

Today I can cry because roses have thorns or I can celebrate that thorns have roses.

Today I can mourn my lack of friends or I can excitedly embark upon a quest to discover new relationships.

Today I can whine because I have to go to work or I can shout for joy because I have a job to do.

Today I can complain because I have to go to school or eagerly open my mind and fill it with rich new tidbits of knowledge.

Today I can murmur dejectedly because I have to do housework or I can feel honored because the Lord has provided shelter for my mind, body and soul.

Today stretches ahead of me, waiting to be shaped. And here I am, the sculptor who gets to do the shaping.

What today will be like is up to me. I get to choose what kind of day I will have!"

Have a GREAT DAY,

my dear bloggy friends!

Mirror, Mirror on the wall?

(Country Living)

Mirrors are an amazing thing. They can be absolutely beautiful or absolutely tacky. It's all in the placement. Don't you think?

I can certainly think of applications where mirror is a very bad idea.

Totally tacky in my opinion.

(Showhouse 2009 Metropolitan Home)

The image below is quite nice.

(Anyone know the source? I'd like to give them credit.)

Here's one of my all time favorite room images.

The use of mirror here is lovely.

(photo: Pieter Estersohn, designer: Amelia Handegan)

The number one rule of thumb in using mirrors:

Make sure it is reflecting something beautiful!

Anyone using mirror in an unexpected way? Tell me about it.

Also, I hope you have had the most wonderful Mardi Gras season!

(1958 photo by A.J. Bordelon)

A little nonsense now and then

Is relished by the wisest men!

Love is the Answer

EKW

I am so sorry to tell you all that EKW passed away this morning.

Her little body had been through so much.

Her struggle was like a roller coaster ride. She was an incredible fighter.

I thank God for the three and a half years she was on earth.

Now is the time that our faith must really sustain us.

It's only natural for us to question, "Why did this happen to her?"

I don't know why, but I do know who is holding EKW in His arms right now.

Please pray for her parents and extended family.

I can only imagine the sense of loss they feel.

Special Request

I don't think that it would be a surprise to any of you that I believe in God. He sustains me and gives me strength.

I believe in prayer.

I know of a family that needs your prayers right now. A little girl, E.K.W., has been hospitalized in intensive care for a week now. She's three years old and was running around like a typical toddler two weeks ago. She had been recovering from a stomach bug when her breathing became quite difficult and was air lifted to the children's hospital. She is in very poor condition. Her life is touch and go.

I'd like to ask you to pray for the little girl and her family. They need what only God can provide them.

If you don't know where to start, try this prayer that Jesus taught, as recorded in Matthew 6:9-13:

The Lord's Prayer

Our Father who art in Heaven,

hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come.

Thy will be done

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day our daily bread,

and forgive us our trespasses (sins),

as we forgive those who trespass against us,

and lead us not into temptation,

but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom,

and the power, and the glory,

for ever and ever.

Amen.

Here's a more contemporary translation:

Our Father in Heaven,
holy is your name.
Your Kingdom come,
your will be done,
on earth as in Heaven
Give us today our daily bread.
Forgive us our sins,
as we forgive those who sin against us.
Lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours.
Now and for ever.
Amen

God will wipe away every tear from their eyes;

there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.

Revelation 21:4 NKJV

Here are the incredible words of the little girl's mother,

"What used to matter doesn't matter anymore. I can't explain what you feel when you see your child this way and you are helpless, but I know God is with us. I will never question Him. Again she beat the odds. I believe He is giving her strength that not many ever acquire. He has a purpose for her, a destiny..it is evident in this battle for her life. 'The battle is mine saith the Lord' and I am awaiting His victory."

Please pray first, but if you'd like to leave a comment, I'll print them and see that their family gets your messages.

Thank you.

UPDATE:

EKW has undergone two surgeries since my original posting. She is still in intensive care, but in stable condition. She is under the watchful eyes of four nurses all the time. (I like to think of them as two angels at her head and two at her feet!) Only family members are allowed to see her and only two at a time. I think that her healing and recovery may take a very long time. Your continued prayers are so very appreciated.

AND ANOTHER UPDATE:

From her mommy, "Good news today..lungs look great we are pulling slowly off ECMO. Please pray for 100% recovery...all vital organs restored tomorrow as they attempt to pull her off of chemical paralysis...Strong heart and mind. God, He has been so good to us! Mom needs strength tomorrow. The awake and suffering really gets to me even when God is carrying us."

Keep praying!

Name that Designer

Dearest blog friends, can you help me?

I really like these two images and haven't a clue

as to whom the designers or photographers were?

Please help me identify them so that I may give them proper credit for their amazing work.

If I recall correctly the top image was on the cover of Southern Accents several years ago.

Anyone have a back issue that can look this up?

(Things that Inspire, I'm counting on you for this one--there are intaglios!)

Now, the twin beds with the bookcase--how great is that! I know several of you have featured this on your blogs, but for the life of me, I can't remember who did this work.

(Oh, and for those interested: The brunch was wonderful. We had sausage and egg quiche, cream cheese danish, pineapple, honeydew, strawberries, grapes, shrimp and grits, pumpkin bread, assorted juices including tomato, orange, and pomegranate--and of course hot, hot coffee! I'm so sorry I didn't take one picture. I did good just to have the table set. Wish you could have seen it. I used china from the late 1800's, etched crystal, old sterling flatware and white linen. I broke a coffee cup. Boo. Oh, well. I say USE IT! What good is it sitting in a cabinet or drawer?)

UPDATE:
Thank you, Rindy, for helping me to identify the first photograph.
"The designer is Jackye Lanham. It was the cover of the Jan/Feb 2006 issue. I just happened to have my copy out! Rindy"

Now, what about the twin bedroom shot?

The Brunch Bunch

Who doesn't adore a fabulous brunch?

Ham biscuits, sweet cakes, homemade preserves, grits and gravy!

Mr. Green and I will be hosting brunch tomorrow.

Do you have any breakfast favorites that you like to serve?

I'm looking for a few more ideas to fill in the menu.

I'd like to hear what you'd serve.

I hope your weekend will be filled with hot coffee, warm conversation

and the dearest of friends!

(Photo credit: Brooke Slezak, Beth Dreiling Hontzas, & Southern Living)