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)

The Royal Abbey

Several of you were exactly right! I was inside the glorious Westminster Abbey! More specifically, I sat in the choir stalls for a service (see photo below). It was absolutely beautiful. What a glorious place to worship!

Westminster Abbey is steeped in more than a thousand years of history. Benedictine monks first came to this site in the middle of the tenth century, establishing a tradition of daily worship which continues to this day.

The Abbey has been the coronation church since 1066 and is the final resting place of seventeen monarchs.

The present church, begun by Henry III in 1245, is one of the most important Gothic buildings in the country, with the medieval shrine of an Anglo-Saxon saint still at its heart.

A treasure house of paintings, stained glass, pavements, textiles and other artefacts, Westminster Abbey is also the place where some of the most significant people in the nation's history are buried or commemorated. Taken as a whole the tombs and memorials comprise the most significant single collection of monumental sculpture anywhere in the United Kingdom.

The Library and Muniment Room houses the important (and growing) collections of archives, printed books and manuscripts belonging to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, providing a centre for their study and for research into all aspects of the Abbey's long and varied history.

(the above information provided by the official Westminster Abbey website: http://www.westminster-abbey.org)

(AP image of Elizabeth II Coronation)

Westminster Abbey was also the location of the funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales.

Turn your speakers on.

Can You Guess...

(Getty image)

Can you guess where I have been?

It was marvelous!

Let's hear your guesses. The more specific, the better.

Hope you all had a happy Christmas and a most wonderful New Year!

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year

Friends, this truly is the most wonderful time of year. Each year, I struggle with how to decorate. Do I keep things simple? I think of how humble the very first Christmas must have been. My mind then thinks, "Wait a minute, we are celebrating the birth of the King of Kings!"

Seriously, sometimes I do good just to have a tree and a wreath on the door.

In my heart, I long for "lush and over-the-top".

I want my home and life to reflect the LOVE that was given to ALL OF US so many years ago

(thank you fabulous Becky Luigart-Stayner)

Wether you have a Charlie Brown tree, a elaborate "magazine worthy" production or a Menorah (love to you Joni and Renee), just remember that

God truly loves each and every one of YOU!

While you are going down your blog roll today and throughout the season, you may want to enjoy one of my favorite musical programs: The Sound of Majesty. I try to listen to it every day, but often miss the radio broadcast. Thankfully, you may listen to it online at any time. Please click on the link and then click "listen". My house may not be magazine worthy in decoration, but let me just say, the music playing is majestic!

Humm, wonder if I could get Tartanscot on my calendar for next year?

This fellow really knows how to decorate for Christmas--

and any other time of year for that matter!

I just adore hearing from all of you.

Please leave me a comment about what The Season means to you, your friends and family.

I look forward to hearing about your decorations and traditions.

A House that Needs a Party

Have you ever seen a house that just needs to have a party? Well, here's one for you.

The coats are being taken.

(Side note: Meg at Pigtown Design, this is what I envisioned for your office foyer!)

The trays are passed.

There is a bountiful spread covering the table--and fabulous china too!

Relaxing after dinner.

Lively post-party conversation in the kitchen.

Off to sleep after a delightful evening...

to rise in the morning for a swim...

and a walk.

I hope this Monday brings your much happiness--and maybe a party invitation in the mail!

Didn't that house need some life in it? It looks like it was made for entertaining.

How about hosting at your house? Anyone having a great Christmas party at home this year?

Oh, and if you want to host a party in this house, you can. It's for sale, just under 4 million.

(thanks MLS for the photos)