GOT A MINUTE OR TWO

 "TAKING A RISK" (Mark 14:3-9)  This woman took a risk in order to touch Jesus.  She interrupted a dinner party to perform a public act of lavish, extravagant adoration that you will remember forever.  O Lord, help me to worship like that - not for others approval, but for the deepest springs of my heart, with acts and expressions of overwhelming devotion and awe.  By Your Spirit, Lord, teach me how. Before Your throne I'm amazed at Your glory  Down at Your feet, oh Lord In the most high place In Your presence, Lord I seek Your face I seek Your face.   There is no higher calling No greater honor Than to bow and kneel Embraced by Your mercy Oh Lord, I live to worship You. (No Higher Calling 1989) Image from googleimages.com

These are my boys.  Our son, Myk and his two sons Kaleb standing and Elijah sitting.  They are all hard working men, responsible and loving life.  Kaleb is on the front lines as an RN and Elijah continuing his education to also get his RN.  Our son has been a Graphic Artist for a company for over 30 years.   This road trip took them up the coast of California.  Santa Barbara, Morro Bay.  Beautiful scenery and the wind in your face.     If I were younger (much younger) I would love to be on the back of my son's bike, hanging on and feeling the freedom of a weekend trip on the bikes. HaHa you would have to know the young Wanda.  I was a risk taker and a fun lover!  I'm still a fun lover, but the risk taker...not so much!! 

Click to enlarge My watercolor "Girl in the White Dress" hangs in our bedroom. The challenge in this one was trying to get the sense of light and shadows.  Like the sun coming in a window on her face and dress.  The inspiration for this painting came from a photograph on the cover of a Christian Magazine with an article about kneeling in worship.  It made me think of the scripture that says our garments of righteousness are as white as snow. A friend talked me into entering some of my painting in our county fair that year.  I was reluctant, but it turned out to be a very fun experience and for this painting to get a 1st place blue ribbon and $30.00 was a huge surprise.   I'm hoping by sharing some paintings from the past will inspire me to drag out the paints again and do something new.

We have lived at Villa Ramona a Senior and Family complex for almost 5 years.  One of the things I have enjoyed year after year is the lovely pool. I'm not a rebel by nature, but this Covid-19 is really getting under my skin when I can't enjoy a beautiful pool just a few feet from our unit.  I have not and will not get political.  But I think our Governor has exercise his power a little overboard!  Just saying.... I want to take a swim~~~~  Hopefully by the end of June some things will change.  If I could just change myself into a duck for a few hours HaHaHa.

I love fresh vegetables.  When I get back from the market, I love washing, cutting, trimming and bagging all my fresh vegetables.  I'm always thinking ahead on what they will go in. I really like the taste of green onions, celery and cilantro in my tuna salad which also has a boiled egg.  How do you like tuna salad? Do you use radishes?  Joanne from the Magnolia magazine uses a lot of radishes.  She uses them as a garnish for egg salad.  It not only looks nice, but gives a little zest! Also like spaghetti squash.  I cook in the crock pot and when done, cut in half, take out the seeds and loosen the flesh, and add meatballs and marinara sauce. Well now I'm getting hungry.  Think I'll go make my menu's for the rest of the week!

  Exodus 12:14 (NLT) “This is a day to remember. Each year, from generation to generation…..”Father this weekend we will once again remember those who throughout our history have made the ultimate sacrifice to secure and sustain the freedom that is so precious and priceless to us. Thank you for the men and women, from all walks of life, that answered the call to serve and for so many who sacrificed their life for the ideal of freedom. Sweet freedom, the air of heaven, the hope of earth, and the right of every human being. Father help us to never fail to remember our history, our heritage and our responsibility to be guardians of this treasure we call freedom.Thank you Father that you remind us where freedom came from and the infinite price at which it was purchase it. “So if the Son sets you free, you are truly free.” John 8:36 (NLT) Thank you that in Christ Jesus we are free from the penalty of sin, from the power of sin and someday we will be free from the very presence o...

One of my loves is to paint people in watercolor. When I saw this photograph (small in the corner) I was fascinated with the and the story.  The photo was in a National Geographic magazine showing a picture of Doris Eaten when she joined the Ziegfeld Follies and a current picture of her at in the corner. Doris Eaten may have been the youngest Ziegfeld girl ever and lived to be the oldest living Ziegfeld girl. She was still alive at 104 and danced for a annual benefit. This is a close up of the watercolor.  It was fun trying to get her grey hair, and especially the fur coat.   Thanks for letting me use my blog as a little art gallery of my work.        

Where did this week go.  Already Wednesday, and this is the first time I've opened my computer.  I got carried away as I was cleaning my swivel hutch which has so many of my "favorite things" and dust collectors.  When I got to the bottom shelf it was all my journals.  Years of them.  It was a mistake to start reading them as I was transported down memory lane.  The good, the bad and the ugly of life ~ all recorded year after year.  It's amazing the insight one gains looking back, and thinking how differently I would react if it were happening now.  But one thread that was woven in each journal was a thread of kindness.  Acts of kindness I did, and acts of kindness that were shown to me.  I have to agree with the sign that hangs in my coffee station...ALWAYS BE KIND.  So today my act of kindness was a "cookie kindness".  I baked yesterday and filled the jar, but alas no children are allowed to come to our doo...

Sometimes we just need to get back to the basics!  What could be more basic than the 23rd Psalm at this time of unrest and frustration in our nation. Dear Holy Shepherd, I praise you that my needs are met daily from Your loving hand. You bring me rest in green pastures and give me cool water to drink.   When I feel lost, You restore my soul.  When I feel unworthy, you lead me in the path of Your righteousness.  You do this for YOUR name sake. When I don't know what to do, You walk hand and hand with me through those dark shadows and give me strength to fear no evil.  Thank You Father that you are with me, your discipline and love comfort me and show me the way.  You prepare a table before me, and show me I don't have to fear my enemies.  Because of your precious healing oil, my cup runs over and Your goodness and mercy follow me where ever I go.  And when this life and troubles are over, I will be with my Good Shepherd forever i...

  The other day when I posted a picture of my dearest at the table studying, Victor in his comment ask for a larger picture of the sign on the wall behind the table.  Here it is Victor.  I love the message. Actually I have several signs in our home.  This one hangs in my kitchen and is very valuable advice for the kitchen or any room. HaHa. Above my coffee station (Which is an antique tea cart) hangs a couple of my welcome signs.  "This is the way I Brew it" and in my little "Café" there is always a pot of coffee and usually some scones, coffee cake or banana bread to serve up with the coffee.  If you prefer tea...I have that too. On top of the microwave is a measuring cup my great grandboys gave me that says "In a Grandmother's Kitchen love is Homemade".  And of course, I "Just Roll with it". There are more....but this will do for the time being.  Do you have signs in your home?  What is your favorite!  I di...

My little fisherman, Tristan, loves everything "seafood".  Jill found little lobsters at their Fred Meyer store.  So lobster and mac and cheese.  Can you see the satisfaction on that his face. Missing a couple of teeth, but I'm sure he'll manage. My adult version of mac and cheese, HaHa.   Love pasta salad.  Have my own version.  Love adding roasted corn, radishes, bell pepper, onion celery and cubes of gouda cheese.  I used a new dressing this time.  "Brianna's Home Style Blush wine Vinaigrette"  It was excellent. Found something new at Smart an Final.  First Street Nut Topping.  It's very small pieces of a variety of nuts.  My only concern, is if anyone I share the bread with is allegoric to peanuts. It sure made it easy to add some nut topping to my Sour cream Cinnamon Coffee Loaf. I would recommend it, and plan to keep a bag on hand.  Could also use them in a salad. One of my Mother's Day gif...

The pet name my dearest gave me years ago was "Rose".  Over the years I have had many items that go with my nick name.  Rose candles, Rose lotions and bath gels, journals with roses on the cover...etc.  But who would have guessed a year ago, I would be wearing a "rose" mask.  A Mother's day gift. We had a lovely brunch of Quiche, scones and fruit.   . Two of our three daughters came to help celebrate Mother's Day and get a picture with their dad. Julie on the left, and Michel on the right.  We face-timed with daughter #3 in Oregon and talked with our son later in the day.  I'm a blessed mom! This has been quite an eventful year with my dearest health issues, so I decided to have my 2019 Blog Book printed.  It arrived  for Mother's Day.  My gift to myself.  I had one other blog book printed for 2009 to have a record of my cancer journey.  I think I might just have each year printed from now on. Life hap...

Ask anyone who knew my mother, and they would say "Floy is one of the kindest, sweetest woman I've every known."  She was indeed and word and work the Proverbs 31 women.  If you look at my profile picture on the side bar you will see I am truly my mother's daugher.  This picture was taken when she was the age I am now. Not everyone is so blessed to have a mother like mine and for those I feel so sad.  This photo was taken several years before my little brother was born.  My Dad, my sweet mom, my sister, Donna and me.  We grew up what most folks would call poor, but us kids didn't know it!  My mom was the perfect homemaker and my dad a hard working man that provided for his family.  Owned a little Radiator Repair Shop and had a huge garden than kept food on the table.  Mom raised chickens so there were also plenty of eggs and meat. But the most impotant thing my mother gave me was the example she lived out every day of her life. ...

Rose in a Jar When I started blogging in 2007, the name of my blog was "Brush Strokes From the Heart".  It was at that time I was doing a lot of watercolors.   The children were gone, the nest was empty and I had a new art table and a new set of watercolors.  Over the next years I did a variety of paintings.  I thought it would be fun, once in a while, to share some of them and the story behind them. The above one was a "how to paint water".  The step by step instructions were in a watercolor book I had purchased.  It was my first try! Crusty Crone ~ watercolor added Back in those days, I joined several art blogs where we shared our painting.  She is no longer with us, but there was a delightful artist named "Crusty Crone" and she did this sketch and I was fascinated with it.  She gave me permission to add the color. When I added the color I was thinking of the poem "When I get old I will wear purple"   Mother and Child ...

Our girls decorated our balcony and gave me a little private party for my birthday.  The balloons behind me is a plastic table cloth hung up on the slider.  It seemed only appropriate to find one of my "bling" tops for the pictures.  HaHa A lovely little cake decorated so cute.  White cake with strawberry filling and white and chocolate chip frostings. I won't mention how many slices I enjoyed over the last couple days. Doesn't my dearest look great!  He's feeling a lot better and getting stronger.  We take longer walks and still working on the medicine balance.  That's our normal, and will deal with that from now on...but how nice to have that smile back.  He was so happy I was able to have a little birthday celebration.   My girls know how much I love and miss the ocean.  They gave me this little sign to ease the pain...haha.  We were blessed to live in Santa Barbara for six years while we past...

 Stained Glass ~Watercolor by Wanda   "In You, O Lord, I put my trust; Let me never be put to shame.  Deliver me in Your righteousness, and cause me to escape.  Incline Your ear to me and save me.  Be my strong refuge, to which I may resort continually.  You have given the commandment to save me. For You are my rock and my fortress..."Psalms 71:1-3 Father God, you holy scriptures tell me that if I put my trust in You I will never be put to shame.  It's Your righteousness not mine that causes me to escape.  In these times of unrest and fear with so many people, help us to remember Your promises that You are our Rock, our Refuge, our Fortress.  We need no more.  Thank You for holding us in the palm of Your hand, and hiding us in the cleft of the Rock.  Our safety is in YOU.                          ...

Who would have thought a year ago, that 24 rolls of toilet paper would be a wonderful birthday gift, and not a joke!!!  My friend, Rosemary who lives here at the Villa, knocked on my door this morning and wished me a Happy Birthday!!  What a thoughtful gift. HaHa A lovely box from Body Works found its way to my doorstep,  A beautiful 3 wick candle from my daughter telling me I am loved!  "Champagne Toast" is the fragrance.  It's lovely as I enjoyed it this morning with my "toast" and coffee...champagne will have to come later..' I am blessed to have lived these many years and to have had the love of a dear husband and children, grandchildren and the great grandboys too.  I praise God for another year of life and pray this will be a year when the whole world will be healed of this virus! *My middle name is "Mae" after my birthdate!