Continuous French Knot

Model Trains at Wildwood Park

Selvage Strip Crazy Quilt

Planning a new crazy quilt ..  it's always fun to pull out my supplies and create something new!

#whatif Prompt for 12.22.18

Today's prompt:

       Now, that's classy!

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

🎾 #whatif Prompt for 12.21.18

Today's prompt:

     hitting tennis balls against a wall

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

Praying and Quilting . .

Anytime I can pause to quilt is a good time to pray .  a time to reflect on what He has brought me out of . . where He is leading me . . and to ask His guidance on my next steps . . I am coming into a season of great change so my prayer life is needing to expand accordingly. Change can be beautiful if done within His Devine Will .   .  He knows best!! 🙏🙌💞📚👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

🙏🌎If All Nations Prayed Together🌍🙌

2 Chronicles 7:14
14If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

What if all Christians in all nation's around the world took one month and really put this verse into practice?
If pastor's worldwide would call for followers to
*humble themselves
*repent sincerely
*change lifestyles
*pray fervently
🙏

We would, as a planet-wide body of Christ, see amazing drastic change. 🙌

🚶#whatif Prompt for 12.20.18

Today's prompt:

Where do you hike?

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

Yes, I've been quiet lately . .

Yes, I've been quiet lately . . honestly, I was down with a weird sinus thing (I think it was trying to melt my brain!!) . . then something happened . . sometimes God puts certain events in our lives to teach us and this event did just that! It taught me to sit back . . be very quiet publicly . . pray fervently . . I have kept to myself . . but have kept closer to God. I have prayed . . not more  . . but more profitably. I have laid out my heart before the Lord but have included almost no one else in hearing my pleas.  . .
Because of these changes my days have been so much more peaceful . . and I've found a new contentment in where I am as well as a closeness to the Holy Spirit as never before.  . . that long deep sad feeling of loneliness and longing for a close girlfriend has completely disappeared! I am so thankful for that!! 🙌
Slowly He is revealing things to me and shoring up my battered heart with renewed hope. He is loving me as I am . . encouraging me to be me .  .  building my future on my strengths . . working with me on my weaknesses.
Yes, I've been quiet these last two (2) weeks . . I've also been ultra-blessed!!

#whatif Prompt for 12.19.18

Today's prompt:

   Best places to play hooky

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

Please Come Home

Know that you are still loved here . . and will be welcomed with open arms.
Come home 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦

🍧#whatif Prompt for 12.17.18

Today's prompt:

  How to make an ice cream sundae

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

Psalm 112

1¶Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in his commandments.

2His seed shall be mighty upon earth: the generation of the upright shall be blessed.

3Wealth and riches shall be in his house: and his righteousness endureth for ever.

4Unto the upright there ariseth light in the darkness: he is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous.

5A good man sheweth favour, and lendeth: he will guide his affairs with discretion.

6Surely he shall not be moved for ever: the righteous shall be in everlasting remembrance.

7He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.

8His heart is established, he shall not be afraid, until he see his desire upon his enemies.

9He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

10The wicked shall see it, and be grieved; he shall gnash with his teeth, and melt away: the desire of the wicked shall perish.

As I sat and did my Bible study tonight this is where the Lord led me. I love when He brings such crystal clear answers and instructions right to my fingertips!! That is the blessing of being one of His precious children 😇
~ continue to fear God and delight in pleasing Him
~ do not be afraid of evil  . . keep heart fixed on trusting Him
~ pray and fast for enemies . . desire of the wicked shall perish

What do I really want for Christmas?
My family restored  . . together again even though we are all a true hot mess . . and then to grow in Him and be led to serve Him together.
So, yes, just all come home . . you are welcome and loved here.

🎄#whatif Prompt for 12.15.18

Today's prompt:

       Christmas p.j.'s

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

👸#whatif Prompt for 12.14.18

Today's prompt:

  Princess Pumpkin-Face

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

☕🐇 Rambling from the Homestead . . 💻📚

Hey, sorry I haven't been around much lately . . just posting daily prompts . . and I'm not even participating in my own!! I must say that I am still slowly recovering from that weird sinus thing that hit me (a week ago??) so am going overly slow with everything . . 
And then . . Yes, and then . . a new series from a pastor I follow started  . .  How to Fight Your Own Battles  . . how to run to God with all your battles . . not run to man (people). . not post online . . it has changed my life.
Now, I follow several pastor's on YouTube, but Evans Francis really touches my life in ways that can only be from the heart of God. Every day that I watch another of his videos my day is changed . . I am way way more focused on what He wants from my life . . quieter . . introspective . . and looking around more at what I can do for Him to help those with less than me, who struggle even more than I do day to day . .

So, I've been thinking, plotting my takeover of the world 😉
I need to get back on my prayer jug project. . I have been quietly accumulating plastic jugs of various sizes for this project . .
So here's my plan so far:
Set aside clear plastic jugs designated for specific people/situations.
Label each jug . . some with a specific name .. others with a simple colored ribbon . . but each labeled so I can keep them straight 😊
So far I want one for:
~ each of my children
~ daughter's husband
~ 4 grandchildren
~ Mom
~ husband
~ Toledo Restoration Church
~ Akron Restoration Home

. . .and my mind rambles along ticking off ideas of more jugs/people/situations to pray for . .

🐔 I am longing for a tiny homestead . . a few chickens 🐔 ducks 🦆 rabbits 🐇 .. . a nice garden . . veggies everywhere . . need to pray about it . . I know full well I can give God my all and still have all this too . . as I sit in a very very restrictive apartment setting I long for a place to plant some herbs, peppers, etc . . 🍓🥕🌶️🍅 really strongly feeling led to find a place to live where I can have it all . .

Okay, then there is college . . like a BIG dummy I quit college in 1984 after 3 1/2 years of studies so I could get married. . . in all actuality, although my first husband and I were good friends, we were not in love . . I don't recall love being much a part of it all or those words spoken between us . . how sad is that??! "But, I digrees . "
So I was initially an Architectural Engineering major at Fairmont State College in 1981. . didn't know that college was not accredited in my field of study . . smh . . when we moved to Toledo and I tried to transfer my credits to the University of Toledo I was informed all credits in my major could not be applied as core classes and would have to be repeated. My father refused to allow me to retake those classes and demanded that I change my major . . I LOVE to write so I chose Communications/Print Media (journalism). I did okay, well, I survived it ..  even wrote for the Collegian, as the college newspaper was called at that time.
But my heart wasn't in it . .
So I got married so I'd be allowed to quit school and move out.
smh
Wish I'd known I could seek assistance at the school advisor's office!!
And, I digress yet again . . 😉
I've been toying with the idea of returning to school for years and years but it always seemed just out of my grasp . . until now!!
I did talk to both U.T. and University of Phoenix advisor's and realized I needed to first sit down and thoroughly go through the lists of majors available to firmly decide for myself what I want. Yes, first priority is to simply finish college, aka have a degree, aka not be a quitter . .
"Quitters never win, winners never quit." "Joyce's  are not quitters."
Thanks Mom for all the years you repeated those phrases ad infinitum!!
Well, I looked at class listings for both universities and kept coming back to Communication!! LOL . .
At this point I found my schedule had changed and wouldn't accommodate me being in class on campus 12-16 hours/week much less the 24-32 hours of study time needed additionally ..  just wasn't going to happen. This clinched it~> University of Phoenix was the obvious answer.  . . there students take one class at a time and all online!!
So I looked through the majors under Communications . . one was for ex-military. . one was for those wanting to work more in, what looked like to me from the description, a downtown office . . Nope, well, probably not anyway.
But  . .
Communications/English . . Oooooo! The core classes (pretty much all I still need to take) looked like too too much fun!!!! 🤣 And, should I choose to add the necessary classes, I could get a teaching certificate for primary/secondary schools . . and maybe add a couple classes in special education teachering as communication can be such a huge hurdle there (first hand knowledge having raised an autistic son).
My first step is to see if my current laptop, a Toshiba Air is able to be updated to Microsoft 10 (and one other update) . . Then I need to apply to University of Phoenix and get my FAFSA done . .
Sooooo exciting!!

🎄#whatif Prompt for 12.13.18

Today's prompt:

Post a photo of your childhood Christmas🎄

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

Latest News from Popton

The date for the  trip  to the old haunted  lollipop  factory, Pop's Lollipops, was cancelled because the ghost of old Mr. Pop threw pop rocks and  vanilla Coke in the  fountain used for mixing chocolate creating a citywide exploding shower!!
Stay tuned for further details. .

Christmas at Wildwood Manor House

Hmm . . Yeti's spending Christmas in Toledo!!

Santa's getting ready!! 🎅

Tea time . .
     maybe with the Mad Hatter?!! 🎩

Supper is served . .

Hanging out with friends and family . .

Stop by again soon!!

#whatif Prompt for 12.12.18

Today's prompt:

     I'd stock ______ in my trading Post.

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

📫#whatif Prompt for 12.11.18

Today's prompt:

      junk mail

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

Day 333/365

Sometimes a spontaneous road trip can lead to fun surprises!!

Dinner at Rose and Thistle

I am blessed in that someone sweet takes me to  Rose and Thistle  fairly regularly.
We normally start with a Cheese Plate. It features a variety of fresh cheeses as well as crackers, grapes and home baked bread .

Second course is a Ceasar Salad. I love blue cheese dressing on mine!

On my last visit I was extra blessed as I was privileged to try a new dish not yet on the menu (I had previously mentioned that I'd love to try Matt's, their chef's, new dishes).
This dish was Walleye breaded in potatoes and was incredible!!

📚#whatif Prompt for 12.10.18

Today's prompt:

        favorite books

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

🙏Joy Dare 🕰️ December 3-9, 2018💞

3rd~ 3 gifts shining . .
     💖 His agape love
       👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 hope for family restoration
         🤣 laughs with friends
?+¿

4th~ a gift circling, crowning, crafted . .
    💞 love like the neverending circle of a wedding ring
      ⛪ His plan
        🙏 homespun prayers
°×°

5th~ 3 gifts silver ..
   👵 wisdom in gray hair
     ☁️ silver lining
       🔑 keys to heaven
*:*

6th~ 3 gifts sweet . .
       😎 Matthew
        👵 road trips and giggles
          ⛪ all His Love
*•*
7th~ 3 gifts from your Savior . .
     📝 writing ability
      🕰️ patience
       💞 love for the least 
°©°

8th~ a gift hung, held, heard . .
    🙏 hopes on Him
     🔑 keys to heaven
       👵 plans 
:+:

9th~ 3 gifts ugly-beautiful . .
     🕰️ waiting 
       💻 long fight w/blogs
         🌴 choices ❄️

Exploring Wildwood

💤#whatif Prompt for 12.9.18

Today's prompt:

        I need a nap!!

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

Spiral Hope Quilt

Hi there and welcome back!! Always glad for fun friends to hang out with.
After much prayer I have found a new home (once finished) for this quilt.  Yea!! I am getting really close to finishing and am pressing myself to get the embroidery done so I can tie on the back, bind it and embroider a pretty label. I have an idea for a new quilt I want to start and need this one done and re-homed first.
If you remember, My First Crazy Quilt and My Hope Quilt we're both donated last year. The crazy quilt went to the sea scouts we bought Elan, our broken down sailboat, from. My Hope Quilt went to Bay View Yacht Club to be auctioned.
And so .  . .
Spiral Hope Quilt will go to the Akron Restoration Home and be raffled. It is a blessing to me to see it bless them.

#whatif Prompt for 12.8.18

Today's prompt:

   best freebie I ever got

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

#whatif Prompt for 12.7.18

Today's prompt:

favorite jelly/jam/preserves

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

Being a Girl . . means waiting

Being a girl does mean waiting . . and wondering . . waiting to see if we'll be asked out .  and will it be by someone serving the Lord . . ? Wondering if a decent guy will find us appealing . . waiting and wondering . .
And praying a Lot!!
So what do we do while we are waiting?
Pray, yes . .
Read the Word, yes . .
Bible study, yes . .
But, what else?
Well, I've been pondering that myself. Yes, I already have 3 church services/week to attend, a teen to parent and I work overtime. But I still have time on my hands. After cleaning the apartment and sorting through a bit more stuff we brought from Illinois I have actual "down time"!! This would be time dedicated to a beau, but for now it's just time . . time to set up more homeless survival bags . . to get Matt and I signed up to do volunteer work . . to finish college (cuz "quitters never win and winners never quit" thanks Mom for repeating that over and over cuz it's so so true!!)
Yes, I'm filling the hours ..  and waiting for God to move (or move me). .
Waiting, it's what we girls do.
Thank God He knows my heart .  . .
And someday He will bring love worthy of marriage.
Until then I'm not going to sit around.

{sorry I've been AWOL yet again . . overloaded myself and got sick ..  really sick}

What about a Husband?!!

Yeah, what about it?
Maybe my perspective is different . .
I know the Bible says God wants marriage to be a lifetime commitment.  . .
But . .
You can't make someone else serve God or love you.
While obviously it would be biblically preferable to have my marriage restored.  .
But he may not heed the calling of Jesus . .
He may not choose restoration.
He may only choose to return enough to be a father to Matt. .
Or he may not return at all.
So my prayers . .?
For a stronger closer relationship with God.
For God to bless the man who will want to serve God with me for the rest of our lives!!

🍔#whatif Prompt for 12.6.18

Today's prompt:
 
               ultimate sandwich

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

Urbex at West Dellwood Park/Legacy Paintball Park

This is a beautiful park to explore with your family. Because it is a paintbal park check their schedule and come when they are closed. The trails will still be open.   

#whatif Prompt for 12.5.18

Today's prompt:

fun place to eat lunch

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

Praying for You

I've been doing a lot of praying  . . . and chatting with God. .   and listening closely for His soft answer.    .  . 
Honestly I only want to be 100% where God intends.  . .  
And I have a confession. .
Months ago I was threatened about praying for or contacting in any way someone dear to myself and my son. It was such an intense and detailed threat it took two (2) voicemails to cover all the details!
After that I took a long step back. I had been doing some pretty intense praying and needed time and more prayer to discern if these phone calls were a sign from God or the devil angry about the walls I was praying down. I watched people and situations closely and did so much more praying.
Then I realized . . because He showed me . . that the caller was simply being used by Satan to interfere.  . to try to impede fulfillment of God's plan . . because I was so close to victory.  . . just the same as how Satan has been using them this way for years . . to put in a wedge/wrench.
But now the battle has become more real. Now I am aware.
Now I have a better war plan.
God is so good!!! 🙌

#whatif Prompt for 12.4.18

Today's prompt:

    why I love Jesus

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

1000 Marble Challenge~ week 934/1000

~ growing a family bond
~ working together 
~ making plans
~ learning to set alarms in phone
~ church together
~ overnight at Grandma's
~ deep cleaning apartment together

🐿️#whatif Prompt for 12.3.18

Today's prompt:

  Chipmunks or Squirrels

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

👩 Joy Dare ⛪ November 26-30 🏖️ December 1-2, 2018 📚

26th~ 3 gifts preparing .. 
    👩 conversation with a sweet sister
      🙏 prayerful petitions
     📚 His answers
:°:

27th~ a gift handmade, held, happy . . 
     📓 letter to my love
       💖 His agape love close to my heart
         🙏 His plan for my life
-*-

28th~ 3 gifts in community .. 
   👵 amazing ideas for my new year's outfit
     🙏 praying for each other
      💖 learning agape love
-8-

29th~ 3 gifts red . .
    🦌 Rudolph's nose!!
      🍅 Thick slice tomato
        💋 sweet smiles
[^]

30th~ 3 gifts astonishing . .
     👵 new opportunity
       📚 ideal curriculum
         📓 better plan

#_#
!😊¡

1st~ 3 gifts white . .
    🙏 souls washed clean
     🏖️ sand
      🍝 noodles
^¥^
      
2nd~ 3 gifts bright.  . 
    ⛪ getting to serve communion
      😎 a day with my sweet son
        👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 future

New Week, New Matt

A really cool guy with a whole new hairstyle! So they broke up . . . oh, well . . he cut that girl right out of his hair then got an updated color!!

Ferns Galore . .

#whatif Prompt for 12.2.18

Today's prompt:

     My crazy bucket list

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.

#whatif Prompt for 12.1.18

Today's prompt:

If I could I'd move to . .

Feel free to respond in your favorite way whether it be a poem, short story, photo, video . . however you best relate to the prompt. Simply post your ideas, create a ping-back and use the hashtag #whatif.