Happy Independence Day!

I'm an American, and blessed by the Lord to live in a country where His name is regularly praised and He is still prayed to and honored in our customs. The faith of our forefather's led them to make sacrifices and forge a new life and a new system of government where they could be free to live out their religious beliefs. I thank the Lord for allowing me to live in the USA and I don't mind celebrating our independence but also pray every day that my nation will turn back to God.


My parents are both US Navy veterans which might also be part of my source of pride in our military. I pray for troops serving their country even today and ask that the Lord will comfort and bless them and their families.


The 4th of July is also my brother's birthday. He is our genuine real-live firecracker! He will be eighteen years old tomorrow and I'm very glad I have this weekend off so I can celebrate with him. We'll be making our yearly rounds of the local parade and fireworks and also check out a picnic in our state's capital hosted by our local "Tea Party" chapter. We'll also have cake and ice cream and presents for Andy. Can't wait to celebrate!


All of these darling Victorian postcards I found online at an interesting little site. I love the old-fashioned feel! :)

Praying your weekend is bright and sunny and filled with the Lord's blessings!

Mood:

Excited

Father's Day

The Lord has truly blessed me with a wonderful Father. When I think of my father I remember his humor, patience, understanding, thoughtfulness, sense and love. I praise the Lord for my father and in looking for a husband I am very aware that the reason I look for many of these qualities is because I have see them in my own father.

May the Lord bless you and your father this coming Sunday! Not forgetting to praise your Heavenly Father who does all things well.

Mood:

Thankful

Happy Birthday Mama!

Today (June 18th) is a very special day, and not just because I am using my bonus day off from work! Today is special because it's my mama's birthday!

I was looking for a photo of her and didn't find too many but I really love this photo of her and Andy at his graduation.



My mama is so special to me. I can talk to both of my parents about anything, I love them both so much. But mom is the one that I do talk to every night about work. She loves hearing what's going on with my residents and I know she prays for me and my co-workers every night I work. She has been my spiritual mentor and was my teacher up until high school (when dad took over). She has taught me so many things but among the most valuable is to be a woman of God.

"Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised." Proverbs 31:30

I thank the Lord for my wonderful mother and pray that she has a great birthday!
May your day also be blessed as you seek to serve the Lord.

Mood:

Grateful

Quotes & Other Words

Love isn't about loving the perfect person, it's about loving the unperfect person perfectly



Strength is the capacity to break a chocolate bar into four pieces with your bare hands - and then eat just one of the pieces.
-- Judith Viorst



It infuriates me to be wrong when I know I'm right. - Molière



Dreaming permits each and every one of us to be quietly and safely insane every night of our lives. - William Dement




"It's the job that is never started that takes the longest to finish." - J.R.R. Tolkien



"Stories never really end, Meggie," he had once told her, "even if books like to pretend they do. Stories always go on. They don't end on the last page any more than they begin on the first." -Inkspell by Cornelia Flunke

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Okay so just some fun today, nothing serious. It's my day off and I'm enjoying the sun and gearing up for my mom's birthday and Father's day this weekend. Hope your week is going well and that this post makes you smile!

Mood:

Dorky

Odds and Ends on Film

My last few posts have been rather deep in thought so I thought I'd post something lighter this time and tell a bit about what I've been watching lately.
Although my favorite time period is Jane Austen's Regency and also the Victorian era I've been watching more films set in the 1940's and 50's. Here's just a sampling of what I've been up to lately.

The Magic of Ordinary Days

I really enjoy Hallmark movies and this is just another to be added to my favorite's list.
Set during WWII this tale of an arranged marriage is sweet and charming. Livy is a young woman well educated but pregnant out of wedlock who agrees to an arranged marriage to quiet and lonely farmer Ray Singleton. Livy and Ray seem to have nothing in common but he is dedicated to making her feel at home and she finds life on a farm and it's Japanese workers more interesting than she at first thought. A sweet story, and well acted. I watched it on YouTube but unfortunately the DVD is no longer sold by Hallmark so I might have to buy a used copy from Amazon.

The Notebook

I was told by my co-workers and classmates in various Alzheimer's trainings that this a must watch for any care giver of the elderly and Alzheimer's care givers especially. I had seen part of it on TV but finally bought my own copy and watched it with my parents and sister. My mom actually got part way through it and said "I watched this one on TV. This is the one I bawled my eyes out over!" I was thinking that it couldn't be that sad but I was wrong. :)
Skipping over a couple intimate scenes (the wonder of DVD remotes!) the story of Noah and Allie was funny and romantic. But it wasn't until we reached the end of the flashbacks and really saw how much he loves his wife that I blubbered all over the place!
The story was enhanced by the fact that I know a man just like Noah who faithfully visits his wife twice every day (at my workplace) and even though she hardly speaks a word he still thinks she's the most beautiful and wonderful woman in the world. I'm tearing up now just thinking of it! A man and a love like that is definitely worth waiting for!

Cranford Christmas Special

In other period news I heard a rumor that there is a second Cranford chapter being filmed this month to be released in UK around Christmastime! It's encouraging to hear that most of the original cast is coming back and there will be a few more exciting characters added. The most exciting I think is that we get a look at Lady Ludlow's sickly renegade son Septimus. What fun!

Well, that's about all for me. I'm off to bed now after a VERY long day at work. Learning new things can be fun but also very tiring! Hope your week is going well.

Mood

Tired (very tired!)