How SWEET is this....?

"Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones."
Proverbs 16:24 NIV

When I was looking for this verse I wanted to find the various "translations" of it..because most translations use the word "Kind" also for the word "Pleasant" so I just wanted to see any other forms of the wording.

But for some odd reason, when I found the NIV (New International Version) that I wanted to use, it said....."U.K." after it. Hummmmm.....Interesting.

Then I wanted to read it in another form and the translator was "stuck."
So we are sticking with the "U.K." version of the NIV....which means....in my TINY mind and way of thinking....."Right, that you MUST read that verse and hear it in a BRITISH ACCENT!"
Yes, I've gone mad.

This morning I found that "Kate" at "Our Red House" who is WAAAAAAAAY over on the other of the world in Melbourne, gave me this cool award today.


It's the ever famous and fabulous......."You CHEER me up award." I love that.
I desire to "cheer people up" that's what I do. So it's fitting actually.
Now.....honestly. I must admit.....I've never posted awards when people have given them to me......because I don't want to become vain or whatever.....like......"Hey look at all my blog awards and how wonderful I am" not that anyone does that. I just am funny that way......I'd rather just stay "behind the scenes."

However.....I couldn't RESIST posting it today when I saw that it was "LUCY and ETHEL" in that hilarious scene in the candy factory when they keep eating them and shoving them in their hats and their clothes because the production speed up and they can't keep up with it.

I am so Lucy at times.....and so Ethel at times...so I will put it up on here today AND....pass it onto a few more well deserving people along the way.

Thanks for the "Kind" and "Pleasant" words today Kate....oh by the way I said that with an AMERICAN accent...just incase you wondered. And it's sort of "Southern...." but not really bad because I'm originally from the North. This gets very confusing doesn't it?

All ya'll......check out Kate's site....she has the COOLEST garden...and every "Pumpkin recipe" on the planet by now.... I was getting very stressed out at some point about all those pumpkins she had and what in the WORLD she was going to do with them all. HA!

Sadly....Australia's been in a drought, and the heat has been very extreme. Can anyone tell me do they have air conditioning there?? I've wondered, I don't think they do though.

I have been very burdened for them over there and spoke to my husband about this one night as well because we have dear friends near there on another island that is suffereing too. We prayed for them all to receive rain and......have to tell you....

Kate says...."it's raining."
WUUUUUhooooo!

Now...I don't think it was because of our prayers...I think it was because of the prayers of many.

I'm sending this fun award onto.....

~~~My new friend Susie who is so SWEET....and who has "Kind and Pleasant words" tucked into her blog.

~~~My "Cousin Sara" in Missouri at "Under The Seas".....who makes me laugh when I read her blog.

~~~My sweet blog friend "Valentine Hearts" in the U.K....who can actually say that verse correctly...accent and all. She has been very sweet and she showed photos of a "dreary and rainy Garden" last week.....so hopefully this "award" will bring her some sunshine over there!

~~~And lastly but not leastly...(is that a word?)to my good friend "Iwona" who is originally from Poland (and is very smart and witty and knows alot of cool things I might add) who now lives in Kansas City with her CRAZY "American Husband" and three children that we love dearly.....who all make me laugh too.

Iwona wrote a crazy posting about ME the other day and talked about "Tea FREAKS" ha!!! Iwka I am sure you won't know what to do with this award either...because I hardly do either, so don't sweat it. I will help you my friend.....you make me smile.

You FOUR award winners need to give some blog love out to others that you know as well. I would give more awards out but I am in a "time crunch" and have to get off this computer and get somewhere.

I DO challenge everyone who reads this though....to go out and spread
"Kind and Pleasant words" today...in whatever language and accent you might speak.
IF you know someone who needs this award......take it and give it away.
Have a GREAT weekend....where ever in the world you are.

"Litera-Tea" ......You've Got Mail!!

Bread and water can so easily be toast and tea.
~Author Unknown~

This is one of my most favorite "Tea Quotes" because who doesn't love....."Tea and Toast???"

When I was a child...and if I were sick.....sometime my Mother would make me "Tea and Toast" for breakfast.
I think this quote shows the imagination of the one who wrote it that could see that you can take some so plain and dream it bigger.


I saw that "Gracious Hospital-i-Tea Blog-a-Thon" was doing a "Blog a thon" in relationship to "Tea" and various "Tea subjects."

I love all those things......"Tea and Tea related items and such" so I thought I would "jump on this bandwagon" today.

Who doesn't like receiving a nice long (or short for that matter)letter in the mail...or a little word of "encouragement" scribbled in some way in a card or a sweet greeting in the mail??

I know I do.....and I love to send them as well.

I like to send out "Tea cards"....in fact I'm always looking for different kinds of them.

I found a new source for "special" Tea cards about a year or so ago....they have a tea bag right inside of them along with various sentiments and artistic covers relating to whatever you are sending them for.
I hate to reveal this because in fact have some sitting on my desk right now ready to be mailed out to some of you who might read this but.....oh well. Surprise!

I purchase them online from the "Kimberly Shaw Store"
Here is sample of some of her cards....they are really great!



Check out her site, they have always been very kind and accomidating to me and they have some other very precious "tea related" items for sale as well.

If you know of any other cute "Tea stationary" let me know....
Cheers!

Blessed Easter Wishes ......

Blessed Easter Wishes to you ALL!
Joyce

Good Friday, Good Friend, and Greek Food

My friend Nona called me this morning and wondered if I could "meet her for Greek food"....I said.."sure."

IF you've never tried Greek food......you should give it an attempt sometime. It's very good. We both tried out an appetizer that we had never had before and then we both had Chicken "Sharwarma." It was yummy!!!

We had a great visit and a great lunch.

I've known Nona for years....but then our family moved away for several years and I lost contact with her. Once coming back to this area, I ran into her and we "re-connected" and it's been a joy to be around her again.

I promise you.....Nona is one of the "sweetest and kindest" woman I have ever known in my entire life. I'm not kidding.

Her and her husband have had their share of tragedy and loss through the past few years too, and it's not made her bitter or angry in any way.

In fact, you would never know. Because I didn't. That is until someone told me not long ago.

I didn't believe them, I kept saying....."you must be thinking of someone else" because she had never mentioned it to me since I've been back around her.

Finally I couldn't stand not knowing the truth, so asked her and it was indeed true....they had lost their son who was just a little bit older than my own Gabe in a terrible accident just a few years ago.

My heart was so broken for her family after she told me the story. I grieved for them for days.

I am so grateful that she didn't become hard....and that she didn't shrivel away somewhere and hide.
To loose a child is such a great loss. I can't say that I would have been as strong as she's been if it would have been me that had to walk their path instead.

She's such a great example and I love her dearly.

Today is Good Friday.
I hope I never get too busy or caught up in a "day off" to forget to reflect on what this day is all about.
I am thankful for the sacrifice that was made for my behalf.

My husband was born on Good Friday .....a few years back. And it was a good day for that as well......Easter is early this year. We will celebrate his birthday next month.

We will celebrate Easter however, every day.

Have a great weekend!

Photo time.....

Here's a few photos from our "Annual St. Patrick's Celebration" on Sunday. Just remember, I don't claim to be the greatest photographer in the world.....you'll figure that one out real quick.
But we give it a "go" anyhow.


Pastor Steve sent us the very CUTE "Irish Bear" in his Green Kilt playing the Bagpipes as a "gift" for our party. He plays "When Irish Eyes are Smiling."

Don brought it home one night last week in it's box and told me to "open it". So I did and WAS THRILLED!
Don said he had been called that day by Pastor Steve's Mother-in-Law to drop by the house that P. Steve had a "Gift" for us and this is what it was. That was SOOOO SWEET of him and his wife Dianne. He had ordered it for us special. Even thought he's been in the hosptial for nearly 4 weeks...he thought to do this for us, that says alot about WHO he is.

****By the way...P. Steve was being released from the hospital as we were having our party!
Finally!



Serving it up "Cajun style"....you just "lay it out and they come and get it."


Marsha, Joanie, Me, Diane, and Paula.

Mr. Ray and Mr. Bob


A very sweet and kind Marsha, brought me this fitting "Hostess gift."
The "Taste of Home, Irish Food and Fun Recipe Magazine."


We had some 35 people counting children invited and ended up with a very comfortable 15 counting our son and his friends.
One family was unable to make it because 2 of their children had Strep Throat, so we missed them dearly.

Joanie and I having some good "Craic"....which means "fun."

Really...we had perfect amount of people and everyone could visit with each other well.
I TOTALLY forgot to take photos of the food....can you believe it? I was so busy trying to help prepare the food....and play "Hostess" and photographer.

Although my husband did most of the big cooking outside. He did 8 decent sized pieces of Corn Beef and TONS of Red Potatoes, in our huge Crawfish Pot and the Cabbage in our "Turkey Fryer."
HA!

I did the Carrots inside because they don't take long at all and are a bit more fragile than the rest of those foods.
WE HAD SO MUCH FOOD LEFT OVER though because I did plan for more than what came....I would rather be over than under when it comes to food.....SOOOO...we are still eating it! HA! It's fine with my family though we love this kind of food.
Corn Beef sandwhich anyone?



A very "TIRED" Don and Joyce after a busy but fulfilling day.

One more......
Irish "Blessing" Teapot, Sugar and Creamer...by Lenox.

"A good time was had by all."

I love that saying.....ha!
AND I especially love our friends....those that came and those that couldn't.

"Drama" and such......

It's been very WINDY and I don't know about you all.....but I've had "drama" all day long.
But it will be alright. Hours pass and so does "drama"....the winds will blow themselves out...nothing lasts forever. We all know that and thank goodness for that fact.
Youngest son is having his "Senior photos" taken right now....he had gotten "lost" trying to get to the photographers studio so there were like 50 frantic calls over that via cell phone.

We had drama for two days over "what to wear" and what shots to take. Geeeesh! He wanted to wear shorts...I talked to oldest son today...and he said..."What?? Well..... that's just Luke so let him Mom."
Soooo......I'm fine with it.

Life is way too short you know?

I was trying to rush through a "massage and chiropractic appointment" that I've had on the books for two weeks so I could get back before he left.....and of course he left "early" and didn't take the deposit. Gooood grief....

My husband has been very ill for two days. He has coughed all night long for the past two nights now...hopefully tonight he will sleep better.

Lots of things are going on.....but things could always be worse. Today has been so windy that all flights out of Baton Rouge and New Orleans have either been canceled or delayed. I suppose those coming in are as well.
Ugh... I'm SO glad I wasn't flying on a day like today.

We have "tornado watches" coming for later tonight and we are looking at a huge temperature "drop" the weather guy just told us.....right now it's 83 degrees.

My husband just came in and told me we have "shingles off the roof." I just went out and saw them flying around the back yard.

Now we are "battening down the hatches" and taking down all the hanging plants and bringing some of the patio furniture and other things closer to the house or putting it in the garage.

I feel like I'm in a "hurricane prep." I hate that too, because THAT season is coming upon us soon enough.

Yep, a storms a brewing.......and you can feel it.

It's those crazy March winds........don't even try to fly a kite, or a plane for that matter......on a day like today.

My "Wish" for you on St. Patrick's Day and forever......

I've never posted a video on my site before. I've never wanted to.

Yet, when I saw this one the other day by chance on U-Tube...
I cried.

It was SO sweet and moving to me. I had so many of you and others on my "heart" as I watched it. This tiny video seemed to have a "Healing Balm" to it and so I knew it would be fitting for me to put on here.

The words are kind and healing and peaceful and the scenery was so.....well, beautiful and green ....typical Ireland.

I mean you HAVE to see it in person one day if you can. Ireland is indescribable.
I felt that this video showed and spoke all that I would wish for any of you and especially for those of you in trails and with sickness.
I hope you watch it and enjoy it.
I wish you all.....great blessings and....
"Slainte Mhath" .....which in Gaelic means "Good health."
Joyce
P.S.
Thanks so much Summer for helping me figure out how to post this video. Doing certain technical/computer things (simple as this was)is not one of my gifts. I had to ask for "tech support." HA!

Look on for a wee moment will you not?

The view into the "Irish side" of my China cabinet.
Today we have been cleaning house and sprucing up the patio area like MAD......finishing up loose ends before our party tomorrow. I bought the last of the things for the dinner this morning and have been going strong ever since.

AND BELIEVE me..we had a lot of "loose ends." But we are going to make it.
It now's 10:19pm (Saturday night) and we are now..nearly done.

Thank goodness.....the guests will have a toilet tomorrow. The bathroom isn't going to be decorated, nor the new tile floors put down.....but it's okay. We can invite them all back later when that part is done. HA!
I'm not going to stress out over it.

The most important thing in the scheme of it all is this and this alone......
"SPENDING time with people we love."

For now though....here's a few things to share with you until I have time to get back here.

"Wee treasures" that I either brought back from Ireland myself...or was given by people through the years....or bought myself here in America when I came across them.
Hope you'll enjoy them as much as I DO.The mini teapot that says "Ireland" I bought in Ireland, it was just a "touristy thing"....made in china and all. But I had to have it.

The bigger teapot behind it with the mini shamrocks all over it IS Bone China. The little vase with shamrocks is "Donegal Bone China." It was a gift from a friend of mine in Ireland.

Little mini Bone China "Thistle" teapot I picked up by chance at a store here in Lousiana.
Little mini teacup and saucer I found in Ireland.

Two eggcups....Bone China...I bought them in Ireland.
I LOVE them and don't use them nearly enough!
<
The little thatched cottage is Bone china and I bought it when I was very young probably when I was about 18-19 years old. It's a favorite thing of mine.
Yikes! The "Shamrocks" I grew aren't looking so good.
I thought they were grow bigger. I hope they last until tomorrow! HA!
I bought this Bone China teacup and saucer in Londonderry No. Ireland at a very wonderful old "Department store" called "Austins." In fact.....I bought 8 of them to give away as gifts to people. View over my desk. I love the mossy looking crosses and I don't know if you can see the detail on the plaque but it's very gothic looking and looks sort of like a damaged and distressed brick wall with some wording and in the middle of it is a keyhole.

That's it for tonight I've got to finish a few more things before going off to bed.
More photos later.
Goodnight.

And The "Race" is on........

I'm up early and I have my eye on the race....I'm "stretching out" this morning and preparing to "jump" hurdles that are already coming up in my lane I'm running in. Not so much in a "physical sense" but in a spiritual sense and in just my every day life sense.

We are in the "home stretch" now of finishing the main bathroom project

By tonight the new paint color will go on the walls.
The new tub and shower is in place and ready to go....out with the "1970's GREEN tub." Although my husband tells me they are "coming back." Crazy.

We have the big "St. Patrick's Day" party planned for Sunday afternoon "1:30'ish...."We are looking forward to this and it's always fun to do for our friends. I will have photos later.

I have to get to the Fruit Stand and pick out FRESH......"potatoes, cabbage and onions" for this event this morning.

~One thing I wanted to let you all know today is my good friend "Iwona" has just started a blog and it's pretty neat. She's from Poland. So she does it in English and Polish. Her and her husband and children live in Kansas City.~
I think you might like to check out her site.

My day reminds me of this one thought.

"Like it or not.....we are in a race." It's a "LIFE RACE and there IS a finish line in site for ALL of us.
DON'T LOOK BACK and DON'T GIVE UP....not even if you fall down.
Get back up and get back to running. Even if you are bruised and scratched get up and finish the RACE no matter what. Even if you can't run and all you can do is walk. It's okay.

My oldest son was a hurdler.....he was very fast and he went to the "STATE" Track Meets for our state two years in a row.

He performed well against many odds.

My husband who was a track runner himself "back in the day" used to RUN ALONGSIDE THE FENCE bordering the track at many of his meets (much to the rest of our family's horror and embarrasement HA!) and he would yell for Gabe.
He would say things like "RUN SON and GO GABER!!!!
Really, all he was doing was "encouraging him to keep in the race."
(Gabe in the snow on his birthday a couple weeks ago.)
I am no "expert" but I know a little bit about how this works....
No matter what.....just finish the race.
You will come out a winner, even if you don't place. It's not about who comes in first.

Rather it's all about "finishing" the RACE.

This is me........

I feel just like this lady looks and I probably look like her too at this point.....somewhat that is!
I can still keep my head up and type so far.

But I am fading fast.This week has been so busy! I've had things to do every day. Tomorrow I am going to lunch with two friends...we are meeting at Olive Garden. So who can complain?
I certainly can't

Some people can't even get out of bed......like Deena....so pray for her.
I just read that she's been "under" it a bit. That is probably somewhat attributed to her recent chemo treatment. It wacks you like a baseball bat a few days later it seems. I have another friend that's experiencing the same thing.

I just finished writing out my "Easter cards" and addressing the envelopes and making up a special Easter package for my two little nieces in Iowa to be mailed off tomorrow. I HAD to get this done tonight or they won't get to where I need them all to get to in time.
It's 12:15am.....that is why I look like the lady above. Plus I didn't sleep well last night. So......I must get off to bed.

Oh...and here's a very QUICK update on Pastor Steve. He's STILL in the hospital. He's now had a TOTAL of FIVE surgeries.

It's been a battle for him. He had gotten an infection in his incision. Which has added more drama to what he's already been through.
The GOOD NEWS is...that he may be able to go home finally in a few days.....this is after nearly THREE weeks in the hospital. Pray if you will that he can make it home this week if all goes well.
I think that part alone will be like GOOD medicine to him.

"Cheers" for now.

French Flower Cart

The "French Flower Cart" sits just outside of our back door.
I purchased it a couple years back and have SO enjoyed having it.
I usually put a big ceramic pot of silk flowers in it changing them out depending on the season.
The other afternoon I bought all these bedding plants to stick in some of my containers that didn't make it through the winter and to also refresh a few of our other planters.
I planted what I needed to in my main flower bed out front and then I had to put the rest of the flowers somewhere because it was getting dark and cold. So I put them into my flower cart just for the night.
A cold front came through as much of you know, which buried the upper half of the States in Snow....and left us with near freezing temps. I was very concerned about my plants.
Yet they seemed to have "weathered well."

I've been debating over leaving them in the cart for the party we are having this weekend or putting my ceramic planter with the Red Geraniums and White Hydrangia's in it that I usually put in there this time of year.

Thought some of you might want to see a bit of "Spring time" especially those of you in the "frozen North."

Having "hailed" from the Midwest......I remember just how LONG those winters are.