TUESDAY TREATS!

IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS: (I Thessalonians 5:18a, KJV,  emphasis mine) I know the importance of this truth.....even in the hard times of severe mercy and suffering, gratitude to our LORD is God's will in Christ Jesus concerning each one. (I Thessalonians 5:18b paraphrase)

This Tuesday circumstances had me easily overflowing with thanks.

Each a treat!

1)    Cardiology appointment was better than anticipated! 

2)    A Chick-fil-A down the "road-a piece" from doc office advertised a "limited time" Peach Milkshake! A Perfect Time for me! My fave & I only allow myself 1 a year.

30    Making it even sweeter as I slurped was a phone call from a precious friend....the only person in the world who calls me "Dorothy May" as that's part of my given name and her maiden name! A big thx to Beth for making that possible!

4) Arriving home, I found a flower fairy had left two vases of a variety of beautiful flowers on the porch! They touch every sense

along with my heart.

5)    New York son found a new plant, Great Mullein. on Long Island, NY that I was able to add to my SEEK app. 

TREATS GALORE---I'm thankful for........TODAY!

CELEBRATION!

Celebrating Ann Martin's 1st birthday in heaven! 

A time to remember our true friend who would have been 94 today!

She loved breakfast at Perkins so we met there to pray and remember.

Trips together. Meals together. Swimming together. Singing old hymns together. Laughs together. 

• Awakening to Shirley's buttery biscuits at Blackberry, riding in the golf cart w/ her doggie Abbey, treated to Judy's crepes w/ fresh fruit & real whipped cream, rocking in the chairs with Farmer John at the Barn, campfire s'mores, 4th of July lunching on the grounds & listening to Luke Bryan's Spring Break live concert from our lawn chairs. 
• Her top level cooking from Etheline's coconut cake, her Brad's, birthday pumpkin roll and her roasted red pepper soup. Who takes time to roast peppers anymore? Lunching with her sweet Marika when she was in town.....from Napa Cafe to good ole Elmo's.
• Swimming together at the Q for years, sometimes at the office and once even breaking in to Rawl and Julie's for a dip.....by scaling the gate!
• When she had trouble speaking we could hum a familiar old hymn and she would start singing.. In the Garden, Old Rugged Cross, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus and Jesus Love Me.
• Many laughs included Mike & Larry being her boyfriends. Others are censored (per request by friends) but often dealt with food and weight and back to food....while interspersed with bodily function jokes.

Ann was a friend who gave wise counsel; Her life as a friend is clearly reflected in these verses.

A true friend sticks by you like family. (Proverbs 18:24)

Sweet friendships refresh the soul and awaken our hearts with joy! (Proverbs 27:9)

Thanks for the memories, sweet, Ann; You certainly refreshed my heart with joy even during my darkest of days!

CHOOSE: RSVP

I don't remember what all the fancy french words are for that acronym---I just understand what it means. In southern speak, it means just let us know whether or not you are coming.

This morning as I was checking an invite, my eyes were open to "see" more than that. To see what my widow ladies seem to invite me to do weekly, more so when homebound.

Reach Someone Very Personally. 

They are that someone and they want more than my baked goodies, phone call or card.
They want my time. They want me. In the flesh.

Isn't that what we all want from friends? Especially when we are lonely.

Today, may I do that as God leads. It is more than ministry, it's a privilege. (James 1:27)

CHOOSE LAUGHTER

Sometimes we just have to laugh at ourselves.

More often than NOT, it seems, my dearest friends and family have a "feast of laughter" (Ecclesiastes 10:19) at my expense. They even give me endearing gifts to remind me.

So.....I choose to laugh at those as well!

Green Thumb Generosity Generates Blessings

The earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof...(Psalm 24:1a)

Every morning as I sit and look out at God's garden---given first by Him & now shared by others with me, I am grateful that this "brown thumb" gal is so tangibly loved by others. Others with a horticultural "green thumb."

The land produced vegetation: plants bearing seed according to their kinds and trees bearing fruit with seed in it according to their kinds. 

And God saw that it was good. (Genesis 1:12)

As my mother and grandmother before me, I have been blessed with friends who share slips, dividing and cuttings of flowers, and trees and bushes with other terms of propagation, I don't even know. (in water, in dirt, in perlite, "buried") Others have "gifted" me---son Josh with my Mother's Day cherry tree 30 years ago and Daddy's white dogwood tree, given by dear, dear, friends in 2011.

But.....sharing from their own gardens---their green thumb should shine in heaven.

• Mother--"pinks" and baby's breath
• Mama Davenport--snowball bush originally from Hampton Station, KY & growing in 2 more spots before winding up in my yard
• Mommar's day lilies--mother-in-law
• Beth and JoLynn's hostas--from Tuscany Way
• Mrs. Neely's 4 o'clocks--former "elderly" neighbor
• Wynellen's phlox and butterfly bush--former neighbor
• Mimi's Lenten Roses & Solomon's Seal--GAC swim buddy and "round the block" neighbor
• Jerrie's big green and yellow unknown variety, 365 friend & more
• Winslow's Louisville KY goose neck--high school chum & college roomie
• Lynda's assorted perennials and ferns--master gardener and next-door neighbor, along with lots of "much needed" advice.

Even FL friend, Julie provided (when she moved to DC) a variety of patio pots and a "weathered bird" art which I love.

....the world and they that dwell there in. (Psalm 24:1b) 

All of those who dwell in God's world and have crossed my garden path, or lack there of, have generously blessed me with their " great" green thumbs! 

It's great to have a green thumb but it's even greater to share that skill with others!!

Calculated Splurge

Only 2 a year---that's the deal! Chick-fil-A milkshakes that is.
After untold numbers of Chick-fil-A milkshakes during my 2009 cancer battle when eating could only be done thru a straw---I developed a "taste." Since life was more important than worry about weight gain, it worked. But....after that the 520 calories a "pop" began to take its toll----thus the rule. Only 2 Chick-fil-A milkshakes a year.
Wisdom finally set in and 2x earlier this year I had only 1/2 a peach milkshake and 1/2 a strawberry one. I love friends who indulge me and share with me to "enrich" my goal. So.....I had one whole one left for 2015 and sweet friend Drenda treated me to it.
A Peppermint chocolate chip milkshake with 2 cherries!!! YUM!! (
(I actually drank, ate and slurped mine before remembering to take a pic, so I borrowed one.)

Sweet friend. Sweet treat. A calculated splurge comes to fruition in the best way possible!!