~breathing deep

Relaxing, letting down and breathing deep...

do you know those feelings?

Listening for the sounds of all...

the bullfrogs croak

and the crickets chirp

Our awareness awakened

(making) taking the time to escape

Remembering TIME is in HIS hands

from the rising to the setting

the lungs are filled

no shallow or fast breaths

no hurried feelings

Amazed by HIS gifts

God's color wheel is so much more vivid

color coordinated :)

relaxing and resting

in HIS beauty

brings refreshment

to the soul and body

"need to get away"

this phrase is used by all

living in this world of fastness

our bodies know

We were made for a "getaway" with

Our Creator.

We are freshened in HIS goodness.

We become fixed on God.

We leave focused on HIM.

These shots were taken one evening back in March,

my husband and I slipped away to chase a sunset

and we stayed way to late...

but, it was so worth it.

Today, as I began putting this post together

the LORD used these captures again to remind

HE is desiring a "getaway" with me.

~~~

Just a personal update.  It has been quite some time

since I posted.  My family was "sweet" to me and

were able to "make do" without me for almost a

week, as I visited with my mother and mother-in-law.

Time slipped by as I prepared for the visit

and when I returned life was busy.

~from decorating for a bridal shower to sitting in a dentist chair

and a few other things in between~ :)

My mother has remodeled her home and I helped

put things back in place. A dear friend of

mine came over one day and we had a fun time

decorating. I know I'm bad, (I did not take any pics),

 but when I return, I promise I will!

She is enjoying all the work and it looks really great.

Prayer request to all my blogging friends.

  Please pray for my mother, she is having

health problems.  She has lost alot of weight and is

continuing to lose, the doctors have found a bacteria

in her stomach along with a lung condition.  She

will be having a biopsy on her lungs next week.

I am overloading you with updates,

but one last thing, that I am so excited about!

My sweet mother-in-law and I are planning

to attend a weekend retreat at the Potter's House.

Nancy and Pat have created

a weekend "getaway" for ladies to spend

time with the Lord in the mountains of North Carolina.

Click on Potter's House and read more about

this great place.  I can't wait to meet them

and see what God has in store, while we are there.

I will share when we return~

Karen

~wrapped up in LOVE

No better comparsion of God's love and comfort

than the thought of being wrapped in the

 heirlooms of our grandmothers.

~~~

Scraps stitched and held in place with the work of hands

whose love reaches beyond the threads of life.

Wrapping ourselves in God's comfort

when we can't piece together the unknowns.

***

Those times when we can't share with others

we can wrap our hearts in His Love and Word.

Remembering the sweetness and dedication

of those Grandmothers

who took the time and devotion to stitch each one,

is a gentle comparison to the faithfulness

of our Saviour.

***

Who is like you, LORD God Almighty?

You, LORD, are mighty, and your faithfulness surrounds.

Psalm 89:8

***

Recalling those past times

he wrapped and soothed when no one knew

 the hurt and the struggle.

Allowing ourselves to wrap our mind around

these rememberances, brings the peace

knowing HE will do the same for the future. 

Blankets wrap you with warmth,

quilts wrap you with love.

-author unknown

this featured collection of quilts belongs to my mother-in-law

she has them displayed on a quilt hanger in a room of her home

~leaving you with a touch of early spring

Longing for time to stand still in the days ahead...

as time is treasured with those

 we don't sit with often

we don't squeeze before daytime ends

and meals are not shared

as often as our heart desires

***

Enjoy your week ahead

while I am enjoying my time with family.

I hope to return and share

wonderful memories

and even a few captured through my lens.

Spring is close by~

'For behold, the winter is past,

The rain is over

and gone.

'The flowers have

already appeared in the land;

The time has arrived for pruning

the vines,

And the voice of the turtledove has been heard in our land.

'The fig tree has ripened its figs,

And the vines in blossom have given forth

their fragrance.

Song 2:11-13 (NASB)

 

Roots Exposed ~

The ride to the bluff was a treacherous one...

bumps, washouts and ruts

it was twenty four days into November

we made the late afternoon ride to mark it with
 a 2 and a 5
 to remember the day we said "I do"
~~~

the tree that bore the first markings

as fresh sweethearts

 was no where found after a lengthy search
we had hoped to mark the years spent
underneath the first

maybe the wind, man or other forces

 had taken toll?

~~~

the knife with skillful hands

 carefully scratched the years

in the smooth bark of a new beech 

as I waited with camera in hand

my eyes and heart were not able to miss

the sight of the tree's base down below, 

 the beech tree roots

 running on the ground

 reaching for nourishment

but exposed so raw

 tall and straight
roots bare and sprinkled with colors of beauty

but exposed to forces of nature and man

My hearts condition lay bare
at the base of the tree
the LORD stirring my heart

with full exposure
the shutter clicked

convicting thoughts tugged
~~~
send your roots deep
prepare for the storms of life

desire a fresh word
~~~
how am I to withstand the
"mama said, there'd be days like this"

standing straight to the trials and the forces
 that come with the living-life
~~~
 the inevitable but unseen and unknown
making their unwanted visits


The unwanted is no respecter of persons
~~~
My roots must be covered
they must run deep into God's Word,
be buried in His way.

Landscaping using His Word to cover
and watering with prayer to add beauty
of My Saviour's Love

 within a few short weeks,
of the ride to the bluff, life storms blew
the inevitable was encountered
death visited our family
...How did we stand?

with the support of God's ever-ready
 comforting peace
and the love of family and friends

“The tree on the mountain

 takes whatever the weather brings.

 If it has any choice at all,

 it is in putting down roots as deeply as possible."

---Each New Day” ― Corrie ten Boom

I found this on pinterest

a few weeks ago - 

just another affirmation

of His desiring us to be grounded

In HIM.

Source: be-the-change.tumblr.com via Karen on Pinterest

I pray you are sending your roots down deep.

In Him,

Karen

fun in the midst of trials

Thank you for your visits to Places of my Heart.

I am experiencing problems with blogger

at this time.  I disabled comments on two posts

and was unsuccessful enabling for the post about
St. Mary's Cathedral.

Thank you for your quiet visits and for the emails received.

It has blessed my heart to know that you have

been able to capture the beauty and reverence

of this historic place of worship.

~~~

We've had a visitor.

The birds had to share the birdfeeder yesterday.

Excuse the quality of the picture,

it was raining and I snapped the picture

through the dining room window.

He hung around most of the day.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

 

St. Mary's Cathedral ~ Natchez, MS

~this past November we made a stop in Natchez, MS

the above picture was taken standing on the bank

of the Mississippi River over the state line in Vidalia, LA

looking back across the river to Natchez

The sun was beginning to make its first appearance

 on that Saturday morning.

I love how the sun's glow is highlighting

the church steeple.

We drove back across the bridge and took our

youngest on a quick drive through downtown

Natchez.  He enjoyed the drive through the

historic downtown, as much as a teenage boy

would.  But, I insisted that my husband stop

and let us go inside...



the steeple that was captured in the

first picture belonged to this grand church

I was very surpised when I entered the foyer

and there above the doors was this sign

Eucharist ~ Thanksgiving

as we stood in the foyer and read the words of how to

enter the church in reverence... I prepared the youngest

who had never entered or attended a church of this faith

all new surroundings for him awaited as he opened the doors

~Breath-taking~

he was in awe & I too was still over-taken with the beauty

My husband and I had made a visit to St. Mary's Cathedral

back in the early 90's.  But, the beauty and architecture are still amazing as the first visit.

it was the mid morning hours and

the sun was streaming in the windows

as we stood in the quiet,

with only whispers to each other



thoughts came of my Saviour's life, death, and resurrection

so thankful He rose from the grave

 after the horrible death on the cross

~~~

but, after loading the pictures I thought of the

scriptures found in Isaiah 6:1-5

describing God's glory

His train filling the temple

and how Isaiah describes himself

In the year that King Uzziah died,

 I saw the Lord sitting on a throne,

 high and lifted up, and the train of His [robe] filled the temple.

Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings:

 with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet,

 and with two he flew.

And one cried to another and said:

 "Holy, holy, holy [is] the LORD of hosts;

 The whole earth [is] full of His glory!"

And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke.

So I said: "Woe [is] me, for I am undone!

 Because I [am] a man of unclean lips,

 And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips;

 For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts."

Isaiah 6:1-5 NKJV

Hope you enjoyed the tour~

Karen

City on a Hill ~

photo taken November, 2011 in Vidalia, LA

looking across the mighty Mississippi River to Vicksburg, MS

as the sun was beginning to make the first appearance of the day

May our lives reflect Jesus

 to those who are looking for THE LIGHT.

In Him,

Karen

Linking to Spiritual Sundays.

Christmas

~capturing the true meaning of Christmas

Jesus came as a babe

lade in a manger

 lived a sinless perfect life

took our sin upon Himself on the cross

to allow us life with Him forever

by accepting this free gift

What gift can we bring that is fit for a King?

Our love and devotion to HIM.

Praise and Thanksgiving

but, first

 our acceptance of

 Jesus, Christ as Lord & Saviour

this is what He wants for Christmas

John 3:16

~~~

Our families' hearts are heavy this Season.

My father-in-law will be spending Christmas with Jesus.

He went to be with the Lord last night.

Prayer is what others can do

 to share in the heaviness and lighten

the load for those who are hurting. 

 "It's us oh, Lord who are standing in the need of prayer"

Merry Christmas

 from our family

to yours,

~Karen

~divine appointment

Linking to:

Hiding

I pray your Sunday is filled with rest.

Karen

~Nothing Unnoticed

If we could only grasp the magnitude of His love for us.

This verse reminds me of the preschool song,

God loves the little children....

all are precious in his sight.

Fixing my sight on Him,

Karen

~Pottery

when we acknowledge our Father,

the Creator of the Universe

and cry out Oh Lord,

we become as clay

in His hands

moldable and shapeable.

We humble ourselves,

realizing His skills as The Potter

are  shaping us into beautiful vessels

to be used by Him.

May your weekend thoughts

 be turned towards Our Creator & Potter.

Giving Him praise!

Karen

Linking to: Spiritual Sundays

Scripture & Snapshot



HE chose me~

So much excitement and promise in this verse.

To think that Jesus Christ would seek

and chose, a sinner such as I.

But, to promise to give what I ask

for in my Father's name, is truly amazing.

The middle part, my part

my responsibility, a three-fold

in requirement...

go

 bear fruit

ask

Wishing you a wonderful weekend

of discovering HIS beauty & grace

and in return worshipping God,

the Giver and Our Creator.

Mighty is our God

Recently while visiting our son,

he and I drove down to the river one evening,

and of course I haven't learned to carry

my camera everywhere I go.

He reminded me of my phone camera.

The sunset gave the side of the bridge the warmest glow.

I seemed small from where my feet stood.

A few days after arriving back home,

I transferred the picture from the phone to the computer.

As I opened the picture and saw how the

bridge was the focal point of the evening sun,

I was reminded of God's strength.

What comfort and peace we can have resting

in His might.  He is working all to our good.

Heartaches, Hardships, and Trials

require our dependence upon Him to show HIS strength.

I have faced some large, overwhelming circumstances

in my lifetime, not as great as some may have faced, but have

looked back and questioned how did I make it through?

It was my Lord and Saviour who showed His strength.

Who provided the peace in the midst of it all.

His word is so real for today.

2 Corinthians 12:9 speaks of HIS strength and power.

I've shared the following passage from The Message translation.

But HE said to me,

My grace

(my favor and loving-kindness and mercy)

is enough for you

[sufficient against any danger

 and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]:

for My strength and power are made perfect

(fulfilled and completed)

and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness.

Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weakness

and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ

(the Messiah) may rest

(yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

Wishing you a weekend filled

with renewed strength.

Karen

Linking to the following: Spiritual Sundays, Scripture & Snapshot

Rest~

Sharing with the others at

Katie's.

 I pray you are enjoying Sunday,the day created for Rest.

Karen

~AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL

O beautiful for spacious skies

for amber waves of grain,

For purple mountain majesties

Above the fruited plain!

America!  America!

God shed His grace on thee,

And crown thy good with brotherhood

(my dad ~ 1942)

From sea to shining sea.

I pray you & your family will remember

 those who are fighting for our freedom

and for those who have.

(this picture was taken through the leaded glass on our front door)

Joining the others for

Spiritual Sundays & Scripture & A Snapshot