~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

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

12 days + 25 years

12 days....since my last post

oh my!

 How time passes when you are having fun.

We have traveled to Louisiana during those 12 days

to visit family and enjoyed our week stay.

We returned home on Sunday with lots of

 memories, (blogging posts - can't wait to share)  pictures,

 and suitcases to unpack.

Yesterday, our first day back, we took time

 to remember the events of a special day

 that took place 25 years ago.

Our Wedding Day

November 28, 1986

Oh how the hands of the clock have moved quickly.

But, I must say alot of water has run under the bridge, too!

We've learned to love with a much deeper love

and communicate in different ways.

We shared a fun evening together.

(pizza & Wal-mart) = your morning laugh!

I have plans to prepare a nice dinner tonight...

just could not put it all together yesterday.

We are planning to celebrate our 25th

with a memorable get-away

after the first of the year.

It is such a busy time for us,
 this time of year.

Dinner Menu

Petite Dinner Rolls
Wild Rice Pilaf with Mushrooms and Toasted Pecans

Cornish Hens with Lemons and Rosemary

Green Bean Bundles
Iced Lemon Tea

Chocolate Mint Brownies topped with cream

I am not promising pictures - due to food prep overload. :)

The dishes are Lynmore Golden Rose.

My grandmother gave me

 two demitasse cups with the saucers

approximately 30 years ago.

  I have collected for approximately 20 years

and now have a large collection of this pattern.

~~~

Hope you are having fun

 preparing for Christmas.

We are getting our decorations

 down from the attic tonight and

I'll be sharing my home with you.

~~~

I have missed visiting with all of you.

Hoping to play catch-up soon.

:-)

Karen

~Six years of...

Our family is nearing a six year celebration.

The month of October will date our Mississippi address.

After, a brief nine months in North Carolina,

we embarked upon the second move in the same year.

Quite a feat for a family who had lived in the same home in Louisiana for eighteen years. 

We were not the moving type. :-) 

Shortly, after moving to the state

 I never dreamed of living in,

I realized the straw must be fluffed and make the nest our home.

I don't recall how the Mississippi Magazine was discovered,

but while unpacking the boxes and hanging pictures

 I subscribed to my first copy.

No better way to discover new places

in the state I now called home.

Every two months the old copy is stored in the closet

and the new one is placed on the coffee table.

Six years of magazines and I'm not the pack-rat type!

Just can't seem to to part with a one.

My mother-in-law's visits even include time

 to play catch-up with the wonderful issues.

~

Hours can be spent exploring the pages

to find new towns to visit, decorating ideas,

and tasty recipes.  The magazine contains

shopping guides for really unique shops

throughout our state.

~

The Mississippi Magazine

 is the best travel guide

 for planning a day out

or a weekend getaway.

Sharing with these on Friday:

No compensation received for sharing this wonderful magazine with you.

Back to Reality ~ AFTER ~ Point Clear, Alabama

No better way to begin,

than by sharing a quote from a bellman,

 "we make it happen here at the Grand".

From the moment you enter the gates

and circle to the front doors of the Grand Marriott at Point Clear

you have entered true traditional southern hospitality.

There is no need to leave the resort until it's time

to return home.

This past week I was given the opportunity to

"tag along" with my husband on a company trip.

And, no the couple you see in the picture below

 is not yours truly.

Point Clear, AL is located close to Fairhope

 and its name depicts the location,

as it rests out on a point in Mobile Bay.

The grounds at The Grand are very beautiful and

well maintained.

I could not help but realize & appreciate the "work" that takes place all night as you sleep in the quiet.

The flowers were soaking up the sun and enjoying the humidity.

"can't say the heat & humidity was pleasurable"

A brick paved walkway surrounds the resort

 almost to the entirety.

Great for bicycles and 

midnight strolls with the sweetheart.

Hammocks for relaxing.

swings overlooking the bay

to enjoy during the cooler late evening hours

we had a meet & greet reception

at this outdoor reception area upon arrival

a spectacular view of the bay

dining at its finest

several restaurants with the most

delicious food & the presentation

of the meal amazing

indoors or outdoors

We attended a dinner at the very top

where the brown shutters are in the windows.

The view was breathtaking.

You may request to dine in

The Secret Garden for a special occasion.

~~~

Birthdays, Engagements, Anniversaries & Celebrations

~~~

We did not do this ~ but, our 25th Anniversary is up ahead ;-)

In the Secret Garden the table is set with beautiful

china, crystal and linens, a journal is brought to the

table for recording your celebration, 

while dining you can read of others special moments

spent in The Secret Garden.



Each afternoon at 4:00 sharp

the cannon is fired to salute today's

military and those who have passed through the

 historic hotel through the years.

The ceremony begins with a military band

marching around the property and ending at the Cannon.



The first hotel was built in 1830 at Point Clear.

In 1860 the hotel was used as a military hospital,

after the Battle of Vicksburg.

A Confederate Cemetery, adjacent to the hotel grounds

is a resting place for more than 300 soliders who died

at Point Clear.

Enjoy the remaining pictures.

The hotel was closed in 2005 after Hurricane Katrina

and reopened in November 2006

 following a 50 million dollar renovation.

a family enjoying a game of golf

after brunch on Sunday

I saved the best for last :-)

Be sure to make plans to enjoy

the most relaxing part of the stay.

The Spa at the Grand

The entrance to the Spa.

Hotel rooms are also available above the Spa.

A variety of services are available at this magnificent place.

The Quiet Room is indescribable.

The BEST yet!

 it does the body good to rest awhile

Hope you have enjoyed reading of my

memories and the beauty captured.

I am sharing the link to this

wonderful place.

Karen

Southern Living Magazine

is offering a Post-Labor Day Rate

for the

Grand Hotel Marriott Resort

at Point Clear, Alabama

in September 2011 magazine

you must have the booking code: L9Z

In no way or means compensated

 by Grand Hotel, Point Clear, AL or Southern Living.

Linking to:

A Southern Daydreamer for