Happy Mother’s Day

Happy Mother’s Day to my Mother
You are my example of a good Mother, thank you.

Hymn to a Good Wife

A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful, she treats him generously
all her life long.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing.
She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises.
She’s up before dawn, preparing breakfast
for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
She’s quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows;
their winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing,
and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Her husband is greatly respected
when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
and she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
her husband joins in with words of praise:
“Many women have done wonderful things,
but you’ve outclassed them all!”
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised
is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!
~~~~Proverbs 31:10-31 ~~~~the Message

Joe, Dad, MOM, Casey, Clif, Patrick, and Leslie,me.

Published in: on May 14, 2017 at 3:59 am  Leave a Comment  
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When You Find . . .

When you find an old blog, February 22, 2013,
and it makes your heart hurt with pride;
reposting is necessary.

In just five minutes. Tell me all about what your mama did that made her yours….

go

my mama took care

34012_138238256191865_100000170743692_412713_5293450_n

when we were small

mama took care of us

Mondays she washed our clothes
Tuesdays she ironed
Wednesdays she mended

I don’t remember if she had a special task for the other days

she once said, “I really enjoy caring for my family.’

dinner was ready the minute daddy came home

as we grew older she continued to care

a tape measure was taken to the thrift shop
to measure inseams and skirt lengths

accounting was kept for daddy’s business

as we grew older, still

she worked at home in the evenings
and in the public during the days

when she and dad owned motels,
business decisions were jointly made
she was an equal partner

when retirement came
she reaped for her labors

when Alzheimer came
she continued to care
I could not count the times I heard

‘I’m sorry.
I don’t understand what you are trying to tell me.
It is the Alzheimers that is causing the problem.
Let’s try again later.”

GpaTopper

“We will take care of each other because we love each other.”

today cancer grows in the brother that lives with mama

yes, you’re right, she’s caring

my mama cares so much, it makes my heart ache with pride.

I love you, mama

stop

pictures added after 5 minute ding.

To bring up to date
today the brother’s cancer is in remission
yet she still cares
as he deals with the aftermath of treatment and surguries
my heart still aches with unending pride.
I will forever love you, mama.

Published in: on July 8, 2016 at 4:31 am  Comments (2)  
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Happy Mother’s Day to my Mother

Happy Mother’s Day

2012 May Frances

Proverbs 31:20, 25-29
She opens her hand to the poor, yes,
she reaches out her filled hands to the needy
[whether in body, mind, or spirit].
Strength and dignity are her clothing
and her position is strong and secure;
she rejoices over the future
[the latter day or time to come, knowing
that she and her family are in readiness for it]!
She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom,
and on her tongue is the law of kindness
[giving counsel and instruction].
She looks well to how things go in her household,
and the bread of idleness
(gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat.
Her children rise up and call her blessed
(happy, fortunate, and to be envied);
and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying],
Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well
[with the strength of character
that is steadfast in goodness],
but you excel them all.
Amplified Bible.

The young mother set her foot on the path of life.
“Is the way long?” she asked.
And her Guide said: “Yes. and the way is hard.
And you will be old before you reach the end of it.
But the end will be better than the beginning.”
But the young mother was happy,
and she would not believe that anything
could be better than these years.
So she played with her children,
and gathered flowers for them along the way,
and bathed with them in the clear streams;
and the sun shone on them and life was good,
and the young mother cried,
“nothing will ever be lovelier than this.”

Then night came, and storm,and the path was dark,
and the children shook with fear and cold,
and the mother drew them close
and covered them with her mantle, and the children said,
“O Mother, we are not afraid,
for you are near, and no harm can come,”
and the mother said,
“This is better than the brightness of day,
for I have taught my children courage.”

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead,
and the children climbed and grew weary,
and the mother was weary,
but at all times she said to the children,
“A little patience and we are there.”
So the children climbed,
and when they reached the top, they said,
“We could not have done it without you, Mother.”
And the mother, when she lay down that night,
looked at the stars and said:
“This is a better day than the last,
for my children have learned fortitude
in the face of hardness.
Yesterday I gave them courage,
today I have given them strength.”

And the next day came,
strange clouds which darkened the earth—
clouds of war and hate and evil,
and the children groped and stumbled,
and the mother said,
“Look up. Lift your eyes to the Light.”
and the children looked
and saw above the clouds an Everlasting Glory,
it guided them and brought them beyond the darkness.
And that night the mother said:
“This day is the best day of all,
for I have shown my children God.”

And the days went on,
and the weeks and the months and the years,
and the mother grew old, and she was little and bent.
But her children were tall and strong,
and walked with courage.
And when the way was hard, they helped their mother,
and when the way was rough, they lifted her,
for she was as light as a feather;
and at last they came to a hill,
and beyond the hill they could see
a shining road and golden gate flung wide.
And the mother said:
“I have reached the end of my journey.
And now I know that the end is better
than the beginning for my children can walk alone,
and their children after them.”
And the children said:
“You will always walk with us, Mother,
even when you have gone through the gates.”
And they stood and watched her as she went on alone,
and the gates closed after her.
And they said, “We cannot see her,
but she is with us still.
A mother like ours is more than a memory.
She is a living presence.”
Temple Bailey from Food for thought

Thank you, Mom, for being the wonderful example of a true mother. i am so very blessed that you are sill with me this Mother’s Day. I can still learn from your wisdom and grace.
I Love You. Leslie Anne

Published in: on May 10, 2015 at 4:00 am  Leave a Comment  
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Happy Mother’s Day

Proverbs 31:10-31
A good woman is hard to find,
and worth far more than diamonds.
Her husband trusts her without reserve,
and never has reason to regret it.
Never spiteful,
treats him generously all her life long.
She shops around for the best yarns and cottons,
and enjoys knitting and sewing (crocheting and quilting).
She’s like a trading ship that sails to faraway places
and brings back exotic surprises.
She’s up before dawn,
preparing breakfast for her family and organizing her day.
She looks over a field and buys it,
then, with money she’s put aside, plants a garden.
First thing in the morning, she dresses for work,
rolls up her sleeves, eager to get started.
She senses the worth of her work,
is in no hurry to call it quits for the day.
She’s skilled in the crafts of home and hearth,
diligent in homemaking.
She’s quick to assist anyone in need,
reaches out to help the poor.
She doesn’t worry about her family when it snows;
winter clothes are all mended and ready to wear.
She makes her own clothing
and dresses in colorful linens and silks.
Her husband is greatly respected
when he deliberates with the city fathers.
She designs gowns and sells them,
brings the sweaters she knits to the dress shops.
Her clothes are well-made and elegant,
and she always faces tomorrow with a smile.
When she speaks she has something worthwhile to say,
she always says it kindly.
She keeps an eye on everyone in her household,
and keeps them all busy and productive.
Her children respect and bless her;
husband joins in with words of praise
“Many women have done wonderful things,
but you’ve outclassed them all!”
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
The woman to be admired and praised is the woman
who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
Festoon her life with praises!
The Message

Published in: on May 9, 2015 at 2:20 am  Leave a Comment  
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May 13, Today’s thought — Happy Mother’s Day

My beautiful mother, Frances Topper, is a wonderful example of a mother.

Good Morning,    Happy Mother’s Day

Proverbs 31:20, 25-29

She opens her hand to the poor, yes, she reaches out her filled hands to the needy [whether in body, mind, or spirit]. Strength and dignity are her clothing and her position is strong and secure; she rejoices over the future[the latter day or time to come, knowing that she and her family are in readiness for it]! She opens her mouth in skillful and godly Wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness [giving counsel and instruction]. She looks well to how things go in her household, and the bread of idleness (gossip, discontent, and self-pity) she will not eat. Her children rise up and call her blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied); and her husband boasts of and praises her, [saying], Many daughters have done virtuously, nobly, and well[with the strength of character that is steadfast in goodness[, but you excel them all. Amplified Bible.

The young mother set her foot on the path of life. “Is the way long?” she asked.

And her Guide said: “Yes. and the way is hard. And you will be old before you reach the end of it. But the end will be better than the beginning.”

But the young mother was happy, and she would not believe that anything could be better than these years. So she played with her children, and gathered flowers for them along the way, and bathed with them in the clear streams; and the sun shone on them and  life was good, and the young mother cried, “nothing will ever be lovelier than this.”

Then night came, and storm , and the path was dark, and the children shook with fear and cold, and the mother drew them close and covered them with her mantle, and the children said, “O Mother, we are not afraid, for you are near, and no harm can come,” and the mother said, “This is better than the brightness of day, for I have taught my children courage.”

And the morning came, and there was a hill ahead., and the children climbed and grew weary, and the mother was weary, but at all times she said to the children, “A little patience and we are there.” So the children climbed, and when they reached the top, they said, “We could not have done it without you, Mother.” And the mother, when she lay down that night, looked at the stars and said: “This is a better day than the last, for my children have learned fortitude in the face of hardness. Yesterday I gave them courage, today I have given them strength.”

And the next day cam , strange clouds which darkened the earth—clouds of war and hate and evil, and the children groped and stumbled, and the mother said, “Look up. Lift your eyes to the Light.” and the children looked and saw above the clouds an Everlasting Glory, and it guided them and brought them beyond the darkness. And that night the mother said: “This day is the best day of all, for I have shown my children God.”

And the days went on, and the weeks and the months and the years, and the mother grew old, and she was little and bent. But her children were tall and strong, and walked with courage. And when the way  was hard, they helped their mother, and when the way was rough, they lifted her, for she was as light as a feather; and at last they came to a hill, and beyond the hill they could see a shining road and golden gate flung wide.

And the mother said: “I have reached the end of my journey. And now I know that the end is better than the beginning for my children can walk alone, and their children after them.”

And the children said: “You will always walk with us, Mother, even when you have gone through the gates.”

And they stood and watched her as she went on alone, and the gates closed after her. And they said, “We cannot see her, but she is with us still. A mother like ours is more than a memory. She is a living presence.”

Temple Bailey from Food for thought

I love you , Mom. . . Leslie Anne

Published in: on May 12, 2012 at 11:52 pm  Leave a Comment  

One Thousand Gifts — February Joy Dare, part 2

One Thousand Gifts in2012

February Joy Dare–capturing these gifts and joining Ann Voskamp at A Holy Experience.

“Joy is always a function of gratitude — and gratitude is always a function of perspective. If we are going to change our lives, what we’re going to have to change is the way we see.”

February 11  3 gifts found in working

The gift of a job well done

The gift of accomplishment  for persevering when learning a new knitting pattern and finally figuring it out.

The gift of rest after hard toil

February 12   3 hard eucharisteos

The estrangement  and the healing between my daughter and I.

The losing of our business and home, opening the door to new possibilities.

The illness I experienced when  at 19 the drs. gave me a week to live; married 15 months with a premature daughter. The Lord giving me the promise in Psalms 91  with long life I will satisfy ….44 years ago.

February 13  3 gifts you found behind a door today

The gift of a straightening after finding a mess in the cupboard where we toss empty plastic/paper bags

The gift of a fresh morning after opening the front door for the first time this morning

The gift of opportunity to create when I open the door of my Stash Home.

February 14  3 ways you feel the love of God

I feel God’s love in every sunset.
I feel God’s love in the Farmer’s arms.
I feel God’s love as I bow before Him in prayer.

February 15

A gift in losing something  —  During my first miscarriage I learned God could take me through what I had feared and ‘the anchor holds’.

A gift in finding something  —  finding ‘contentment in whatsoever state I’m in’

A gift in making something  —

February 16 3 gifts in shadows

Care  —  Psalms 17:8  Keep me as the apple of the eye, hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

Comfort  —  Psalm 23:4  Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Hope  —  1Corinthians 13:12  For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.

February 17 3 gifts giving/serving

The gift to be able organize the planning, preparation and serving of the yearly Church of God fellowship meeting meals.

The gift of hearing  ‘this is tasty’ when serving a new recipe.

The gift of being able to care for my mother-in-law occasionally.

February 18  3 gifts on paper

Gift of instructions to learn how to knit, I taught myself initially, and since all the written patterns and books I’ve read that increased that knowledge

 Gift of the first birthday card I received from the Farmer on my 18th birthday, “Fun being young, wasn’t it!”

  Gift of books, books, books, all kinds  —   children’s, novels, poetry, devotionals, instructional, cookbooks. . .

February 19  3 gifts that were “plan B’s”

I haven’t consciously set goals or made definite plans for my life that have failed. I mostly have just taken life as it came and  tried to do the best I could.  That is the Gift I was given, acceptance.

This isn’t a picture of  me, just the attitude I strive for.

February 20  a gift at breakfast lunch and dinner

The gifts of my favorite foods:

Breakfast  –  Chicken Fried Steak at the Coffee Pot (no longer in business, but it wasn’t my fault).

Lunch  –  Bacon, tomato and avocado sandwich with a cup of tomato soup.

Dinner  —  recipe from Mom  — meatloaf  !

Gifts 240-268

Published in: on February 19, 2012 at 6:14 pm  Leave a Comment  

One Thousand Gifts and a Scripture

Adding to my One Thousand gifts:

101.  This cat, Busterford Jones, who moved to Cozy Acres scared and untrusting, has adapted and become the #1 lap cat. I get this look if the computer is in his way.

102. Ideas from a quilt show.

103. I am very thankful for my mom. She is such an example of the Proverbs 31 woman. Thank you.

I am very thankful for my home.

104. This cozy spot where I write, knit, read, eat, doze, hold cats, rock babies, gaze out the door, pray and weep.

105. This is the cozy spot where I create .

106. This is my cozy kitchen most of the time it is neater than this but I love the way the light played in this picture.


107. Here is the Farmer’s cozy spot.

108. And COZY, though it may be, I am thankful for indoor plumbing. Please excuse the camera strap.

I thankful for memories, still, of cruise taken in 2009, with these dear-to-my-heart people.

109. On our way to dinner in New York City.

110. Checking out New York City.


111.  Quebec City

112. A carriage ride in Quebec City.

113. A real gift- to be able to cruise with the Farmer.

114. The trip of our life time ‘from sea to shining sea’ in 2007.

115. A favorite memento from ‘the trip’ – The Story Teller, purchased in New Mexico.

And a Scripture:
. . .   trust . . .  in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 1Timothy 6:17

linking with:  http://www.aholyexperience.com

Published in: on December 12, 2011 at 1:02 pm  Leave a Comment  
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On My Mind — The First Quilt

This is a Friday photo feature that anyone with a blog can join. To take part, post a photo on your own blog, write a short caption explaining it, and link it back to here

This is the first quilt I made. I remember starting it when my mother was making for quilt for one of my brothers. She was doing a nine patch, I was sewing squares together. The year1960 0r ’61, I was 11 or 12.

First Quilt 12″ x 15″ all cotton

I don’t remember when I finished it, as with alot of my starts they rest in a box for a while before being completed.

This my treasure was found when we were moving some of the last of our things out of the house we had loved and lived in for the past 15 years. I have good memories of this first quilt, and good memories of the many quilts made on Lincoln Avenue.

We have been in our new home a year and thankfully quilts have grown here also.

 

Published in: on October 7, 2011 at 10:08 am  Leave a Comment  

A to Z about Me

I have read several lists of ‘100 things about me’; this is the first A to Z I’ve seen. Filling this out was fun, and I learned a little and remembered more.

A- Age:  62 and I get my first social security check the third Wednesday in October, 2011
B- Bed size:  Full, remember we live in an eight ft wide trailer
C- Chore you hate: bathrooms, enuf said
D- Dog’s name: no dog now, I was real fond of Rosie the wandering basset
E- Essential food/item: catsup
F- Favorite color: I’m drawn to all shades of yellow in nature, but seldom wear it
G- Gold or silver: not into jewelry, my favorite watch had a woven gold and silver band
H- Height: 5′4 3/4
I- I am:  thankful
J- Job: learning to live in the now
K- Kids: 5 – 3 girls and 2 boys, all adults somewith families of their own. I have 12 grandchildren, 1 son-in-law, 2 daughters-in-law
L- Living arrangements: We live very contentedly in a 8×27 ft RV as assistant caretakers of the 7 acres on which the church we attend is located.  We share the grounds with the head caretaker and 27 chickens and three stray cats who think they belong here (coz they get fed, tender hearted head caretaker).
M-Mom’s name: Frances, she is absolutely MOM #1
N- Nickname: When I was young, Mom called me Lessie, the Farmer calls me Hon, the kids call me mom, the grands call me, grannie
O- Overnight hospital stay: 5 babies, twice for a ruptured bowel (one illness), multiple times for complicated gall bladder/pancreas episode
P- Pet peeve: Having a car hurry to pull out in front of me causing me to break for it when there is a mile of empty road behind me
Q- Quote from a movie: …my very favorite quote is the scripture in the Old Testament in  Malachi 3:6  ” For I am the LORD, I change not; . . .”
R- Right or left handed: I’m a right handed
S- Siblings: I am the oldest and only girl with 4 brothers
T- Time you wake up: no sooner than I have to
U- Unique thing about your car: it always has sunflower seed shells on the floor
V- Vegetable you hate: bok coy at least in the recipe I used
W- Ways you run late: I  always think it will take less time to get somewhere than it does, so I leave later than I should
X- X-rays you’ve had: teeth, knees, abdominal, neck, back, chest,
Y- Yummy food you make: no one has turned away from my Chicken and Rice and I make a killer meatloaf, both original recipes from my Mom
Z- Zoo favorite: giraffes, and I could spend a lot of time watching farmyard fowl, chickens, ducks, geese, turkeys…and I have.

Published in: on September 18, 2011 at 9:04 pm  Leave a Comment  

Five Minute Friday — Beauty

August 12, 2011

BEAUTY

We agreed to write it down – write down the only definition of beauty that matters:

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14.

Write for Five Minutes then link here:

http://thegypsymama.com/2011/08/five-minute-friday-beauty/

I’ve never thought of myself as beautiful. I never heard myself described as beautiful. I’ve heard ‘pretty’. In my twenties, I heard my mother say “I’ve always thought you had pretty legs’, but I don’t remember any words before that from her. As I have aged, I’m almost 62, next week, and overweight, I know that I don’t appear beautiful in my eyes at all.

I do know one day He said   “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. ” Mat 11:28 KJV  He didn’t care about the outward woman, and He died to change the inward woman into a new woman. He gave beauty for ashes and put hope in the heart.

I know inside this house of flesh is a heart whose main desire is to encourage others to keep on trusting Jesus, to take one step at a time even though it is dark, to hold on to the Hand that is . . .

Isa 61:1  THE SPIRIT of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed and qualified me to preach the Gospel of good tidings to the meek, the poor, and afflicted; He has sent me to bind up and heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the [physical and spiritual] captives and the opening of the prison and of the eyes to those who are bound, (3) To grant [consolation and joy] to those who mourn in Zion–to give them an ornament (a garland or diadem) of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, the garment [expressive] of praise instead of a heavy, burdened, and failing spirit–that they may be called oaks of righteousness [lofty, strong, and magnificent, distinguished for uprightness, justice, and right standing with God], the planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.  Amplified Bible

Scriptures were added after the ding.

I need to make something very clear. My Mother is not a mean person. She is perfect.  In the era I was raised, you didn’t tell your children they were pretty or they did a good job. You didn’t want them to get a big head or be spoiled. We were all raised the same.  I’ll never forget the day Mom called and said guess what I just heard on the radio…’It is okay to tell your children they have done a job well!’ It was if she were liberated, as if this is what she wanted to do all the time but didn’t have permission to do! She immediately started telling the grand children that they were’ good workers’,’ thank you for doing such a good job’. She told her children also, ‘your house looks really nice’, ‘I like that shirt on you.’

My Mom is beautiful!

Published in: on August 12, 2011 at 5:10 pm  Comments (3)