Isn't Love Wonderful....(sigh)?

It's Monday, and we are all having a hard time waking out of the Magic Spell the Royal Wedding put us under! I try to focus on my work, and other topics, and then I get caught in one more entrancing photo of the wedding day, and there I go drifting off! Isn't Love Wonderful? Sigh................

Alright, Yes, definitely, Tuesday will be "business as usual"! xo

{photo courtesy of the Paris Apartment}

"Love" Mondays! Loving Hearts!

There's NO questioning the hearts of the bloggers that I follow and share comments! Everyone seems to have loving reminders and posts of thoughts and prayers for Japan. We are all aware that, even though, Monday, the start of the work/school week is here, we REALLY are blessed! We are OK. We are well aware of what could be.

And, with TRUE LOVING HEARTS, we ask that the healing for Japan will be swift!

May your Monday, and the rest of the week, be blessed! xo

"Love" Mondays! Best Day Ever!

May this Monday's love story teach us to Value the moments that can create the BEST DAYS EVER!!!!!

In the faint light of the attic, an old man, tall and stooped, bent his great frame and made his way to a stack of boxes that sat near one of the little half-windows. Brushing aside a wisp of cobwebs, he tilted the top box toward the light and began to carefully lift out one old photograph album after another. Eyes once bright but now dim searched longingly for the source that had drawn him here.

It began with the fond recollection of the love of his life, long gone, and somewhere in these albums was a photo of her he hoped to rediscover. Silent as a mouse, he patiently opened the long buried treasures and soon was lost in a sea of memories. Although his world had not stopped spinning when his wife left it, the past was more alive in his heart than his present aloneness.

Setting aside one of the dusty albums, he pulled from the box what appeared to be a journal from his grown sons childhood. He could not recall ever having seen it before, or that his son had ever kept a journal. Why did Elizabeth always save the children's old junk? he wondered, shaking his white head.

Opening the yellowed pages, he glanced over a short reading, and his lips curved in an unconscious smile. Even his eyes brightened as he read the words that spoke clear and sweet to his soul. It was the voice of the little boy who had grown up far too fast in this very house, and whose voice had grown fainter and fainter over the years. In the utter silence of the attic, the words of a guileless six-year-old worked their magic and carried the old man back to a time almost totally forgotten.

Entry after entry stirred a sentimental hunger in his heart like the longing a gardener feels in the winter for the fragrance of spring flowers. But it was accompanied by the painful memory that his son's simple recollections of those days were far different from his own. But how different?

Reminded that he had kept a daily journal of his business activities over the years, he closed his son's journal and turned to leave, having forgotten the cherished photo that originally triggered his search. Hunched over to keep from bumping his head on the rafters, the old man stepped to the wooden stairway and made his descent, then headed down a carpeted stairway that led to the den.

Opening a glass cabinet door, he reached in and pulled out an old business journal. Turning, he sat down at his desk and placed the two journals beside each other. His was leather-bound and engraved neatly with his name in gold, while his sons was tattered and the name Jimmy had been nearly scuffed from its surface. He ran a long skinny finger over the letters, as though he could restore what had been worn away with time and use.

As he opened his journal, the old man's eyes fell upon an inscription that stood out because it was so brief in comparison to other days. In his own neat handwriting were these words: Wasted the whole day fishing with Jimmy. Didn't catch a thing.

With a deep sigh and a shaking hand, he took Jimmy's journal and found the boy's entry for the same day, June 4. Large scrawling letters, pressed deeply into the paper, read: Went fishing with my Dad. Best day of my life!

Have the BEST MONDAY EVER! xo

Endless Lists!

In my world, spring is here! And, here in south Texas, our mowing and flower gardening season starts early! YAY! I love a beautiful yard and find yard work- very therapeutic (it's one more form of prayer time while helping God keep His world beautiful)! However, I do have my additional list of things I look forward to on the weekend! Such as......

Thinking about love and ways to show it! (with all the men in my house, it usually ends up with cooking)


Will Ponder these Words of Wisdom and feel the peace of knowing "that I 'love' and take action in showing it, and sometimes I don't do it perfectly but that never lessens how deeply I do love".

Will try to visit here. Been wanting to for so long. Looks like a BIG TREASURE BOX!

You WON'T catch me at the mall, but I am needing to replenish one of my favorite fragrances, Bond No 9 Bryant Park. I love this fragrance! Enjoy a taste of Red Velvet wine by Cupcake Vineyards, introduced by Sandi at Peel Me A Grape (http://peelmeagrapeblog.blogspot.com/)
Enjoy your weekend!

Just Thinkin..............!

Things that I'm thinking about today...........

I love Liam Neeson as an actor. I came across his new cover on Esquire and his story concerning how he handled his grief on the death of his wife. We are just past Valentine's Day and this story hit home with me! Grieving loss! How do we cope? He plays such a strong character in all of his roles, however, he is as vulnerable to loss as the rest. My heart goes out to him and his boys upon reading his story. Just a reminder to never take for granted the good things in life. Just thinkin....

Just thinkin...... I love diet coke. I have one a day, sometimes none. However, it is my drink of choice (unless I hit my southern roots and go for that glass of iced tea). Otherwise, diet coke makes my mouth feel happy.
And,just thinkin......... spring is around the corner, with a warning that summer fun is very close. So I was thinking about classic vintage swimsuits. Just like the words describe-"classic,"still in style and acceptably beautiful with a ladylike quality, and "vintage," something that is valuable and sought after. (Reminds me to keep drinking my diet coke if I want to get into one of these things.)

Have a wonderful day of "thinkin". It's what helps us to put priorities in order! xo

Ain't Nothin Like the Real Thing Baby!"

Happy Valentine's Day! Happy Love Day #14!

As the Golden Oldie sings "Ain't Nothing Like the Real Thing!" { http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svAs-6MiqxE } And I have found the "Real Thing" in two Valentine couples that I would love to share with you today!

More than lovely, Rayanne of A LOVELY THOUGHT { http://anartsideoflife.blogspot.com/ } has a treasure of wisdom, beauty, art, home decor, and "girl time tea talk" ready to share! With each post, she has stirred my heart, made me laugh, brought a tear, and alerted me to double-check my faith! She recently added a visit to her closet { http://alovelyladyboudoir.blogspot.com/ }. I accepted the invitation and was "WOWed" by her sharing. I indulge you in a peak at her love story (which can be read in its entirety if you click on her "boudoir" link above.

It appears they started with a "kiss".........

and they are still Kissing today! AAHHHHH! How Sweet it is!
Married for 35 years, Rayanne shares, from her Treasure Box, her first Valentine from her husband(with a picture of them "young and in-love"), her love letters she received from her husband that she saved (and still receives to this day), and a "Love Journal Book" in which their love celebration is recorded to share with each other now and later. True Heavenly Love manifested here on earth to give Hope for those who wait and wonder! Thank you for sharing Rayanne!

And,

Love is found in the strangest places!

I had the great fortune to meet this next couple in Austin at (you guessed) a hockey tournament. I couldn't take my eyes off of them, as I witnessed the most precious loving relationship.

Anne and Jim Hayes

At hockey dinner night, I was seated at the dinner table with them. My heart jumped for joy. I knew it was no accident that I ended up at their table. Married for 50 years, Anne and Jim Hayes spoke of their marriage journey over dinner. I asked if I could keep in touch with them via email. I explained that I had a multitude of questions for them and their enduring love. I feel very strongly about marriage and its unfailing virtues. With the Grace of God, these two have weathered through some incredible trials. They proclaim they remain very much in love. I asked permission to share their story over time. Therefore, I am creating a format to post once a week about God's promise in marriage with testimony from this beautiful and inspiring couple, and others.

Again, A VERY HAPPY VALENTINE's DAY to you all! And, I add my sweet Valentine prayer received from my little sister this morning........

Dear Saint and glorious martyr,
Teach us to love unselfishly and to find great joy in giving.

Enable all true lovers
to bring out the best in each other in God. Amen!

Love Is An Action Word!

Above All, Real Love Compels us to do OUR PART, no matter what! Happy Love Day #13! xo

A Love Story!

In Every Life there is a Story about Love waiting to be Shared! Happy Love Day #10!

Love Will Bring You Through It!

No matter what the circumstance, Love will bring you through it! Happy Love Day #9! xo

To Give and To Receive!

A Heart(hand) Open to Give is surely a Heart(hand) Open to Receive! Happy Love Day #8!xo

The Return of Love!

Love is Wonderful when the one you love, loves you in return! Happy Love Day #7! xo

Love Warms the Coldest of Hearts!

If ever we feel isolated from the ones we love, remember that Love can warm the coldest of hearts! Happy Heart Day #4!


(We all seem to be weathering the cold, to bitter cold, temperatures this early February! I pray you have the warmth of love to blanket you!)xo

Happy February! Happy Love Day!

Happy February! What a lovely month! I offer a heart, or my heart, everyday until Valentine's Day!