Have A Blessed and Beautiful Week

Anytime I read Scripture in the Book of James I remember my father and how he truly lived all the things he read here.

I was raised to be kind. My folks were shining examples of  kindness . I went to school with other kids, primarily BoJons, like myself and Mexican kids. We all had fathers who worked, for the most part, in the C F and I Steel Corp. My friend Karen's father, born in SLOVEnia known as Yugoslavia, long ago, he worked in the meat packing plant.  It was another place of employment that lots of dad's enjoyed benefits for their phamilies and good wages. We formed bonds with the kids we attended school with. Life was simple, we were happy. We did not go home and listen to hateful talk. We lived simple lives, filled with much love and kindness. We knew nothing about prejudice. I am grateful I try to hang on to those values. It is not easy, there is a lot of dissension everywhere and sometime even those we love best  follow the popular choices even if they are the wrong ones.

 Your actions always reflect who you really are. It is often difficult to be kind.Much of the media shows the world filled with meanness, division, hatefulness.  I trust God. I pray. I don't want to see people hurting each other. I want to see us all come together and work for the good of our nation.

Knowledge is great! But we often speak before we think.  We should all learn to be a little kinder.

Garfield is not  fan of the icy cold winters. He likes to sleep in the sunshine. We just finished round two of a big cold front . Now some sunshine. Always grateful for the sun shining.

Now that football is winding down and my team isn't going to the Super Bowl so I am thinking about Springtime and baseball.

My grandmother had these photos and most of them were not dated or noted who was in the photo. This is an unknown phamily around 1932.

Scripture makes me happy.

Aw...Mondays - these cats are so funny! I hope you stop by with Sandee and say hello.

Everyday Wishes/Father's Day Kisses/ "E" is for.../Spiritual Sunday/Blue Monday/Love is...

I was putting up some posts at Face Book! They just do not offer the mobility that I have here. I feel like I can reach out at my blog where Face Book limits you! So this is my shout out to all the dad's out there ! You know who you are and you do a fantastic job! There are not enough kudos for all the good dad's- the men who stick by their phamilies. The men who take care of their children, raise them, love them, discipline them!

My own dad, a kind, quiet, hard working steel worker who provided much more than an income for his kids and wife. He loved each one tenderly, had a humble heart, a strong mind, an incredible work ethic! He did more than I could list in my lifetime! A faithful servant. The man who taught me everything I know about baseball. The man who read his bible and practiced it daily in his life. I love the Book of James, a book in the new testament. Here are some examples of favorite Scripture shares:

James 1-2New American Standard Bible (NASB)

Testing Your Faith

1 ^[a]James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes who are ^[b]dispersed abroad: Greetings.
² Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various ^[c]trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces ^[d]endurance. ⁴ And let ^[e]endurance have its perfect ^[f]result, so that you may be ^[g]perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
⁵ But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and ^[h]without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, ⁸ being a ^[i]double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
⁹ But the ^[j]brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; ¹⁰ and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like ^[k]flowering grass he will pass away. ¹¹ For the sun rises with ^[l]a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.
¹² Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has ^[m]been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted ^[n]by God”; for God cannot be tempted ^[o]by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. ¹⁵ Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin ^[p]is accomplished, it brings forth death. ¹⁶ Do not be ^[q]deceived, my beloved brethren. ¹⁷ Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or ^[r]shifting shadow. ¹⁸ In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be ^[s]a kind of first fruits ^[t]among His creatures.

Stop by Charlotte's and join the people at Spiritual Sunday.

A dad and his youngest daughter, Hannah! Good memories....long ago....Everyday Living. Join Ms. Jenny and the Alphabe Thursday crew. I chose "E" for Everyday Living.

Daddy and his two boys...Andrew, Jayden and Michael.

Dad and his gals!

2013 Graduation for Ryan our nephew so Avery and Nick took a picture together. Father and Son...

The boys all together now! Silly and smiling after a wonderful Father's Day lunch.

A happy girl with her daddy! He is blessed and loved so much!

Brittany and Jeremy smiling on this glorious Father's Day!

 A blue card for a Happy Father's Day from Jeremy. Stop by Sally's and the Blue Crew! I hope they see the blues in my post today.

 Happy Father's Day to all the Romeo's out there.

`

Graduation/The Letter "Z"/Good Fences

Finally, this day has arrived! My sweet grandson Colton is a high school graduate. With a lot of pain and perseverance, tenacity, honesty and by the Grace of God, he graduated today. I was so happy to be a part of it all. He and I have had a close relationship. How many of you have a teenage grandson? He has often shared his heart with me and many times I was privileged to his phone conversations with girlfriends. He and I have a trust thing, it started the day he was born! I am very proud of all his hard work. He graduated with a small class, 103 total students and each and everyone of them has been accepted to attend college! He works at UPS and he is a very good young man. I wish him the best in everything!

It was a joyful occasion. Every single one of his fellow graduates all have a zest for life!

zest

zest/

noun

noun: zest; plural noun: zests

1. 1.

   great enthusiasm and energy.

   
   

   "they campaigned with zest and intelligence"

   
   

   synonyms:

   enthusiasm, gusto, relish, appetite, eagerness, keenness, avidity, zeal, fervor, ardor, passion; More verve, vigor, liveliness, sparkle, fire, animation, vitality, dynamism, energy, brio, pep, spirit, exuberance, high spirits, joie de vivre; informalzing, zip, oomph, vim, pizzazz, get-up-and-go "she had a great zest for life"

   antonyms:

   apathy, indifference

   • a quality of excitement and piquancy.

     
     

     "I used to try to beat past records to add zest to my monotonous job"

     
     

     synonyms:

     piquancy, tang, flavor, savor, taste, spice, spiciness, relish, bite; More excitement, interest, an edge; informalkick, punch, zing, oomph "the lemon pepper and cilantro will add zest to the sauce"

     antonyms:

     blandness

2. 2.

   the outer colored part of the peel of citrus fruit, used as flavoring.

   synonyms:

   rind, peel, skin "the grated zest of an orange"

verb

verb: zest; 3rd person present: zests; past tense: zested; past participle: zested; gerund or present participle: zesting

1. 1.

   scrape off the outer colored part of the peel of (a piece of citrus fruit) for use as flavoring.

   
   

   "zest the orange and lemon, taking care to discard all of the white pith"

I thought this was the perfect word for our letter "Z" and I wanted to share it with Ms. Jenny and all the wonderful people over at Alphabe Thursday! I hope you will enjoy my choice too.

A quick zany share for the Alphabe Thursday challenge. I love to be zany. Some would say my choice in graduation wear was zany! I love the flowing flowery pants with tops that remind me of my youth!

We walk at the Margaret Carpenter Open Spaces and there are some different fences up there. This one is well worn and a good place to watch the ducks and other water creatures swim by. I like to lean on this fence and enjoy the warmer weather. I hope you will visit the other folks who enjoy Good Fences with Theresa.

Words from Dr. Seuss! He was a brilliant man! Enjoy a beautiful day and get on your way....

Fences/Alphabe Thursday/Leo/Everyday Living

I love these homes on acreage near a huge shopping center. I am sure at one time there was more homes with farms than there are today. A sad fact in America. But I always enjoy looking at the fences. Visit TexWisGirl and share some fences today.

Lots of colorful umbrellas to share with you at Ms. Jenny's for the letter "U" this week. we have had some cooler temps and possible rain mixed with snow.You might need an umbrella here or your heavy winter coat, we just never know! Colorado is colorful and unpredictable when it comes to our weather.

My daughter Hannah wants Leo to come live with us. He is a 19 month old mixed breed, shepherd and Mastiff. Those are scary words! Because the Mastiff is such a large breed. My kids always know someone who has a dog or cat but no one to help them because they live in a place where no pets are allowed or only one in the case of Leo. He is staying with a co worker of Hannah's while she searches for the perfect home for him. What do you think? He is well mannered and all that good stuff so we will see what happens.

My grandson Colton and I had lunch today with his mom, my daughter Noelle and my middle daughter Rebekah. We had quite  fun afternoon. We ate at Cinzzetti's which is an Italian buffet style eatery. The food was great and we had good conversations. Makes everyday living more fun!

Some of the dishes they serve.

A chocolate mini souffle