This is not the usual genre’ of books I would choose to read,

 but I found this story so intriguing as we find an older Samuel with a visitor who tells Abra’s story. 

The Edge Over There – Shawn Smucker

 Many of you know, Sam and Abra had quite an adventure together 

and grew apart as friends sometimes do… 

It took me a few chapters to get a ‘feel’ for the characters 

[I had not read The Day the Angels Fell at the time] 

and feel comfortable reading this story of Abra’s next adventure.  

 Once I sorted everyone out I couldn’t put it down as Abra’s story is full of mystery, magic, intrigue, and yes, even spiritual insights if you’re looking for them. 

Along the way she and her new found friends encounter good and evil 

on her quest to complete her purpose for where she is /was at the time.

 Here are some of my favorite quotes: 

“ We want things to stay the same, but the roads between ‘now’ and ’back then’  are always changing and by the time you manage to return home, if you can ever find your winding way, you realize it was never actually yours, not forever.”

“If we are patient and if we believe. The switch will often happen when we most need it to. 

Weakness – pause – to strength.”

“The only distinguishing factor between good and evil... was kindness.”

“Knowing the truth, really knowing it, deflects the sharpest blows of cynicism or anger bitterness.”

“If you don’t know where to go or what to do, here is what I would recommend: go as far as you are able and do what you can. The rest will happen. I promise. The rest will always happen.”

If you love a little magic mixed with the spiritual [think The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe] and a great adventure, then this book is for you! Enjoy!

PS: I received a copy of this book from the editor for review purposes -

All opinions are my own -  

So. I DID IT.

I completed the 100 Day Challenge - 

A challenge where you pick something [anything!] creative 

and commit to doing it every day for 100 days.

Yes. 

Here's some of the last of my pages -

 

I still have many that are inspired by images I find on google - 

And whatever's happening in my life at the time - 

So. Much. Rain, Y'all. 

And you know I'm THRILLED to have fresh tomatoes in my life again - 

It's sad to say, but I think this almost daily these days --

 

Enjoyed a little yoga with our sweet daughter -law last month...

And you know I do love The KittyLou - 

 

Love how my cousins pulled together to honor 

our sweet Uncle Elton  a few weeks back -  

[This is actually a clip art that I painted over -]

 

I turned flowers into fireworks!

 

Embrace it, y'all.

 

 I've already started another little Art Journal Course 

and flamingos were the them the first week!

So Fun!

 

 And that's it.

I really am tickled pink to have accomplished this -

 

 Especially since it somehow overlapped 

with the beginning of Art Journal Summer School.

I've already written a note on my calendar 

to start the 100 day challenge a couple of weeks earlier next year. ha.

Am I OCD or what -

I'm sooooo looking forward

to being with my friends who enjoy faith booking / Bible journaling as much as I do!

We meet the 2nd Saturday of each month

 @ Atlanta Bread on University [8:30 a.m.]

And I've missed the last two months due to some traveling - 

So- YAY - I get to be with them this month!

If you're local, we'd love to have you join us!!

This is the idea I'll be sharing - 

It's based on a coloring page out of the Mature Living magazine this month - 

I kind put my own spin on it. 

This is done in colored pencils - 

I think it would look great in water colors or acrylic too!

I think I've shared

this little pic on facebook already - 

This is what our dining room table looks like right now - 

We're going OLD-SCHOOL with our planning 

for a trip to New England in the fall. 

Craig has some work up that way, so I'm going to tag along 

and we're oping to see a few things on the weekends before and after his meetings - 

Since neither of us have been there 

we're trying to get the landscape straight in our minds - 

And what better way than tearing pages out of an atlas 

and sticking it to a bulletin board 

with stickies all over it of things we want to do / see?

 We'd love to have YOUR must-see ideas!

Flying in / out of Boston --

Ten on Tuesday -

AKA: The Daily Dime -

We enjoyed spending The Fourth with Craig's mother this year - 

 Just a good day to visit together without rushing around doing a lot of things - 

As a result, there wasn't much picture taking -

1 - Craig cooked burgers on the grill 

2 - We still love the Fresh Market Meal Deals!

3 - I cooked corn on the cob in the microwave - really my first time to do it -

4 - Wrap corn cob in a wet paper towel and microwave for 2 minutes - delish] 

 

5 - Talked about family stories [always good!] 

6 - Enjoyed delicious key lime and the cherry / blueberry flag pies for dessert - 

7 - Got home before the celebrations started in our little town

8 - At the last minute decided to watch some fireworks from a distance

 

9 - Sat on top of the parking deck @ the mall

10 - Neighborhood fireworks [as illegal as they might be] stopped abruptly at 10:30

Good thing since we were both almost asleep by then. Ha.

So thankful to live in this country of ours - 

Even with all the craziness, I believe it's still a good place to be - 

I'm reading

lots of different kinds of books these days - 

A recent one is When Through Deep Waters

by Rachelle Dekker

Alicen, the main character of this book, appeared to have a life that many people dream of when it all comes crashing but it all dissolves pretty quickly after a tragic event. 

This book takes us on her journey to wholeness after devastating losses. 

I enjoyed seeing that a deep friendship endured and that an old friend stayed by her side and had her best interest at heart even in the midst of adversity with her own family and those who were supposed to be helping her.

 Throughout the book there was subtle references to God’s saving grace, which I loved,  but I was concerned about the blurred line between hallucinations and spirits speaking to her --

and the implication that these may have been sent by God. 

 This bothered me to the point of skipping some of these sections, 

so to be fair, I may not have grasped the entire story. 

Still, I enjoyed seeing that in the end, she seemed to come to wholeness in her acceptance of her life and the relationships that surrounded her.

I love this quote, “Please don’t blame yourself for any of this … It was a journey I had to take. I was called here for a reason. I had to walk through these shadows to discover who I am. 

To find peace with the world and with myself.” 

My thought is that, with God, we can all find this peace she speaks about - 

 

I received a free copy of this book for review purposes - 

All opinions are my own - 

Living in three different cities

makes it hard for us to all find time to get together - 

 

So it was extra special to have a Sunday afternoon to just hang out and visit - 

We took the time to celebrate this one's birthday just a bit early - 

And, Uncle Craig was able to get her to wear sequins...

and glitter...

            If only for a little while - lol

Love you guys!

Wish we all lived closer!!

We said an earthly goodbye to this

Precious. Precious man this week... 

 

I posted to one of my cousin's that "he's taking a little piece of my childhood with him 

[and if I'm honest. .. a bit of my teenage and adult self too.]

And he will always be remembered as one of the kindest, godliest men I've ever known."

I wish I could take some of this burden from them... 

But I know that Jesus will give them peace, and joy, in these sad days... 

We never lived in the same town so we didn't see them regularly at our 
Sunday gatherings out at Mama M's house - but they must have made the trip pretty often, because  they are all a big part of my memories there! 

One of the earliest being that the uncles always tied strings on the legs of the june bugs we'd catch while running around in the yard... 

But one of my fondest memories of Uncle Elton is when I went to stay in the big city of Huntsville with them [for a week - ?] when I was around eight years old... 

He let me walk into Krispy Kreme with him after church one night -- 

Oh. My. 

I'd never SEEN so many delicious looking donuts in one place! 

And I could choose any one I wanted! 

I have to admit that I think of him almost every time I walk into that Krispy Kreme 

[just down the road from my office now...]

I do think he was a doughnut lover 

[especially when the hot sign was on] 

because he made a few doughnut runs 

when they visited my mama in her assisted living - lol

  So when they were in Huntsville a few months back 

[another uncle was in the hospital here] 

I returned the favor and picked up a dozen to share with him - 

and, okay, the other family members there...

Here's the text I shared with cousins that day - 

"Okay. I have to share this with you...
I have a sweet memory of your dad introducing me to Krispy kreme donuts when I was around 8 yrs old and visiting w y'all for a few days...
So this morning I'd hoped to get a photo of the two of us w donuts in our hands... 

for my scrapbook, you know.
But before I could get one out of the box he was taking his last bite!! LOL...
I guess we both still love them. Ha."

We both thought we'd have another chance to make that picture happen...

Uncle Elton was the one person I remember speaking BOLDLY to me when I was exploring a religion that didn't have a relationship with Christ at its core. 

That short conversation has stuck with me for more than 40 years now...

He cared enough to make sure that conversation happened

[with specific knowledge to share...]

 The last time we were together and talking about everything: family, work, vacation, traveling, retirement plans,ETC. he casually reached out and tucked my hair from my eyes... 

making me feel like I was eight years old again. 

You see, he had the ability to make everyone feel like they were one of his favorites
 - much like my mama and his wife, my sweet Aunt Carol. 

He will truly be missed by so many who knew him and loved him...

Join me in lifting my family up in your prayers, won't you?

Lottie Scotty Update #004-2018

When we updated / restored Lottie Scotty

[ #LottieScotty ]

we took out the stove and propane -

I've never cooked on the stove inside a camper 

1 - it stinks it up real fast - and 

2 - it's just a safety issues I don't want to deal with ...

 So I'm embracing the electric skillet as we're camping more - 

And TRULY, there's so many meals you can pull together with it!

So I wanted to see if I could BAKE in it -

Y'all may remember we used it to cook those little ham cheese party sandwiches during our first trip with her   - but that was really just a good 'heating up' - lol

 

We picked up this little muffin tin at a thrift store - 

and it fits perfectly inside the electric skillet we have in Lottie - 

So I mixed up a little cornmeal, egg and milk...sprayed the pan good with cooking spray, and put the pan on a little rack [pout of my instant pot.]   I set the lid on securely and set the temperature at 350*. Then just cooked until done - 

Note - they will not be brown on top [or maybe I took them out too early - ha] 

Also - I should've added a little oil or butter, but alas I'd left that at home and we didn't run to the store to get any until breakfast the next morning. 

Still. 

I LOVE that I now know I can bake - 

corn muffins - cupcakes -- what else? -

in the electric skillet!

How cool is that?!

 

This is fast becoming our 'first night' camping meal - 

rotisserie chicken, veggies, rice -- and now 

corn muffins or rolls!

Yay!! 

 Let me know how you use the electric skillet in new 

[and exciting] ways!!