A Sign of God

The other day, I came across a new blog. Things With Wings.... is a fun little spot! The first piece of art I saw on their blog had this quote: "A sign of God is that you are led where you never planned to go." I won't go into details of why that speaks to me. I'll just tell you that it really touched me.

To look at the "lighter side" of this quote I thought I would share a few pictures with you. Last Saturday we all hopped in the van to attend a crawfish boil at some friends' house. Right before we left I ask hubby if he knew where we were going. He was "pretty sure" he knew how to get there. Needless to say, what should have been a 5 minute trip took over 30 minutes.

I was getting quite irritated as we drove down all these country roads. Why can't he just call somebody and get directions? Then I saw this.....

...and I made him stop so I could take a picture. Is that not one of the sweetest cottages you have ever seen? Down a little old country road we didn't plan on traveling....
Then I made him stop for this....

.....and this!

As it turns out, we had driven right by the road we needed. Had we turned right away we would have missed the beauty. We didn't plan on going down those country roads, but we saw signs of God along the way.

{For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and He ponders all his paths. Proverbs 5:21}

Pot Luck Recipes

Good morning! I just came in from having a cup of coffee on the porch. The birds were singing and the rain was softly falling. What a beautiful way to start the weekend!

I almost forgot that I told you I would share a couple of my favorite recipes. Please note that the photo above has nothing to do with this post. I just liked it!

Caramel Apple Salad (or Snicker Salad)
2 small boxes of instant vanilla pudding
3 cups milk
1 8oz. container Cool Whip
3 Granny Smith apples
3 Snickers bars

Mix the pudding and milk until thickened. Fold in Cool Whip. Cut the apples (unpeeled) and Snickers into small pieces and stir into pudding mixture. Refrigerate until ready to serve. This is best eaten the day you make it. Yummy! It is really like a dessert, but if you call it a salad it sounds a lot healthier!

Corn Dip

1 can yellow corn (drained)

1 can shoe peg (white) corn (drained)

1 can Rotel

1 can chopped green chilies

1 8oz. bar of cream cheese

1 tsp. garlic powder

1 tsp. cumin

1 tsp. chili powder

The recipe says to mix all ingredients and bake at 350° until bubbly. I put everything in my crockpot. Also, I usually add some shredded cheddar cheese. Serve with Fritos or tortilla chips.

I have no idea why blogger formatted those two recipes different. I also have no idea how to fix it. Things like that drive me crazy. Hubby is still sleeping or I would have him fix it. Oh, well.

I think I will head to town to see if there are any garage sales. May not be too many since it is a holiday weekend. This afternoon we are going to some friends for a crawfish boil. The boys are excited. I'm looking forward to spending time with friends. The crawfish - not so much.

{A meal of bread and water in contented peace is better than a banquet spiced with quarrels. Proverbs 17:1}

Bought & Sold

Last weekend I hit just a few sales. One of the things I bought was this fun little table.

I knew I needed to re-do the top, but wasn't sure what to do with it. It really wasn't a good week to tackle a project - sick girl, rain, etc.- but I wanted to get it in my booth before this weekend. Whenever I had a few free moments and the humidity wasn't sky high, I would run out and work on it. I sanded and primed it first. Then I painted it, but the color ended up being too "country blue" and outdated. Didn't like that. Sanded some more. Painted it white. The coverage wasn't real great. Sanded some more. Applied an antiquing glaze. Sanded some more.

I still wasn't sure if I liked the results, but I was out of time. Within an hour of applying the glaze and sanding for the last time I had this little table in my booth. I figured if it didn't sell after awhile I would bring it home and do something else with the top.
At the thrift store this past week I found this great leather suitcase. I usually don't spend $5 on any one item at the thrift store, but I really liked this one. Loved the details on the latches. I love anything with lettering on it. And although I would have loved to keep it, I just can't keep everything.
The suitcase ended up on the table in my booth. I was very pleased with how this display turned out on Wednesday. I was spiffing up the booth for the Magnolia Blossom Festival this weekend. Since the festival happens right outside the doors of the antique store business is pretty good.

Well, I got a call from the antique store Friday morning. The table had just sold and they wondered if I wanted to put something in its place. I was excited that it had sold so quickly, but worried about getting the booth to look good again. I had an end table that I took in to replace it. Didn't look as good, but it worked. About noon on Saturday I stopped by the booth and noticed that the suitcase was gone. Those two items sure didn't stay around for long!

Before I go, here is a fun little project from Country Living (click on the arrow to go to pg2 on the link). I just realized when I went back to the link that I didn't make my flowers quite the same. I forgot to round off the ends. Oh, well. You should try this. It make you feel like you are back in elementary school. You remember making tissue paper flowers, right? This is the same thing only using tissue from sewing patterns. For my vase I rummaged through my stash and found this antique cuff from a blouse or dress. It fit perfectly over a pint size jar. Pretty!

We are honoring the graduates at church tonight with a potluck after services. I am making two of my favorite potluck items - Caramel Apple Salad and Corn Dip. Shhh....don't tell anyone I'm not bringing a "main dish." Just couldn't think of anything that sounded good and easy this time. I will try to share the two recipes with you next time. What is your favorite potluck food? Leave me a comment and let me know!

{Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2}

A New Arrival

Do you remember back in February when I told you about this wonderful blessing? Well, last week a sweet little bundle arrived on our doorstep.

Isn't she adorable?

Here are the two cuties together.

I love you, baby!

She is personalized just for Sweet Girl.

Thank you, Baby Be Blessed! Thank you, also, to everyone who offered up prayers for Sweet Girl or who gave a financial donation. We truly were blessed by this. I hope you will continue to "Give A Blessing" to other children each month. There is a link in my sidebar that will take you right to them anytime.

{"I will never give up HOPE or stop

praising you." Psalm 71:14}

Happy Mother's Day!

{Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her..... Proverbs 31:28}

Gifted

Okay, I have a question for you. When do you turn on your AC in your home? Do you wait until it reaches a certain temperature outside? Do you wait for a specific day on the calendar? I'm just curious. I'm cheap and like to hold off as long as possible before turning on the AC. Today it is 90° outside and 82° inside. Is it time? Of course, when I do turn it on it will probably be set at 80° (told you I was cheap) so maybe I can hold off a little longer. Hmmm....

I've been sick all week. Sore throat, fever, headache, swollen glands.... I finally went to the doctor today. It has been over five years since I have been sick enough to go to the doctor. She put me on antibiotics but said they may not do any good because it could be a viral infection. Guess we will see. I do think I am feeling a bit better this afternoon. Now I am just praying that the rest of the family stays healthy.

I've received some sweet gifts lately and I wanted to share them with you. My friend Jan emailed me a few weeks ago and said she had a little something for me. First I have to tell you how I met Jan. She stopped me in the thrift store one day and said, "Are you Vanessa? I read your blog." She was actually the second person to do that. Before that I had no idea that anyone in this town read my ramblings. Now I have to be careful what I say about this town. Ha!

Back to the gift. Jan had found this folding ruler and knew I would love it. I do! recruited my eight year old to shape it into a star. A couple weeks later I found another folding ruler at a garage sale. Now I have a star on each french door. Thanks, Jan!

I have another friend Jan who I met at a garage sale. Later I figured out that we went to church together. We both have booths in the same antique store. Actually, she has more than one booth in Checkers and another booth in the other mall. I think she should be dubbed the Junk Queen or Garage Sale Queen or something. I've figured out that if I need to find something I should just ask Jan. So far she has come through for me every time.

I've been wanting a clothesline for quite some time. I mentioned to Jan that I was on the lookout for some clothesline poles. Guess what? She just happened to have some at her place. One of them needed some repairs and her husband took it someplace to be welded. Isn't that sweet? I'm excited to get them put up and start using them. Thanks, Jan and Vernie!

The second Jan has a sister, Pat, who also has a booth at Checkers. One day I spotted this flashcard in my booth. There were also cards in Jan's booth, Dave's booth (Jan's son) and Pat's booth. Turns out that Pat had bought a box of flashcards at a sale and was having fun leaving us all messages with them. I told her if she ever wanted to get rid of the flashcards I would love to purchase them from her. She said she had had her $2 worth of fun and would pass them along. She brought them to me a couple days later. The box was huge! 500 flashcards! Pat said I didn't need to pay her for them, but I gave her $2. I still feel like I stole from her. The flashcards are wonderful. Thanks, Pat!

My cousin Linda (second cousin? first cousin once removed?) send me a box of goodies recently. Vintage fabric. Buttons. Zinc lids. Jewelry. All kinds of fun things. It was like Christmas opening the box and digging through it. Thanks, Linda!

Yesterday I trudged out to the mailbox feeling horrible. What a surprise to find a little package from my dear friend Molly. There was a sweet note telling me that I am always in her prayers. I needed that. She also sent a new "C" to add to my collection. Thank you, Molly!

{Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! 2 Corinthians 9:15}

P.S. Hubby just arrived home from work and turned on the AC.

Fingerprint Friday

I am participating in Fingerprint Friday today. Visit PamperingBeki to join in!

There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman that says:

I can see the fingerprints of God
When I look at you
I can see the fingerprints of God
And I know it's true
You're a masterpiece
That all creation quietly applauds
And you're covered with the fingerprints of God

So look around you and see where YOU can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Where do you see them?

I learned of a new song this week and every time I listen to it I cry. It is almost like it could be written for my Sweet Girl. Actually, Collin Raye wrote it for his granddaughter. It is amazing!

You can also hear Collin performing the entire song here.

So, I guess you could say that I am "hearing" God's fingerprints this week. Not sure if that makes sense. Where are you seeing (or hearing) them?

{Don't be cruel to any of these little ones! I promise you that their angels are always with my Father in heaven. Matthew 18:10-11}