This morning as I was hanging out my laundry, the weather was a little cool and the breeze brought a fresh fragrance... partly from my clean-smelling laundry, and partly just from the fresh clean air! And as I was enjoying the moment (complete with birds singing:) it occured to me how BLESSED I am. Blessed to be able to be alive and healthy, blessed to see and hear, blessed to live around trees and birds and flowers, blessed to live in a "free" country... on and on and on!!! (Could we EVER list all our blessings??) But I feel an extra sense of thankfulness for the "small" things today... like being able to be at home with my family and  hang out my laundry :) I *so* enjoy hanging out laundry :) It's a silly simple pleasure I enjoy... like cleaning house with the windows open and the curtains fluttering in the breeze :) Or spending the day working in the yard mowing, weeding, and "fixing up". Things that aren't considered "fun" but, yet, bring enjoyment or pleasure. I'm especially thankful for those things today :)    { Thank You, YHWH!!<3 }

*A JOYful thought~ If we *LOOK* for the good in our circumstances... we can find it :) If we *CHOOSE* to enJOY our life... our life will be enJOYable ;) And if we cultivate *JOY* in our heart... it will grow! *BE BLESSED* 

 

Snow Flurries??...NO--*Spring Flurries*!! For the past few days I've been watching the breezes blow pear blossom petals in flurries and flurries of "spring snow" :D It's been BEAUTIFUL! It seems everywhere we look, front windows, back windows, the front door, the back door... petals blowing in the wind :) *So So Pretty* :) They swirl and blow and flutter in the breeze~ so carefree. It gives you such a *dreamy* feeling, like watching the clouds floating above. I'm so glad YaHWeH made different seasons :) I love each one, in it's own way. Beautiful Beautiful *Spring Flurries*... and guess what? I finally saw my first *bluebird* of the season! *YEAH* What could be any better? ;)

I TRIED to capture some pictures of the blossom petals, but they don't show up very well...

Here are a few spring pictures from my little spot in the world :)

*WHAT A DAY!!* The weather was SO BEAUTIFUL today!!! We just HAD to have a "work day" sprucing up our little cottage yard after the winter (if you wanna call it a winter;) We were outside ALL DAY LONG... racking leaves, pulling weeds, mowing...cleaning the garage; You name it--we probably did it! It was a good good day:D But, OH, I am SO SORE!!!!! :D Ha!Ha! I wonder... will I be able to MOVE tomorrow?? I hope so, because tomorrow I plan to give the *inside* of our little cottage a good *spring cleaning*--complete with quilts hanging out to dry :) Calendar or not-- *Spring* has *sprung* at my house!!
 
I can hear the frogs singing, and it feels good to have things neat and clean outside :) I still have to decorate my porch (the funnest part!--is that a word?)... but everything else is just about done--and that feels good! :D I'm also pleased to say that my flowers that I planted last year are coming back!! YEAH!  I'm still awaiting my first glimpse of a bluebird~

Spring has... Spring~Sprang~Sprung!! :D

*Wow* It's already been a week since March has arrived!! And with it, came so many things... like *My Birthday* on the 1st! :) Also, *march lillies* and *pear tree blossoms* :) The sound of beautiful birds singing in the mornings, bright sun-shiny days, white fluffy clouds, and fresh smelling air as the breeze blows! I'm keeping my eyes wide open to catch my first glimpse of a bluebird :)  And I'm making plans to wash some quilts and hanging them OUT to dry :) I LOVE *Spring*!! 

...But it also brought some CRAZY weather, didn't it?? Beautiful one day, 90 tornadoes the next, with talks of snow showers after that... and pouring the rain all day today! No wonder the old saying goes, "If you don't like the weather in Kentucky, just stick around-- it's sure to change!" :D That's diffintely true!

I hope everyone is enjoying the changing of the seasons... I know I am! :)
*Smile*  For March has arrived!! :D

Creating a life of Beauty...
I have thought MUCH on this topic-- through many years, due to all the different 'beliefs' and 'interpretations' of what is acceptable with "Christians" and GOD in the areas of "material things/posessions" and "pretty/vanity" ...etc.  I Do believe in modesty, and I Do believe in being a good steward, being conservative, and focusing on eternal purposes... however, to totally abstain from all the beauty that our Father has created within US, as well as the earth surrounding us, would be (in my opinion) a very sad mistake.

YHWH did not create an uninteresting, ugly, plain world... He created the most BEAUTIFUL BREATH-TAKING earth/universe EVER... how can one behold it and Not be 'captured' by its Beauty and AWE-someness? How can one Not want to re-create -in some way- the beauty that surrounds them? If done in the right heart/motive, isn't it the highest compliment to our Creator? I truly appreciate all the beauty He has chosen to share with us... and find myself, without effort, constantly wanting to express the same sense of beauty to all those around me :)

Around two years ago, after the Ice Storm, we lived six months with my mother... which was a special time for all of us... but during that time I didn't know when or if I would ever have another 'place of our own' (because we were living in a friend's trailor for a year and a half at the time of the storm--and would not be returning). I learned a LOT about being content... even without "all my things"...but there were times it was sad and hard at not having a place of my own to decorate--create. Even while we were living in our friend's trailor, Nothing in the trailor was OURS, except our clothes. So, for TWO YEARS I lived with Nothing of 'my own'. During the time I was at my mom's (and feeling a little low) I read a blog that really spoke to me about my present circumstance, and it really made a difference for me. It gave me encouragement~ and inspiration. I went to the storage unit that held all our belongings, and pulled out one (very) small table and a very few "knick-knacks" to sit on top of it-- and went "home" to my little bedroom (at my mom's) and set up my little table... it was my way of creating beauty in the cicumstance of my life at that time... and I've Never forgotten it, or the blog.

Now, TWO YEARS (almost) of 'having' another "place of our own", I am STILL daily thankful for the gift of a home <3  And I often think of that blog when I get discouraged at not having the finances I'd like to have to "fix up" my little home... after two years! But... I recently re-read that same blog from two years ago... and guess what? YES, it encouraged and inspired me all over again!! (THANK YOU, RINA!! ;) I have been looking at what I can do-- with what I have-- to make my life more beautiful, for me and my family! :) I'd like to share that original blog (and some pictures of my efforts) with you:

Original Blog:
(from Into Still Waters)

{Creating a Life of Beauty December 11, 2008 by Rina}
{I visited the most beautiful blog I’ve ever seen today and there is really no way to describe how it affected me. Every picture, every post, seemed to reach out and touch my heart. This beautiful family, living in their beautiful home, surrounded by beautiful land, creating beautiful things… knitting and sewing, cooking and building. A family so connected, so close, so loving toward one another that it shines over all their faces. If God had asked me to paint a picture of the life I’ve always wanted, I couldn’t do any better than some of the photos I saw on this blog. And I found myself crying out to the Lord: “I want that some day!” And in the still, small voice, I heard God answer me:

This isn’t something given, it’s something that is made.

And then, I looked more closely.

I saw the everyday, made lovely by warm and caring hands. A bit of lace hung tastefully over a window. A mason jar, filled with fresh flowers. A porch, swept clean and pleasantly arranged. Little girls wearing dresses with matching pinafores; bright, clean faces and braided hair.

This beautiful life I saw in pictures was the work of loving hands, carefully tending the blessings of God. And suddenly I realized that this life is meant for me, as well. I, too, can choose to tend what God has given me, and create beauty out of the ordinary. I can choose to stop waiting for the perfect life to somehow find me, and begin to live it now. What do I want my “perfect life” to look like?

I want to live somewhere beautiful.
I can make my home more beautiful.

I want to live in a larger house.
I can make better use of my space.

I want my children to have beautiful clothes.
I can learn to make them.

I want my family to eat nutritious, healthy meals.
I can learn to cook them.

I want to have livestock and a large garden.
I can start a small garden, and tend to my chickens.

I want to be close to my husband and children.
I can draw closer to them.

I want my children to enjoy being with me.
I can enjoy being with my children.

I want my children to love God.
I can display God’s love toward them.

I can live the way I want to live, and choose my path in life.
And so tomorrow I will find a way to add beauty to my home. I will ask a friend to teach me how to sew. I will find a new recipe. I will play with my children. I will serve my husband willingly and cheerfully. And I will thank God for the life I am living – my perfect, blessed life.}

Isn't that SO GOOD?? I Love it!! I know that the beauty within our heart and lives is so much More than physical things... but as a woman who desires to "feather her nest"... the little things (like a crochet doily) can bring such a simple pleasure! And I'm Thankful for those 'little things'... even if they are frivolous!! ;) I still love the beauty in a sunset... but I also love the beauty in a candle put in just the 'right spot' and lit :) Beauty comes in different forms... and I hope to appreciate them all (remember my blog "Beauty is in the eye of the Beholder" ?)

And, so, I am on my way to (again) choosing my path in life... by choosing to tend to what YHWH has already given me... by choosing to find a way to create beauty out of the ordinary... and by choosing to stop waiting for the 'perfect' life to somehow find me--and start living the 'perfect' life YHWH has already given me NOW :)

*Some pictures of Creating MY Beautiful life...

I "fixed up" the small space on my little front porch... all with things given to me and stored in my garage! *No money needed*

A little closer view... and, by the way, *I* painted my front door red :) I always wanted a red door!! (don't know why) :) And I have to say, I do love it!!

A birdhouse shutter...

GOTTA have a quilt somewhere!! This quilted pillow sham (that I've had for YEARS) did just the trick! ;)

The little house says "Enter with a happy Heart"... and I do! ;)

I eventually plan to re-paint this little house, and put "the Coates" on it...

HAVE to see my little birdnest... I LOVE birdnests, I have about four REAL ones :)

Inside my little chest... I really like the little Mother Rabbit, she reminds me of the Beatrix Potter stories.

One last bird house...

And...just thought you might want to see a picture of the little table I moved to my bedroom two years ago (the only "my" space I had at the time-- and wasn't even really mine). It now stands in my living room... don't know how well you can see it, sorry.