my favourite things/the last of the old year

the last of the old year
is sliding away
like children
at play in snow
from one hill
to another

all good
this old year
with lessons learned
friendships forged
memories stored
laughter shared
tears shed
healing found

all good
this old year

God's brightness
given for each day
to lead us on
and give us hope
along our way

family
friends
shared blessings
work and holidays

always time
to praise
God's Son
who made all this
for our delight
our fun

and labour too
with smiles be fought
for it's a gift
this strength
from  God

time for play
and adventure
we always find

 I'm thankful for my man

 the beauty of the land

 I'm thankful for my son

 the puppies

my goats...
so much to be thankful for
old year you have been kind
and dear

God's helped us brave each unknown day

 given grace along our way

You've set a peace within our lives

 led us on our way

 given rest

brought us joy

 beauty

 and by your Word You have settled our hearts our minds and souls

to know that wherever 2012 will lead
it is a gift from Your dear hand

I pray our lives would honour You
and to the least of all we meet
that we might bless
as if it's Thee

so we look to the new

and I thank you Lord
for the last of the old year

my favourite things

my favourite things/ Christmas

Christmas

coming home
to celebrate
the One who gives us Life

together
we have fun

we play
we rest
we eat
we chill
we share what God has given us
with grateful hearts

He pours out laughter
joyous mirth
a gift from His Pure Grace

And in return
we lift our hearts
in praise for His Great Birth

Immanuel
God with us

we're alone 'neveranymore'

and so...
it's
Christmas!

indeed
my favourite things

-----------------------------------------------
Blessings to our dearly beloveds. I am thankful for God's gift of friendship through family and friends!
Here is a wonderful little nativity story I am sure you will enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kWq60oyrHVQ

my favourite things/ puppy love

a new puppy on the farm
Bethany settled him in
then off to Spain she flew
and all of us
played
puppy
school

Canoe
do come
don't nibble
don't bite
catch the milk squirt
Canoe
gentle
Good boy
come eat
now
sleep

let's play
do stairs
snowbanks
deep trails
run hard
tumble
rest

It feels so much like
kindergarten
where one learns all one needs to know
for life...
be kind
be safe
share
don't bite
encourage

where we learn all the God gifts
of all a friend can be
and more

puppy school

Canoe
such a good boy
Yes Blue dog
you're good
and Sam boy
and Saphira
all so good

While my grandbabies
are off in Africa
I milk goats
make cheese
make music
make art
ride horses

and get
puppy love

my favourite things

my favourite things/ the good fight against AIDS

I am a little late getting this out but as every life is a gift I just want to share that as we fight against AIDS we are giving precious people an opportunity to bless their Creator with a new chance at a full and productive life.
I love this song dedicated to some of my favourite people in this world! Check them out at tlc.org.za

Blessings to you all

All breath comes as a gift from God. There is nothing we can do apart from God.
He gives us
hands
and
heart
so that we
can work with Him
to bless others.

Today there is testing and treatment for HIV in South Africa and for the many babies that come through TLC's doors and into the hearts of the volunteers from all over the world that care for them  it has made a world of difference.
Enjoy this song.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=stkpcU0jvro&feature=share

my favourite things/ who You are Lord

who you are Lord
is all that matters
to me

to see

You

I can trust You
because of
who You are

the Faithful One
the Forever One
the  holding my pain One
my Healing one

Do I trust You?
some would ask
what is there not to trust?
I must say

You are
the Joyous One
the Weeping One
the Gentle One
the Caring One

what is there not to trust?

You are
the All Seeing One
the All Knowing One
the Who makes me Laugh One
the Teaching One
the Patient One
the Who loves me One
the Who Holds my World One
when some would turn
all I know upside down
and shake out
all the pieces
of my peace

You are
the Puzzle 'Peacer'
the Put it Back Togetherer

there is nothing too hard for You

You are my One

~ who You are Lord~
my favourite things

Trusting God has nothing to do with us... it has everything to do with Him, and who He is ♥
He is Faithful, Wonderful, Counselor, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace
~He is able to do abundantly above all that we could ask or think

As I think of how He emptied Himself of all of Heaven and came to us as a boy child those many years ago, and entrusted Himself to a Young Mary and a man of favour, Joseph, to carry Him along to His purpose of the cross(for us) some thirty years later.... I stagger! I realize trusting God has everything to do with 'who' He is...

I come to You Lord and worship You~

~the fisherlady

my favourite things/ remember

have you ever
gone back
a long ways

can you
remember
sunny days
under the old willow
climbing up high
to the sky
trying hard to hide

hop scotch
for hours
on your big patio squares
borrowed swimsuits
held together
with
safety
pins...

our friends
all different
no two the same
it didn't quite matter
what colour
or frame

hide and seek
or scraped knees...
a friend was
someone there
in your time of need
they laughed with you
and maybe cried
but were always there
to help you through

before you grew
into who you are
it was just
you and me
it was all
I knew

with you at my side
I learned about God
we'd watch the clouds
just waiting to see
when Jesus would come
to take you and me
we'd watch Billy Graham
and I'd always cry
I was only six
and I don't know why
but it meant the world to me
that your family cared
and I felt the love
that was always shared
meatloaf
barbies
your room
or the stairs
watching you play the piano
or a walk to the pool
an ice cream at Peter's
was always so cool
hide and seek
at the park
ice skating
on the pond
we shared skates
and secrets
and love was our bond

just friends
you and I
through thick and thin
through bad times and good
it was Love

always
wins

I'm not six anymore
neither seven nor eight
but with a friend right beside me
I"ll reach Heaven's gate
there'll be friends all around us
And Jesus will say
let them come unto Me
for I am the Way
I know these kids love Me
I've watched them at play
I've placed My love in them
I gave them today

you told me your mom
though the years have caught up
still sings all the hymns
knows every word
every chorus

she's the one
I remember
will never forget
for she told me about Jesus
that day on her bed
She opened the closet
pulled down the big Book
we sat there together
as she asked me to look
I watched as she turned pages
that became life to my soul
I felt my heart lighten
and burdens unfold

I still see those pictures
in your Mama's big Book
all the giants of faith
the Daniels
the Elijahs
the Esthers
the Pauls
but Jesus was sweetest
on His Name I called
he cleansed me
and saved me
now with faces aglow
we played through the hours
His great love
we did know

so I was just wondering
dear friend of mine

have you ever
gone back
a long ways
do you remember
at all

how God's grace
did save us
from
Adam's
great
fall

forever
my friend

I'll remember
it all

my favourite things


----------------------------
I dedicate this to my friend Carolee and her sweet mom....my friend writes:
Happy to be once again moved to joyful tears watching my almost 91 year old mom singing hymns in church BY HEART. Even though she's lost much of her memory, God has graciously allowed her to remember the words and music to praise Him!!

---------------------------

Remember...

my favourite things

My favourite things/ Pay it forward/The Liebster Award

I'm so new at this
putting down words
in type
not pencil
on a computer
not paper

and now the kindness of people
comes to bless me...
dear 'T' at A Seed Inspired
http://aseedinspired.com/
nominated me for the Leibster Award

WOW!
Thanks so much 'T'
my heart feels it is wrapped in a big hug!
Dear "T"your 'A Seed Inspired" blog does exactly that to me ... inspires me!
I know when I visit you I will find beauty and truth so I eagerly look for your posts.
blessings to you!



Here are the rules for the Leibster Award:
1. Show your thanks to the blogger that nominated you.
2. Reveal your top picks and let them know.
3. Post the award on your blog.
4.Bask in the love and support in blogsphere.
5. And best of all…have fun and share it too. 

This award is given to bloggers who have fewer than 200 followers all in the spirit of fostering new connections. Liebster is German and means ‘dearest’ or ‘beloved’ but it can mean favorite.
Since I can only choose 5  I wish to acknowledge the five following blogs for their diverse styles of blogging. They are unique with what they share and contribute to the world of blogging.

In no particular order:

My Nominations:(if some have more than 200 followers, I get to choose again)
First,  I want to acknowledge a wonderful blog:

Deb's Blog

Simple poems, simple faith by Deb Feller

http://iftodaywehear.wordpress.com/

I can always find encouragement and gentle admonition so simply and profoundly put! Thanks Deb!

second, a wonderful lady who has become a dear friend in blogland and beyond,
Dawn Blanchard and her

Dschondog's Blog  http://dschondog.wordpress.com/

It is always a surprise to see what she will post... it is always a study of brilliance out of the depth of a kind heart... I go away deeply pensive and alive. Thank you Dawn.

Third, my friend in the Lord going back to raising my babies days, her teaching them Sunday school...and now in separate parts of the province our blogs have brought us together again in the Lord!
Andrea Dawn's heart is tender and discerning in the ways of the Lord and the beauty in her photography and written word is always a joy!

http://www.theillustratedword.blogspot.com

http://www.theartoflifeistogetthemessage.blogspot.com/

fourth, a new blog I have begun visiting... I am in awe of the beauty there.... prose, photography; a depth of faith and pensiveness in the Lord that lingers long after I go away. I nominate you, Planaquarium for your deep and amazing work. My heart is always filled.

http://planaquarium.wordpress.com/

and fifth, an amazing lady (and her family... their blogs are posted in hers) Pippa Jarvis, a daughter of  founder of "The Love of Christ Ministries in Johannesburg SA", Thea Jarvis[another amazing lady]. tlc.org.za
Her blog is filled with her heart concern for the many abandoned that are brought to their home, and their many adopted ones... it is also my heart's cry ... so I nominate Pippa
 

http://pippaspassions.blogspot.com/

-------------------

these friends... my favourite things

 

my favourite things/ two little princesses

when joyous pleasure grips you
and your smile 'bout cracks your face
for all the childlike beauty
for all that love and grace
for the miracle of children
their laughter's
all it takes
how Jesus said be like them
if you'll enter
Heaven's
gates

I cannot quite imagine
life without
these little girls
God's placed His sparkle in them
as they run
and dance
and twirl

they know His loving kindness
they even know to pray
to thank Him for the goodness
He brings to them
each day

they love to tell
me stories
of Goldilocks
and Three Bears
of all their friends
of all they do

and all the while
I stand amazed...
that God has given...
so much grace

my precious little princesses
with arms so full of hugs
I'll always have
a place
for you

safe
within
my
heart

the two of you

my favourite things

(Photo credit to Anne Vivier~ her photo gift to my daughter in celebration of her birthday)

my favourite things/ gramma's boy

gramma
gramma
gramma
his words always greet me

he loves me
no doubts
when our eyes join
we know
my heart knows
he's mine
he knows I'm his
we just know

this boy in Africa
a long way from Canada
we have shared only two months
out of his two years
where we laughed and played
held tight through tears
sang
rocked
prayed

yet we know

I'm his
and
he's gramma's boy

my favourite things

my favourite things/ fun with my son

~my favourite things~