Special Visitors...

Hello, 
it has been awhile since I have been here and I have missed all of you. I have not been on blogland in so long and I am sorry I haven't been around to visit! I posted awhile back, all that was happening in my world and it has been a busy spring. This week I have been so fortunate to have my friend Donna at Everyday Elegance come and help me get ready for some amazing visitors.

I am afraid I worked her to the bone! We had much to do to get ready for the fabulous Fifi ONeill and talented Mark Lohman. They have been shooting for book and magazine in this area, the beautiful homes of Polly, Tracey and Jen. 
My home was also on Mark and Fifi's busy schedule and they were here all day yesterday. 

We were so happy to have them.

We had so much fun with Mark and Fifi's affectionate teasing and sense of humor, we were laughing all day! They were quite the pair and we enjoyed having them in our home.

They worked well together and were amazing.

Donna was such a sweetheart and not only made us her famous grilled chicken pasta dish but brought everything with her to make it!

And of course we had to have French Champagne...

It was a busy day for all of us...
and we all needed a little down time.

We said good-bye to the dynamic duo but not for long...

Thank you Mark and Fifi for a wonderful day.
We will be seeing you soon at the fabulous Nada Farm Event...

Donna and I will be attending the BoHo Ball and looking forward to seeing all our friends
...as soon as we get our outfits together!
I will keep you posted!


Blessings,
Rebecca

White Wednesday

White Wednesday 

# 99

I want to give a big shout out to Kathleen at Faded Charm for hosting White Wednesdays for 99 Weeks!

She has got a big give away for her 100th post next Wednesday, so be sure and pop over to congratulate her and maybe win a wonderful gift.  She has many talented women donating fabulous gifts in honor of Kathleen. It takes dedication to post every single week and Kathleen has been faithful to give us wonderful whites week in and week out. Thank you Kathleen and

Congratulations 

on a job well done, we have enjoyed your link party and all your wonderful whites you have given us.

My Magnolia tree is in full bloom, spring has finally found it's way to Chicago.

In fact, we went straight to Summer, passed go and we did not collect 200 dollars with temps today in the low 90's. Same for tomorrow, it is hard to adjust from 50s to 90s.

I however am not complaining, I love it warm!

And so do the Magnolia's but they are so fleeting...

 On Mother's Day we spent the day at my daughter Kerri's.

We grilled and watched the kids fly a kite. It was a wonderful day.

Uncle James helping get the kite up...

Zach loved flying the kite...

And so did Luke...

We all had such a fun day together and the weather was so nice.

This week I am still working on the kitchen tweaking... I will be posting later in the week with the results.

Here are the chairs I just finished.

Before

After

Before

After

And new window treatments!

I hope you have a Wonderful White Wednesday!

Blessings

Rebecca

My Mother

A Mother's Love

As we are thinking of mother's day this weekend, my thoughts turn toward my mother.

 She will be 86 this year and I am so grateful to God that He has let her stay with us a little longer. 

She has been the strong silent rock that has been faithful to her family for many years. My dad has been gone a few years now but she continues to live life to the fullest. 

She told me, "I don't know why the Lord keeps me here now, except to pray". 

My mother has long been a prayer warrior. She has stormed the throne of God for many people. She contends for us, her family on a daily basis. 

One of the many memories I have as a teenager that  has  helped shape who I am today, was walking into the kitchen on Wednesdays and seeing my mother and her good friends (Betty, Elenore, Dorothy and Gloria), around the table with scarves on their heads, praying... Powerful women of God, praying for their husbands, children, friends and nation. Contending in the courtroom of the most high... It is why and who I am today. My mother's strength goes beyond her Swedish roots, they lie in knowing the faithfulness of her God. 

She was not one to sit and talk much, we didn't pour our hearts out to each other but she was always there if I needed to. She is quick to say I love you and that is all it takes some times. Her actions speak louder than her words. It has been by example that I knew how to be a mother. It has been by her actions that taught me to know what to do in hard circumstances. 

Life can be difficult, sometimes seemingly impossible to handle, as my mother knows. I have watched my mother bury her oldest son, when he was only 18 years old with strength and grace. Praising God in all things with thanksgiving in her heart. That only comes from a heart so grounded in the love of God, that she totally trusts him for whatever comes her way. 

I remember, 13 years ago when my daughter had the twins premature. It was many weeks of not knowing what the next day would bring. They were barely 2 pounds and hanging on to life by a thread. Little by little they grew stronger and each hurdle was taken down by prayer and the wonders modern medicine. They finally came home and we not really knowing what to expect, we handled one problem after the next. My daughter was a brilliant mother, that first year with babies that cried much, slept less and could hardly keep their food down. The day came when a call from the doctor told her the boys had severe brain damage. Cerebral Palsy. They will be highly disabled, never to speak or walk or eat.

 Luke

Zachary

 I will never forget that phone call from my daughter, she crying and me saying I will be right over. As a mother how do you handle that moment, what do you say... how do you give hope to your daughter, as a mother. My strength cometh from the Lord and my mother... I did what my mother would have done... I said what my mother would have said... I knew what to do because my mother had given me that gift. 

The boys are a gift from the most high God and we will praise and thank him for all things. We will love them all the more. 

Those boys have strengthened our family and bound us together in love. The Lord has truly blessed us with all our grandchildren but the boys have been a true lesson in perspective. How thankful we are and humbled by the love that has been given to us.

 so but this too, we glory in tribulations also knowing that suffering produces endurance: and endurance, tested character and tested character, hope and hope never disappoints us; for through the Holy Spirit that has been given us, God's love has flooded our hearts. Romans 5:3

The one gift that out shines all of the many gifts and talents my mother has given to her family, is the gift of loving God first. She has been a loving and faithful servant to Jesus Christ 

and for that I say thank you mom... I love you.

Wishing you a most blessed Mother's Day!


I have been blessed beyond measure...

Blessings,
Rebecca

I am linking with Inspiration Friday at Common Ground with my friend Debra to share all my inspiration.

Things to come

Things to come...

Just a quick post to let you know what I am doing and where I will be the next couple of months. I have quite a bit on my plate so I will try and keep you posted on my where abouts and what is happening.

I am excited to be going to Virginia this week and join some amazing women there.

Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters…

If you are in the area please join us and see that the Lord is good.


Mid May I will be hosting my home to a very special lady and I will post more on that later.
Then I am loading up the SUV and heading out to Washington State to see my daughter Jody... 

 We will be a vendor at the Farm Chicks Show in June.

The show is in Spokane.
I will be visiting with Jody near Portland, for a couple of weeks and then I am home. 
But not for long because I will be in Indiana for the 
Horton's French Flea Market in July. I am excited to be a vendor there again this year!


Just to keep you up on things to come.
 I will be posting on these and taking lots of pictures also.
Hope your week is a good one, mine will be preparing for my trip on Friday.
Many Blessings
Rebecca