COME AND REST AWHILE.....

Hello Everyone,
I am so happy to be blogging today. I have alot to share!
A BIG THANK YOU goes out to  Mimi from Out in the Middle of Nowhere! She enlightened me on my blog. There are just things I don't get....being a new blogger. Not only did she help me with my settings on my blog, she reminded me to not be a Martha! I told her I wasn't going to do a tablescape......and by the end of our conversation...... I decided to do one!


Let me explain,


 I have been feeling a little like Martha of Bethany, lately. In case your not sure who she is...she is  the Martha Stewart in biblical times! She invites Jesus to dinner then frets about all she has to do. Meanwhile her sister, Mary is sitting at Jesus's feet listening and dear Martha is in kill mode! Can you picture it....Martha running around making bread, getting the meat on the fire, setting the table with flowers, making sure the important guest has something to drink. I could hear Martha saying,"Look who is in my living room! Jesus...I have to do my best.....I have to...I have too"!


 All the while giving her sister dirty looks, calling to her, huffing and puffing as she moves,  racing around the fire! What does her sister do or say...NOTHING...NOTHING! The brat! She sits on her butt and does NOTHING!!!! Who says something???... Jesus..."Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:38-42).
 Instead of enjoying His comapny, He tells her she is bustling about with nervous energy, worried about many things. I think He was saying "Martha, chips and dips would be fine! Just sit and relax" No!!.. being who she is, she has to have everything perfect! Martha missed the best......instead of sitting at Jesus' feet, she was anxious about the evening. Not realizing she was missing out!
Jesus wants us to sit at His feet and take in His words, not running around crazy. We need to enjoy
 the moment! Each and every moment! We have to stop and smell the roses! We need to make time for Him! I find too often I do not commune with God, I replace it with an activity for God. I know Jesus loves my servant heart and my gift of hospitality but he wants me to bask in Him. In His words not just do, do, do! Rest in Him!
If we look at Mary, we see someone in love with Jesus. She was hanging on every word He spoke. She was totally taken by Him. She couldn't imagine leaving His side. We need to be like that. Never wanting to leave His side.We need to be in love with Jesus!  I think of when my husband and I first got married we just couldn't keep our hands off one another. We wanted to go everywhere with each other. Be in the same room, watch TV together, just be together. We're still like that!
We need to be like that with Jesus....hanging on to His every word.
So I got off the phone with Mimi and decided to rest in Jesus. I started to put together a tablescape....all the while thinking "I am not going to be a Martha" I am spending more time with God and less time just keeping busy. I prayed while I was doing this tablescape.
I realized I was giving up making a tablescape because I had too much to do...not because I didn't want to participate. I did. With the help of a friend and God to remind me "I can do all things through Him" my tablescape is complete.
It's a little different from what I would normally do, I am matchy, matchy.




              Come and sit and we can both rest in Jesus....                                                         

You have seen all of this before...Haviland china. I put two different patterns together. I would never do this so it felt good to be different.

                                                     
                                      I love this rose pattern.....Desert Rose. I love roses! It has a  gold rim.

The blue pattern is Blue Garland. It has a silver rim.

The placemats are tea towels I bought at Walmart for $1.00 this past weekend. I had a friend that always used tea towels for placemats.

            A very simple centerpeice......a silver pitcher purchased at Goodwill. The mirror I bought a few years ago. I can't remember where. It was on sale.

I used my gold plated silverware.

I hope you remember to rest in Jesus this week.....read His Word and grow closer to Him.

Please visit Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Tablescape Thursday and make sure you leave s comment !

I would like to thank everyone who has been visiting Sweetladyelaine and leaving wonderful comments. I try to visit as many sites as I can. I love blogging and I am meeting so many beautiful people! If you need prayer or need to talk please email me or leave a comment. I will pray for your needs.

Blessings my friends,

Happy First Day of Fall....Tablescape Thursday!

Hi All.....
Thank you for visiting me this week. I enjoyed reading your comments! I visited alot your Tablescapes last Thursday! I had a fun time! Thank you!!!!
Please make sure you visit Susan, our gracious hostess at Between Naps at the Porch! We all look forward to seeing the beautiful tablescapes.

I made a trip to Goodwill and came home feeling quite good with my finds. I do not have any fall dishes and really wanted something I could use over and over for whatever season. I tend to like china but these just caught my eye.

They make me happy to look at them!

We are eating in our family room at the round table.

The soup bowl is Steubenville - Harvest (circa 1950).

The depression glass plate was given to me by my mom. I have 12 of these and use them often.

I bought these thinking I could use them during summer, spring and fall!

Tam O'Shanter (1949-1958) is the name on the back. I bought four of them at Goodwill.

This apple was given to me by a friend. The little cake stand a purchase from Goodwill. I love cakestands! I wish I could buy every one I see...but I can't... so I treasure the ones I have.

This candle smells like a whole apple orchard!

Bought these napkins at Goodwill...8 of them and a dresser scarf that I will use as a table runner.

My utensils are my everyday set made by Onedia....the pattern

Paul Revere.

My centerpeice is quite simple....

I hope you enjoyed my first fall tablescape. Thank you for visiting me and please leave a comment.

Oh, I almost forgot I wanted to show you my centerpeice on my kitchen table!

I told you I like cakestands!!!!!!

A little glitter, a little shine, a few pearls and I feel wonderful!

Happy Fall,

Blessings my friends!

Welcome to Tablescape Thursday......

I would like to thank everyone who has visited me and left such wonderful, uplifting comments! I really appreicate your warm and loving thoughts. It keeps me going!!!

The weather certainly has changed in Western New York. It seems like the high 60's is our destiny this week. I am thinking about fall today and the winter to come. I need to prepare for our winters here. I usually stock pile some food and paper products so I don't have to cart big packages through the snow.
I guess I was bored last week and created a new centerpeice for my kitchen table. It is the one I am using today. I am thinking about fall...I am having a hard time letting go of summer.

These are my everyday dishes,Yorktowne. I have owned them since 1977.
      
                   

 The blue Libbey wine glasses were given to me as a wedding gift from a beloved cousin and friend, Georgia. She and her husband were killed in a head on collision years ago. She gave them to me because she drank wine from them when they were camping and loved them.

The table runner is from Sweden,a gift to my mom from a cousin, Patti who lives there. The placemats are from Walmart last year at  Christmas.

The candlesticks are all different and purchased at Goodwill at various times. The silver cakestand is also from Goodwill made by Wm. Rogers.

 Since I had the corn dishes, I thought I would include them as a last hurrah! The two flower pots were .99 cents each at Goodwill.

I really enjoyed creating this tablescape....I will use it this Friday when my husband comes home from Canada. What will I serve???? Roast beef, mashed potatoes, garlic green beans and a walnut and fruit green salad.



Thank you Susan, from Between Naps on the Porch for hosting this fabulous time. Please visit as many blogs as you can and make sure you leave a comment. Your comments keep us going!!!!!


If you haven't read my previous post, please do. It was amazing!
BLESSINGS MY FRIENDS,

MY WALK ABOUT

                                                                           

To fill you in…my husband just got a job in August after being out of work since December. He is living in West Virginia and I am living in Western New York until we sell our house. Our house has been on the market since July 29^th. I hate to exercise.

It all started on the weekend of September 10th…..It was going to be a very busy weekend; On Saturday, John had Bible study and the Men’s breakfast, we had take the car to be fixed, buy groceries and clean house.  Sunday would be church in the morning, open house from 1-3 and Kick off at church for our Women’s Bible studies at 5:30. I knew it was overwhelming but doable.

Friday…. I started cleaning in the morning. My husband came home from North Dakota at dinner time and we ate spaghetti for dinner. I was beginning not to feel well. My arthritis was getting to me. I was achy and my joints in my hands and feet were starting to swell. I kept telling Jesus I needed His help this weekend. We had a lot to do. I never prayed specifically, just said I needed help.

Saturday….. John went to Bible study and the men’s breakfast, we took his car to be fixed, went shopping and we cleaned house for Open House tomorrow. John made hamburgers on the grill for dinner. We were ready!!! That night I had severe pains in my legs and feet, along with a headache and just pains all over. The whole night I cried and kept asking Jesus to help me!

Sunday….. I told John I wasn’t going to church and slept until 9:30. When I got up, it took all I could do to get dressed. I ached all over and my head was pounding. I proceeded to get the house ready for Open House.  I just silently kept crying out to Jesus. We sat in my neighbor’s garage for the open house so we could see our visitors. Only one couple came. After that we came home and I started to fix dinner. Feeling sick to my stomach, dizzy and achy, I did not feel well. I just didn’t feel well. I just couldn’t see myself standing for a few hours and talking to ladies about the Buffalo City Mission.  I called my friend at 5:00 and told her I could not go to “Kick Off” at church. I was terribly ill. By this time I was walking funny.  Somewhere in our conversation one of us said “Satan is attacking”. I don’t remember if anything else was said. I just kept silently asking for help from Jesus. That’s all I could do.

On Monday my husband headed for Canada and I proceeded to have breakfast in the living room. Every morning about 8:30 an Oriental man walks down our cul-de-sac and I watch him. This morning was no exception. He walks slowly and carefully, with his hands behind his back. I always thought he was meditating as he walks. He has grey hair and sometimes wears a suit. I admire him that he gets up and out so early. I hate to exercise and do attempt for a few weeks to walk on my treadmill but once I start aching, I stop. I have a hard time in the morning. My body doesn’t move to well. It takes a lot of stretching to get moving.

Anyway, I went to spend time with Aunt Jay who has Alzheimer’s, as I had done the previous week. I had such a head and body ache! I really wasn’t sure I could get through the two hours with her in the morning. I prayed that God would give me patience for her questions. Somehow I did my four hours that day and I came home. My husband called on the phone that night and I found myself telling him about the Oriental man walking. I wondered if I could walk the cul-de-sac. We had quite a discussion about me and walking the cul-de-sac. Anyway my mind was made up I was going to do it at least until the snow flies here in Western New York. I would see how long it would last but a stopping point was good.

The next morning while I was in the bathroom, I read an article from the Discipleship Journal about “How to spend a day (or more) with Jesus”.  It talked about how to prepare for a retreat whether it was a day or an overnight stay. I haven’t gone on a retreat in a long time so I decided my walkabout would be my retreat. I decided I would prepare myself just like Laura Shaffer did. She states “Don’t just sit like a rock and let your mind wander, read scripture or focus on God: who He is, what He is doing in your life”. Well, that’s what I would do. I would ask God what He was trying to show or teach me during this walkabout of mine.  I put on my sneakers and headed out the front door by myself to walk. I wasn’t thrilled to walk but I knew I somehow had to get some exercise. Life was tough. It kept getting in the way! Good excuse!

Did you ever walk and feel someone is walking beside you? I clearly felt a presence! I wasn’t thinking about the sky or houses or where I was walking. I was concentrating on who was walking with me.  I instantly knew Jesus was walking at my side! It was an easy slow walk.  I began having a conversation with Him. I asked him what to do …He told me to walk…..I walked. I asked what should I do….He told me to trust Him …I was quiet….. to focus on Him…I was quiet! I thought I had been…He told me I hadn’t. He told me I trusted Him a little while and then I’d stop. He told me to focus on Him. I felt His hand on my shoulder (at least I think I did).  I felt like I was walking with my best friend. I never cried or freaked out, I walked slowly and listened. I guess the part I want you to hear is… I LISTENED! I breathed and I listened.  I told Him I was sorry…He knew that…I had not trusted Him FULLY. He knows everything! I didn’t need to tell Him. I called His name and He rescued me. The Holy Spirit interceded on my behalf.

I finally looked up when I got across the street from my house and realized I had not looked at the things around me only straight ahead. I was in deep conversation with Jesus and I had not taken in His beauty. I looked at the puffy white clouds and the blue, blue sky and I remember smiling and thanking Him out loud and then looking around to see if anyone heard me. I chuckled to myself.  I somehow felt extremely happy. I needed to focus on Him in my busyness! That’s it! I need to focus and trust more in HIM! I finished my walk completely in peace.

When I came in the front door I ran to get a pen and paper. I felt like I had to write down some stuff but I didn’t know what.  I sat down and wrote down scripture verses …none that I had memorized, just ones given to me. I remember being surprised at the scripture I was writing down, only two seemed familiar to me. I looked at the paper and I went outside to sit in the sun and looked up all the scripture I had written down.  

Psalm 20:7 “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God”.

Psalm 37: 3 “Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture”.

Psalm 56:4   “in God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me”?

Psalm 119: 42 “then I will answer the one who taunts me, for I trust your word”.

This one I had memorized a long time ago…..Proverbs 3:5 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight”.

When I came into the house and I wrote, Isaiah 30: 15, I also wrote “In repentance and rest is—your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength”. When I looked it up I was in awe…I never memorized this one. I have read it but it was never written on my heart. I will memorize it now.

Each passage has a special meaning to me.  I met Jesus today in an awesome place….I will never forget the feeling of peace and happiness. It was just going to be a walk around my cul-de-sac… not an earth-shattering, life-changing revelation.

I do spend time with God everyday but I realize that I have to spend time more quiet time with God.  If busyness and the noise of life get in the way I have to try harder to focus on God. I know life happens and gets in our way but we have to say no or push some things aside and just go on a walkabout. I’m glad God put the Oriental man as my inspiration. If it wasn’t for him walking I would never had my talk with Jesus. I would never have heard Jesus tell me He misses me….and our time together. It is so precious to me. I hear from Jesus often but this time I want to share it with everyone.

I hope while sharing this with you, you examine your own walk. Make sure you say “No” to life to hear the Bread of Life. Jesus loves us and wants us as His own….don’t let the devil worm his way in. Reach out to Jesus and just call His name! He hears, He listens!

             From My Heart to Yours...

                   BLESSINGS MY FRIENDS,

I have been busy.......

But not tooo busy to TABLESCAPE!!!!! A BIG Thank you to Susan from Between Naps On The Porch!!!!!! Please visit as many tablescapes as you can...and don't forget to leave a comment! We love your comments!



Where do I start....I guess...sharing what I have been up too. Here in Western New York the weather has been changing and sooooo I am getting itchy too work on fall things. We still have not sold our house so I feel like I am on hold. I am not doing well...
I have viewed some of your makeovers, tablescapes and fall venues and I am sooo wanting to go in the cellar and drag out fall things! I have been refraining but I am not sure how much longer.......
I have been cleaning out and trying to keep my mind centered on moving but .....the weather is pushing me to do a fall redo.
I have to admit, I wanted to do a fall tablescape but I did not! I was a good girl and did not unpack a single thing this week.....I am patiently waiting for the sale of our home. Stay tuned because there is always next week! I guess God is really fixing me...I know it is in HIS time and not mine! I am just trying to push a little. I wonder if HE is laughing at me....I can drive myself pretty crazy. Once I unpack...I am doomed! I envision Fall, Thanksgiving and then Oh my...CHRISTMAS! Do you know how many Christmas trees I have????? Oh, dear!

Ok, for now I will stay on track and tell you about my NOT FALL tablescape. I will admit I went to Goodwill and purchased everything so I would not unpack ANY FALL decorations. I don't have that many, but you get the idea.

I set this table during the week so when my husband came home on Friday we could have a romantic table.  I then reset it for tablescape Thursday. I decided since I  spend the time to set this table I am going to use it.

This is so pretty..I don't think the pictures do it justice! I took these all at night.

The charger I bought at Hobby Lobby last year. The plate is Desert Rose by Johann Haviland.

This green plate was given to my mom by a neighbor and then given to me. It is depression glass.

Notice I am layering for the very first time!!!!

This glass has a pale green bottom. It matches the leaves on the Desert Rose plates. Goodwill had only two! 

They were 49 cents each.

I bought this hurricane at the Christmas Tree store at Colonie Center in New York a few years ago.

I change the look from season to season.

The candles are a Goodwill find. I put red tea lights in them. They came with white tea lights.

They were brand new! I bought all six.

I tried to take the reflection in the window but it didn't come out like I thought. I have layered the white tablecloth which is vintage over a burgundy one.

 I love doing tablescapes but I have to admit they are getting harder for me to put together. I really need to brainstorm for new ideas. I try to visit as many of you as I can. You all inspire me. I don't have the linens and dishes you all do. So bear with me and you hopefully you will see me grow!

Thanks for stopping by........I want to Thank Susan for hosting this fun party! Remember to visit

Between Naps On The Porch.

Blessings my friends,

Pray for one another...we all need prayers!

Welcome To My House For Tablescape Thursday!!!!

 TODAY......I am preparing lunch for a very special lady.....she will be coming at 12:00. Would you like to join us??

                       

On our menu is chicken salad on croissants, a carrot & raisin salad, and a tossed green salad. Can you tell I like salads!!! For dessert homemade oatmeal raisin cookies with vanilla ice cream.

I forgot to take pictures! AGAIN!!!!

I like the way I set this afternoon table.....a little formal but not tooo! The chargers are from Goodwill one is Wm. Rogers the other is International Silver. I paid .99 each! The dishes are Johann Haviland, Blue Garland.

                            

This is the Angel of Learning by Willow Tree, given to me by my friend Donna. The angel is sitting on old Bibles that were my Grandmother's. I like a simple but elegant table...

The ice bucket is Princess House and so are the salt & pepper shakers. I bought them years ago.

              The wine glasses I just bought at Goodwill, not sure the make. I think they are so pretty!

                                             Do you notice something missing in this picture???
                                      Yes, I added glasses and the ice bucket, but something else?????






                         OK, OK ...."Chicken" our bird ! My husband took him to West Virgina!  
                                                               The space looks so barren without the cage.
                                                                                 I love it!

I think when I do move to West Virgina.....

 I will have to look for a bigger house. Why you ask????? 

To fit all the new dishes, linens, glasses, and centerpieces I will need to keep up with my habit!  

YES!!!! Of course... a new  place for "Chicken the bird!

While I'm thinking about it, I better include a huge closet!!!!!!

Thanks for joining me for lunch today...

I love your comments!

I would like to thank Susan for hosting our Tablescape Thursday. Please visit all the tablescapes at Between Naps on the Porch!

Come visit me again!

Blessings my Friends,