Spiritual Sunday

Today was a wonderful service.  Our pastor is teaching a series on Forgiveness.


It's amazing to drive by other churches and see that God is laying the same subject on so many hearts.
I wanted to share a quote from Pastor today that I feel is so deep.

'"It is a sign of Spiritual growth when we 

SEEK 

to develop the ability to forgive others". Pastor Ron

It is so true, there is freedom through forgiveness.

Forgiveness, not just from God but from those around us every day, 

those we live with, work with, 

love 

and put up with.
Thank you Charlotte and Ginger for Spiritual Sundays

Blessings today and throughout the week. Debbie

Shanghai China business trip
My hubby just got home from another business trip to Shanghai.

The hotel he stayed in gave him this great pamphlet to carry and it's a beautiful PINK!

Old Shanghai is a beautiful city.  One of the men who work in the Shanghai office that my hubby was working with while there took him to the city for the festivals that were still going on from their New Year Celebration the week before.  He was apologetic that the area they were visiting were not as old as some of China, only 2-300 years old... This was considered still new to the country!

This y;ear is the year of The Rabbit in China.  My husband was able to go to visit 

Old Shanghai during one of their festivals.  

 My honey standing in front of the floats on the lake.

 Love this float that was on the lake.

 This is ONE BIG RABBIT!

Linking with Beverly and her great Pink Saturday 

and Susan at A Southern Day Dreamers Outdoor Wednesday

and White Wednesday at Faded Charm Cottage

Blessings, Debbie

Winter Collage Swap










My swap partner was Wendy at
http://stitchduchessscrazysanequiltingworld.blogspot.com/
I received my beautiful collage today and was anxious to share it with you. Thank you so much Wendy for such a beautiful gift.

and Thanks to Linda athttp://aswapforallseasons.blogspot.com/ for hosting this great Winter Swap.  


Blessings, Debbie

GermanVintage Clock 
from trash to treasure.

When we bought this clock in Germany it was painted blue.  If I remember right we paid $5. for it.  It took lots of work to get it back to the original wood especially the tiny bead work down the sides.  The face was all scratched so I painted the metal and numbers.  We have several clocks that I plan on sharing for the next few weeks.  This one has a beautiful deep bong.  Unfortunately it has to hang crooked to keep running.

Linking up with Suzanne at ColoradoLady.blogspot.

Have a blessed Thursday
Debbie

 Preparation for KK's Birthday party

Some of you read my story on Kathy's' upcoming party. 

If you haven't, you can,  by clicking the words in blue above. 

 I flew to KC to get ready with the help of our other sisters Ann, of tin and sparkle and Lori who live there. Ann has posted pictures of the tables and food.

I took all my cake decorating stuff on the plane (yes they did check my baggage...I had a full bad of raspberry filling and lots of metal in my suitcase)

The bottom layer was a rich chocolate. Then I piped an icing dam to hold in the filling. 

 Ann helped me put the second layer a yellow cake on top.  

I then did a thin layer of buttercream icing to "dirty ice" the whole cake and put it in the fridge. I also baked a 13x9 chocolate cake and froze it.  When it was frozen I cut it in 5", 4" 3" and 2" strips.  using the same dam and raspberry filling I stacked them all.  After they were frozen I shaped the smaller  cake at angles to the shape I wanted for a purse then dirty iced and refroze it.  

We took both cakes to Missouri where the party was, to finish. 

The picture below is in the kitchen of the hall that our 

double-cousin Sheila owns, which she let us use for the party.

I used fondant and brown Wiltion food coloring to marble for the "leather" purse.   I found a Silver K for the front.  The coupons and sheet music on the cake were printed on editable paper with edible ink at a cake supply store.

KK loves to cut coupons and recipes and she loves to sing.

We had lots of balloons and LB made a great centerpiece using a word search puzzle she made using words that described things KK loves, like shopping, bingo, church and Wal-marts.

There were lots of tears and laughter as people shared what KK meant to them.

We had a special table just for the cake and 

ice-cream which we pre scooped and had in cupcake holders.

What fun we had blessing this special sister for her 60th birthday.

Linking with A stroll thru life for  Table top Tue

Jet skiing at Labadee, Haiti                while on our cruise.

Labadee is a private beach that Royal Caribbean leases on the Isle of Hati.  They use several of the local's to work everything but the food.  That they bring from the ship.  We had from 9 am to 4 pm on the island to play and enjoy the beach.

 

 One of my favorite things to do in the evenings while on ship is to walk around and have the photographers take our picture.  They take as many as you want with no sitting fee and then have them available for purchase.  These were two of the four 8x10's we purchased.

 One of the dressy nights in front of this wonderful vintage car, Yes he actually told me to touch it!

This more casual picture taken on a white cloth with a white backdrop is one of my favorite.  

My hubbies big baby blues are so dreamy in this one.

Have a blessed week!  And Happy Valentines Day!

Debbie

Make sure you check out all the other great blogs linked up with Smiling Sally

Happy Valentines Day!

A true love story

Today's blog will be linked to several party's because I am busy helping plan a big 60th surprise birthday party for our sis Kathy. 

Kathy was born in1951 in a small country town.  She was born early and without much medical help she wasn't supposed to make it. 

The doctors suggested she be placed in a home for the mentally handicapped. My parent's love saw beyond the problems.  K didn't walk until about 4 and didn't talk till she was 7.  Her favorite story is to say 

"I couldn't talk till I was seven but now you can't get me to stop!"

If you need a genuine hug 

or someone to pray for you K is the one to go to.  

Her love is without limits.

These are two of the things I have been working on.  A photo album  for her memories of the party and an apron to wear during a planned money dance.  We thought she would love this since she always does at weddings.  There is a pocket on the front, I think I did a pretty good job of matching the fabric if I do say so myself!

Daddy passed away 20 years ago and my mom who is 84 still takes care of K.  How fun it will be to surprise her next week!  I'm sure Ann and I will be sharing lots of pictures.  

For todays post, I am sharing a vintage table runner that was my grandmothers. Oh how wonderful these  pink hyacinth smell!

I love the needle work on this piece. 

This is my dining room table.

I really enjoyed making this simple arrangement for the center. 

 The crystal vase was bought in Germany 35 years ago. 

 I found these  cute fairy candle holders at the Goodwill one is a girl and the other a boy.
 Perfect for a special day of love.

 

I realize this is much simpler than many of the tables you will see but hope you enjoyed your vista.  Blessings, Debbie

Bargain hunting with Laurie

 Linking up today with all these great ladies.

Colors of Love

Pink Saturday

Oasis of The Seas

Royal Caribbean's Largest Ship

Hopefully you aren't tired of seeing our pictures 

A windy day in Costa Maya

Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.  Ecclesiastes 4:12

Do you have someone you meet with on a regular basis?  Our closest friends B & P and MB & E have shared our ups and downs for the past 11 years.  We meet once a week at 6 am and have breakfast.  Over the years we have studies on different topics.  We share our struggles and victories, we pray and play.  They were on this cruise with us and we had SUCH a wonderful time.

 Now for the true BLUE.  this is my hubby getting the 3" ice off the sidewalk.  It took him over an hour. Oh to be back in a chair by the pool soaking up the sun!

Have a Blessed week and take time to thank Sally at Smiling Sally  for hosting this great Linky .

Debbie

Did you watch America's Got Talent for 2010? It is one we really enjoy especially after the try outs.  One of my favorite groups was The Texas Tenors.  

Wonderful tenors that do a great mix of gospel, 

country and operas!  

To my utmost surprise and delight they were the main vocal show on the cruise we took a week ago.

 Oh don't you love the pink smoke!

After the show I waited in line with all the other fans to have my cd autographed and our picture taken.  They were SO nice, patient and took time with each fan.  I also bought my sister who is turning 60 this month a cd and they personalized it with Happy Birthday Kathy, she is going to FLIP! 

Good thing she doesn't have a computer or I just ruined my surprise. lol

 We also had one night that a musical group did an hour show.  This full size plane was just one of several props they used.  I was an amazing show with all kinds of arial stunts and great singers.  Love the stewardess ' pink uniforms! We always went early even though the shows were free if you had reservations you got in first and we managed to always have great seats. Not to mention that this same group with additional cast did the Broadway show Hairspray.

Another evening we had an arial group that did amazing acrobatics,

 especially if you take into account we were on a moving ship!

On day in port we went off the beaten path just to see some of the flowers and homes.





Isn't this a beautiful window into their garden? 

   I had my hubby take this one just for you for Pink Saturday.  Hope you enjoyed a glimpse of the shows.  Make sure you take time to visit as many other blogs linked up with Beverly  at How Sweet the Sound  and if you can, leave a comment, I know how much I look forward to hearing from you.
Have a Blessed Week! Debbie