Blue Monday

Blue Monday is here again and I just want to say, "Thank you, Sally" for hosting this fun event.

I didn't realize how much blue I had in my home until I started participating in this every week! At one time I had blue all through my home but since my boys all moved out, I've taken to pink/red decorating.

Seems, I still have lots of blue around though.

This is my blue toile ceramic umbrella stand in our den and since we only have one umbrella in the house, I use it instead to hold florals. Much too pretty for umbrellas anyway, I think! The walls in the den are also blue.

My father used to collect plates and had quite a collection. These two plates, he left to me when he passed away in 1995. They are distributed by the Bradford Exchange and as you can see, there is lots of blue in them!

The first plate is called, "Patience" and is the first issue in the Hearts and Flowers from Sandra Kuck collection. On the back of the plate, it tells a little story: "Friendships can grow before a fish bites, as these two youngsters will discover during a summer's day fishing amid the flowers." Sorry it is not a clearer picture.

The second plate is called "A Time to Love," also by Sandra Kuck. This plate was issued in the March of Dimes: Our Children, Our Future plate collection commemorating the 50th anniversary of the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation.

On the back it says, "Every child's first instinct is to love - imagine a world where every adult cherished and nurtured that instinct."

Both plates are made of fine china and trimmed in 24 kt. gold.

I am so thankful I have these plates and the fact that my father left them to me makes them all the more special!

Finally, there is the plate that Daddy left to my hubby. Both my father and my hubby were/are Detroit Red Wings fans and of course, Gordie Howe, their hero. The background is blue so I guess I'm safe in showing this, and there is some blue on the white and green uniform he is wearing. It is written on the back, "Mr. Hockey" Gordie Howe and the number 9. It is his signature edition. Anyone who knows anything about hockey has heard of the great Gordie Howe so I won't go into any detail about him.

Hubby is very happy to have this plate!

Well, those are my blues for another week. Hope you enjoyed your visit and I hope you will go visit Sally and all the other Blue Monday posts. Please click here http://smilingsally.blogspot.com/ or on the Blue Monday button on my sidebar. Have a great day everyone!

Spiritual Sundays

"Happy Mother's Day"
and as it is Mother's Day, I would like to share a devotional from a May '07 edition of 'Our Daily Bread.'

INFLUENCE OF GODLY MOMS

"Her children shall rise up and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her." Proverbs 31:28

Many people have been richly blessed by what they learned at their mother's knee.

Consider John and Charles Wesley. Their names would probably never have lighted the pages of history if it hadn't been for their godly mother who taught them that the law of love and Christian witness was to be their daily guide. Susannah Wesley spent one hour each day praying for her 17 children. In addition, she took each child aside for a full hour every week to discuss spiritual matters with him or her. No wonder John and Charles were used of God to bring blessing around the world. Here are a few rules she followed in training her children:

Subdue self-will in a child and work together with God. Teach him to pray as a soon as he can speak. Give him nothing he cries for and only what is good for him if he asks for it politely. To prevent lying, punish no fault that is freely confessed, but never allow a rebellious, sinful act to go unchecked. Commend and reward good behavior. Strictly observe all promises you have made to your child.
Let us honour our godly mothers today, not only with words of praise for them but with lives that reflect the impact of their holy influence! - Henry Bosch

Of all the earthly things God gives,

There's one above all others:

It is the precious, priceless gift

Of loving Christian mothers.

THE VIRTUES OF MOTHERS ARE VISITED ON THEIR CHILDREN. -Dickens

My own mother has just gotten out of the hospital from having had surgery on her hip. I am thankful to God for her and I pray that He will pour His abundant blessings down upon her.

I so enjoyed raising my own children! It was and still is a privilege I try to never take for granted. Today, I am blessed with three wonderful sons, two daughters-in-law, and four grandchildren. I consider each of them to be a gift from my heavenly Father's hand and even though some of them live far away, they are all close in my heart always.

Thank you for taking the time to visit today, and please click on the Spiritual Sundays button on my sidebar to visit all the other lovely devotionals. I'm certain you will be inspired and enriched by what you read. The Lord bless you!