Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

Sugar and Spice and everything nice...that includes home-made apple pie!!!

The picture of this beautiful and tasty home-made apple pie was made by my sweet and talented daughter. The apples she used were actually picked by her. Later I will post her secret recipe for pie crust. Something to smack about. You'll be a changed person after you taste this crust and you'll be glad you tried it.

Beloved, do you remember that catchy little Nursery Rhyme: Sugar and spice and everything nice, that's what little girls are made of?

Little girls can be sweet indeed...in personality! Being the Momma and having a daughter grow up into adulthood has been a LIFE LESSON for me. One I cherish. Life changing.

Having sons has been eye opening as well.

Having daughter-in-laws has grown our family and our hearts.

Being a Grandma is an added blessing.

Life can be so sweet.

Thank GOD for FAMILY, apples, sugar, spices, flour, ovens, utilities, kitchens, pie plates and daughters willing to bake pies!

Here's to sugar and spice and everything nice that blesses our homes. These help make a pleasant haven.

~Deanna~

Psalm 17:7-9

7. Show thy marvellous loving kindness,

O thou that savest by thy right hand them which put their trust in thee from those that rise up against them.

8. Keep me as the apple of the eye,

hide me under the shadow of thy wings,

9. From the wicked that oppress me,

from my deadly enemies,

who compass me about.

Pink Roses

THE wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them;
and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose.
Isaiah 35:1

God's Word On Wednesdays.
Blessings to you,
Deanna

Homes Are Made Out Of Love

Beloved, welcome to this blog.

May God Bless you as you continue to make your Home into a Haven for real people to live in and be blessed.

This Story Book Picture is an illustration of what a house can look like.

What a nice structure this could have been for somebody if it had been a real house.

Houses can become a Home for real people and not just story book characters. Other dwelling places can become a place to call home as well. Dwelling places come in all sizes, shapes and types...Trailers, Condos, Houseboats, Apartments, Huts, Tents, etc.

May God richly BLESS you as you live in the real world and call your dwelling place a home. May He help you transform your home into a HAVEN.

Blessed HOMES are made out of love and not just building material.

Homes become Havens when you are willing to make it that way and with God's help...it becomes a reality.

Deanna

Dreams Come True

Hello Beloved Friend. May Day wishes to you!

I posted this picture late last night and was way too tired to write anything before now. As I type it is Wednesday and I am wide awake.

This is a picture of answered prayer. There's a story behind this picture of this farm house.

Four years ago, at the end of April we signed a rental agreement on this old farmhouse. We lived here for two years before purchasing the old stone house we're living in now.

This country house was a dream come true. Praise the LORD, HE provided such a nice country house for us to live in for a time. For twenty years, I had dreamed of living in the country. Twenty years...in my books, that's a long time. I had never lived in the country before and had wanted to see if I'd like it. One set of Grandparents were country dwellers and as a child when we'd go to visit, I'd get a taste of the country air.

As children, Mom and Dad had both lived in the country and knew the hardships of being poor and struggling. After they married, they were pleased to live in a small town where there were some comforts that weren't in the country. They enjoyed small town living and raised their children in one. I have wonderful and fond memories of where I grew up. I was blessed to have had a CHILDHOOD that was an actual childhood where I wasn't forced to grow up too quickly. I give my Parents the credit for such a sweet childhood.

As I get older and wiser, I see through different eyes the blessings my Parents gave me. It wasn't all due to a small town, but their strong characters with integrity and a respect for a Holy God mixed with what they had gone through as children themselves. Their own good choices and godly decisions created the kind and honorable people they were and are.

When my husband and I decided to finally go looking for a place to live in the country, there had been five deaths of family and friends within a year. The next year a very dear College Instructor friend of ours suddenly died...I cried out, "Are we just going to talk about living in the country or actually go do it?"

We started looking and the LORD blessed us with this country rental. When we walked around the outside of the house before seeing the inside, I excitedly said, "Oh let's rent it!!!"

We were working on preparing to sell our mortgaged house so we could get into a larger house. We would have two shelter payments until our house sold. This was tough, but we did it.

We did it for close to 6 months. Do I know how to scrimp and make ends meet? I believe that we can learn during our challenges as we walk through them. I have a few tricks up my sleeve.

The Landlord had had the interior of the house completely repainted. The house was fresh and clean when we signed a rental agreement on The first of May! It's our 4th Anniversary of having found the beautiful rental. Now, she's a memory.

We were allowed to see what country living was like in a beautiful old farm house that I miss even today. At times I lament over her, but have to come back to reality that we are where we are now. We were allowed to experience a 'DREAM COME TRUE.'

Now another 'DREAM COME TRUE' is being lived out. Our old stone house is answered prayer as well. My husband had wanted to live in a rock house for over two decades. Here we are!

Have a very BLESSED May Day that's fast approaching. We aren't to live in the past, but bringing to remembrance sweet memories is a BLESSING to relive over and over.

Bringing to remembrance the PROMISES of GOD is something that's allowed and encouraged. There are times that we will need to speak out loud the promises and remember HIS benefits. This will encourage us. If you've lived long enough, you know that there are times that nobody else will encourage us when we need it and we can encourage ourselves in time of need.

Psalm 103: 1-5

1. BLESS the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name.

2. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits:

3. Who forgiveth all thine iniquities;

who heals all thy diseases;

4. Who redeemeth thy life from description; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;

5. Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

May we give God the glory when good things come our way and dreams are materialized.

May your MAY DAY be a BLESSED one that you can embrace and enjoy that contributes to you being a sweeter person in your Home Haven.

God richly Bless you,

Deanna

Kitchen

Beloved,

My Maid ran off with the Butler AGAIN and I just couldn't get my act together after I discovered they were gone.

Actually...this is a joke. I'm kidding. I'm the Maid and my sweet husband is the Butler. We kid around about this all the time.

Sigh...good help is hard to find these days.

If you want to keep some fun in your marriage, then you had better keep your sense of humor.
Laugh together often.

With so many people down sizing and organizing, be sure you don't throw the humor out! I'm not kiddin...

Live Well, Love Much, Laugh Often,
Deanna

Proverbs 15:13
A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance:
but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

Proverbs 17:22
A merry heart does good like a medicine:
but a broken spirit drys the bones.

Take A Look Around My Parlour

Beloved, You have been invited to take a look around my Parlour. 

Not bragging, but wanted to share some real bargains with you.  I think it's encouraging to know that there are still bargains out there and these treasures can enhance our homes with a personality.

  Each person has their likes and dislikes when it comes to furnishing their own personal space.  As a 5 year old child I use to take the sales catalogs and pull pages out, lay them on the floor and make a paper home with the pages.  Like a doll house, except out of paper.  Nobody told me at the time that my house shouldn't have 14 bedrooms, 20 bathrooms, 6 living rooms, etc.

I had the best time playing make believe on the floor with the pages.  Mom was the one that let me play quietly on the living room floor by myself.  She nurtured this very inexpensive playtime activity.  The love of decorating was showing up as a child.

Like a lot of people, style and interest has morphed into different looks in the home furnishing department.  I grew up in a house that was quite small with my shared bedroom in the basement.  Slept in a double bed with my older sister and have many childhood stories of sharing the covers with a bed hog.  I'm the bed hog.  Our bedroom furniture was white french provincial and I loved the waviness in it.

I remember very well when long shag carpeting was all the rage. Mom's was dark green and covered a perfectly good hardwood floor.  Mom's living room had more straight line contemporary furniture in it than the frilly.  As I inched into adulthood, I said good-bye to this as avocado green, harvest gold and dark brown appliances merged into the marketplace making their way into homes.  I was so envious when my sister got married and she had one of those green stoves and fridges.  This made married life look inviting to me...ouch.  Thank you God, I know that appliances aren't all there is to marriage.

When on my own, it was second hand decorating all the way.  Once married, we were dirt poor.  One of the little rentals we lived in had pull down maps for dining room window treatments.  It wasn't what was popular, but we used them out of desperation.  We could travel around the world in just one glance.  Our end table in the living room was an actual tree stump.  We were shabby chic way before it's time.  We had second hand living room furniture, second hand bedroom furniture, cast offs for dining room furniture and second hand baby crib, old fridge that froze the food, borrowed stove.  Our dishes, silverware, drinking glasses, pots, pans, towels, sheets were all wedding gifts and much cherished. We stayed warm, never went hungry and we were madly in love as we started our family.

We helped the U.S. economy by using credit for a new refrigerator, stove and dishwasher.  What a romantic day it was when we charged a brand new Kirby vacuum sweeper for Valentine's Day. I'll need to blog about that later.  Soon a medium brown sofa and love seat made their way to our living room.  These sofas faithfully traveled with us each time we moved until we sold them about 20 years later just before another relocation.

Hastily I purchased a sleeper sofa which one of our sons inherited when we bought an over sized leather sofa. Then came my long awaited traditional camel back sofa, two over sized wing chairs with ottoman and decorative pillows.

It took us twelve years to save up the money to purchase this Ethan Allen furniture that we've had since 2000.  Pray it last a very long time.  There have been expenses that were more important than having formal furniture to look at.  A home full of love and warmth is far more valuable than a museum looking room.  One's home doesn't have to be cold or so proper.  You can decorate with great finds that aren't expensive and enjoyable to be around.






When I got into my thirties, I wanted a more formal room and so that's the look I was going to go for in the Formal Living room.  We had a formal living room with second hand sofa and wing chair as well as a family room with the older furniture we had.  The children were allowed to LIVE and BREATHE in the family room while the formal living room was for quieter times and manners.  Now into our 50s it's my turn to be a little more foo-foo.  Earned it.

Here's the tour of the Parlour.  The room has 9'6" high ceiling with two small matching chandeliers, four windows and a door that opens to a very small conservatory.  The plastered covered rock walls are 24 inches thick and curve inward toward the windows.  The floors are made of hardwood maple planks.

The Parlour houses a Ethan Allen Camel Back Sofa with two decorative pillows and two matching over sized Wing Chairs with Ottoman.
The solid wood Coffee Table was purchased at a Thrift Store for $38.00.
Old Books are a Flea Market find.
The Pie Table that sits between the wing chairs was a Texas purchase from when we lived there many years ago.
The lead crystal Vase with flowers was bought on clearance from a high dollar department store.
Flowers were from Garden Ridge.  I've had these so long, I don't remember what I paid for them.
The Piano belonged to my husband's Grandparents and later given to him as a gift because he was their only grandchild that showed an interest in playing the piano.  Husband refinished it.
Mirror above piano was a Christmas gift from my Parents.
The $24.99 area rug was a Salvation Army find.
Print from J.C. Penney.
The walnut Sideboard was a $10.00 neighborhood garage sale find that we excitedly carried home the distance of two blocks.  My husband refinished it as well.
The Lamp is a reproduction from Sams.
Family Pictures in discounted frames.
Discounted Table Runner.



There you have it.
I love our old house that we call home these days.  There's a lot of repairs and decorating we hope to complete.

Though this house is a temporary dwelling place, we are thankful to be here for the time being.

From a different post about The Parlour:
http://homehavenministry.blogspot.com/2011/09/decorating-on-prairie-switcharoo.html

Remember the words of our LORD that's recorded in JOHN 14: 1-2 which says " Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you."

What a place that will be.

Thank you for touring my Parlour.  No matter what style your home is decorated in or with, may it be a place of warmth and love that blesses those that are on your watch.
Deanna from Home Haven.

Looking From The Inside Out

Beloved,
Greetings from Home Haven. Wish I could just spend a little more time looking out the upstairs bedroom window onto the tops of the redbud trees.

In a few days, the delicate colors will vanish while changing into a different color scheme. The Kansas winds sometimes have no mercy on the delicate things of nature.

The purple splashes of color in the landscapes are some of my favorites this time of year.

As I sit and look at these pictures I can enjoy the beauty that God has created...just a little longer.

Shouldn't we take some time and look at the beauty that God has created for us to enjoy? On this quiet Sunday afternoon, I believe I will.

The hot Summer weather will be here soon enough. Then I will be looking for the beauty in what it has in store for me.

Peace be with you and blessings to you this fine day,

Deanna

$2 Can Go Along Ways

Welcome to HOME HAVEN! Beloved, $2 can still go along ways in todays economy.
I have such fun going to Thrift Shops, Estate Sales, Garage and Yard Sales. It's always an adventure because of the surprises that await me. I know my money always stretches further when I am thrifty and I asked God to show me where to shop.

A few weeks ago, I shopped at a Annual Fund Raiser and found this gently used 100% Cotton Twin Bedspread for $2.00.

She now has a new home at HOME HAVEN. Somebody is going to stay cozy with this sweet purchase.

We all need blessings!

How do you make a house a home? With lots of attention and lots of love. When we ask for BLESSINGS from God up above.

PROVERBS 3 verse 33 from the Bible's Old Testament states:

The curse of the LORD is in the house of the wicked: but he blesseth the habitation of the just.

God speaks a Blessing to those He loves.

PROVERBS 3 verse 24 states:

When thou liest down,

thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down,

and thy sleep shall be s w e e t.

When I was a little girl, at bed time my Momma always said to me, "Sweet Dreams."

I'll share this with you, may you have sweet dreams while you rest in your home that's a haven because you choose to love God with all your heart.  He is the Lord that comforts you with blessings.

SWEET DREAMS!

d

Spring time at the Old Stone House

SPRING TIME at the old stone house. What a welcomed season this is to me and my household. With greenery coming forth with every hour that passes, each day there's a surprise blooming in the flower bed.

See what good things God has given us to enjoy.

What a pleasant season this is.

Ecclesiastes 3: 1

TO every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven...

Blessings to you and Thank you for stopping by.

GOD bless you,

Deanna from the Kansas Flinthills

Thrifty Tuesday

Beloved, Blessings to you and thank you for visiting my blog today. Hope you'll stop and say hello.

Tuesdays are blessed with thrifty finds that God allows me to come across.
For $6.50 this oversize glazed white stoneware bowl with gold trim caught my eye.

Aint she a beauty!

She's about 13 inches wide by
19 inches long and 3 1/2 inches deep.

I hadn't heard about CIC dishes made in Italy.
Sounded sophisticated so I went for it.

The markings on the bottom are CERTIFIED INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION.

What would you use this dish for if you were to make a choice?

DINING
Safe for food use:
Salad, Bread rolls, Vegetables? Rolled Napkins with utensils? Fruit?
POWDER ROOM
Soaps? Potpourri? Lavender? Wash clothes?
OTHER ROOMS
Wall decoration? Coffee Table dish? Dust Catcher? Candy dish?

Hope you'll share your suggestions of what you'd use this bowl for or what some of the neatest finds you've been BLESSED with when you went JUNKIN?

May God Bless you with thrifty buys that you bless your Family and Friends with...maybe even somebody you don't know very well.

May your HOME be a GODLY HAVEN,
Deanna

Swans

Pray for Sister

Beloved,
Thank you for visiting. Appreciate this. Family is very important to me. This is a photograph of my Sister. Her name is Debbie and on Monday, April 20, o9 she had complete knee replacement surgery.

Please, would you that have a covenant relationship with God because Jesus Christ is your personal Savior PRAY for my Sis?

Almighty God hears the prayers of His children.

Please Pray in Jesus Name for Debbie. THANK YOU for this.
I greatly appreciate your being willing to pray sincere prayers.

Blessings to you and may God Bless you today.

Deanna from the Kansas Flinthills

Small Town America

Beloved, ready for some good news?

When was the last time you visited a place of business where the door was unlocked and there was nobody around to assist you with your purchase? Just a hand written note and a container on the counter for your cash.
They were using the Honor System.
We came across this sight in small town America. It was a surprise that I won't soon forget which was refreshing to experience as I go about in a very hectic and hurried world.

We bought some sugar cookies that were used at a Tea Party for the girls when Family came to visit. The cookies were delicious. We were refreshed!

Some would say that it's unwise to leave a container out UNATTENDED.
I have to admit that I wouldn't have been so trusting, but was glad to see there are still those that use the HONOR SYSTEM and there are still people on this ole planet that HONOR the honor system.

I admire people that have integrity and walk up right before the Lord. They are honorable people.

I know someone that you can trust your life to. He desires you trust Him. I know somebody who you can't see who enjoys refreshing your soul. With Christ as your Savior and bowing to His LORDSHIP over your life, you can be refreshed.
Do you need refreshed?

Hope that as you go about your day that you are renewed and enjoy life.

May the good Lord put a smile on your face.
May God bless you real good,
Deanna

PSALM 23
1. The LORD is my sheperd; I shall not want (be in need).
2. He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leds me beside the still waters.
3. He restores my soul: he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's
sake.
4. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil:
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
5. Thou prepares a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
thou anoint my head with oil;
my cup runs over.
6. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:
and
I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for e v e r.

Basket Mystery Solved

Beloved,
Thank you for playing along with my blog game!




The mystery is solved about what is in the basket...CLOTHES PINS.

I had fun reading your comments. Your guesses gave me some new ideas for the use of baskets. This one will remain being used for clothes pins.

Honest to pete, there were only 2 clothes pins that have survived. Time to buy some more. When I got to thinking that I have had this basket over 20 years, I was dazed. The craftsperson that created this basket did a superior job. It looks as good today as it did when I bought it.

What a bargain I got that day when I bought this basket.

Thank you again for participating.


God richly bless you with solutions and answers to all the mysteries in your life,
Deanna

The Tax Man Cometh MEAL

We got hit hard this year. It is our Patriotic duty to pay our taxes. So we did. Taxes were paid on time and if we can slide til next payday, we won't have to take anymore out of our anemic savings account to make ends meet. We'll be happy citizens!!!

For years I have felt a sense of relief having a well stocked food pantry. As a young married lady, after our shelves and fridge were restocked from a shopping trip, it was the highlight of my day. My entertainment was going shopping with my hubby and children at a grocery warehouse. This may sound corny, but I looked forward to our "Night Out" shopping.

We seldom had a babysitter...couldn't afford one and as often as we relocated, we didn't have anybody that we knew well enough to trust to babysit. We seldom went on an official date with out the kids. It's important to still date your husband after you're married so you may have to get real creative on what to do on a shoestring budget. It can be done.

Back to the tax man cometh meal. It's crockpot time and if this stew turns out, I'll let you know about it. I am stretching for contents to put in the crockpot. Just one of those days...

I had a package of stew meat in the freezer.

Without thawing the meat, I poored olive oil in the crockpot for the meat to thaw out as it's cooking.
Turn the crock on high.
After a couple of hours, the meat has thawed.

Add the extras. This will a desperate attempt to create a throw together stew.

I used left over spaghetti sauce from a jar for tomato flavor with spices.
After emptying the sauce on top of the meat, put a little water in the jar and swish the water around to wash the inside of the jar and use all the sauce that you can. There was only about a cup of sauce anyways and I wanted to use as much as I could.
I had a 11.5 oz. can of V8. Used this as well.
Added a 14.5 oz. can of beef broth found on the pantry shelf.
A can of corn went in next along with washed, chopped, limp celery. Waste nothing.
A small package of baby carrots added.
Here in a little bit, homemade noodles will go in the crock. These noodles were bought at a elderly community's fund raiser...gotta be good.
Stew needed some thickening to it. Ketch-up was added.
Just added what was left of mild On the Border Salsa to the stew. Wasn't hardly any of this salsa left in the jar, so I added a little water to swirl around in the jar and poured the liquid into the crock.
I pray it turns out. The aroma in the air smells good, so I will have faith that this thrown together stew taste good enough to eat.
Oh Lord, help me now in my time of need!

God richly bless you.
Deanna here pulling a rabbit out of her hat.

Thrown Together Stew turned out just fine and everybody loved it.

It tasted better than it looked! 

What is greater than God?

Beloved, welcome to home haven!
Can you solve this riddle?

What is greater than God?
More evil than the devil?
The poor have it.
The rich need it.
AND if you eat it, you'll die.




answer: nothing

What's In The Basket?

What's in the basket?

Got any ideas?

Just for fun, guess what's inside and what this basket is used for.

I'll let you know on Monday.

This basket was purchased at a yard sale in Liberal, Kansas in about 1986. The lady that sold this to me was a nurse and she told me that this basket was made by a missionary. I regret that I don't recall from which country.

God Bless you and may you have a day full of joy and peace.

Deanna

CAN I HAVE AN AMEN?

Can I have an AMEN from you?

Just simply leave an "amen" on the comment part of this blog.

I'd like to pray for those that are kind enough to visit my blog.

No details necessary...just a simple amen will do.

We all need blessings in our lives, our homes and relationships.

BLESSINGS to you...FAITH, FAMILY and FRIENDS

Home Haven is honored that you stopped to check my blog out today. I'd like to thank you and say a prayer for you. No strings attached.

May your Haven be a place to relax and retreat to from the world out there,

~Deanna from the Kansas Flint Hills~

Strawberry Simplicity Dip Secrets

Dear Beloved,
Simplicity has an ease all it's own.
Strawberries are a must!

The older I get, the more simplicity is welcomed.

I desire simplicity everything.

Easy as 1, 2, 3 when the recipes only have 1, 2, and 3 ingredients needed to make tasty dishes.
This Strawberry Dessert is a must try.

Ingredients needed:
Strawberries
Marshmellow Creme 7 oz.
Cheese Cream 12 oz.

Wash strawberries and place on dish.
Place marshmellow creme and cream cheese in mixing bowl. Mix until creamy.

Serve strawberries and cream dip as a dessert.

My husband loved this dessert for Easter Dinner and he hates cream cheese.
SECRET: This simple dip will make your haven a little sweeter!
You're gonna luv it.

God sweetly bless you,
Deanna

Spring Time Anytime

Dear Ones,
Welcome to Home Haven!
Like Flowers?
These are some of the fake ones I have around the place.
No need to feed, water or prune.
Life just got easier.

I have to sing my beautiful and talented daughter some praises!!!
She walked me through how to put personal pictures on my BLOG. Life just got easier.

Thank you
Thank you
Thank you
and again, I say Thank you!
If I could sing like she does, I'd youtube a singing gram.
You are a blessing to me.

Are you enjoying the Spring weather?
Deanna

Teaching An Old Dog New Tricks

Can you teach an old dog new tricks?
I heard that you can't. Then I saw first hand that it's possible. Bow WOW!
There's a catch though...it depends on the dog you're working with.

MY HUSBAND is really great with dogs. He enjoys their enthusiasm and willingness to be attentive to his commands. We found out that our AIREDALE TERRIERS respond nicely to an upbeat tone of voice with encouragement verses being gruff sounding.

BOW WOW, if I were a dog I would be able to say that I have learned a few new tricks and since I'm older than a few years ago, I would be considered an old dog.

Since I started babysitting, I had to come out of semi-retirement in the NANNY department. Being responsible for a toddler during the daytime, I had to reinvent myself because I'm no longer in a young body and can't move as quickly as I used to. I only owned one Veggie Tale Video, so the hunt was on for videos from the Thrift Shops and the Public Library.

We have gotten well aquainted with Veggie Tales, Sesame Street, Clifford the Big Red Dog, Sid the Science Kid, Curious George, WordWorld, Bob the Builder, Barney, Angelina Ballerina, FiFi and the FlowerTots. Toddler can sing the entire Alphabet Song and she's only 2. She's learning her colors and is counting to 20. Manners are important and she freely says Please and Thank you. Her Mother is real good with her and at Bed Time, her Momma reads to her Bible Stories, memorizing scripture and prays with her. It is really sweet to see Toddler bow her head and fold her hands before a simple prayer is said.

As an old dog, I know that there are some areas of life that I have to let toddler and her momma do alone where Granny isn't allowed. Their bonding has to be a very special place between them that only Mothers and their Children have together. This is one trick I already knew.

During the morning hours after Toddler has awaken and had her face washed, she gets a diaper change, sippy cup of milk, and breakfast with a vitamin is served. This old dog had to come up with ways to keep a toddler happily entertained and room to stretch. Our family room is still a family room, but the emphasis these days are having it childproof and a safe haven for a child to play in as well as a place for adults to sit, visit and view television.
After getting dressed for the day,
we sing and dance,
read children's books together,
draw and talk,
watch children's movies and televised children programs on PBS,
plenty of toys to play with and time together.
There's a mid-morning snack and more play time.
Lunch.
Short playtime before nap.
( I am usually tired by this time and this old dog either takes a nap as well or works on paperwork, laundry, quick chores, etc. )
Through out the day there's diaper changes when needed.
After nap, another snack and if we're going someplace off we go.
Back home and wait on momma's return from work. It's a happy reunion when momma gets home.
( I am usually very tired by this time wanting to go home from work and have some freetime. Oh wait a minute, I am home! )
Think I'll learn the French language by listening to teaching tapes in the afternoons while toddler plays. She will catch on faster than I! We shall see.

Again, God has shown me things that I know not of. I'll call myself a Nanny Granny and I have had alot of fun babysitting. Watching early childhood developement again is seen through more mature eyes this time. Though there are challenges to coming out of semi-retirement, there's been a great deal of joy. AND JOY is much needed in healthy people.

If it weren't for my husband and daughter pitching in with clean-up, meals and dishes...I know I wouldn't make it. This old dog has arthritis and asthma in her body that makes some things more challenging for an old dog to do. Then there's that part of being a woman making her way toward menopause that hinders my energy level. That's worth 2 Bow Wows.

When you can't do things the way you once did them, you've gotta come up with a proactive plan that works for you and to get the results that you have to have. You have to learn some new things. OH BOW WOW...this OLD DOG has LEARNed some NEW TRICKS.

BOW WOW.
I'm still learning that as life goes, I have to be flexible and not rebel against God's plan for my life. Sometimes this is hard on an old dog.

God Bless you real good,
Deanna

GO IN PEACE AND LAUGH ON GLORY'S SIDE

Beloved, Welcome to Home Haven.
On this very busy day, Thank you for stopping by to visit my Blog. My prayer is that you be Blessed while visiting. That when you leave, you go in peace and laugh on glory's side.

Resurrection Sunday is here.
Easter is here...may we call to remembrance and rejoice in knowing that Jesus isn't dead or still in the tomb. He is risen. He is risen indeed. After accepting God's perfect plan of redeemption for people, we can and are welcomed to having a personal relationship with our Creator through Our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are born again. We've been regenerated.

When Jesus is our saviour, we can boldly come into the throne room and be in God's presence. Our petitions and prayers can be heard and answered.
When Jesus is our saviour, we are called a child of the most high God because we have been adopted into the family of God.
When Jesus is our Savior, we are filled with the Spirit of God.
When Jesus is our Savior, we are saved and called the righteousness of God, we are a Saint of God. Heaven will be our eternal home.

May you have a most blessed day this Easter as we celebrate that Jesus is alive. Embrace the JOY of your Salvation this Resurrection Sunday.

May the Holy Ghost resurrect in your home a haven FULL of God's presence and unfailing LOVE. God's richest Blessings to you and your haven.

Come to Jesus and Live. Go in Peace and laugh on glory's side.

Deanna from the Kansas Flinthills

COME TO JESUS

Going GREEN

Welcome to Home Haven!

Dear Blogger Friend, Hello from the Kansas Flinthills. I am counting the days til my blogger techie assistant will bless my blog with photos of the Flinthills as well as the many other pics I'd like to share so my blog isn't just printed words, but also shows an interest in the visual arts. Images add interest.

I have a love for artificial flowers and plants. Though I cherish the real thing, fake flowers are in almost every room of our house. When it comes time to dust, I notice these fake treasures that need a bath.

There's a wooden hurricane lamp holder hanging on the wall upstairs in the hallway. It's been waiting for the lamp to make it's way from the garage into the house, but it seems that the forgotten lamp is no where to be found as the wooden holder hangs alone. So, I just took 2 clumps of fake jumbo sized sunflowers on fuzzy stems and added them to the holder. It looks great! Now 2 items in the house have come together to serve a purpose for eye candy and dust collecting.

A few minutes ago as I was outside picking up a basket with artificial roses in it that the Kansas wind blew off of a bench and onto the ground, it hit me that I really like flowers. Though my middle name is Fern, I don't have a green thumb and my house plants usually die. For so many reasons, I forget to water and feed them!
No need to be green with envy.

It is far safer for me to house artificial plants, flowers and arrangements.

Many a moon ago, I placed my live plants in the bath tub for safe keeping while we were on an extended vacation. After reading an article about creating a green house in the tub so you could go off and enjoy a vacation while the plants were thriving in the green house tub (and wouldn't need a human to water them) I decided...well even I could do this and wouldn't have to worry.

It was great, since we had an over sized tub. I followed the directions to the T. Went off and had a wonderful family vacation. It was great! We had so much fun on this inexpensive vacation.

Upon returning home, I noticed that everything else in the house looked alright. No intruders, all is at rest. Then I walked into the bathroom to check out my lovely plants. Yes, they were all there...floating in and under bathtub water. There had been a malfunction in my miniature green house and the majority of the lovely plants had drowned.

Hum. What could I say, but hum and clean up the mess and grow a weakness for the fake stuff. God has been gracious to me and allowed somebody from history to create artificial greenery! God has been gracious to me. How about you? May you have a blessed day, week, year and life. May there be nothing artificial about that!

God Bless you REAL good,
Deanna

EASTER 2009

Hello and God's richest blessings to you.
May you have a BLESSED EASTER!
The Lord Jesus is risen.
He is risen indeed!
May your haven be in Christ Jesus.
God bless you and your home this Easter Season.
With Spring here, we have an opportunity to see life burst forth in nature.
To God be the glory...great things He hath done.
May you personally know the greatness of God because He lives within you.

May He show you great and mighty things.
Celebrating the risen Christ right here in the beautiful Kansas Flinthills.

Deanna

Glass Half Full Or Half Empty?

Home Haven greets you with a cool drink of water at the door. Don't you look pretty today! Your face is all aglow and the fragrance of your presence is welcomed.

Beloved, you have great value! Perhaps you were told this alot when you were growing up. Perhaps you found this out all by yourself while reading. I wasn't told this. I'd have to learn as I went along in life. I knew I was loved, but like most humans, we need to hear it spoken to us, over us and around us.

Now I know that there are caretakers that make a point to speak words of life to their children and the children for many reasons do not believe what's being said to them...

Some of us have the attitude that our glass is half full and we have this idea about life. We are in WANT and that's all there is to it. Those that have a half full glass, seem to be thankful that they even have a glass and it is nearly over flowing as is.

I would like to look at the sunny side of life and I have to work at it on somedays. I started blogging about 3 months ago and I am truly enjoying this adventure. May more and more bloggers speak words of life in their post!

Is your glass half empty or half full? Did you know that out of your belly can flow rivers of living waters? Now who needs a glass when there's a river of living water flowing out of ya?

Who needs a glass with a belly like that?
Please, won't you tell me which Biblical scripture mentions this?
Won't you tell me who places the rivers of living water that flows out of your belly there?

Do you know?

Blessings to you this day.
My cup runneth over,
Deanna

Reclaim the Easter Egg

O Beloved, reclaim the easter egg!

Would you consider taking back what was made for good in the first place that others would use for evil and reclaim it back for good? Oh yes, indeed I would and have.

We have a wonderful opportunity to bless our husbands, children, homes and yes, even GOD by reclaiming the easter egg. As wives and mothers, we can set the atmosphere of our homes. We can create opportunities for making loving memories to recall for the entire family to embrace and remember innocent, clean fun.

Decorating boiled eggs is fun! I have SWEET MEMORIES about Easter because I remember decorating boiled eggs, easter egg hunts, waking up on Easter morning to find an easter basket with goodies in it for me to enjoy, dressing up in pretty clothes and shoes to wear to church to celebrate the risen Christ, and sharing a special meal with family members gathered around the table.

ALL THE ACTIVITIES LED TO THE TRUE MEANING OF WHAT CHRIST DID ON THE
CROSS. DEAD, BURIED AND RESURRECTED FROM THE DEAD.
3 DAYS LATER CHRIST ROSE FROM THE GRAVE. HE LIVES. Each year we remember and celebrate.

Mom would always make deviled eggs from the eggs we had decorated and serve them during the easter day meal. Sweet memories that my Parents encouraged within their family during Easter. For my own children and now grandchildren, I have copied decorating eggs, easter egg hunts, easter baskets and using pastel colors to glorify Christ.

The early Spring days and pastel colors bring comforting thoughts to me.

How's about you?

Reclaim the practice of decorating boiled eggs and have a easter egg hunt.
Well, how is this going to bless God? I'll explain.
Who created in the first place the chickens that lay eggs for humans to enjoy? This would be ALMIGHTY GOD.
He created the egg in the first place. It was meant for good. Somewhere along the way if pagans misused eggs for their evil deeds, reclaim the egg. Now there are some that are refusing to decorate eggs because they believe that to decorate eggs is glorifying ungodly pagan practices.

I decided a long time ago to reclaim what was meant for good to be used for good and because some misguided pagans used what was made for good in the first place was grossly used for evil, to take it back and reclaim it for good for the GLORY OF GOD.

I consider God to be a creative artist. We can imitate Him and be creative artist ourselves for His glory.
We can teach our children "WHO made the egg in the first place" and that we worship God, not the egg.

The decorating of eggs for easter can be a pleasant and fun activity for the entire family. Having an outdoors egg toss is fun. Hiding boiled eggs for people to find is harmless fun.

Resurrection Sunday is an awesome day to celebrate. The King James Bible does mention EASTER in it, so I'm not going to get all hung up on using EASTER to describe Resurrection Sunday. Praise God, I know that the Lord Jesus is risen.
He is Risen indeed.

Pumpkins were created by Almighty God as well for enjoyment for humans. There are some that don't want to decorate pumpkins in the fall because pagans did gross things to people and they don't want to copy pagan rituals with pumpkins.
Again, I say reclaim what God created for good in the first place and use for good now.
Did not God give us dominion over the earth? According to His Word, He did.

Because there are pagans and people who misuse and abuse sexual intimacy outside of marriage and don't follow God's Holy instructions for sex, I won't be discouraging married couples to stop enjoying a healthy sex life within their marriage when following God's counsel and healthy guidelines. Enough said.

AND BY THE WAY, I DON'T HAVE A HANG UP ABOUT THE EASTER BUNNY,
EASTER BASKETS AND CHOCOLATE EITHER. Especially chocolate.

Reclaim decorating the easter egg for God's Glory!

Hopping right along,
Deanna

No Foolin It's April Fools Day

Hello Beloved! So nice of you to come by for a spell. What 'cha been up to?
It's April 1st and this always puts a smile on my face.
Happy Happy April Fool's Day to you.

As a kid, this was a day to play a practical joke on somebody. Not out of meanness, but out of awnriness. Did you know that awnry isn't in the dictionary? Perhaps this is a April Fool's joke? Naw.

Ornery can be found, but I don't like the definition described in the New World Webster's Dictionary of the American Language, 1. Having an ugly or mean disposition. Sooooo, I will use awnry as I thought it was meant to be, having a sense of humor and teasing. All out of good fun, being a good sport.

What do you think awnry means?

I've been known to pull off a practical joke or two. All in good fun. How sad it would be if we couldn't have a good laugh or giggle. It helps if the one that you play the joke on isn't offended by it or seriously harmed.

My husband takes his job very seriously and I think this to be a good thing.
At the time, we lived about a 5 minute drive from his work location. Wasn't that nice. Small towns can have their advantages.

On one April Fool's Day, I decided since he was overly uptight about one of the bosses he had, that to help my hubby lighten up abit, I'd play a trick on him. Knowing he would be home soon, I left a note in the kitchen saying that work had called and they were wondering where he was for the late meeting they were having.

He immediately went back to work to find no one there. HUH? NOW, PLEASE DON'T BE TOO HARD ON ME. We had a healthy laugh over this one. AND we needed it.

It's possible to get way too much on the mind and make life miserable. On a different day, while at work he phoned home, thinking it was a co-worker's home he was calling. Out of habit, he dialed our home number. When I answered, he thought I was the co-worker's wife and asked if so and so was there. I thought, my gosh, he doesn't recognize my voice or he is thinking a man is visiting me during the day when he shouldn't be. So, I played along and said something to him that made his jaw drop. He got very quiet and I started to laugh. Then he realized that he had called our number. We still have a good laugh over this one and this happened 23 years ago.

A fool is described as a person with little or no judgment, no common sense, no wisdom, silly, or stupid person, simpleton. The Bible tells us that a fool believes that there's no God.
I know that I know that I know, that I know that I know that I know that I know, that I know
there's a God! I aint no foooool.

God Bless Us One and All. If you are having difficulty believing there's a God, it would help if God made himself real to you. So get serious and be real with Him. Ask Him to make Himself real to you. My prayer for you
IN JESUS NAME is that the Holy Spirit fall a fresh on you and open your eyes of understanding and become a child of the Most High God today! No foolin'.

God richly bless you.
May you have a great day and be kind to those awnry people in your life and home.

Til next time,
dEaNnA