Happy Valentine's Day! On this day of hearts... red and white and words inspiration to live a life of Love. Images ~ White Keyhole :: Sweater Heart :: Heart Knocker Images ~ Red Door :: Tin Heart Images ~ Barn & Banner :: Heart Cookies :: Gift :: Ticking Hearts :: White Twigs Images ~ Red Mug :: Red Door :: Patterned Heart And now I leave you with this.... "Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier." Mother Teresa OO & XX Diane P.S. This photo gallery is an … [Read more...]
The other day I wanted to do something fun for St. Valentine's Day. And I wanted to do it quick. Let me present to you this sweet... Framed 3-D Valentine Heart & Tutorial This is a quick and easy bit of Valentine home decor to make.... using a photo frame, a piece of fabric, magazine pages, scissors, and glue. This day of love will be here before you know it! Here is a great way to use things you already have on hand to create a sweet, heart-moment for that perfect spot that needs just a little bit of loving. But before we take off on our little … [Read more...]
Twenty-five days ago I embarked on a new leg in my life's journey. My goal was to do my part to make this journey, though challenging, a God-honoring one. I did not want this to be about me....I wanted it to be a time where those around me will say, "Look what God has done." One of the ways to accomplish that is to mediate on God's Word, pray boldly, and trust Him. Have you noticed that trails aren't usually flat, and their surfaces may be marked with stones, roots, and in the snow, unforseen areas of treachery? What happens if on this journey you receive an unexpected … [Read more...]
Rose of Sharon husks. Long forgotten blossoms. A nod to Cotton Bolls. Frozen crystals. Snow. Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look what they do when they stick together. Verna M. Kelly Today I walked to the grocery store. A pleasure I have living in a small town. School buses and travelers were filling up the main street so I elected to walk a half block over...down the alley way....on my return home. Roasting chicken in hand. The journey turns into a wander as I forget the falling flakes and see new shapes and wonders enhanced by … [Read more...]
Beauty for your day.... "Winter is on my head, but eternal spring is in my heart." Victor Hugo Whether you're enjoying snow or milder climes.... know it's what's in your heart that counts. Love, Diane Please “Like” An Extraordinary Day ~ A Place of Joy & Inspiration on Facebook. To receive bits of inspiration like this in your inbox or reader, subscribe now. Sharing with Scenic Weekends + Weekly Top Shot + Simple As That * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Thanks so much for reading! Please stop … [Read more...]
Do you find yourself stopping to admire a beautiful sunset? Have you noticed how time seems to stand still for just a moment or two when you do? And your soul is refreshed? A sunset is such an everyday (possibly ordinary) occurence. Or is it? The only difference between an extraordinary life and an ordinary one is the extraordinary pleasures you find in ordinary things. ~ Veronique Vienne This weekend...look for ordinary things in which you can find extraordinary pleasures. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ … [Read more...]
Watching the setting sun and seeing the colors dance, refract, and saturate melts away the cares of the day. Late in the afternoon, we went for a walk. From one end of town to the other. We live almost at the end of our road. Just as we rounded the corner to our house I happened to look back and see the sky coloring. We proceeded a bit further, hoping to get a good look at the setting sun. And maybe a few pictures. Without telephone poles and wires marring the magical moment. Peace is seeing a sunset and knowing who to thank. Isn't it lovely? I don't know about you, but … [Read more...]
We face all types of obstacles in life. But, this I know is true: ...nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Romans 8:38 NLT There are so many things running through my mind these days. So many things I want to do. Yet, when life gets turned upside down it takes time to sort it out. [sigh] I have tutorials and posts underway which I'd like to complete and post for you. I want to create vignettes and show you a few things before I get it all packed up for wherever God moves us. I really do. But, if I don't...if I write posts like this one or this one...for a little while....will … [Read more...]
As we begin our fresh New Year there is much that can be said. But before all the talking, it seems that the best place we can begin is... on our knees. A Prayer for the New Year Our Father and our God, as we stand at the beginning of this new year we confess our need of Your presence and Your guidance as we face the future. We each have our hopes and expectations for the year that is ahead of us—but You alone know what it holds for us, and only You can give us the strength and the wisdom we will need to meet its challenges. So help us to humbly put our … [Read more...]
O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth. Long lay the world in sin and error pining. Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth. A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn. Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices! O night divine, the night when Christ was born; O night, O Holy Night , O night divine! O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!* Let us kneel down and worship our King! Christmas Joy to you! Love, Diane *The words and lyrics of the old carol 'O Holy Night' … [Read more...]
May your weekend be extraordinary! Joyfully, Diane To receive bits of inspiration like this in your inbox or reader, subscribe now. … [Read more...]
Day 7 May you be extraordinarily filled with gratitude this Thanksgiving! Thankful for YOU! Diane To receive bits of inspiration like this in your inbox or reader, subscribe now. Sharing at Dear Little Red House * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Thanks so much for reading! Please stop by Longaberger Lifestyle for lovely gifts to be given in gratitude!! … [Read more...]
Day 3 You know people with thankful hearts. We might not actually think when an individual interacts with us, "Oh, Janie surely has a thankful heart!" But it is that very thing that gives a pleasant countenance and so many other pleasing traits to our friends. These, usually, are the people with whom we enjoy, whatever we're doing. I want a thankful heart. If I want the heart inside my chest to get strong, I need to exercise it. The same is true for a thankful heart. We absolutely must exercise our gratitude muscle, in order to have a thankful … [Read more...]
Day 1 I decided. I'm living in the moment. I'm not thinking about Christmas and all the goodness of the Christmas season. Nope. I'm camped out in Thanksgiving. With that in mind, I decided to narrow my focus as we approach Thanksgiving. Each of these {7 Days of Thanksgiving} posts will have something for your inspiration with that focus. I hope it's just what you need, too. Today I'm loving these words of President Theodore Roosevelt..... A good question to ask ourselves.... What are we doing as an expression of gratefulness for all our … [Read more...]
What do we celebrate on Thanksgiving? When I was a little girl, the front of the church would have a beautiful assembly of pumpkins and squash and corn stalks. Even then, it warmed my heart. We would sing a song about the harvest being gathered in, and it seemed so big, like a great accomplishment. And I would think of the glass canning jars filled with peaches and tomatoes that lined the shelves of the "turntable" in my mother's cupboard....so heavily laden I could hardly make it spin an inch. Harvest....that was what Thanksgiving was about. Everyone gathered together in … [Read more...]
...the sacrifice of family and even life, for liberty of a people and a nation. Thank you! I pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with Liberty and Justice for all. Let freedom ring! Diane To receive bits of inspiration like this in your inbox or reader, subscribe now. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Thanks so much for reading! Please stop by Longaberger … [Read more...]
We all do it. We look for the brightest and prettiest....set them up nicely...maybe we even create a tableau to admire. We don't stop there. We place "ours" alongside. And then we do it. We compare. Comparison. It can be our appearance, our house, our blog, our kids, our art...you name it. Theodore Roosevelt said, "Comparison is the thief of joy." How quickly we spiral downhill. It can almost be a free fall. I found myself there today. It's a ploy of the enemy. And I fell for it. I knew better. I knew what to do. But, I … [Read more...]
