Saturday Graces

Graces . . . things that I do not deserve, but that He has seen fit to give to me. These are joys here on a hot and steamy August Saturday.

~ This sweet boy spent the night here last night. His first ever sleepover! 

We had so much fun . . . pizza, taffy, An American Tail, staying up way past his bedtime, looking at his baby pictures, sleeping in the guest room, donuts for breakfast, puzzles, Tarzan, reading a big stack of books with Gran. 

~ The new guest room. 

Since we have a special room now, we are inviting each one of the grandchildren for their own sleepover. The four grands who are my son's children have had their turns; now we'll start with my daughter's children. It warms my heart to overhear the children planning their special night . . . what carryout meal they will choose, what game they will play or movie they will watch, what candy they will request. Part of the fun is the anticipation, don't you think?

We love having a room for guests! (And we love our guests!) 

~ Cupcakes in the kitchen, 

in preparation for the Big Birthday Bash that we're having tomorrow. We're celebrating TWELVE birthdays tomorrow, people . . . all summer birthdays! So. Many. Birthdays.

We ride the Birthday Train all summer long, but tomorrow we will celebrate all together. I can't wait! 

~ This limelight hydrangea, 

planted on a corner so that we can see it from the kitchen window, 

from the sun room, 

and from the living room.

 So many luscious blooms! 

~ Special days spent with my girl this week. 

During the first part of the summer, we were planning her graduation ceremony (more on that soon), and then recovering and regrouping after all of the BIG changes. In the middle of the summer, we both helped with our church's VBS. 

After that, we panicked! Summer is half over and we haven't done anything on our just-for-fun list!

So we've been having fun. Trying to do All. The. Things. Antique shopping, snow cones, water park, rolled ice cream, a summer movie, crabby fries, lunch with friends. (Not all of it this week, of course, but we did pack a lot into this week!)

~ Grace for the day. 

There have been deep and thoughtful conversations here this week. Thinking ahead, planning for the future. And yet there is so much about the future that we simply do not know. I am so grateful that He does know and that He has promised to be with us. We rely on His grace . . . that amazing grace . . . one day at a time. 


~ This quote.
When I came across this quote, it went right straight to my heart. What truth!

"But God is the God of the waves and the billows, and they are still His when they come over us; and again and again we have proved that the overwhelming thing does not overwhelm. Once more by His interposition deliverance came. We were cast down, but not destroyed." ~ Amy Carmichael

Ponder that . . . 

What are some graces in your world today?