Finding Grace: Maurice

 Sometimes we find God's grace in the most unusual circumstances. Enter Maurice. When we were in the beginning stages of care giving for my parents we used to go to their favorite diner after church on Sundays. Around 2011 we were sitting in their favorite booth. In walked a tall, suited gentleman who was/is the spitting image of Morgan Freeman the actor. He walked up to the table and shook our hands. My parents were acquainted with him and my husband and I were almost sure he was a preacher. We found out he lived in the same neighborhood as we did. My husband later saved his life once ( another story for another time).

Fast forward to May 2022. Life has been complicated and sometimes arduous, most especially with the advent of  the issues in our current world. God has been giving me that scripture " I will never leave thee nor forsake thee (Hebrews 13:5) It is a running theme and I could not seem to escape it. Well, I didn't want to escape from such a quote worthy verse, I wanted to fully ingest it, eat it up, believe it until it was truly part of me. My faith was waning a bit (a LOT) and I was weary. I needed a haircut, which is my therapy. Is it yours? Out of the blue my hairdresser called (she's never done that before) and said didn't I think I ought to get a haircut before I started chopping on it myself. I told her "Too late" but I would love to come in.

The hairdresser is on the other side of town. A huge drive with many perilous pitfalls. Remember, I am a small town girl living in a city that has outgrown the name: Small Town. My husband drove me to the appointment, and we decided afterward to visit our old neighborhood. 

We drove past Maurice's house which is at the entrance of the neighborhood. Yep, there was his old Lincoln, a car past its time, but forever in his heart with its associations to his deceased wife. We drove around the whole neighborhood and made the full circle. On our way out we neared Maurice's house. We noticed the garage door was open. As we approached, there sat Maurice looking just like he did all those years ago. My husband stopped the truck and got out to greet him. Maurice, ever the gentleman, came up to our truck. I opened the door and he took my hand. The first words out of his mouth were "Isn't God good! He will never leave thee nor forsake thee". Then he said he had just turned 89 on April 29, and while he had a few health issues he was doing well, and America was still the greatest place on the earth to live! We made our small talk and ended with promises to visit him soon.

We barely got back on the road when my eyes started leaking salty tears. In one day God reminded me that He is indeed good and will never leave me or forsake me.

God has been urging me to write again. So here I am. I just wanted to tell you that it doesn't matter if you live in a mansion or reside in your car, God will never leave you or forsake you. It's in His Book, and He never lies. 

So this is the finding grace part of my little Finding Grace, Going Mobile blog. I hope to write again soon now that I am semi-retired. 

Remember, God is Good, All the Time.

Take care,

Theresa

May The Force Be With You, Too

I think it is definitely time for a new blog post. I've been absent (ahem)  three years. My world has been filled with a job, and I just got lost in the shuffle of working. God has blessed the dear husband and I. That being said, I apologize, and will try to do better with God's help. I am the bookkeeper for a Landscape Contractor. Her name is Olga and she is the original energizer bunny.

 I have found a new old love of gardening. The "gardening force" is strong in my family. Perhaps, with the help of my trusty little camera I can show you some of the fruits of my labor. Oh, and my boss is generous with discounts, lol. My patio garden is becoming my place for prayer and solitude, work and play. It is also a bird sanctuary of sorts (tell you about that later).

Last year I grew caladiums in pots. I purchased a ten pound bargain box from www.caladiumbulbs4less.com . It was a bargain for sure. The bulbs were big and healthy. The variety in size and color of the plants caused me to love caladiums even more. This year I am ordering some specific bulbs to go with my assortment from last year. They were oh so easy to grow, and were pest and disease free (bonus round).



This variety is called "Gingerland", my personal favorite.

The mobile home is still meeting our needs ( my dh misses his garage though).  I added some touches of red to the living room to give it a pep up!

 

 

Oh, here's a little something God shared with me the other day. I was praying to forgive someone, and God impressed on me how much he loves each one of us (warts and all). I was fairly overcome with His tenderness and compassion. I hope I can get into His footsteps and love one and all.

 

I'm so glad to be back.

 

Take a little time for yourself this week. You deserve it!

 

God Bless You,

Theresa

Surround Yourself With Beauty

I have a theory! Well, anyone who knows me will tell you I always have a theory about something or other. Anyway, the theory is this: If the world was surrounded by beauty (earthly and spiritual) we would act better, be calmer, even, treat each other with more kindness. Kind of like music having charms to soothe the savage beast.

A painting by Kathryn Winter, my mother-in-law.

What if every child walked into a clean, kept yard, then proceeded into a tidy house filled with objects of beauty. Now being a Christian I can't leave out the Holy Spirit, for He is a spirit of beauty and peace. If we fill our homes with God's spirit, and have objects of beauty that's got to have some effect right?

Waiting for my alyssum to grow in around my rocks
 

If I was in a beauty contest (yeah,right!) and they asked me the age old question, "If God granted you one wish what would it be?". I would answer, "A beautiful home for every child, filled with love and laughter, and the spirit of God.

My dianthus are starting to grow around the rocks

You notice I didn't say what size, or mention expensive at all because that is just not important.

I hope you all have sanctuaries. Here's the definition of a sanctuary:

sanc.tu.ar.y

noun

1. a place of refuge or safety.

sentence: "people automatically sought a sanctuary in time of trouble"

 

My geese from England on an Irish Chain quilt I made
 

I hope you all had glorious Easter celebrations. Isn't it wonderful to know our Saviour is risen, and is with us, not in some old musty tomb!

 

What if we all prepare our homes like Jesus is preparing a place for us? A thing of beauty I think!

 

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I  am, there ye may be also. John 14:3

 

Have a wonderful week, and say a little prayer for our country, I think she needs it about now.

 

Blessings, Theresa

 

 

 

 

Finding Grace, Trying Craft Fair

I have been so busy these past months getting ready for a Craft Fair in May at my cousin Sweetpea's church. I have a few pics to share with you. I am overjoyed that I can still craft after all these years of collecting supplies and never using them, lol. 

Dishcloths, and Trivets, and Hankie Folios, and Notepads, and Potholders and a Crocheted Marketbag, Oh My!

Mobley is evolving into a comfortable home for my husband and I. The finances are sparse, but the willingness to use what we have is there. God is teaching us so much!


Mary Englebreit Said It Right! It's Good To Be Queen!

God is amazing. His ideas are limitless, His love immense. We saved just the right pieces, and they enhance our home and yard. We still have much work to do on the interior, but cozy and comfortable seem to be our watchwords!


My Dear Mother's Hutch Comes Alive In Mobley's Living Room

Here are some more pictures of my craft fair goodies. I am so happy to be using my hands to craft and my head to create, lol....



We are meeting so many nice people in our little "senior" community. Our lovely neighbors gave us a pink geranium and some fescue sod they had left over from their landscape projects. As I look out my kitchen window at their yard I feel as if I am at the beach in Morro Bay, California. Roses and geraniums abound. Lavender and citrus trees, and a little gravel path ending in a wood landing with rustic wooden steps. I call it my beach path.  They have a lovely fountain on their patio that makes me hunger for the day that ours is ready and working. 

I have so many surprises to share in the coming weeks. I am alive with anticipation. Here's a little picture of my coffee table. It's really not for Easter, as I have my Country Rose's Bunnies out all year long. My husband loves the bunnies, too, but don't tell him I let his secret out.

I hope your day is filled with God's love and warmth. Say a little prayer for our country today if you would.

Wishing you blessings, Theresa





Conquering The Kitchen

I was interested in the word "kitchen". So, being me, I googled it. It comes from the Latin "coquere" , which means "to cook". Then it got all mangled and we ended up with the word "kitchen" in English. Well, the Latin word "coquere" is really close to the word "conquer" if you ask me. And that is what we had to do in Mobley. Conquer the Kitchen!

Here are some before and after pictures. Now, remember we are working on a zero budget, and I wouldn't call myself a big d.i.y. girl, rather a Queen of Camouflage.

We spent a total of $300.00 dollars in the kitchen, ahem, the majority of our decorating budget for the entire house. The lion's share went for the range hood and backsplash. The rest went to paint. Paint, I might add, is no longer $6.99 a gallon for the good stuff, lol...Oh yes, $15.00 for cabinet pulls

The old range hood with rotten backsplash removed

New range hood in pretty stainless steel

Old backsplash, yep, linoleum falling off the wall, gross.

 

 

New backsplash, lovely ceiling tin tiles with a quaint fleur-de-lis pattern

The wall phone cord was heavily painted to the wall, yikes.

 

 

Cupboard in front of newly patched and painted wall in soothing white

 

 

Old cupboard in front of bilious yellow wall

 

 

I used a poster to cover the doors, and painted the cupboard white to blend into the new wall to make this little kitchen o' mine look bigger. Plus this cupboard holds most of my small appliances. Woot!

 

We had to move the kitchen cabinet up three inches to accommodate our refrigerator, so I camouflaged it with a big basket (holding cookie cutters and muffin liners) and a lovely old bowl filled with geraniums. It really brightens the kitchen, I love flowers.

I had some pretty Waverly fabric from the 1980's called "Geranium Leaves" (I think), so I sewed up a little 26" doubled sided curtain. This way I get a lot of light in the kitchen, and the neighbor gets to see my lovely fabric. Aren't I nice? Yes, yes, I am.

 

Here is Mr. Mobley, my d.h., preparing the cabinets to be removed. You can't tell but this yellow the kitchen was painted  was hideous, bilious yellow, (ie bile, ick). The original white fridge, and the awful hideous backsplash and filthy range hood that came with Mobley......

 

 

Now it is our neat sweet calming white kitchen, with our lovely new backsplash and range hood. Oh yes, we had to put on new drawer handles to hide the holes in the cabinets where the others had bored through. We renovated, well maybe camouflaged, this kitchen for $300.00 dollars. We used our old appliances. The kitchen cupboard was a piece I earned painting wooden bunny plaques in the 1980's.. Egads! I left a tissue box in the photo, a sign of the weather, lol......

I wish you could all come and see Mobley in person. She is quite a lady, well seasoned, a trifle mature, and full of God's spirit.

Blessings to all, Theresa

 

Life Is For Living

We are settling in. Truly, settling in. Mobley is now at the forefront of all our busy industry. We have accomplished much in a short time. However, it was just a short time ago that I heard God whisper.

I never called it a whisper until I started reading "My Heart's Song". If you never met Geneva or read her blog I encourage you to go there. Do not stop, do not pass go, she is worthy of your attention. The address is http://www.my-hearts-song.com/ (click it, lol). When she embarked upon her journey of mobile home makeover/renovation, God had to whisper to her.

My whisper (a big one) came after mom passed away in March. "Life is for living", God said. I pondered this and realized I had put off life. I wanted all the planets aligned before I would act. I dreamed big, and filed those dreams in the big filing system in my head.  I was paralyzed with the "what ifs", and the "I can't's, let's include the "I won'ts", too. Succeeding is truly more terrifying  than doing nothing at all, or doing things but burying them in the ground.

I am taking baby steps, but I am determined not to be a "man" pleaser anymore. If you don't like my blog, you are welcome to leave. If you don't like mobile homes, you are welcome to leave. If my style is not your style, I pretty sure some other blogger has your style down to a tee. It's all about living!

But, if you are prepared to put up with my ramblings, dip your toe in my paint palette, and have some fun, let's go! God, Himself, whispered to me, "LIFE IS FOR LIVING".

 I welcome your comments, and any help or guidance you are prepared to offer.

I have decided to have a little friend help me. Her name is Bitsy. She will pop up in photos and may even host the blog occasionally. She's definitely more fun than I and has retained her childlike spirit. She is likely to belt out a song at any given moment. "The B-I-B-L-E, Oh, that's the book for me", is definitely her favorite song.

Here are some pictures of Bitsy. As usual, she's up to some antics. I think I will start next with some pictures of the kitchen, as that is the heart of the home.

Bitsy is always a little shy at first.

But after she get's to know you,

 

She will talk and talk and talk, that's our Bitsy.

A big beautiful bunch of bountiful blessings to you, Theresa

And Then There Were None....But

I never thought I'd use Mobley's blog for any type of catharsis. But, here I am, writing about another sad occasion in a series of sorrowful events.
 

My mother, best of all mother's, passed away in March of 2013 after 19 days of gut wrenching pain and suffering.
 

 Father decided he would join mother, and made his final journey in August of 2013.
 

I was heart broken, heart stricken, heart sick, and tired of all the seemingly endless suffering. There were bright spots along the way. Bright enough to show us the way, (thank you to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ).
 

One shining ray of light was my Aunt Margaret. Aunt Margaret had four children, and they had nine children, and on and on. Needless to say there are a ton of  Gannons and half Gannons, a close crowd who kept Aunt Margaret young.
 

They dragged her thither and yon. They played cards each Sunday and ate a family meal. They celebrated every holiday with all the accompanying traditions and merriment. They had their share of problems as do all "normal" families, and a giant heaping helping of love to sustain them in hard times.
 

Aunt Margaret was young for her years, and my last connection to mom and dad's generation. We, my family, loved her and teased her mercilessly. She was a good sport, and held her own when it came to verbal sparring.
 

Then we received the news (right after dad passed away). Aunt Margaret had stage 4 lung cancer that had metastasized to her brain and lymph nodes. My cousin, Miss Sweetpea Pittypat, who lives in "Graceland" across the street, was devastated, along with her three siblings and the whole Gannon clan.
 

How could this be? Aunt Margaret was supposed to last. She was more spry, more alive than most 40 year olds. My grandmother lived to 92, and we thought Aunt Margaret would surpass her for sure!

How do you stuff the rest of your life into a prognosis of six short months?
 

How do you tell someone goodbye? Someone who just told her only living brother goodbye? You don't.... You pray, you believe, you encourage, you beg, you plead, and then you look death in the face yet again.
 

I remember the last time I saw Aunt Margaret alive, really alive. I had taken lunch over for Aunt Margaret and Sweetpea Pittypat. They were playing cards in the backyard patio. At one point during the game Aunt Margaret looked up from her cards and said, "I'm gonna beat this." I agreed, "Yes, you are".
 

The next Wednesday, after a call to come, I stood at her bedside as she breathed her last breath. She went in serenity and peace to her new home.

I just want to use this opportunity to say, "You did beat it Aunt Margaret. You beat all the pain and suffering that cancer bestows upon the bearer. You triumphed over that evil disease, I love you!
 

Aunt Margaret passed on September 25, 2013, less than a month after my father, her brother.

And then there were none........but....

But. I love the word "but". It changes the outcome of so many situations.
 

But, as I look upon her family I see Aunt Margaret in so many ways. Her smile, her quick wit, her generosity, her love of life. Yep, Aunt Margaret lives on through children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.
 

But, nobody does you quite like you Aunt Margaret.
 

 

Aunt Margaret and Papa in 1935 at ages 3 and 5

Sweet "little rascals"

 

Here is a Scottish blessing for Aunt Margaret, as she was so proud of her Scottish heritage (Clan McClain).

..May the road rise up to meet you.

 May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face;

 the rains fall soft upon your fields

and until we meet again,

 may God hold you in the palm of His hand.

Blessings, Theresa