SALUTE TO SINGLE MOMS

Hats off to all the single moms out there!!!

I think of you often

and pray for His strength

to help you through your days.

I pray for His comfort

when your times get hard.

I pray for His peace

when your world encounters chaos.

I pray for His words

to speak life into 

every part of your being...

to help turn your mess

into His message!

Please know...

you are an inspiration to all those around....

especially the little ones whose

world you surround.

This is a salute to 

you

and all that you do!

YOU

ARE

LOVED!

SICK PUPPIES...

Josephine's

been tendin' to some

sick lil pups

in her sweet homey nest!!!

Please pray for their healing

and all the rest!!!

Will be back bloggin'

when they r

feelin' their best...

Image from Sodahead.com

PULLED PORK IN A SLOW COOKER!

Just discovered why so many cooks at home
are lining up to tryout Pioneer Woman's fixen's.
In the bookstore, I ran across her cookbook
and could almost taste what was being cooked
in the book!

Saving the family favorite recipe's
to the blog seems to soothe my soul.  
I'm hoping that after my little one's fly the coop
 and start their own nest... 
they will be able to go to Josephine's Vittles to find their favorite recipe's with pics right at their fingertips. 

This one is definitely a quadruple keeper!!!


It was cooked in a slow cooker for 8 hours 
and served smothered in it's tasty gravy 
with fresh lime juice and sliced avocado's.


Unbelievably delish!!!

Please do not consider 

Cochon's shoulder

for this dish...

RECIPE ... CLICK HERE!

ROOTS N FRUITS

3' x 4'

$ 500

This is a piece based on "What's in the Root produces the Fruit".... which is written along the side of the canvas.  Their are 12 roots leading to 12 limbs.  Very simple and peaceful to ponder.  I have it in my bedroom until it finds its future home.

THE DEFINITION OF HAPPINESS...

Success

is getting what you want,

happiness

is wanting what you get.

Dave Gardner

FAMILY IN NEED

This is a follow up to the previous blog...
BROWN SUGAR
to help a family in need.
Click HERE
if you would like to catch up to speed...


There are 11 empty boxes waiting to be filled...

Please don't feel like you have to help everyone...

It can be overwhelming when we look at the whole picture...

but if you see a box that you can add to that would bless one or more...

please let me know!

The first box is for 
PRAYER...
The father most of all needs your prayers
to help him through the grief he is going through.


The 2nd box is for 
FOOD...
canned goods,
easy cook boxed meals,
drinks, etc...


The 3rd box is for 
HOME...
blankets, books, first aid, etc...
A little bird told me
that their fridge has been on the brink...
so possibly a refrigerator!

NEHEMIAH

13 years old

pants.... size 0

shirt.... medium

shoe...7.5

JEREMIAH

12 years old

pants...29/30

shirt... adult large

shoe...9

AMARIAH

11 years old

pants...12

shirt...girls small

shoe...4.5

HEZAKIAH

9 years old

pants...boys tall 8

shirt... med/large

shoe...4

KENANIAH

7 years old

pants...boys 7

shirt... medium

shoe...2.5

ZEPHANIAH

6 years old

pants... boys 7

shirt... medium

shoe...2

NEARIAH

5 years old

pants...girls 6x

shirt...7

shoe... 11

JEDIDIAH

2 years old

pants...2 or 3 T

shirt... 2 or 3 T

shoe...boys 7

Every little bit will help this family...

hand me down clothes, books, toys, blankets, food, 

money 

and most of all 

prayers! 

Let's help this family through this difficult time...
You can call or contact me above.

I pray that we all pray

for a healing in this sweet man's heart

break down the walls of grief

that are hindering him from receiving the love that is waiting for him on the other side.

Each box will be delivered anonymously.

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means 

caring for orphans and widows in their distress 

and refusing to let the world corrupt you."

James 1:27

GRANDMA BELL

9/17/1914-1/16/2008

About 10 years ago...

while driving down the road....

I heard the Lord's voice in a whisper say...

"You will be writing your Grandma's eulogy. 

Now Grandma Bell was still filled with life....

and me...

being of a rebellious nature with a touch of stage fright,

I immediately dismissed the conversation and went on my merry way of pursuing 'my' own will.

8 years later, 
while hanging artwork for my very 1st art show, 
the news came that my sweet Grandma had passed.

Along with 11 children and too many grandchildren and great grandchildren to count, 
she truly made me feel special.

There is a 99.9% chance that Grandma Bell 
is the one responsible for praying me into the
 Kingdom of God.

Her sweet faith and simple words spoke volumes to a
 wayward natured child like me who was a little too curious about the world around.

When I learned of her passing,

the fingers met the keyboard and 15 minutes later,
 this came out:

Montrose Rose

Mud pies and Lily paths

Hot days and rainy baths

Imagination plays for days

Relaxing in a Sunday haze

Smells of dirt between my toes

Wandering through her fresh crop rows

Smiling lips and peace-filled eyes

She had no fear of her demise.

Hazel is the one that sees

Her maker's hand for her to be.

This summer my husband gave me a beautiful new bible to replace my old one that was literally falling apart.  I had grown so attached to its insides with all of the special notes and memories coinciding with special verses.  From Revelations to the Index, Armageddon had hit.  The pages were ever so uncleverly tucked into the back of the book.  My husband was right, we couldn't keep spreading the Gospel, literally, with trails of my Bible paths.  So, now it sits in a special place at home for only my eyes to see.  When Grandma passed,  I had to look back at one of the wonderful memories of writing her name next to one of those special passages.... Proverbs 31.  How neat it was to know someone that could give me a living vision of what this passage meant in today's terms.  If you have the chance to read or reread this Proverb, please do.

One of my favorite parts in this proverb is how she clothes her household in scarlet.  How true that is! Grandma Bell is one of our many reasons that we have been prayed into His Kingdom.  She bathed all 11 children in the blood of the lamb and I am so thankful for her example and dedication to our Savior.  I love how Grandma was one that didn't have to speak loudly of her maker.... she just emanated His glory.  There is a picture of her in her garden of lilies that reminds me of His glory in her.  Now,  I know she is truly basking in His presence.  

One of my favorite memories is how she would wander through her garden, set aside chosen lilies and give them a special name.  This memory has played a tremendous role  in understanding His love for us and the special tender loving care He gives to each of His children.  He has now called her by name to come into His garden filled with His presence.  She is now, one of his heavenly lilies.  She now knows who she is, where she is, and what her purpose is.  Spiritually speaking, I have found myself many times not knowing any of these answers.  

Out of curiosity, I looked up Grandma's name to see what it meant in the Hebrew language... God has such a sense of humor... the first definition was "a nut-bearing tree".   Well, I can vouch for that as a genuine "grandnut" aka "a Bell".  After digging deeper, not satisfied with the first meaning, I found HAZEL means "one who sees God."  What a wonderful summary of her long life that continues on. 

She is a great example to me and always will be.  I am happy to say Hazel Bell is my grandma and I look forward to seeing her in a Kingdom void of sadness, pain and death.  She is one of my earth heroes.  Just wanted to share with you a few thoughts of her and hope it helps bring joy to your heart during this time of fellowship.  Hope to see you at her funeral.

With His Love,

Kim 

After reading what was written in literally 'Godspeed',

 the words of the Lord spoke again... 

reminding me that this would be her eulogy.

Now, 

I knew that God must be mistaken 

because my vocal cords were stricken by a severe case of laryngitis..... 

I could barely get out the volume of a whisper to be heard.

In an effort of paying tribute to Grandma, I faxed it to my Uncle Earl, since he is so good at distributing the information to everyone.  Did not hear from anyone and hadn't really seen my extended family in quite some time.  My hubby and I made the long and cold snowy drive up to Arkansas to celebrate the life of my sweet Grandma Bell.  Unfortunately, we came in a little late to the service and sat down.  The church pews were filled with the Love of everyone she had touched in their lives.  Just as we sat down, my Uncle Charles who is a minister,
began the eulogy with these words...
MONTROSE ROSE...
and continued to read the rest of my tribute to Grandma Bell.

I am so thankful to God.... 
for being so faithful to speak through someone like me.... 
someone who lacks faith a lot of the time to do His will.... 
 I am thankful that He works in mysterious ways to get His messages across..... 
I am thankful that when things seem impossible,  
God makes it possible.

9/17/1914-1/16/2008

I am thankful for my Grandma Bell 
whose simple faith plowed through the soil of a hardened world
 just to plant a seed for someone like me.

BROWN SUGAR

Today,

the truck pulled over  

just to take a wintry snapshot 

of this leftover sugar cane field .

A quick little messenger ran across my brain 

towing its banner behind....

"This one will be titled Brown Sugar..."

Brown and still struggling to survive 

in temperatures way colder 

than it was made to thrive.

It makes me think of Millet's famous painting...

Gleaners 1857 

of the peasants picking through the reaper's leftovers

in order to sustain their lives.

to glean: to gather leftover grain or produce 

after the harvest

It also makes me think of living in the bible days.

Back then,

gleaning was a household term 

to insure that all were fed.

Even 2000 years ago...

God created a plan

to care for those in need.

When you reap the harvest of your land, 

do not reap to the very edges of your field 

or gather the gleanings of your harvest.

Leviticus 19:9

The farmer would reap his harvest leaving behind the missed grain for the poor and the needy.

Let me go to the fields and pick up the leftover grain.

Ruth 2:2

This crop of brown sugar left behind

in the cold

has most of all triggered 

an urgency in my heart to help 

a sweet family that lost there mom and wife

just before Christmas.

Just like you,

I have never met this family

but 

I can only imagine how the father must feel

trying to take his wife's role as a mother

to their 8 children that were left behind.

I can only imagine

how the children must feel

standing in the field

and waiting for her warmth to return.

So if anyone is moved to glean

their closets for clothes,

their pockets for coins,

their house for hominess,

and their time for prayers....

please contact me

and I will let you know how to 

send some of your love and warmth their way.

So far the only information that has been shared

 is that the children's ages

range from 12 years to 12 months of age.  

The mom was very young and passed away while giving birth to their 9th child.  

She had an overabundance of love to give and worked as a home aid to assist families with children who have special needs.

More information will follow if interest is revealed to  helping this family.

Let's continue to add some 

sugar with a touch of molasses 

to the lives of those in need!!!

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means 

caring for orphans and widows in their distress 

and refusing to let the world corrupt you."

James 1:27