Forward March~

I really can't believe March is nearly here.

Time never went this fast when I was a kid waiting for summer!

A busy little month
~ 
Daylight savings begins on the 10th, I love this time change as we have
more daylight after work.....seems we all get more done.

March  17th, St. Patrick's Day 
I will celebrate in the form attending my Niece Amanda's baby shower.

I am excited for my best pal Ruby Lu to be getting a sister soon!

March 19th is the first day of March Madness

for all the College Basketball fans,

my youngest son generally takes vacation days to watch !

Spring officially begins on March 20th

love, love, love the spring time.

All things new again.

Palm Sunday  is March 24

followed by the beginning of Passover

on March 26th

followed by Good Friday

on March 29th

followed by Easter 

on March 31st.

A day spent with with my sister Deanna's family.
Always a beautiful brunch and great time together.

A time for me to remember that God's Son died on a cross for me,
and rose again.

Thankful for my favorite history book that documents it all,
The Bible
Number one on the bestsellers list still !

   Happy about the month that lies ahead, it's what echo's from my heart today.....
 
  

Weekend of Winners ~

Turns out we're all winners!

Sweet Beans was our Friday evening entertainment....

She found new fun in the back of Pa's truck....

 Watched some cartoons....more.... cartoons...........

 Why, because she wants to.....

Pa brought home flowers for, (me) Khloe....she so loves flowers....

Eggs waiting for the hubstir to make his Eggs Benedict  Sunday Morning...

The Chef/hubstir ....love him.....

Bloody Mary and coffee....perfect!

......and the season begins.....varoooomm!

My guy Dale Jr. comes in second place.

Great time with our friends!

~

Time for us

Private Oscar Party 

Dinner, Filet Mignon, crab legs and rice :-)  Happy me!

.....and the Oscar goes to......

Happy me.....

Thankful me........

Time with the people I love, it's what echos from my heart today.....

What's Going On ~

What's going on this weekend?

Tonight

Tonight we will be watching the sweet beans

Darn it.....NOT! 

Saturday

I hope to do some reading, I started Thirty Rooms to Hide In a couple

months ago and haven't had a chance to pick it up since.  

Hoping to have a relaxing day with the hubstir.... 

he needs it!

Sunday

Lady and Gentlemen, start your engines.

Two of our very special friends will be joining us for the Daytona 500

The hubstir will be making Eggs Benedict for all....he makes the very best!

I'm a Dale Junior fan....I love this sport.

Those of you wondering why? (you know you are) I will share the story

in another post as to how that happened....
I used to roll my eyes at the thought of watching.

Yep....not any more :-)

...and the Oscar goes to ?

The Oscar evening event is big in our home. 

So much so we used to put a sign on our front door stating

 " Oscar Night ~ Private Party, do not disturb ". 

 The hubstir and I have always made a big deal of the night. 
We love movies :-)

We have an extra fancy meal which we enjoy while we are watching 

the stars arrive. 

 I like to see what their wearing, and we give our own thumbs up or down.

Truth be told it's more like, " what were they thinking ", or, " love it " ! 

An old friend emailed me a list of who or what is up for each award category.

Too fun,

 I will mark my guess (based on word of mouth, as we rarely go to movies....we rent) and I 

will mark the winners as announced.  Helps to remember which to rent for sure!

It has been a great week for me, and what's great is,
 it's for no particular reason!
Life is good.
We are so blessed.....

Hoping you all enjoy your weekends !
....it's what echos from my heart today.

Who Needs a Hug?

I'm a huger to be sure.

A hug can mean many things.

A hug is perfect for every occasion.

A hug, what some people wouldn't give for one.

Hard to explain but I can usually tell if someone needs a good hug.

Husband hugs are good when we have shared a blue day,

they don't know what to say...so husbands...insert hug here..

When you can't fix the problem when you have no words,

we just want to be heard and then a good hug will make it better.

Hugs from your children.

Nothing like them, especially if given just to give....no apparent reason.
Hugs from a grandchild
there are no words.

I'm a firm believer husbands and wives should hug daily,
can't think of a reason not too....

When I connect with friends and family
it
begins and ends with hugs all around!

When someone is hurting I nice hug brings such comfort.
It speaks I'm feeling your pain.
It says I'm here for you.
I care.

Sometimes providing a hug to someone is the last thing you would want to do.
They've upset you, hurt you....and after all they never hug you!
In my hugging opinion....all the more reason to give them a hug.
It says no matter what, I love you.
No matter what, you matter to me.
 They say hurting people hurt people....so can you hug
the one that has hurt you,
because they're hurting?
Hug that hardened heart daily and see if it doesn't begin to
soften around the edges....


Happiest day for me thus far into 2013,
the image I will not soon forget of
my Sweet Beans hugging a photo of my Mom....
See, even witnessing a hug can bring comfort :-)


This is why the last thing I say when commenting on  other
 blogs is,
HUGS!

Encouraging you to hug, is what echos from my heart today.

Who's Hungry for More?

Went to feed the ducks at a nearby lake yesterday with my Sweet Beans and her Momma and Daddy.

The ducks weren't much interested in the bread that was being offered.

So after several throws it was clear to

Miss Sweet Beans the ducks weren't eating it.....

and 

she was willing :-)

So this morning while looking at the photos I thought of spiritual food, 

and the many who have never tasted it...

God's Word is our spiritual food.

It is offered to all yet many have never read 

the book of many authors that penned His Inspired Words.

I find it interesting that those who have no interest in the food

He offers,

are the same one's that will pray to Him for help in a time of need.

I've had Bibles as long as I can remember, 

used to look up a verse now and again.

I had never really spent time reading it, 

the best selling history book ever!

It's sad to say I was well into adulthood before I really gave it a good read.

I was surprised that I was very interested and didn't want to stop reading.

It was a "page turner" to be sure.

In reading the instructions God left us, I learned of His character 

and I began to change...

It became a part of my every day... spiritual food offered to me,

 always wanting more.

I was willing to be fed from God's Word

I realized not only how important it was,

but how much fuller my life became...

We can sit on the dock and like the others refuse the bread (of life)

or

we can be willing to partake

and 

be full always.

Why continue to swim around  the same pond 

never really at peace and ignore 

the One food freely given to us.?

God's Word, an ingredient your life's diet is missing.

All the while wondering why you are never really full.

Ask yourself how long you will continue swimming in the same old circle.

Want life to change?

Hoping your hungry ...

The food is available, all you have to do is be willing to be fed.....

~

Thankful I was hungry and willing to be fed.

Full of His peace, is what echos in my heart today.

Friendship the Part of the Family We Chose ~

Dinner Group

This is our Dinner Group

There are five couples, counting the Hubstir and myself..

The four women and myself started working together approximately

15 to 16 years ago.

 One night we met for dinner and decieded it would be a good idea 

to meet every other month for dinner, taking turns hosting.

Our spouses have also become friends over the years which has been awesome to watch.

~

We have been through, marriages, divorce, deaths, births, illness, struggles and celebrations.

The highs and the lows.
These women love me even when I mess up....and I have.

We know all the "stuff" each has dealt with and are currently dealing with.

We are very much a family of friends.

I can't imagine not having them in my life

and

 I'm so thankful for each one of them.

Like all of my friendships, I value each of them.
Once I call you friend,
you are always my friend.

In church this morning we are discussing relationships...
one of the key verses;

"Friends love through all kinds of weather, 
and families stick together in all kinds of trouble."
Proverbs 17:17

No matter what,
I am here for my friends.
~

I know when I need someone

they will show up.....

Friendship, the real thing always , it's what echos from my heart today....

Valentine, Mine ~

My Valentine's ~

I have never been really big on Valentine's Day...

for no particular reason.

As with most special occassion/holidays

Give me a thoughtful card and call me happy!!

oh, and I am happy!!
~

It actually started with a card I received yesterday from a thoughtful friend.

Extra special because she made it.

Over the top because of what was written inside, 

I'm sharing it because it's the highest compliment I have ever been given!

I'm so thrilled that my faith is seen in action by another,

an that she knows my heart is Christ in me......

Thanks sweet Holly !!

~

Out to the kitchen this morning to find Buster had left me a beautiful card.

I love that he included my blog line...he knows what it means to me :-)

I love this man.....

~

Speaking of love....

The Sweet Beans and her Momma arrived next.

This is the gift Beans and I made for her Momma and Daddy....

The Sweet Beans loves frogs so he was waiting for her this morning.

Her Elmo card came with Elmo stickers...poor frog.

~

 Khloe a.k.a. Sweet Beans brought me this " for taking such good care of her",
she is unaware it's her taking care of me :-)
I love little fat birds and Khloe!

 ~

We promised to send her Momma a photo so she could see her in her
Valentine attire ....

She felt she needed a matching hand bag :-)

Now back to getting some reading done.

It's a love story......

Hoping you have a day of giving and receiving love, it's what echos from my heart today......