Don't Get Soggy

You have to face your fears or else you'll get soggy.  

Katherine Hepburn

Katherine Hepburn

Ruffle Your Nest

The Ruffled Nest 

August 22-24

Come & Enjoy

 I was at my sister Sherrie's house last week 

and we stopped by

 The Nest

 because I needed a Nest fix.

I love going into her and Rachel's little shop.

The Ruffled Nest had been busy 

over the last month 

and Sherrie said that

it was not at all in order.

You know what?

I don't care.

I Love It!

 The Ruffled Nest will, God willing, soon become

Urban Grace

Sherrie and Rachel will have a new and bigger space

for all of their goodies.

They will also be open five days a week 

when the new shop opens.

 If you are in the DeKalb / Sycamore / Chicago area 

make sure that you take the time to stop by

The Ruffled Nest.

It is locate one hour west of Chicago.

It's time to Nest.

A Simple Rule

"The rule for all of us is perfectly simple. 

Do not waste time bothering whether you ‘love’ your neighbour; act as if you did. 

As soon as we do this we find one of the great secrets. 

When you are behaving as if you loved someone,

 you will presently come to love him. 

If you injure someone you dislike,

 you will find yourself disliking him more. 

If you do him a good turn, you will find yourself disliking him less.

 There is, indeed, one exception.

 If you do him a good turn, not to please God and obey the law of charity, but to show him what a fine forgiving chap you are, and to put him in your debt, and then sit down to wait for his ‘gratitude’, you will probably be disappointed.

 (People are not fools: they have a very quick eye for anything like showing off, or patronage.) 

But whenever we do good to another self, just because it is a self, made (like us) by God, and desiring its own happiness as we desire ours, we shall have learned to love it a little more or, at least, to dislike it less."

From Mere Christianit

Compiled in A Year with C.S. Lewis

       I sure have learned this lesson over the last several years.

 Humbling.      

                      

                           Much Love,

                          Joyce

Silver Linings

God always provides silver linings.

:)

Once Again...

Hello 

(Sherrie's on the left)
I don't know if any of you remember that several years ago my sister, Sherrie, from The Ruffled Nest, was diagnosed with a cancer called Leiomyosarcoma.

 For two and a half years she has had "clear" scans, but in April an MRI showed something suspicious and a PET scan confirmed that the cancer was back.  :( 

So, Sherrie had surgery and is now in chemo again. After chemo she will do 4-6 weeks of radiation.

I have been writing Caringbridge journal entries for her. You can find her right here-

Caringbridge. 

You can sign up on the site if you would like to receive text or email updates.

So, today, her and I are at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago for her 3-day inpatient chemo.

Just thought that I would do a quick update. 

 We have beautiful views from her room.

We are in the brand new "Tower".

Such a treat after staying in the older part

of the hospital after her surgery 

and for her first chemo.

So Much Nicer!

It matters!

Much Love,

Joyce

I Switched Over To Bloglovin

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Truth

So True...

Just Give Hope a Chance...I'm re-posting a favorite.

Bernice Pruitt:

" My dad says that childhood is the
 happiest time of my life.
But, I think he's wrong.
I think my mom's right.
 She says that... "

Birdie Pruitt:

 "Childhood is what you spend the rest of your life trying to overcome. That's what momma always says.

 She says that beginnings are scary, endings are usually sad, but it's the middle that counts the most.

 Try to remember that when you find yourself at a new beginning. Just give hope a chance to float up. And it will, too..."

A quote from one of my ALL time favorite movies-

"Hope Floates"

Is your hope floating?

I Hope That You Have a Happy, Happy Monday!!!

I'm Still Here

I cannot believe that it has been six months since I last wrote. 

                            Well, I'm still here.  

:)

I have not been keeping up with the blog world very well but I do think about you all quite often.

Happy, Happy Springtime!!!

Love,

Joyce

Just Two Words

Once again we heard 

the two most beautiful words possible-

Clear Scans!

My sister, Sherrie, from A Ruffled Nest, 

just had her 2 years scans.

She, and the incredible team at

Rush Medical Center,

 worked like warriors to kill 

all of those awful cancer cells.

And, it worked-

She Is Cancer Free!!!

She is such a blessing to me 

and to all who know and love her.

A very special person who is 

full of fun, talent, love and 

such a godly woman. 

Her faith is an inspiration to all 

who have witnessed her journey

 through that hard and scary time. 

I love her so much and am

 CELEBRATING

 her and her life today!

Much Love,

Joyce


“Many women do noble things,
    but you surpass them all.” 
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
 but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Honor her for all that her hands have done,
    and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Proverbs 31:29-31

Friday Pretties...Happy Trails To You

 Happy Friday Pretties!

This summer has been so hot that I have been

taking bike rides early in the morning 

to get some exercise before the heat sets in.

 Right behind our house is a city bike path

 that goes for miles and miles.

 We have mowed a path from 

our backyard to the path.

It's is curvy and pretty.

It has become a happy, peaceful

 and shady part of the morning.

 I put my phone in the basket and

turn on Pandora's Lite 70's station.

And, yes, if there is no one around,

I sing along.

 It is a great and calming start to my day.

 All I need is a loaf of french bread

and a bouquet of flowers to 

make this picture complete.

 This has been a happy,

 happy part of my summer.

I hope that you all have a Wonderful Friday!

Make sure to visit Sherrie's

Friday Pretties 

Take a look around and make sure you link up.

Love, Joyce

That Insistent Fall Wants Her Way

Even though it has been

 Hot & Humid

 around here,

Fall is beginning to

insist on its way.

I understand the beauty and the draw of Autumn but,

 I can't stop myself from mourning Summer.

I am a hot-weather summer kind of a gal.

Always have been and

 probably always will be.

But, this year, I am going to Fully embrace

the beauty and joy of Fall.

So, I will try not to think about 

the snow and cold that soon follows.

Enjoy everyday because

Everyday is a Blessing

Love, Joyce

Friday Pretties

Happy Friday Pretties!

My husband and I came out of a restaurant the other night and this is what we saw.

So Gorgeous!

God's promise.

I just think that this is pretty.

I will miss the beautiful 

summer blooms!

Go visit Sherrie at
A Ruffled Nest
and link up to Friday Pretties.
Make sure you visit 
the other bloggers that have linked up,
Also, Sherrie is have a sale 
at her studio,
A Ruffled Nest,
this weekend.
If you live in that area
go check it out.
So Many Pretties!!!
Have Fun!

Friday Pretties...Slahes of Color

Happy Friday Pretties!!!

Color makes such a big difference.

A coat of paint can transform 

almost anything from something

dated and worn out to 

something fresh and pretty.

I have had these chairs for about five years.

They are still stable and useable but had seen

much better days in the looks department.

 So, I painted them.

Aaaaaaaah...New Life

This is my new Favorite color.

I am so drawn to it.

It is so fresh and happy.

:-)

I used

 Benjamin Moore 

outdoor paint.

I am so sorry that I can't 

share the color because 

paint has covered it

 on the paint can.

Enjoy your 

summer weekend 

and make sure that you

 hop over to Sherrie's

Friday Pretties 

&

Join The Fun!

Much Love,

Joyce

Pretty

Is There Anything Prettier...

Have a wonderful weekend!

Joyce

Friday Pretties

Friday Pretties!

(My Pretty Niece, Allie)

Some Pretties need no explanation... 

Enjoy your Friday and

make sure you hop over to

A Ruffled Nest

for more 

Pretties.

Link up and join the party!

Everyday Father's Day

Father's Day...

It isn't just once a year-

It is day after day...

A man who chooses to invest 

his time and energy into the

provision, protection, care and love

of his family.

My husband was honored in this area 

and we are all so proud of him.

There are choices that each one of us make 

everyday that impact not only our children's live,

but generations to come.

The best part is-

if you make a mistake.

say that you are sorry, 

and do better next time.

Dads Matter.

Do they know that?

Maybe not all of them,

but they do! 

Encourage your husband

 or father today.

God Bless,

                  Joyce