Today I was reminded

After viewing my friend Lea's blog I was reminded of a big lesson.

To everything there is a season. Everything Has Its Time according to Gods purpose for our lives Thank you Lord for reminding me that in EVERYTHING I choose obedience and YOU!!!!!!

To everything there is a season,
A time for every purpose under heaven:
Ecclesiastes 3:1 NKJV

Happy Birthday Maggie Maybelle Keeler

Maggie is now an official two year old, or in dog years a teenager!!!
She has been such a precious gift from the Lord. Keeping me active, loved, well humored (is that a word?), alerted to whatever comes in yard or house. My brave centipede hunter, devoted friend. Happy Birthday Doodle Bug. So grateful for your little strong energetic life.
She is happy, because she got a birthday burger and her own dragonfly doodle bug toy!!!!!

My Hope is in the name of the Lord

My Father

He is my Father
His Banner over me is love
He is Father to the Fatherless
He is worthy to be praised
Happy Father's Day

Hey Hey Hey First day of may!!

May has come.
One of my favorite Months on Kauai
The female shama Bird laid four eggs in her favorite basket by my kitchen door :-)
I am so thankful for her gift, and we learn to go in and out of our front door :-)
The first day in May reminds me of my daddy calling his friends, and saying his "hey hey hey First Day of May song"
The Heliconia's are in full bloom, and passion flower's are starting to come out on the vines, which means fruits in a month or so.
Grateful for the slow turn of the seasons,
being able to plant red and white tunies
taking my Maggie for romps and giggling at how her back end gets ahead of her front end, like a frisky billy goat.
It is a season to get serious about my choices of how I feed my body, to rest, work hard, and soak in all God is doing inside of me.
Appreciating my family, learning to do it from afar, and being thankful
Thank FULL for the strong women in my life who love the Lord fiercely and are not afraid to live out their full gifting.
God brings about new seasons, of healing, growth, forgiveness, joy and abundance. And it humbles me

He has Risen!

Stricken, Smitten & Afflicted

Oh my heart and soul bows down to such loving obedience to God

Abiding

A friend recently shared this word with me and I have not been able to get it out of my head and heart.  the word is ABIDING. Websters defines abiding as"continuing without change; enduring; steadfast"  
In John 8:31-32 we are told  "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. ³² And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”  what an amazing promise.
Psalm 91:1
"He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty."

My whole heart yearns for this abiding, dwelling in Gods word and in his secret place.

Stretching

Learning new things (like how to paint folk art faces as in the painting above), stretching, growing, improving, listening.  Listening to where God is leading me

And the rains came down

So grateful for Gods hand and protection, through all the water we had the last four days. over three feet of water, in that short time came down. it came through the property as whitewater. It is incredible, magnificent, and humbling to sit back and watch the forceful destruction and power that this much water has. During the storm, I was thinking what the people in Moses day were thinking as the rains continued. Well I was claiming all of Gods promises as the storm raged on, and in the end His peace, protection, and promise wins out once again

A Road to Grace

In my readings this morning I came across what is titled an Irish wedding blessing (below). There were no notes that said who wrote it or where it came from, but the sentiments really touched my heart, and reminded me of how we need to be in service and grace to one another no matter WHERE the road leads us, or WHAT is in that road. Not always an easy road to walk, but I do have an assurance according to Gods word that it is one of his paths for us to take.

"May the good Lord embrace you with HIS arms that have nurtured you the whole length of your joy-filled days. May our gracious God hold you in the palm of His hands. And, today, may the Spirit of Love find a dwelling place in your hearts. Amen


“So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified." Act 20:32

A few of my favorite things

Cavelry
A loving Devoted partner/husband
Every one needs their own Cuddle bug
Old Friends, and new friends. How's this for a back yard?
A sweet sunset spot for me and my beloved
little nighttime surprises
My sweet RubyDo, I am so blessed to be this little ones cookie momma. Miss my sweet girl

This looks so yummy

1 16 oz jar almond butter
1/4 cup carob powder(or cocoa powder)
1/2 cup plus 2 Tbsp maple syrup
1 heaping Tbsp coconut butter
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp sea salt

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients
and stir well until smooth.
Line a square baking pan with
plastic wrap.  Spread mixture
evenly and cover with wrap,
pressing to flatten.  Place
in the freezer to chill
for an hour or so, then
flip over, remove plastic
 wrap and cut into
small squares.  Store them
covered in the freezer
(preferably not
touching each other so
you can pull them out individually).
 If left at room temperature
they will become too soft. 
Makes about 64 1"
squares 3/4" thick.

Recipe Submitted By Carissa Buck

Joy is busting out all over!!!

One of my favorite past times as a little girl was watching Rogers & Hammerstein Movies, particularly the musical, where I would dress up and sing and dance. A show tune favorite was "June is busting out all over!!" Do you remember that song, well lately I have been purposely choosing joy, in the good, the bad, and the ugly. it's much harder than you think. Funny thing is since I have been doing this I see JOY busting out all over!!! Thus that song comes to mind. just tonight I came across this sweet blog over at Cottage and Creek. She is choosing JOY and is having a giveaway to boot!! GO check her out, just click on the side bar link. Her blog is eye candy as well and brings me much JOY!!!

Joyful always

1st Thess. 5:16
Be JOYfull always

Today

FOR TODAY

Outside my window...
Are ripe oranges and tangelos, flowers and orchids, birds, and chickens

I am thinking...
How to fit more crafting time into my work schedule

I am thankful...
For my salvation, My family My health, and my dog Maggie Maybelle

In the kitchen...
Is a dissappearing plate of coconut chocolate chip cookies

I am wearing...
shorts and a tee shirt

I am creating...
a blog page ;-)

I am going...
to bed in a few hours

I am wondering...
if I can squeeze in a walk for Maggie

I am reading...
My bible, & stones into schools

I am hoping...
For my Husband to return to Kauai

I am looking forward to...
Sewing with my friend Kathleen, we are planing on making covers for our kitchen aid mixers

I am learning
To be patient, and how to make croissants

Around the house...
Are piles from the many visitors that are here right now

I am pondering...
If my son has caught any fish on his deep sea charter today

A favorite quote for today...
The sweetest of all sounds is that of the voice of the woman we love." Jean de la Bruyere

One of my favorite things...
Flea markets

A few plans for the rest of the week:
Cleaning up after all the people who have been staying here

A peek into my day...


If you would like to join in this day book please check out this link
http://thesimplewomansdaybook.blogspot.com/

The road to gratefullness

Some of my favorite post to read on other peoples blogs are their gratitude's. We all have so much to be grateful for. Not wanting to be a copycat prevented me from sharing my gratitude's. Being encouraged by some other blogger's to share them, the beginning of 2012 seemed like a good place to start. So Here I go!!!
This gal is so grateful and thankful for;
My God, and the open door that was bought at such a price.
A generous caring Husband who crosses oceans to be with me.
One wonderful Son and Daughter in love. These two go out of their way to show their love to me:-)
Two furry four legged love bugs, Ruby Rae & Maggie Maybelle. So grateful for their unconditional love, keeping me humble and getting me out to exercise.
Two beautiful homes, that are big enough to share with family and friends.
Provision for those homes.
Old friends that took the time to get reacquainted.
Being able to house, and host 10 people at one time.
A working washing machine
A Warm welcoming new Church
New Friends!
Old Friends!
Blogger Friends ;-)
The fabulous weather we have had on Kauai the last three days
Safety on the beaches while we had 30 foot swells
The new shells those swells bring in
The sweet little Toyota truck, that is my lifeline here on the North Shore, and for it starting up when I turn over the key.
My electronics and electricity
Having a heart that loves to share with those around me
For Health
For answered Prayers

Psalm 35:18
I will give you thanks in the great assembly; among the throngs I will praise you.

Chocolate Cream Pie

Hope you all had a Merry Christmas! We did here at Keeler Kai, there was Christmas Eve church Service, singing Carols of Praise, then Christmas Morning was spent doing one of my favorite things, well two actually cooking, and walking Maggie :-) We had fun walking and delivering home made goodies to our neighbors on the road. There sure was a lot of Christmas Love up here on the North Shore!! So much to be grateful for!!! One of my fond memories of childhood, was my Angel Grandmas chocolate Cream Pie, I have never tasted a pie as good as she could make until I tasted JoAnne's Chocolate Cream Pie. JoAnne works with us at the clinic in Bellingham, and I am blessed by not only having the best co-worker a girl could have, she is the sweetest soul. I am blessed to call her friend, and even more blessed that she shared her Chocolate Cream Pie recipe with me! So I will share it here with you all, after all chocolate is best shared with friends!!!

JoAnne's Chocolate Cream Pie!
3 egg yolks
3 tablespoons soft butter
4 oz chocolate broken up
1/4 cup flour
1/2 to 1/2 cup sugar (alter according to sweetness of your chocolate)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups milk
Pie Crust of your choice
. Place in a blender three egg yolks, three tablespoons of soft butter, 4 ounces of chocolate broken up, 1/4 cup of flour, 1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar( depending on the sweetness of the chocolate you use) one teaspoon of vanilla. Heat two cups of milk (make sure you have plenty of room to whisk in the pot later) until it steams a bit and then start the blender and remove the center of the top of the blender and slowly pour the milk in while the blender is running. Once everything is blended return to the pot you heated the milk in and stir with a spoon and whisk on medium heat until it thickens. You want it to be like a think milkshake so you can pour it into the precooked pie crust. As for the crust it is your choice to use either a nut crust or graham cracker or regular pie crust cooked. (as per JoAnne) " I am loving using part coconut in my crust as it makes it really flakey." Then put it in the fridge after it cools for a bit. It is best to make it the night before you plan to eat it. Then before you serve it put whipped cream on top and some chocolate flakes or curls. So yummy.
Thank you JoAnne for sharing!!!

For the Dogs

There are many of us out here in blogger land who love our furry four legged family members.
So here is a question I pose to my blogger friends. How do you celebrate Christmas with your furry family?

How do you include them in your celebrations?

A Christmas photo?

Cookies baked with special ingredients
A favorite new toy?
This year I found tree ornament's that I can put the picture of our pets that have gone over the rainbow bridge. It' s my simple was of including them and cherishing their memories
Or do you decorate your friend?
Here's to celebrating with our furry family!!

Mother O Mine

Her life was not nearly long enough, but her love stays in my heart forever.
Love and miss you Momma

Billy Jean Jones Cook
Born October 12, 1932
Went Home with Jesus December 16, 2010
Surrounded by her three children
Devoted Daughter to William Thomas & Jeanette Carpathia Jones
Loving Sister to
Benjamin Jones
Larry Jones
Diane Jones Cope
Muriel Jones Wilkens
Dale Jones
Loving wife to
Adolph Jacob Zumbuhl
Bob Silvernail
Adolph Jacob Zumbuhl (married twice)
Loren Cook
Devoted and Loving Mother to
Daniel Jacob Zumbuhl
Paula Jean Zumbuhl (Nielsen) Keeler
Penny Lynn Silvernail Holst
Kissy Grandma to
Jason Olaf Nielsen
Leah Jean Nielsen
Jessica Marie Holst
Jazzmine Marie Henry Holst