Handbag Hoot!

Yesterday, Sarah over at BritGal, began an "Handbag of the Day" feature on her blog. She faced one of those little chores we often avoid and wish we hadn't, she tidied her handbag wardrobe and cleaned each one out. Realizing she had 41 bags and being 41 years young, she felt there was some significance there. So, for the next 41 days she will be featuring one bag a day, giving each a proper name and the story behind each treasured possession. I have seen some really wonderful and fun things on blogs, but this is so creative and I know will be so much fun that I have called this post, Handbag Hoot! I won't miss one of these I can assure you. You can click here to go to the very beginning of this journey. Sarah has already posted her first bag, Fleur, so you might want to get over there and get started.

Have a hoot!

With a little knowledge, finances can be your friend.

Hi! I would like to introduce you to, Dave Ramsey. I
typically do not post on finances or economics. Our personal finances are essentially just that, personal. Finances can and often do bring out the core of where we live. They reveal so much about who we are. I have heard it said that if you look back over an individuals check book register or bank statement, you will see exactly how they live and what is important to them. How true that is. I imagine in part that is why Matthew, records Jesus' words in Matthew 6:21, " "For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." But economics are another thing altogether. Economics affect us all. Of course, they are only a corporate reflection of the handling of individual finances. Economics, is the topic of many meal time gatherings, a favorite topic for the media, a major factor in the stress level of many, and the bane of most, at least those that are not particularly affluent. Unfortunately, the population at large does not appear to have grasp significant enough on the mechanics of personal finance for it to be an asset and friend, rather than a liability and enemy. Therefore, economics receives the undue power of being a four letter word. Fail! This is not a necessary plight for anyone. There are simple ways that require just a small amount of information, and a certain amount of desire, discipline and determination to achieve personal financial success. Since the day I began this blog, I have had made a link available for what I believe to be the very best financial teaching available. Dave Ramsey, has made personal finance extremely easy for the average person to understand. Even I get it now. If you have read this post thus far, you owe it to yourself to take a look at what he has to offer.

Now, why the change in my operating procedure? I decided to address this topic of consternation, confusion and personally sequestered angst out of irritation. If I were to allow it, I would be weary to the point of the hopeless discouragement I hear spoken all around me. It absolutely amazes me how so many believe our economic prognosis is so portent. Personal finances are personal, but I have resolved myself to the idea that I am going to counter those disparaging remarks with a few positive remarks of my own, from now on. I am guessing that those that like to trash talk finances, and the way the world is headed for a certain gloomy doom, will either have their interests piqued by my comments and want to learn more about succeeding, or simply, stop peddling their media influenced down trodden blues to me. I am hoping for the first of those two possibilities. Though it may sound so, I am not a mean person. Quite the contrary. It breaks my heart to hear and see people not only buy and believe disheartening propaganda about anything they hear about finances, but to also to live it out. That dear reader, is why I changed my operating procedure here. If I can in some way make a positive impact in someones life, I grab it with both hands and run like the wind with it. I have lived many years defeated in so many areas, to the point of imprisonment, that I love to see people become free. That is one of the things I love about the, Lord. That's another post. :-)

So, I do get the Dave Ramsey newsletter in my email every month. I want to share the newsletter I got for April, here on my blog today for you to read. The main article is very fundamental, relevant, as always it is easy to understand and very freeing! I hope you will take a few minutes and read this article titled, "Recession Proof Yourself".

And now, my little spin on this matter is going to get just a brief bit of air time here. Here it is.

To begin with, God wants to bless us! He is a good God, and delights in the total prosperity of his children. I am not shoving the Mercedes, mansion, jewels and frivolity show here. Prosperity means many things, but God wants us blessed in all areas, including finances, and adds no sorrow to get it to us. We just need to be obedient, and receive. Second, once we get a grasp on that scriptural concept, being able to give to others becomes the happy event it is meant to be. Just a note, the Bible gives us guidelines for giving, and the Holy Spirit leads each according to the way we are to give. Be prudent and not silly here. Last but not least, if we are not living in and enjoying financial stability, if we are not enjoying blessing, we can not be good givers, certainly not cheerful ones. We are blessed, to be a blessing.


Be blessed, and be a blessing!

Blogs I Read, additions.

I have added a few new names to the "Blogs I read" side bar. You may want to take a minute and check them out. Bookfan-Mary, is a wonderful book review blog. BritGal in the USA, Sarah, is a blog written by a delightful woman that hails from Manchester, England, and is learning the ways of yankies, as she has relocated in the heart of, Oklahoma. And then of course, there is Cozy Chicks. This blog is penned by seven murder mystery authors, Diana Killian, Karen MacInerney, Michele Scott, Maggie Sefton, JB Stanley, Heather Webber, and my latest wonderful cozy find, Kate Collins. They share things from their daily lives, their latest books and much more. You will also find a link to their web site. It was in exploring this web site that I found, The Wine Lover's Mystery Series. Michele Scott, writes this series as well as one about horses. Oh my, flowers, wine and horses. Eureka!! When I wrap up the Flower Shop books, I am thinking it is on to vino.

Be well!

I love the good things in life.

And this, is one of them. The other day, Jon went across the street to talk to Mr. .... You could not ask for better neighbors. They are really good and nice people. They are Christians, and it shows! Big time. Anyway, I had baked some Oatmeal Raisin cookies the day before. Was it because I had been looking at cookie recipes online, or because I am reading the last in the Hannah Swensen Cookie Mysteries, or because I was out of anything to have with tea..... who knows?? I baked the decadent things. Of course I was catching myself eating them when it was not time to have tea. I had already given a good portion of the batch away to another neighbor, and now it was time to get rid of the rest. This neighbor Jon, was going to go talk to, have five children. I got those little tasty treats wrapped up, and off they went. Whew!!!! Not too much damage done, and now they are gone. No more baking for a while.

So today, I am getting ready to have dinner and one of the daughter's of the neighbor Jon, was talking to comes over. Always nice to see her. Below is why she came over. She made me a Thank You card, for the cookies, and had her sister's sign it! Her younger brother's were busy outside doing whatever it is little boys do. Etiquette and good manners still exist! And in the next generation! This is such a good thing. I am so touched and encouraged that I just had to stop what I was doing and share this. I have only photographed the upper portion of the inside of the card so as to protect their privacy.

I do believe by the looks of this card, this girl is stamper in the making. :-)





Be blessed (I just was),

Thank you, Kim.

With all of the change that is going on in my life (more detail later), you would think I might try to keep anything I don't have to change, the same. But, I have been wanting to lighten up the look of this blog for some time. Perhaps you have heard of the book titled, The Five Love Languages, by Dr. Gary Chapman. If not, the book gives a great foundation for understanding how people receive love. The five languages are Words of Affirmation, Spending Quality Time, Acts of Service, Physical Touch and Gifts. Well, I had mentioned to Kim at Coffee in the Morning, that I wanted to lighten up the layout and overall appearance of my blog. I was even willing to, and had begun to play with some yellow to go along with Honeycomb title. But, pink is my favorite color and since the blog is an expression of myself, I really wanted it pink (just not the bold dark pink I had). The next thing I know, there are six photo options for headers in my email... all of white blossoms laced with the prettiest and most gentle pink, and three of the photos had a honey bee on them. Kim and I communicated back and forth for over a day discussing different layouts and color choices I chose, and she would give me her honest opinion on them. What fun! What a friend! This girlie is going through quite a lit physically, emotionally and spiritually right now, and she took time to work with me on my project. What a gift the photo options were. They were photos she took. What a kind service, some people get paid for very well for what she did with me. And, she was very encouraging and affirming every step of the way. Short of the love language, Physical Touch, Kim displayed them all. Since my love language is not Physical Touch, I felt loved, and then some. Thank you, Kim!

Oh, and in the midst of it all, Kim did a complete change on her blog. I had to take a second look to see if I was in the right place. Be sure to take a peek. :-)

Just a note. The book's subtitle is, How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate. Don't let that limit you. This book will help you with all of your relationships because it will show you how to show your children, friends, co-workers, anyone really that you care for them in a way they will understand.

Blessings,

Flower Shop Mysteries

Kate Collins, aka Linda Tsoutsouris

I have been meaning to sit down and get this post on my blog since last, Sunday. I will just say in my defense that there is bit of a {{{MAMMOTH}}} size project going on here around the Honeycomb house, and I have been quite a buzz with it all, and blogging has suffered some. So a week later, here it is.

A week and a half ago, I went to Barnes & Noble's, in hopes of finding a a book by the author Susan Sallis, titled Searching For Tilly. Ms. Sallis, is an accomplished and loved British fiction novel author. From what I can gather, she has given the world twenty novels with a new one due to release sometime this year , two novellas, and a four book family saga series called, The Rising Family Saga, all of which are successful works. I have knowledge of her only because of a dear friend in England, and her blog. I went to our county library and they had six of her books, only the first one in the Rising family saga, and none of the others I thought I might like to start with, and no Searching For Tilly. My local town library had not a one of her books. So, there I was at Barnes & Nobles, hoping they carried them. I figured since Searching For Tilly, was her newest release they would have it if they carried her at all. They did not have a single book by, Ms. Sallis. However.......

I was looking for this book in part as a way to branch out into something a little different than I had been reading. Enter the serendipitous find of the "Flower Shop Mysteries". You may have noticed, I added "Flower Shop Mysteries" to my "Cozy Murders" list about a week and a half ago. While in Barnes & Nobles, turning to leave the fiction section, I spotted a display at the end of an isle that said, Local Authors. My interest piqued, I took a minute to peruse the books displayed. The display was devoted to one author and several of her books. They were... you got it, cozy little murder reads. Hummm... definitely interested. Reading the description on the backs I discovered they took place in a little city here in northwest Indiana, I lived in for several decades. Hummm..... which book was published first? For those of you that know me, you know I read books in the chronological order they are published in. In the case of The Chronicle's of Narnia, the order C.S. Lewis wrote them in is how I read them since they are not the same. In looking for publication dates, I spotted the authors real name. She publishes these under a pseudonym, Kate Collins. I recognized her last name, but could not place her. Upon just a little further investigation, which simply entailed a stroll through her website, I discovered she was in fact married to an attorney that is very well known, respected, and an integral part of the cities legal system, and someone I had the pleasure of meeting many years ago. I was amazed! The things you don't know, eh?

So, because it is late and I have just sat through three hours of class, I opt to see research publication dates at home, see if the library carries the books, check out the first one if they have it, read it and decide whether to pursue another. If the library did not have it, I would come back and buy which ever turned out to be the first in the series. Good news! The library in town had them all. Wow!! So, I check the first one out and what a wonderful read. This lady is an amazing writer, and the queen of cliff hangers. I would tell myself I would put the book down as soon as I finished the chapter I was reading. But, the end of the chapters were the most pivotal for wanting to go on. Bother! I finished that book in no time! So, I took that book back and check out the second. I stuffed it in my purse and off to Bed Bath & Beyond, in search of an electric hot water kettle I go. Hurrying, since I really want to get home and start the. next installment. Okay, one guess... who do you think was in Bed Bath & Beyond? I turn a corner and there was the attorney I knew to be this delightful authors husband. And oh yes, I have never been the "groupie" type, but thoroughly embarrassed myself here. Now keep in mind, I had just minutes before checked out book two, and am rushing to get home to read it. This is what I have on my mind, especially since there was no electric hot water kettle I was interested in at this store, and there Kate Collins (Linda Tsoutsouris), is! There I am, behind her husband and say, "Jim." He turns around, smiles and says, "Yes." Remember, I respect and like this man. But instead of, "Hi” or "How are you?" or anything courteous or intelligent, I say, "This must be, Linda." Ugh!!! I would not have been like that if I hadn't just discovered her books, and wasn't thinking about them at that very moment. Anyway, although the heroine in these books is very spunky and when needed feisty, Linda was one of the most gracious, classy and warm people, I have met in a quite a while. We spoke for a few minutes, she gave me a book mark, and that was that really. What a treat. I had wished at that moment that I was carrying my own copy of the book in my purse instead of the library's. I could have asked her to sign it. Ugh!! again.

Well, I found something truly enjoyable to read that was different than what I had been reading. These are good books and if you like cozy murders, I think you will enjoy these. If you like a thriller that keeps the average person up at night, or something with detailed gory forensics, these are not for you. These are rich in relationship, exciting in story line and just plain ol' good cozy who dunits!

Here are the books in the order they are presented in the series.

Mum's the Word (Nov. 2004)
Slay it With Flowers (Mar. 2005)
Dearly Depotted (July 2005)
Snipped in the Bud (May 2006)
Acts of Violets (Mar. 2007)
A Rose From the Dead (Dec. 2007)
Shoots to Kill (Due out, Aug. 2008)

Try one, and enjoy!
Teresa

"Alone" by, Carolyn Chambers

I will not say too much about this article I have posted for two reasons. First, I want you to read it for yourself and allow the Holy Spirit, to speak His words into your heart. Second, the article is very candid, personal, moving, and I truly could not expound on it much anyway. I applaud this author for her courage and conviction. Certainly this was painful to write, but her desire to share wisdom with other women superseded her own comfort or privacy.

It is not popular to write or speak about taking personal responsibility. The blame game began in the Garden, and has not ceased to exist. Don't get me wrong, I am definitely in favor of women being free in the Lord. He came to set all captives free. Sometimes, that freedom comes only when we recognize where we are to be, and how we are to act. Even Kings, queens and presidents have defined roles. Oh, to just grasp the love of God, and walk in it. I offer this on Honeycomb, because it spoke volumes and deeply to me. I receive the spirit in which this article was written, and I embrace its wisdom.

The article can be read here.

Grace and peace to you,
Teresa