Monday, November 25, 2013

Gratitude & A Giveaway Winner

On another cold, cloudy breezy day here at Heaven's Walk,
I spent the day washing linens;
reveling in the scent of my favorite detergent and dryer sheets filling the warm house with sweetness.

Pillows were stripped and piled high on sofas.
New pillow slips were pulled from the linen closet.
I tossed and arranged.
Re-tossed and rearranged.
Grumbled and complained how the mix of fabric patterns just wasn't making it.
A quick look at a friend's blog post photos.
Back to the linen closet.
More scented pillow slips in my arms.

Do the "dash and turn".

Frown.

Sigh.

More re-tossing and rearranging.

Another "dash and turn".

Hmmmmm...

My goal was to create a mixed goodness of shabby chic prairie-type patterns.
A room of simple rustic sweetness with a touch of elegance.
A mish-mash of dusty pink, smoky blue, sage green, and white.
Florals spilling over stripes grounded by solids.

I truly think there is a special talent in creating the perfect blend of patterns.
Magic takes place when it's done right.

While I contemplated my feeble attempt at this magic,
I was suddenly overwhelmed by a feeling of gratitude.

Gratitude for a warm house on a cold day.




For down-filled pillows held in my arms.
For the sound of the dryer rumbling softly in the basement.

For fresh roses in vintage vases.




For big old barns and acres of trees.




For another year of being able to hug my mother and father.
For a loving, devoted husband.

For my furry little heartbeats at my feet.






For a God who loves me fiercely and unconditionally.


Google image

A sighed whisper. 
"Thank you, Lord."


I reached for the basket which held slips of paper with friends' names on them
who had entered my giveaway for Rachel Ashwell's new book, 
"Couture Prairie and Flea Market Treasures".




I closed my eyes.
"Thank you for my blog sisters, Father."

I reached in and picked out a slip of folded paper.

It read:  Maureen Hayes



Congratulations, sweet Maureen!

I will contact you for your address!

Maureen has a beautifully inspiring blog called "Being Chronically Ill is a Pill".
Please stop in, say 'Hi", and leave an encouraging message for her.
You will be blessed by her thoughtful, giving, and grateful heart!


Thank you ALL for being such supportive and encouraging followers.
 Thank you for your sweet comments,
your outpouring of love,
and your continued prayers.
You ladies rock!
I feel so blessed to be a part of this wonderful community!

Google image

I pray for you each
Comfort
Peace
Health
Healing

Have a blessed Thanksgiving everyone!






~  Blessings  ~



Linking to the linky parties on the lower right of my sidebar.









36 comments:

  1. sending hugs and blessings for a wonderful Thanksgiving!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Absolutely beautiful Laurie my sweet friend... your photos... your words... and you... I love how you express yourself so openly... about all of the wonderful things in life you cherish... your faith, your family... your little "heartbeats at your feet"... I am so happy we are friends and blog sisters... congratulations to pretty Maureen... I will visit her blog... Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family my friend... much love, xoxo Julie Marie

    ReplyDelete
  3. A beautiful post. Thank you for moving my heart.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh so beautiful!
    Happy Thanksgiving.
    Hope to see you on my blog:)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Another beautiful post Laurie!

    Happy Thanksgiving,
    Carolyn

    ReplyDelete
  6. Congratulations to Maureen! I will definitely check out her blog. Your home is lovely and so inviting! Your pup looks in absolute heaven napping on the sofa! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving:)

    ReplyDelete
  7. happy thanksgiving, lovely blogger.

    michele

    ReplyDelete
  8. It sounds like you and I had the same type of day. Working hard to reclaim my living room, in my case, and feeling thankful that it is the warmest room in the house on this cold day. I am glad to have you as my friend.

    ReplyDelete
  9. So Beautiful My Sweet Friend !!! You and My Dore are the sweetest Souls I know and I feel so blessed and grateful that I get to be considered a blogging Sister/friend.
    Thank you for always inviting us into your home and all it's beauty! Your so gracious & kind.One of these days we will all meet at the Prairie :) Many Blessings! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  10. Oh Congrats to the Sweet Maureen! I know she will enjoy her new book as much as well all do.

    ReplyDelete
  11. congrats to your beautiful winner Laurie.
    I made sure I ran over to tell her how happy I was to see she was your winner on your beautiful GiveAway!

    love your post, A perfect post at best reminding us all who is our creator and giver of life.For all that to be greatefull for.

    xoxo
    Beautiful dinning room my friend, will look forward to the holiday decor it will take on.

    xx
    Dore

    ReplyDelete
  12. What beautiful thanksgiving! God bless you and have a wonderful Thanksgiving this week!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Beautiful post, Laurie. Have a blessed Thanksgiving. Congrats to the winner.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Another once, your words found directly the direction of my hearth. Despite of language barrier, it's always a source of inspiration when I read you. I agree with you we are never enough thankful for all the kindness we have, and sometimes it's only when dramas knock at our door that we only recognize the happiness we had before.
    So happy to Maureen the book is so amazing.

    xoxo from PARIS

    Joëlle

    ReplyDelete
  15. Beautiful GA my dear friend and congrat for Maureen!!! I love your home and the first photo is PERFECT ♥
    Thank you so much for your beautiful comment on my blog- I appreciate your friendship !!!!!
    Hugs!!!xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a lovely post, gratitude, what a wonderful feeling. I have so much to be thankful for too. For me, getting cronically ill opened my eyes to all l had to be thankful for. It forced me to stop and "smell the roses" at the side of the road" so to speak. Congratulations to the winner, l will pop over and visit her. Wishing you a blessed week, Pam xx

    ReplyDelete
  17. yay, maureen! your dining room is gorgeous, laurie! happy thanksgiving to you!!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Your words, thoughts and feelings are exactly what I needed...thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  19. Thank you Laurie for a wonderful and grateful post. Have a Happy Thanksgiving !

    ReplyDelete
  20. Congrats to the winner. What a beautiful and well written post Laurie. I wish you all the best the world has to offer and hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

    Cynthia

    ReplyDelete
  21. Laurie, What a beautiful post! Going right now to check out Maureen's blog, I'm sure its very special, like her. By the way, I ordered Rachel's book can't wait to receive it. Wishing you and your family
    A Happy Thanksgiving!!
    Hugs,
    Jody

    ReplyDelete
  22. We have it pretty darn good don't we sis ? Anyone can have a house, but you and Rog have created a " HOME" .
    God bless you and your fur babies and Happy Thanksgiving !
    XO~ Steph

    ReplyDelete
  23. Your home looks so beautiful and cozy.
    xo Rozmeen

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thank you Laurie for your generous giveaway and your lovely post, I am so thrilled to have the book and can't wait to see it! Thank you to all your lovely friends and followers who have left me kind thoughts here and over at the blog. I apologize, my blog have been inactive for a long time, I do hope to get back to posting soon.

    You have such a beautiful heart my friend, and I wish you and your family a very happy, healthy and peaceful thanksgiving. You are a gift to all of us, and I am thankful for you!

    Hugs,
    Maureen

    ReplyDelete
  25. What a beautiful post. Simply too sweet for words. Simply thank you. Happiest of Thanksgivings to you and your loved ones.
    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wow, what an amazing and beautiful post. I loved hearing your moment of pure gratitude... it felt so Holy...
    and yes, you have the just right mix going on... everything looks like it could be in a magazine... love the photos of your furry companions and how you didn't forget to include them in your gratitude prayer...

    Cindy

    ReplyDelete
  27. Always beautiful & so inspiring Laurie. Your calming & positive spirit shines through to us all. God bless you Have Happy Thanksgiving.

    ReplyDelete
  28. Hi Laurie,
    Yes, life is good!! A beautiful post!
    Sending wishes for a Wonderful Thanksgiving your way....
    and YES you need a white Christmas tree... I adore both of mine...
    Hugs,
    Bella

    ReplyDelete
  29. Laurie,
    A beautiful post filled with inspiring, encouraging words for gratitude. I, too, felt a moment of pure gratitude tonight before I read your post, and was uplifted once again by your words to revel in gratitude.

    Judith

    ReplyDelete
  30. Such a beautiful post! Everything good from the Lord starts and ends with gratitude!
    Happy Thanksgiving!!
    ~Liz

    ReplyDelete
  31. Well you've made a Cozy and Inviting Retreat on a Cold Day! Happy Thanksgiving from the Arizona Desert... Dawn... The Bohemian

    ReplyDelete
  32. Christmas is coming early to wish you a Merry Christmas, best Christmas gift to see here
    http://lv.lllbag.com/

    ReplyDelete
  33. Oh sweet Laurie while reading this I could envision the warmth of your beautiful home, the lovely scents of fresh linens and roses and your deep feeling of gratitude! Everything in this post is so so beautiful! xoxo

    ReplyDelete
  34. So many things to be grateful for! Yes, I too am so grateful for my warm bed and cozy bedding! Congrats to Maureen. Beautiful photos Laurie. Thanks for sharing them with SYC.
    hugs,
    Jann

    ReplyDelete

Bless you and thank you for visiting! I read each of your comments and treasure them all. So, please make sure your settings will accept emails, or leave your email address so that I can reply! ♥ Laurie