Part Two!!

Goody gumdrop--more pictures ;)

What I'm reading...

Ellie, posing with a ladder.....

Our sweet friend Prentiss with her little boy Hampton...

He is so cute, but refuses to smile for cameras--he just wants to take a serious look at them :)

 Part two of my knitting needle collection...

Wellies!

The view from above...

One day we had a nice snowfall so Libby and I scampered outside to photograph it...

Yes the light is cold, but I kinda like how the only color is her hat :)

Later, the sun came out and everything was a-sparkling...

We came in to a cozy blaze.  I get my love of fires and photographing them from Justus my brother and Libby my sister.  Many thanks to both of you :)

The view out my window on a snowy night...(my camera has a night mode that I'm trying to figure out)

Stars and snowy trees...

Yours truly...

Easter eggs decorated by Ellie--isn't she brilliant?

 I did my first painting job this month, and had to include a glimpse of it:)  I am pleased to say it went really well and I actually enjoyed it.

This picture is one of my favorites!  The colors and texture of the knitting came out so crisp...

Hopefully I'm inspiring some other beginners to get their feet wet and learn :)

I'm currently working on putting up a new feature on Winsome Skirts--shop by size!  This business is a continual learning experience, and a very good one.  If you are thinking of starting a small business online, I would encourage you to jump in and try it!  It is a great way to stretch you and gain new skills.  

Ta-ta for now!

xoxo, 

Elise

As promised....part one :)

Hulloo!

I am finally posting my pictures!  Since I waited so long to do it, the 300 pictures suddenly 

grew to 600 pictures :)  Here's an ex-clusive sampling of those 600. Enjoy!

An embroidered towel Ellie did for my Christmas present.

The embroideress :)

My favorite chair...

Libby, fabulous in fur :)

Just part of my knitting needle collection....

This is the best view I can get of Ellie before 9 am!

Our Christmas tree made for some fantastic bokeh!!

 Mmmm, peppermint hot chocolate!

Tree silhouettes...

My chickadee mug, Christmas present from Libby.  You know me so well:)

This makes me think of the verse in Revelation, 

"I have set before you an open door, which no man can shut."

Favorite boots...

Ellie and I in the window's reflection...

The few...the brave...the cleaning team :)

I just sat and took pictures of Ellie's manifold expressions during one of our frequent chats!

A tribute to Goldilocks:)

I hope you enjoyed that!  I'm sure enjoying learning how to take good pictures.  

This is only the beginning :D

May your Sabbath be full of peace and joy in the LORD!

xoxo,

Elise

A comrade's golden birthday

Libby turned 21 today!  And I sang her a very special song this morning.

"21 today, pom pom..." :D

(If you've read PG Wodehouse's A Damsel in Distress, you know the song too.)

I thank the Lord for the past 21 years I have been privileged to spend with this comrade.  We squabbled plenty growing up, but since we were each saved, our relationship has been such a blessing to me!  

Libby has exhorted me in my relationship with God countless times and I am so thankful for her gifts in that area.  This quote is so true of us...

A sister can be seen as someone who is both ourselves and very much not ourselves - a special kind of double.  ~Toni Morrison

Libby and I are sometimes so similar it's scary, but at other times we are total opposites.  That is part of the beauty of having a sister, and I am blessed to have three! :)

I love you so much, Libby!  

May the Lord bless you this year and utterly satisfy your heart with Himself !

xoxo,

Elise

Contentment, again....

"Let your afflictions be what they will, there is not one of you, but has more mercies than afflictions."

-Jeremiah Burroughs, "The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment"

PS-My parents gave me a camera for Christmas!  So coming up next, my first 300 pictures!!!  

Please, don't fall off your chair--I won't make you look at all 300, just a select few:)

One year ago today, we went ice-skating with friends in Idaho.  Remember?  

I had the privilege of getting some time to talk to Sarah while we skated.  And I asked some hard questions.  Sometimes that's the best way to get to know someone :)  Questions like "What do you want to do in life?"and "Do you want to be married?" and "Is it hard waiting?"

Sarah's honest answers were so encouraging to me.  

She said she was content right where she was.  She didn't need a guy to make her happy and joyful-- Jesus Christ was more than enough to satisfy her.  

Over the past year, there have been many times when I thought back on her words and found encouragement in her example.  I, too, do not need a guy to make me fulfilled.  I can be perfectly content and whole at this time in my life because that is where God has placed me.  

Whatever comes from His hand is loving and right, and I can rest in His providential ordering of my life because He has made me His child.  

Today, Sarah is getting married.  Exactly one year (to the day!) after telling me she was content without a husband, God is giving her one.  This whole story puts me in awe of God's mysterious moving to accomplish His purposes.  And guess who she's marrying?  

My dear friend Kaitlin's older brother Aaron!!!!

No one could have planned this but the Author of life and love.  

1. God moves in a mysterious way
   His wonders to perform;
   He plants His footsteps in the sea
   And rides upon the storm.
2. Deep in unfathomable mines
   Of never failing skill
   He treasures up His bright designs
   And works His sov’reign will.
3. Ye fearful saints, fresh courage take;
   The clouds ye so much dread
   Are big with mercy and shall break
   In blessings on your head.
4. Judge not the Lord by feeble sense,
   But trust Him for His grace;
   Behind a frowning providence
   He hides a smiling face.
5. His purposes will ripen fast,
   Unfolding every hour;
   The bud may have a bitter taste,
   But sweet will be the flow’r.
6. Blind unbelief is sure to err
   And scan His work in vain;
   God is His own interpreter,
   And He will make it plain.
   
   

~William Cowper~

"Praise Him for His mighty acts: praise Him according to His excellent greatness."

Psalm 150:2