The Howell Blessings

I want to share some of what I’ve been studying this week. I read in a Wiersbe commentary that “too often our prayers are vague and general. ‘Lord, bless the missionaries’ …perhaps it is the lack of faith that causes us to pray generally instead of specifically.” “It has well been said that the purpose of prayer is not to get man’s will done in heaven, but to get God’s will done on earth.” I’ve been praying, asking God more intently lately, to show me what I want to be when I grow up. I have often felt I have a purpose on earth, one to use for His glory, but have no idea what gifts I have to offer. Then this week, my bible study takes me to I Peter 4 where Paul discusses our gifts from God. Amazing isn’t it how God works his answers into the fibers of our lives.  When putting together worship for our bible study group, I came across a GodTube video that shows a silly side of how easily and often we reject Gods gifts. It seemed so obvious on this video. But, how many times ...

My husband, who I will refer to as Honey, came back from a business trip not that long ago, and as I came home from work and was hanging up my coat, he announced some “bummer” news. He lost his wedding ring while working at a hospital in Michigan. He assumed it was in one of the 3 to 4 rooms he went into that day where he washed his hands… several times. It must have come off his finger when drying his hands. Which means it’s most likely in one of the many trash containers at that hospital. Honey didn’t discover his naked ring finger until back at his hotel preparing for bed…around midnight. I was speechless… Honey and I have been married for 28 years and I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen him take off his wedding ring. In the winter time his ring slid around and hung upside down frequently due to the contraction of any swelling that normally occurs when one gets warm. We’re still married and I still love you” he stated when he saw that I was upset. I...

Spring is trying hard to make it's way to NE Ohio, so I thought I would nudge the spring spirit and bring it indoors. This simple table is perhaps one of my favorites. I love the simplicity of the few colors and simple decorations. To me, it feels fresh as spring. A light pink organza chair sash adds a softness to our oak chairs. A bouquet of flowers for the center. Why don't you sit there.  A simple place setting, perfect for a light brunch. This pattern is one of my favorites. Soft ceramic flowers adorn the base of the bouquet.  Do you prefer tea or coffee?  Soft sunlight bathes the table, promising to bring warmer temperatures with it. Maybe spring really is coming after all.   I'll be meeting up with Susan over at betweennapsontheporch  for Tablescape Thursday. Join me there for an inspiring array of tablescapes. Double click on any of these pictures to enlarge them. Resources: Plates: Royal Prestige, Rosecrest Tablecloth, runner, ...

This Easter we welcomed family and new friends to our table. I wanted the table to be fun, yet have a touch of elegance so that everyone who graced us with their presence would feel special.  And of course, we had to have a bunny near by. My centerpiece was a vase that I purchased at Pier 1.  I then inserted a smaller vase inside, then filled the gap with inexpensive jelly beans. It looked really cool from the outside. Then I place purchased bouquets of tulips inside the inner vase. And this was the result. I had some left over tulips so I placed them in my newest vase, also found at Pier 1. Everyone got an Easter Egg surprise at their place setting. Yellow and sherbet colored napkins were embraced by my new favorite napkin rings. Clear bowls were used for the salad so that we could see the colorful plates beneath it. Everyone enjoyed a good meal and good fellowship. Thanks for stopping by. I hope you enjoyed our Easter tablescape....

In this day and age of e-mails, texting, Tweeting, Facebook, and blogging, we as a population are more in touch with what is going on around us than ever before. I can think of very few times I’ve printed out an e-mail, a message or status update where someone has shared with me via this technology. Not that the person sending it isn’t special, but there is something impersonal about an electronic or wireless message in typeface that I don’t think twice about deleting it once it’s read. On the other hand, I have letters my mom wrote to me when I first got married. I’ve got every card my honey has ever given me. I have cards my kids have made or bought for me. I have handwritten letters from a friend in Bulgaria before she ever had access to a computer. I have letters that my great-grandparents wrote to each other and other family members. What priceless things I have in my possession. A glimpse into what they felt, what they were doing, who they were on the inside. Although I love ...

A little birdie told me that spring is coming.  Even though it is still winter, spring is playing hide and seek. 1,2,3..Here I come!   The birds are singing again outside our windows which is a sure sign spring is not too far away. Soon the momma birds will be building nests and by mid spring we'll begin to see the first of the little ones that have hatched.    I think I'll have a cup of tea and watch them for a while. Click on any picture to enlarge it. I love to watch the momma bird feeding her young. The little ones sit quietly in the nest until they hear their momma coming back with food for them. Then their little beaks crack open farther than you would think they could as each one peeps louder than their sibling to try to get more food. I was inspired to set my table by the birds that chirp so sweetly these days.  Just hearing them makes me realize that it won't be too much longer before we see the last of the snow. How many bird houses do you se...

Honey and I went to the Hinckley Reservations this past weekend and walked the Hinckley Lake Loop Trail and back. We took our new camera's with us and snapped away at anything and everything we found of interest or thought would produce an interesting picture.  Below are 3 of mine that I took of one tree.  This sycamore tree made for interesting texture and colors. Thanks Daddy for letting me know what kind of tree that was. Click on any of these pictures to see them larger. 56mm>F/11>ISO 100>White Balance Auto 1 Platanus occidentalis (Sycamore) is readily identifiable with broad, maplelike leaves and a trunk and limb complexion of mixed green, tan and cream. Some suggest it looks like camouflage. It is a member of one of the planet's oldest clan of trees (Platanaceae) and paleobotanists have dated the family to be over 100 million years old. Living sycamore trees can reach ages of five hundred to six hundred years.  Steve Nix/About.com 56mm>F...