When I was a little bittie girl, my sweet mama took me to the park in Chicago (where I was born and raised) where so many flowers were blooming (Chicagoans are known for being both friendly and having flowers and plants everywhere...I used to say if there was a crack in the sidewalk, someone would plant a beautiful flower). Anyhow, I have always loved flowers and so I started to pick them and my mother thought she needed to give me a life lesson here. So she said "What if everyone picked the flowers? There wouldn't be any!" And little me answered "Yes, but wouldn't everyone be beautiful?" She had no answer...God puts some great words in little people's mouths, doesn't He?

These blessings were from Valentine's day and still look good (not too great, at least the roses are looking a little peaked) and the red (it actually has darker red stripes, but the photo doesn't do it justice) one is from the bunch that loving Michael bought for me and the yellow one from my (step) daughter, sweet Kelly.

Thought I'd throw in a pic of Tinkabelle at Christmas and "dressed up" with a neck cowl that had bells on it and drove her slightly crazy.

These cute and fun little knitted flowers have so many possibilities, but many of these will be going to the prayer shawl ministry at our church. I have knitted them with different sized needles and all kinds of thread, even doubling up the threads. I'd like to share this pattern, but I've got to figure out how to set up tutorials...sound pretty impressive to me. Hopefully, these flowers will become a blessing for the cancer and sick and even just sad people that they will go to.

Oliver decided to critique the flowers and "help" with the arranging...he would swat at them with his cute little paws while I tried to put them back.

Michael is bugging me about posting some of the nativities, so guess that will be done in the near future. He does very willingly help put out (and put up) the nativities each year...no small task, either as there were 340 this past year and will be close to 400 for 2009!!!

Lord,
WE THANK YOU FOR THE BLESSINGS IN OUR LIVES.
From the fullness of His grace we have all received one
blessing after another. John 1:16
WE HUMBLY GIVE THIS DAY TO YOU.
This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be
glad in it. Psalm 118:24
WE COMMIT OUR FAMILY TO YOUR KINGDOM.
As for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.
Joshua 24:15
SURROUND OUR HOME AND EACH OF US WITH
YOUR PROTECTION.
God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in
trouble. Psalm 46:1
GIVE US PEACE EVEN WHEN WE HAVE MUCH TO DO
AND MANY PLACES TO GO.
Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. John 14:27
FILL OUR HEARTS WITH LOVE FOR YOU, EACH
OTHER, AND THOSE AROUND US.
Love one another, for love comes from God. 1 John 4:7
HELP US TO FULFILL YOUR PLANS AND MAKE A
DIFFERENCE IN THE WORLD.
“For I know the plans I have for you…plans to give you
hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11
OUR FAMILY IS YOURS, TODAY AND ALWAYS.
AMEN.
-Holley Gerth
Scripture taken

It's about time to post some super duper blessings, like family....so here's my handsome son and his gorgeous family (I say this completely objectively lol).

This is a visit from Arizona last summer. The picture over our fireplace is of Lake Havasu...I wanted a reminder of AZ since I had lived there for seven years and Michael was raised there.

• The super blessing of a husband who learned to knit: This does not do justice to the vine piece that Michael is working on (even though Tinkabelle held still again), so another picture will be upcoming....there is alot of work here and even little "flowers" on the vine.

Well it was warm while we were knitting and so I opened both windows and the cats had a field day! These three blessings: orange kitty (Oliver) is the baby and purrs (very charming) to "disarm" you if you go after him to pick him up and smooch him, the striped cat (P.G. or Pretty Girl) is the oldest but holds her age well and she has decided that it is her duty to check everyone's breath when they are sound asleep by putting her wet nose on our mouths (not charming), then finally there is Panther, who likes to drink only from running water in a bathroom sink and will drive you crazy meowing for it (semi charming).

Here's an ongoing blessing...a sweet dog named Tinkabelle modeling one of the panels for the beautiful knitted bedspread in progress. Knitting gives great lessons in patience and concentration, especially when the three cats try to grab the yarn or Tinka runs through it with yarn draped on her ear!

Counting the blessings

Here are two of many blessings in my life...both have strong and very loving personalities, just like the loved ones (wonderful humans) in my life!