Good Ol' Country Christmas

It's that time of year again! The aroma of cookies and other treats fill the house, making your mouth water, while paper snowflakes are cut out in their lacy dresses. Time to pop John Denver in the cd player, something I've done as long as I can remember. This year we did our tree with a "Country Christmas" theme. Twine bows are tied on the green boughs, and the old bear ornaments are hung on as well. This year we strung popcorn! 
That's something us kids have been begging to do almost every year, so we were pretty excited when we finally did it.
We had a bit snow here in "wet ol' Washington".
The pond that forms each year in our backyard froze so we had a blast ice skating on it. We also skated on Chet and Cara's pond with Carson and kids. Carla let us borrow some of their skates so we all could skate together, which made it more enjoyable. The rough boys played hockey, zipping past with breakneck speed. Us girls would squeal each time we were swept between them as they played, You can imagine us as we held onto each other and screamed until they zoomed past.
Back at home we baked sugar cookies and cut them out into shapes of snowmen, angels, and stars, before frosting them. This is a unofficial tradition in our home. Reba is also a singer we listen to at Christmas time. She's always given me a cozy feeling, reminding me of our Christmas's in the Yellow House. Those were some good times. We'd dressed up in our church dresses one year. I remember that very clearly. They were dark blue with light blue roses in them. I jumped from couch to couch with Felicity, listening to John Denver sing, "Christmas Like a Lullaby".
Well, just thought I'd let you know a little what we've been up to. Merry Christmas everyone!

                                                                                                       Vaya Con Dios,
                                                                                                                  LaKaysha

Beautiful Womanhood

So, I know I've been a pretty bad tomboy most of my life. Jeans with holes, baggy t-shirts, and an unkempt ponytail were part of the everyday wardrobe. If someone told me I couldn't something because I was a girl, I'd jump in and prove them wrong. But now that I'm older, God has shown me that being a woman is an important job, not one to be taken lightly. We are to be feminine, virtuous; radiating Christ's love from our very being. God created man first. Sorry, girls, but it's true. And He also used these exact words, "Man shall rule over you."
Oooh, scary, huh? Not really. God created man and women for their own purposes. It's not a manner of being able to do it. It's what God wants us to do. Come on, being a girl isn't that bad. In fact, it is wonderful. We are to be kind, compassionate, loving, feminine; carrying ourselves with grace and joy, spreading Christ's love as we go. Home and children should be part of our life, making our household a joyful, warm place to be, as we love our husbands and raise our children to be soldiers, wether it be for our nation, or for our Lord. If God calls you to have a career, then please do have one. But I sincerely doubt He'd call you to a career if you've a family to care for. Being a mother and wife is all I ever hope to be, and I pray God will grant that, if it's His will. Little hands clinging to you, sticky kisses on you cheeks, and the security of a loving husband. What more could a woman ask for? God has a purpose for each person, man or woman, and each purpose is different, but God never changes. Woman are made for home and hearth. That's the best way I can put it. And it's a joy to be God's girl!

1 Timothy 5:14
"I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children,  guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully."

Proverbs 12:4
"A virtuous woman is a crown to her husband: but she that maketh ashamed is as rottenness in his bones."

1 Corinthians 11:11-12
"Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman with the man, in the Lord.
For as the woman is of man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God."

Rejoice, girls. Being a woman is beautiful.
                                                                                      LaKaysha      

 

The Greatest Generation

If you know me, you'll know how I am about World War II. There's something about that time period that gets me. The music, the clothing, the hair, but more importantly is the way the American people behaved. Most call the young people of World War II the "Greatest Generation".
 How right that seems to fit the brave, young boys that all left home to fight a unknown tyrant, an evil enemy. I've been told that I was silly for caring so much about it, but it's something that's always been with me. Have you read what some of our boys went through to keep you free?
The horrors and tortures they witnessed as they fought for you. Did you ever really think about it? What do you think drove them on as they faced Japanese snipers, and Nazis machine guns? They thought of all the folks at home, how they would feel if the things the enemy was doing ever happened to the people they loved. That's what kept them going. I guess it gets me a little defensive when someone says, "Oh, that was a long time ago," like it was nothing important.
 It was a turning point in America's history. Those brave men deserve to be honored, loved, and never, ever forgotten. It was by the grace of God that we won that war. Thank God for those men that He gave the courage to fight for your freedom here at home.

“When you go home

Tell them for us and say

For your tomorrow

We gave our today”

                                                                       God Bless America,
                                                                               LaKaysha E

Grandma

On September 7, 2007, my grandma, Nancy Warnke, flew up to heaven to "be with the one that her heart had longed to see..."
Forgive me as I wipe a few tears away, as I miss her so. She was quite a woman, my grandma. You see the picture above? I loved it the moment I saw it, as it captures her so perfectly, right down to those big plaid shirts she always wore. The smile on her beautiful face was a usual sight for anyone who knew her, as was her beautiful laugh that usually followed. If you look closely at little Emily's face, you'll notice the one tear that glistens on her cheek, the red eyes that are living proof of some pain most little girls feel, only having to go to Grandma for one small kiss, a comforting hug, and some small words of wisdom to make it all better again. Her hand is in Grandma's, clasped tightly, while she looks up adoring, as if she was viewing the most wonderful, sweetest sight her eyes ever beheld. This is truly a beautiful picture. I was a small girl when Grandma left us for a small while, but the ache in my heart is still there. Lonely doesn't even describe what I felt when Christ took her home. I cried hard, and still do when the ache gets to be too much. But, the joy of knowing I'll see her again is more than all my tears, aches and sorrows combined. The pain I saw in her eyes in her last days is gone, forever. Forever. Did you ever stop and think about it? When God comes to wrap us in His everlasting arms, the tears, the pain, the burdens of this world, will leave, never to return. Grandma was a living picture of Christ's love and His strength. The last days were such peaceful ones, its hard to describe. Heaven was just breath away. Just one breath. Oh, the joy! We're alright, brothers and sisters in Christ. We're alright. What do we have to worry about? We've already won! Christ defeated death and the devil, and we have absolutely nothing to worry about. Rest your hearts on that, as I do. I know I'll see Grandma again. And I'm so thankful for the days I had with her before it was her time to go.
"When God comes and gathers His jewels, all his treasures of diamonds and gold, I'll meet you up there, up in heaven so fair, When God comes and gathers His jewels..."
                                                                                             Vaya Con Dios,
                                                                                                 LaKaysha

Welcome to My Blog

Hello! I'm very excited that I now have a blog all of mine own. Words have always seemed to be jumbled up my head but getting them down has always been a problem. I pray I can share my thoughts and encouragements as clearly as I can, although they may sound a bit winded like Anne Shirley from "Anne of Green Gables". What can a young, 15 year old girl say that has any importance? I know that is a silly thought, though it comes into my mind many times.... Why did I name my blog, "Calico and Lace"? Well, for a number of reasons, I suppose. One is, I enjoy sewing dresses and feminine creations, although I must confess I'm not very good at it yet. Adding lace against a plain calico always gives me a pioneer feel. But the main reason I chose that name was my character. One side of me can be very practical, plain, and realistic. That would be the calico. But there's a deeper, more feminine of me also. I love lace, ruffles; dreaming and planning. My daydreams include a bit of calico and lace, I suppose. I like to vision myself, hair hanging loose, feet bare, dangling in a cool, rippling brook, while my rough and tumble children, (the ones I hope and pray I may have someday) splash and laugh in the sun. I'm getting a bit fanciful, aren't I? Well, that's my first post. I hope you enjoy it.
                                                                                        LaKaysha