Prayers, Please

All right, you have heard it before, but I felt it was time open up again.
 I've been feeling pretty low these days, struggling to accept where I am, and most of all, being single.
 It doesn't help when an ad on your Pandora is always screaming:
'Are you single?'
 To which I want to reply:
'Yes, as a matter of fact, I am. Thank you for bringing up such a painful subject. Why don't you just give me a paper cut and pour lemon juice on it while your at it?!"
 (Stole that line, if you don't know. LOL)
 It's hard for me to understand sometimes just why I have to be alone right now.
There are days when I want to scream to the Father, 'Don't You understand? I need someone. I need my other half. I feel so empty, like a part of me is missing."
 But then I have to be reminded: 'No, you don't. Right now you only need Me. At this very moment all you need is my love, my strength. Stop looking for something that won't happen until I make it happen."
I came across a verse in Isaiah on a day like this that shamed me.
 The 54th chapter:
 ^'For thy Maker is thine husband; the LORD of hosts is his name; and thy Redeemer the Holy One of Israel; The God of the whole earth shall he be called. For the LORD hath called thee as a woman forsaken and grieved in spirit....For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer. '
 I realized that what God was trying to tell me.
Right now you may seem lonely, but believe Me, when I bring the right man into your life, all of this waiting will be forgotten, and you will be wonderfully happy.
Now is only the time for patience, prayer, and seeking My face.
 I struggle with feeling unworthy, inept and just plain stupid sometimes, always feeling like I need to be trying harder to better myself.
 These days I've been praying a lot for God to work in my heart, filling me more of Him, less of me, and to help me be content with where I am at this moment of my life.
 But these days it just seems like I'm getting nowhere.
Like the days are flying past, everything moving in a huge rush, and I'm just standing still, the same old clumsy, awkward girl with no purpose.
 Oh, I know we all have a purpose, but sometimes we just feel.... I don't know. Just BLEH.
 So I would like to ask for all of your prayers as well, if it isn't any bother.
Please pray that I learn to leave my destiny in the hand's of the Father, to stop worrying about the future, and that I can grow into the godly woman He wants me to be.
 Forgive my whining, but sometimes we have to open up, don't we?

                                                                      LaKaysha
                                             

Old Hollywood: Wit, Wisdom and Sweet Moments

They don't make movies like they did back in the good old days.
 The stories were so much simpler than nowdays, the jokes funnier, the girls prettier and the morals greater.
 The meaning behind each line seemed much deeper, more poetic than any script these days.
I rarely watch any of these new films coming out, to a lot of people's shock, but I just don't find them very edifying or even that entertaining.
 Who else thinks that the good old black and white classics need to have a comeback?

This film, 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington' is one of the best

I have ever watched. I would love to own it someday.

This scene is wonderful! Your heart is breaking, wishing Jeff would

just give in, but at the same time, you're just so proud of him! <3

 

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

 

This part was just too sweet! <3

(Yes, another 'Mr. Smith Goes to Washington')

 

Ok, so I like Jimmy Stewart... *giggles*

'It's a Wonderful Life'

 

Just had to put this one. ;)

 

Another wonderfully inspiring film:

Meet John Doe with another favorite actor Gary Cooper

 

 

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

This is such a sweet, romantic movie! <3

 

 

The old times are gone now, but we can still live them though the movies from the past, and learn something for our future from the lessons they give us. :)

 

Just some suggestions for good old classics:

 

Mr. Deeds Goes to Town

Meet John Doe

Mr. Smith Goes to Washington

High Noon (western)

Sergeant York (war film)

You Can't Take it With You

Shop Around the Corner

The Great Escape (war film)

Pride of the Yankees

Murder, He Says

Christmas in July

So Proudly We Hail

 

There a lot more, but I can't name them all!

 Hope you enjoyed. :D

 

                                                             LaKaysha

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cowboy Boots in the Rain

I want to give you a piece of advice:
 If you are going to wear cowboy boots outside when doing chores( like I do), I'd suggest you be careful where you step!
 A few days ago I was informed my sisters and I had to clean out the chicken coop.
Yay. That's always fun. *not* lol
 Anyways, I was feeling pretty good that morning, all chirp and ready to go, so I donned my working clothes, pulled on my trusty boots and skipped on out to do the job.
 I even sang while I shoveled all that dirty wood shavings and chicken waste, quite content as I worked.
 We had just finished, and Liberty said the wheelbarrow was too heavy for any of us to push, but I was confident I could handle it.
 I could have, too, except the coop is on a hill....
I grabbed a hold, grunted at the weight, and pushed with all my might.
 Well...I happened to be standing on a perfectly slick pile of mud and grass, and my boots are the awesome kind without any rubber soles or grips.
 My feet slid right out from under me and fell forward, doing a perfectly-aimed face-plant into the edge of the wheelbarrow.
 OUCH.
I kind of just kneeled there in the mud for a while, Liberty hovering over me and asking if I was ok and I took off my glasses, handing them to her while I tried to breath again.
 My nose started to bleed by then, my lip was already swelling up to the size of Texas, and I was positive I had broken my nose.
 She had to help me to the house and by then I started twitching and trembling from the pain...
Let me tell you, it hurt!
 I finally got the bleeding to stop, and wandered around the house with an ice pack on my face, trying not to cry.
 Well, I didn't succeed and had to go hide in my bedroom for a while. *blushes*
I haven't really cried in a long time, but I really let er' go then.
 I must admit I felt marvelously uplifted when I was finished, besides the throbbing face, of course.  
I didn't go to church that Sunday. Again. I'm pretty sure I'm stuck here until spring! ;)
 But the swelling has finally went down, thankfully, and I am so happy to have my own face back!
I'll never complain of having a big nose again. ;)

 Valentine's Day is almost here, guys!
I don't know why, but I've always loved the holiday.
 I don't have anyone to give me a Valentine, but, it's still such a sweet and romantic affair. *sighs*
Guess I'll just have to keep on dreaming until my Valentine comes along.

What do you for Valentine's Day?

                                                                       LaKaysha

Car Accident

Don't you all start having conniption fits.
 This happened way back in 2008. lol
Nine years ago.... Wow
All this snow, and nerve-wracking drives through it and the ice got me to thinking about our accident years go.
 It was snowing, and we were on our way home from our new house which was still under construction.
 We have deep ravines and ditches along our roads (I mean, the road was built into a hill!) and they can be pretty steep....
 I remember thinking little about the snow and slush.
I was pretty young and, come on, Daddy won't let anything happen to us, right?
 Of course he wouldn't, but I was too young to know the difference between what Daddy can and can't do.
We little 'chillens' were watching 'The Apple Dumpling Gang' on our little screen that hung from the van ceiling, paying little attention to the scenery outside, when I heard my dad say something.
 I looked up and saw him desperately cranking the wheel, his face cold and urgent, and knew something bad was going on.
 The rest of the kids weren't paying attention.
All I remember is the van started sliding, I closed my eyes tight, and began praying, out loud, "Jesus, please, save us. Jesus, please save us."
 I could feel the van moving, but didn't dare open my eyes, until, for just a split second, everything was still, and I peeked my eyes open.
 Everything seemed to be flying by, and the trees were coming up fast.
I realized we were in the air, and quickly closed my eyes again.
 If we were going over, I didn't want to see.
 Then WHAM!
I heard my mom cry, "God, help us!", the crash of glass, and then I was slammed against my van door, hitting my head on the glass window.
  When I opened my eyes, Liberty's car seat was squishing me against the door, it's plastic edge hurting my shoulder, and we were leaning against a tree in the deep ravine.
 My mom only had a small cut above her eye (amazingly, you'll agree when you see where she was sitting) Daminika a small cut/rash in her neck from her seatbelt, and couple of us had whiplash.
 I remember my mom turning to look at us and kept asking if we were ok.
We kept saying yes, and then she said, "Thank the Lord!"
 Being the obedient little child I was, I promptly said, "Thank you, Lord Jesus!"
(Yes, I was a character. You ought to hear the candy story...but's that for another day.lol)
 But it had been my first brush with death.
My first realization that I could have died.
 I remember telling my mom as we waited for the ambulance, "Mommy, we could have died."
She was kind of preoccupied (rightly so, wouldn't you agree?) and just kind of said, "Yes, yes, we could have."
"But we didn't, Mommy." I couldn't really explain.
 I couldn't really describe to anyone what I was feeling then.
Only that God is really in control, and my life was in His Hands.
 It was actually a very wonderful thought, to think that nobody, not even I, had a say whether I lived or died.
 Only God.
I remember getting into the ambulance, and being a little frightened, shivering even though I wasn't really cold.
 They offered me a blanket but I shook my head silently.
The paramedics asked each one of us in turn if we hurt anywhere, and I told them my shoulder really hurt, but when they pulled my sweatshirt off to look, they saw that it was only a bruise.
 My great-aunt and uncle came to pick us all up and brought us their house, and a couple of us went down Urgent Care to get checked out better.
 But there were no serious injuries. :)

 My mom's side, where we hit the tree

And that, my friends, is why I have trouble riding or driving in the snow.
 I can't even go by that spot, snowy or not, without hearing that crash again.

But, our lives are God's Hands, and we just be careful, do the best we can. and leave the rest to Him.
 
                                                                      LaKaysha

The Ten Random Questions Tag

I was tagged by Daminika for this tag and it sounded like a lot of fun! :)

#1 What natural disaster are you most afraid of? 
Ummm... I'd have to say forest fire. (if that counts?)
 Ever since the drought and we had an outbreak of fires, I've had this thing for being burnt alive... *shudder*
 If it doesn't count, I guess I'd say tornados.... Brrr.....

#2 What is something you loved doing when you were little?
Gathering 'wheat' (grass) from the field, in great big bundles and laying them to dry out in the sun before beating them and pretending to make flour.
 I also loved playing Oregon Trail after swimming, using our beach towels as bedrolls and trekking for miles across the dusty trail, as well as playing The Oregon Trail game on my Grandpa's computer. (still do!) 

#3 If you had to change your first name, what would it be?
Well, I actually like my name... lol
 But if I were to change it, I guess I'd like something like Luana, or Beulah, maybe Eleanor ... so soft and pretty.

#4 What is something weird you do (or used to)?
hehe I'm weird all-together.....
 But I guess one strange thing I did as a child was run across blackberry bushes barefoot, just to prove that I wasn't 'a city-slicker', (the ultimate insult in my house) and oh, yes, eating ants. 
 You read that right. Ants.
 They were like sand in your teeth, and if you missed biting one, it tickled on the way down.... (Too much information?)

#5 What era would you enjoy dressing up in?
Just one?
 I LOVE historical clothing, so it'd be hard to pick only one.
1860's, 1930's, 40's and 50's are just to name a few. :)

#6 If you were to move from where you live, where would it be?
I like where I am just fine, thank you. ;)
 But if I were to move, it probably be Colorado or Wyoming. Somewhere like that, with big mountains and plenty of ranches.

#7 What is your dream vacation?
Ooooh, boy. *chuckles*
 I've got lots of places I want to visit.
A road trip across the Southwest, a cruise to the Caribbean, or traveling across Europe and Rome....
 Anywhere, really, as long as it doesn't involve too much city or people. ;)

#8 What style is your dream wedding?
 A mixture of western, retro and fairytale....
 Hey, we said we are dreaming, here, so don't judge me! ;)

#9 Favorite style of music?
Country, Crooners, and old-time rock.
 Mainly country. (Hooray for Hank Williams)
OLD country, that is. Click here, here, and here for my singers posts!

#10 Do you read more than one book at a time?
Oh, sure all the time. haha 
 Well, sometimes.
 I used to read Nancy Drew books at the same time.
I timed myself and could finish one book in a half-hour!
 I WRITE more than one book at a time. lol

And that's it!

I tag:
Julia @ The Barefoot Gal

Your questions!
#1 What style is your dream wedding?
#2 Favorite style of music?
#3 What is your dream vacation?
#4 If you were to move from where you live, where would it be?
#5 What era would you enjoy dressing up in?
#6 Cats or dogs?
#7 What era would you want to live in?
#8 If you could, which historical event would you like to witness?
#9 What's your favorite snack?
#10 What fictional character do you just LOVE?

Guidelines:Use the header if you want.
Answer the questions. 
Tag anyone you'd like to. 
Choose five of the questions you answered and make up five more of your own for the people you tagged to answer.

Baby, It's Cold Outside//Cabin Fever

Brrrrrr.......
 This freezing weather is going to be the death of me, guys.
I can't remember the last time I was warm!
 The view from my front window is pretty, gorgeous, though, and I have to admit I love snow-capped peaks.
 The neighbors fields are covered in a blanket of snow, the hills high above them, and the cows wandering about are pretty enough to paint.
 IF I had any canvas, which I don't. Shucks.
Speaking of painting, I can't recall the last time I ever put my brush against canvas, and felt the dreamy way the paint glides across it.... WAY too long.
 There is nothing more satisfying than blending strips of red, orange and yellow together to make a beautiful sunset, or mixing white onto blue to make a lovely summer sky.
(I love painting skies, ya'll)
 Waterfalls are so much fun, even when they don't end up looking like a waterfall...*makes a face*
I try. Don't judge.
I have always did a little painting, ( I can't say I do it WELL) and enjoy it, especially when I'm in my 'quiet mood', which I am in right now.
 But no canvas, so my mood will have to satisfied with a dreamy book. *picks up Louis L'Amour*
I have lots of hobbies, so you'd think I wouldn't be bored these days, even if I haven't been to church in almost four weeks....But no, I'm quite bored, actually. ;)
 I could crochet, I guess, but that gets old, and my eyes go crazy if I do it too long.
Read? Yes, there is always that, but I've read every book in the house since I was old enough to sound out 'C-A-T' so it kind of loses all source of entertainment when you can quote it front-ways and backwards.
 You can't just watch movies all day, and besides, we've finished Father Knows Best. ;)
The other night Daminika and I lost what little wits we had left and danced around our room to Alan Jackson, our cowboy hats bouncing dangerously on our heads.
 Have you attempted a line dance?
Well, I did it pitifully, let me tell you. ;)
 Felicity, being much too old and mature for such things, simply watched us make fools of ourselves.
AND sneaked a video.
 Shameful, Shameful, Shameful. *says in Gomer's voice*
Ahem. Anyways, I think I better go before I let this cabin fever get the better of me, and I start saying any crazy thing that comes to my head.
 As a side note, cows are NOT easy to paint.
I have never accomplished it. lol

What do you do for cabin fever?
                                                                                         LaKaysha

Dreams

We all have our own little wishes and dreams, don't we?
What our husbands will be like, how many kids we'll have, the color of our house, where we'll live.
 Places we'll travel to, people we'll meet....
Everyone has special secret wishes or hopes.
 I would like to share some of my own with you, if you don't mind. ;)

My wedding, first of all!

Simple, but elegant, with just the right amount of country and class.

Oh, and plenty of lilacs. Always a must. ;)

I changed my mind, (again) about the men's suits

and decided I want them to wear gray instead of blue.

A decent-sized farmhouse, not too large, not too small,

with a great big porch porch and rocking chairs.

A flower garden!

I LOVE old-fashioned flower gardens with roses and climbing vines.

And I just HAVE to have a screen door. <3

They are so gorgeous, aren't they?

A pretty, small room with a beautiful view.

Oh, and all wood floors, and braided rugs.

What's a bedroom without a dainty dressing table?

Isn't this just amazing?

My kitchen, ya'll.... *sighs*

It's one of my most dreamed-about rooms in the whole house

I want a summer kitchen, guys!

So I can do my canning and other things out of the

house during the hot weather without heating up the home, and have

the main stove open for cooking in-between canning. :)

I could go on and on, but we won't go into that.....

Again, my summer kitchen. ;)

And of course, where would this dream home be but beneath a mountain?

With an old barn for my little-ins to explore

And now we come to the places I dream of seeing someday!

I want to travel the Southwest someday, and see this great land of ours.

Just looks at that! Doesn't it look straight out of an old western?

Bodie, California.

My sister already got to visit here, but I hope to see it one day.

In fact, I dream of seeing ALL the ghost towns here! lol

The Caribbean Sea....*Sighs*

Isn't it lovely?

Crete, Greece

I grew up watching the Disney film: 'The Moon-Spinners'

which took place in Crete, and even as a child dreamed of seeing

the beautiful place, with the calm blue water and rocky hills.

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Oh, the history!

Hawaii.

This one I don't dream about as much as the rest, but it would

still be wonderful to see one day.

Ireland

Who else would like to see a real castle?

Normandy, France.

I would love to visit this place where decades before, our own soldiers

marched and gave up their lives to free the oppressed people.

Not to mention how pretty it is. ;)

There other places I would like to visit,(can't begin to name them all) and things I would like to do someday:



Ride a horse on the beach!

Oh, I want to, I want to! <3

Visit a lighthouse

Take a REAL trail ride, in the middle of nowhere,

and sit around the campfire in the evening. <3

Well, that's all I can think of for now. ;) 

What are some of your own dreams?

                                                                                          LaKaysha

My Book: What Do You Think?

I have been working on a novel for quite a few years now, although a lot has changed since I first began, and I am very slowly nearing the end...Finally!
 It needs a lot of work still, and whenever I go back to reread the first few chapters, I cringe and just have rewrite some of it.
 So it is still a working progress.

Now just some pieces here and there:

Katherine set about to make the house a home, remembering her mother’s wise words she had heard throughout her young life:

“Remember, Katherine. A home is more than clean floors and neat beds. Even if you fill the whole house with dozens of flowers and the brightest décor you can find, it will be a cold, empty home if you do not fill it with love.

Laughter, tears, joy and sorrow must all abide in a house of love, for these are the things that make up life.

And if the love of God is in every corner and crack of your empty home, it will be filled with the strength and comfort that will enable you go get through life.

Home is where God’s heart is.”

Katie embraced these words with all her being and vowed to make her house a happy, welcoming home, where the Presence of her Savior would warm every heart that entered.

Oh, yes, she had times where her selfish nature would overcome her vow, and she would allow herself a few moments of anger and frustration, but after all, to be human is to be flawed, and Katherine Renee Hayes Tucker was the first to admit that she had quite a few flaws
 

Rain pattered on the umbrellas as the small group crowded the bus station that cold, wet Tuesday morning. Carrie held Amy’s hand in her gloved one, standing stiff and without emotion while little brother Ethan slumped beside her, his hands shoved deep inside his overall pockets. Water poured from the brim of his hat that bent into the wind.

Konner pulled his own hat down over his eyes, and his face remained expressionless, his arms hanging limply at his sides.

Nolan stood close to Cole and Mama, his big brother’s bag clutched firmly in his hands, while those deep blue eyes remained bright and proud as he gazed at the tall man in front of him. He respected Cole greatly, as a son would his father, and seeing he in uniform only added to that deep affection that he had for his big brother.

The train was waiting, its engine loudly chugging as it sat at the edge of the wooden sidewalk. People were hurrying into its dry exterior; some were in uniform, and their friends and family called out greetings and goodbyes as they stood beneath their umbrellas.

It seemed as the world had given a sudden tilt, knocking them all off of their feet, and it was hard to consider getting back up.

But get up they did, and when they did stumble to their feet, they ‘came up swinging‘, as Konner would say.

Tom West immediately began orders for the shipyard in Seattle, Carl Flynn signed a contract with the Army to train horses for government use, and the young women volunteered at the local Red Cross.

What of the young men?

All the brave young men of the Valley tossed down their plows, lariats and hammers, took up their guns, and marched away to war, leaving behind tearful mothers and sweethearts.

 

Ethan tossed the wood shaving he had been fiddling with, his expression guarded.

Looking into the swaying trees and dark gray sky, he remained silent a moment, simply listening to the sounds of the snow-covered hills.

Finally he spoke. “I reckon not.”

He nudged a clod of dirt with the toe of his boot. “But then, you aren’t Papa. We really can’t ask you to be someone you’re not.”

Ethan shrugged as if uncomfortable and added, “Guess we’d better let you go on being Nolan.”

Nolan glanced down at the silent boy, a grin suddenly brightening his features as he reached to muss Ethan’s hair.

“Here I was just thinking how young you were, and then you grow right before my eyes.”

Ethan gave him a bashful smile, looking both amused and pleased at the same time.

“Come one.” Nolan clapped him on the shoulder. “Let’s go see what Mama has got on for supper. This chopping has given me an appetite.”

It still needs a lot of work, but what so you think?
 Would you be interested in reading such a novel?

                                                                      LaKaysha
 

 







The Merry and Bright Tag

I was 'unofficially' tagged by Marissa for this tag, so I thought I'd give it a try.
 (Meaning she walked up to me and literally tagged me in person, because she forgot to online. lol)

 

 



Favorite movies to watch at Christmas time:

It's a Wonderful Life
Holiday Inn
Little Women
An Avonlea Christmas
Mrs. Miniver
Shop Around the Corner

I'm sure there are lots more, but I really can't think of any?

Some Christmas songs that make me want to sing:

It's the Most Wonderful Time of Year
Silver Bells
Its Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas
Winter Wonderland 
Wonderful Christmas Time
This My Prayer for You

Some Books that I love in the Winter:
I really don't read any specific books in the winter, so I guess I'll just name a couple books that I adore in any season. ;)

Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
Little Women by Louisa May Alcott
Nancy Drew (for old-time's sake) by Carolyn Keene
Heart of India series Linda Chaikin
Shalako by Louis L'Amour
Dark Canyon by Louis L'Amour
Bendigo Shafter by Louis L'Amour

Some Christmas goodies that make me smile:

French bread and homemade cheese dish
Mocha truffles
chestnuts, almonds and other nuts, cracked with my Grandma's old nutcracker. <3
peppermint milkshake from Burgerville
hot apple cider
candy canes
sugar cookies

Some Christmas-y words that make me happy:

snow
cocoa
Jesus
manger
Merry Christmas
angels
glory

Some things about Christmas that are awesome:

The gathering of family and loved ones
sitting on the floor and gazing up at the tree
secrets and hidden presents
The joy and peace that seems to overtake the world


Favorite Christmas memories:
 
Hmm.... well, let's see.

When we used to live in the Yellow House, my big sister and I ran outdoors in our purple robes and slippers to catch the falling snow on our tongues, and I can still feel the cold on my cheeks at the memory. <3
Listening to John Denver sing as my sister and I (Felicity, again) jumped from couch to couch, and every once in a while I would cry, 'I flit, I float. I make believe I fly!'
 (Not sure if those are the right words, but that's what I said) haha
Another special memory is lying on my stomach, on my Grandma's kitchen floor, as the women stepped around us to prepare the meal, intently coloring a picture from the old Christmas coloring books and enjoying the smells and constant murmur of voices. 
 Speaking of voices, nothing takes me back like hearing my Grandpa read the Christmas Story in his low voice, so soothing and gentle, and I can close my eyes to become a little girl again.

Some Random Things that make THIS Christmas Special:

My cousin, who I never see, coming to our Warnke Christmas, and bringing his girlfriend with him!
 It so nice to meet her, and seeing him was wonderful.
My uncle Casey playing and singing for us. <3
 Hm.... Having a bedroom to sleep in makes this Christmas awesome! lol
Now I don't have to worry about my parents hanging the stockings in the living room, which is where I used to sleep. ;)

Well, that's it!
 I hope you enjoyed it, ya'll.

I tag:
Emily at Living Through Jesus 
Michaila at Mic's Room

Don't freak out.
You don't HAVE to do it. lol

                                                              LaKaysha