Yellow Photo Challenge

Sam's 1st favorite toy!
how many smiles and giggles
 we enjoyed because of it!

Gracefully Daisy

21 Suggestions for Success by H. Jackson Brown, Jr

http://www.21suggestions.com/

1. Marry the right person. This one decision will determine 90% of your happiness or misery.
2. Work at something you enjoy and that's worthy of your time and talent.
3. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.
4. Become the most positive and enthusiastic person you know.
5. Be forgiving of yourself and others.
6. Be generous.
7. Have a grateful heart.
8. Persistence, persistence, persistence.
9. Discipline yourself to save money on even the most modest salary.
10. Treat everyone you meet like you want to be treated.
11. Commit yourself to constant improvement.
12. Commit yourself to quality.
13. Understand that happiness is not based on possessions, power or prestige, but on relationships with people you love and respect.
14. Be loyal.
15. Be honest.
16. Be a self-starter.
17. Be decisive even if it means you'll sometimes be wrong.
18. Stop blaming others. Take responsibility for every area of your life.
19. Be bold and courageous. When you look back on your life, you'll regret the things you didn't do more than the ones you did.
20. Take good care of those you love.
21. Don't do anything that wouldn't make your Mom proud.

My Dear friend Raquel Shared these with me today. I really enjoyed reading through them I hope you will too.   with Love, Gracefully Daisy

This life I lead... gifts of thanksgiving #18-#24

This life I lead is beautiful ...

Daily I am amazed by the beautiful and bountiful gifts that my Savior bestows upon me in this life I lead. 

"Thanksgiving is inherent to a true salvation experience; thanksgiving is necessary to live the well, whole,fullest life." ~Ann Voskamp One Thousand Gifts

My heart flutters within me as I type this quote. I long for the fullest life and I know the One who has promised to give it to me. Could it be that I have been missing out on it because of my ungrateful heart? Could it be that I have not been living out my salvation completely because of the ungratefulness that clouds my longing to live in gratitude. Forgive me Lord...

I thank God for his grace that he so lavishly pours upon my heart and like a balm my heart is healed and gratitude begins to grow and take root...


may I continue to water it with the words of thanksgiving that I sometimes have to force out of my lips-one day they will freely flow...
the joy that exists because my heart chooses a life of thanksgiving will give me strength and daily I will 

"...sacrifice thank offerings, preparing the way so that God will show me his salvation"-Psalm 50:23 

#18 receiving a letter from the Love of my life describing the beautiful memories we have mad in our 1247 days of marriage
 #19 a talk on the phone with my best friend
#20 the sweet rest after long days of work
#21 snuggles and giggles with my little man
#22 for Salvation that is a gift of grace
#23 for a home in which we can share with friends
#24 discovering truths in One Thousand Gifts which I received from my love for Mother's Day

Gracefully Daisy

Book Review: Beyond all Measure by Dorothy Love

Ada Wentworth arrives in Hickory Ridge, Tennessee after answering an ad for a job with a  plan in mind to salvage her meager finances.She is a young Bostonian that leaves all that is familiar to her and steps into a town that is still rebuilding itself after the Civil War. She took a step into the unknown driven by shame, heart ache, and loneliness after a broken engagement without explanation. She arrived by train  expecting to be picked up by Hannah but encounters Wyatt instead -her boss who has hired her to care for Lillian, a strong willed old lady set in her ways! She soon discovers that she was hired to assume all the chores of the household as well as care for Lillian. Ada's expectations soon begin to change as she embraces her new job and finds her heart opening up to love, to Hickory Ridge and to the new people in her life. Tension rises when Ada takes under arm a mulatto orphan by helping her with her school lessons. Despite the threats Ada continues to help the orphan and after Lillian passes away she finds herself alone again and a crossroads.In running away from her past, she realizes she must face it and and give it over to God, trusting him to heal her heart so that she embraces  the new future He has prepared for her.


The historical setting of this book, the rebuilding time after the civil war parallels the rebuilding that is happening in Ada's heart. This book reminds me that we must trust God with all the areas of our life. We can't hold on to unforgiveness and expect our heart to heal after it has been hurt. It was an inspiring story that left me wanting to learn more about Ada and look forward to reading the other books about Ada.





Gracefully Daisy

Floral Photo Challenge

Great Nature not to disappoint
Awaiting Her that Day --
To be a Flower, is profound
Responsibility -- by Emily Dickinson

Gracefully Daisy

Book Review: Matar a Lutero

Matar a Lutero es una obra ficción acerca de un corto tiempo en la vida de Lutero. Durante la primera parte de este libro vemos a Lutero huyendo después de su famosa defensa en la Dieta de Worms.  La segunda parte comienza con la  llegada al Castillo de Wartburg Y el trabajo que emprende mientras está escondido. En la tercera parte vemos los resultados de sus decisiones y como responde a la situación que se ha desarrollado en Alemania durante su ausencia.

Aunque he escuchado la historia de Lutero nunca la he estudiado detalladamente. Este Libro ha sido para mí una buena introducción que me impulsa a estudiar la vida de este hombre de fe. Porque es una obra de ficción y no estoy muy bien familiarizada con la historia se me hizo difícil distinguir que era ficción y que era realidad. En mi opinión pude captar aunque sea un vistazo de cómo era la vida cotidiana de aquellos tiempos. La pasión que salta de las páginas del libro me ayudo a entender cuanto arriesgaba Lutero en esa época y cuan necesaria era la reforma. Leer este libro abrió una puerta para aprender más acerca de estos hombres de fe que arriesgaron su vida para que la palabra de Dios fuera accesible a todos. 

Recomendaría este libro.

Now in English:

Matar a Lutero(To Kill Luther), is a fictional work about a short time in the life of Martin Luther. During the first part of this book we see Luther running for his life after his famous defense them at the Diet of Worms . The second part begins with his arrival to at the Wartburg Castle where he begins his exile and begins to work on translating the New Testament. In the third part of this book we see the results of his decisions and how he responds to the situation in Germany during his absence.

Even though I had heard the story of Luther I had stopped to study it in detail. This book has been a good introduction that impulses me to study more about the life of this man of faith. Because it is a fictional work and I am not completely familiar with the history it became difficult for me to distinguish between actual history and fiction. In my opinion I was able to capture a glimpse into everyday life of those times. The passion that jumped at me from the pages of the book helped me to understand how much was at stake for Luther and how imperative the reform was. Reading this book opened a door through which I will walk through to learn more about these men of faith who risked their lives so that the word of God could be accessible to all. I would recommend this book.

Gracefully Daisy

Giving Thanks To God For He is Good

So full of gratitude for all the blessings the Lord rains down on us! Lord, help us to always be grateful...

Psalm 9:1[ Psalm 9 ] For the director of music. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” A psalm of David. I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart; I will tell of all your wonderful deeds.

8-For the rain that helps our plants grow

9-For the beauty of  Spring in bloom 

10-For creativity also in bloom

11-For Friendships that bring joy to our lives  

12-For family vacations on the beach so longed for

13-For  a wonderful husband and a beautiful  son
14-For moments to cherish in pictures
15-for strolls on magnificent beaches
16-for peace in our hearts
17-For Love that surpasses our understanding...

Gracefully Daisy