This is not my backyard, but the chiminea closely resembles the one I got for Mother's Day!  Mine is on a three legged stand not a four.  I was so surprised when I opened my back door on Sunday morning and saw the clay fireplace standing out in the middle of my yard!!  I was jumping, screaming, clapping and smothering my Donnie with kisses!  I was truly astonished!  You see, Donnie is not so good at Mother's Day or Birthday's and such, but he sure scored real big this Mother's Day!

    Actually, it was a great weekend.  Saturday, I got up and chopped onions, peppers and sliced strawberries, in preparation for a meal that I was helping with.  There is a ministry called Semilla, Spanish for seed.  The gentleman who runs this ministry goes to my church.  The vision of this ministry: "To stimulate the reformation of Latin America by offering a Biblical critique of our culture and by cultivating mature servant-leaders equipped with professional tools, a Biblical worldview and an international peer network."  You can look them up at www.semilla.org   Anyway, I love helping them out with a celebration for Latino graduates of Regent University.  Of course, this is only once a year, but it sure is fun.  That is an all day thing.  I think I got home about 10:30 p.m.  I was tired, but I had a blast!

     Then the next morning--my chiminea!  Yipee!!  After church, Donnie grilled up some steaks he had marinating in the frig--it was a delicious meal.  He told me to go and take a nap because I was still tired from Semilla, so I was an obedient  wife--I took a nap!  I then did my Bible study homework.  Marianne came and picked me up and off to our Women's Bible Study we went.  It was a great study, too.  We are studying the book of Isaiah.  When I arrived home, Donnie already had Masterpiece Theater on for me.  So, my day was fantastic!  I do hope yours was, too!

     Today, Seth and I have been taking it kind of easy.  It has been cold and rainy here in Virginia.  We played this morning and then decided to do our schooling lessons.  Seth wanted to break into a Weather Science Kit he got for Christmas, so we did.  I think the recent tornadic storms in our area have perked up his interest.  It was fun!  School was fun today.

     I then straightened the house and decided to fix some Chicken 'n Dumplings for supper.  It is so wet and cold outside that this nice hot "comfort" meal was just what we needed.  It did turn out good, even though I say so myself.  It sure hit the spot and warmed us up.  That is the jest of my day and wonderful weekend. 

     I have been so depressed and out of it-that a weekend like this one was and still is a blessing!  I think that just because something was done for me and me alone has boosted my spirit up considerably!  I have felt truly loved and needed these past few days.  Now, I know that I am loved and needed, but I sure have not felt like it much as of late.  Sometimes, even stay at home moms need a little fussing over by her family.  I do try to do things for myself every once and awhile.  Like a nice salts bath; a cuppa tea and a good magazine or book; some fresh cut flowers on my diningroom table.  But, it sure was nice to have something done FOR me for a change.  I had nothing to do with it.  I just sat, teared up and enjoyed all the fuss!  I desparately needed this.....Thank you. Father in heaven, for this wonderful weekend....you knew just what I needed!  I praise you and your name!  Amen!