~MEMORIAL SERVICE~

Thank you all for your kindness to my family as we grieve the loss of our beloved father.  As I shared with you a few days ago, he passed away on February 20, 2014.

The Memorial Service for Rev. William Edgar Elliott will be this Thursday, February 27, 2014 at Lake Overholser Church of the Nazarene in Bethany, Oklahoma, at 10:30AM.  Flowers can be sent to the church and notes of condolence can be mailed to my home address:

ELLIOTT FAMILY

c/o Nelson

1400 Briarwood Drive

Edmond, OK  73034

Thank you again for the outpouring of love and compassion.  It means so much to my family and I.  I hope someday to repay you.

Love,

~FIRST DAY IN HEAVEN~

William Edgar Elliott

March 4, 1930 - February 20, 2014

My beloved father went home to be with Jesus early yesterday evening after more than a decade long battle with dementia.  Although our hearts are broken, we rejoice he is now in heaven encircled by those who have passed on before him and the God he has loved so much.

To those of you who have shared in my heartbreak over the years, read my writings, sent notes, left comments, made visits, etc., I can't begin to thank you.  Your kindness to me and my family has helped forged friendships that will last a lifetime.

Please pray for us as we plan the going-home-celebration of my daddy's life.  It is our hope and deepest desire to make him proud.

Love,

~HOSPICE~

Over five years have passed since I first began sharing with you stories of my beloved father...  As a preacher-man, I was blessed to live with an amazing man, one whom I love and will always adore.  Forever and always he will be only one thing.

My Daddy.

The journey of my father's life with dementia and the accompanying twelve year long goodbye is about to come to an end.  My father is in his last days of life and HOSPICE was called in today to assist our family.

We are praying for a gentle, pain free passing.

The picture above was taken by my mother in 1956.  My father was 26 years old at the time, a bit cocky and crazy-handsome.   She told me this evening that this is how she still sees him in her heart.  He would have been 84 on March 4th.

Please pray for Mom.  Today was a difficult day for her and the choices she had to make just broke her heart.

Mine, too.

Thank you for your kindness and for lifting us up to the Father.  His grace and peace are covering us and we are sustained by His love.

Love,

 

~PEACE THIS VALENTINE'S DAY~

Celebrating LOVE today in it's purest form.

I hope your day is wonderful and filled with hugs, kisses and lots of love and affection.

Yesterday was a tough day visiting my beloved father in ICU.  He's hooked up to machines and he remains unresponsive.

  (Thank you to those of you who stopped by yesterday and for your kindness and prayers towards my family.)

My heart is broken.

I was hoping my dad would wake up so I could see his beautiful eyes again and he could see my children as they stood by my side...

He'd be so proud of them and the amazing human beings they've become.

Before we left for the evening we all held hands and I prayed over the man who did the same for me so many times.  My mind raced back to the time when I was four and in the hospital with some blood disorder.  He was my rock.  He was strong.  He was my hero.

I remember the sound of his deep melodic voice and the prayers he prayed over me as I cried in his arms and begged to go home.

If I could have crawled up onto the hospital bed and laid beside my father I would have.  Instead, I held his right hand and kissed his lips and white whiskery cheeks.  I breathed in long and slow before asking God to show mercy upon His humble servant, William, and bring peace to his long suffering mind and body...

Peace.
In whatever form God sees best to send it.

For as long as I live I will miss the tiny box of chocolates my father left for me each and every Valentine's Day morning and the little "I LOVE YOU" cards scribbled out in his distinctive hand.  Although not without flaw, he will always be perfectly imperfect in my eyes and I will forever remain a blessed daughter.

Blessings as you remember that

LOVE NEVER FAILS.

(I Corinthians 13:8 NIV)...

Love to you~

~MY FATHER~

My son, Brandon, and I are on our way to Mercy Hospital in Oklahoma City to see my father.

I would so appreciate it if you will pray for my mother, my siblings, our entire family... He's currently in ICU.

 

Over the past five plus years I've shared often about my beloved dad and his great love for God and family.  He's been a preacher-man for my entire life and I can't help but wonder if the time is drawing near when he will collect his reward for his faithful service to the Most High.  For over a decade he's been living incarcerated in a local nursing home.  He's been ready to meet His Savior for so long now...

Thank you in advance for your kindness and prayers.  They mean so much to me.

Love,

~END OF AN ERA...~

Shirley Temple Black...

What an amazing lady.

Gone but never forgotten.

Always in our hearts.

Love to you...

~FORGET THAT BLUE~

A couple of weeks ago I shared some photos with you of a little chest of drawers I painted while taking a local class.  Well...now I'm showing you how it looks today!  Gone is the BLUE (just couldn't handle it, I'm afraid!) and today it is a soft white with a hand rubbed finish.  Couldn't resist adding some vintage French graphics and love how the original wooden knobs look with just a hint of dark wax.

The blue just had to go.

((BLUE-BYE-YOU!))

Honestly...the piece was a bear to redo.  In the future I'll be sticking with neutral tones and I'm going to let my fellow-booth-friend, Jared, offer stuff up with color.  :)

Tomorrow it's supposed to be freezing here in my town and then on Saturday the weather guy is forecasting a 70 degree day.  It's all so crazy, isn't it?

Love to you~

~TATTERED APRONS MADE FROM WHAT?~

We are snowed in here in Oklahoma.  Love it when the fluffy white stuff falls from the sky on a day when I don't have to work!  

Stopping in today to show you what I've been working on.  In 2012 I began offering Tattered Aprons for sale on my REBECCA VINTAGE - A Gathering Place website and when they all sold out I just never got around to making any more.  What is it that they say about our 'best laid plans?'  Sometimes I hate it that so many ideas pop in and out of my mind so quickly.

But, it is what it is...WBS!

(Wandering Brain Syndrome)

The apron above was made using new black and cream French Ticking Stripe.  Love that fabric because it goes with all the neutral colors that are so popular today.  Added some vintage crochet lace and linen accents and a big side pocket.

This one was fun to make.

This one was actually fashioned from laundered linen in a light colored taupe.  Originally it was a skirt that had been dry cleaned.  Nothing is wrong with dry cleaning linen, but this one was over-starched and pressed and looked like a piece of cardboard when I found it.  Once the skirt was washed and dried it ended up being perfect for a makeover.  Extra linen/cotton fabric was added for both the neck and back ties.

If you love white like MOI then this one will probably be your favorite.  Fashioned from laundered cotton, a french graphic pocket was added, crochet lace and a flounce made from a simple cotton (lined) skirt.  I love it when I can find gently loved clothing that can be transformed into something fun and new!

Can't begin to tell you how much I'm enjoying my 'almost back to normal life' again.  Funny thing is...with all the snow today my Mr. AGPMan didn't have to go into the office.  Since he works at a college when the school closes he gets to work from home!  Yeah....

Hoping you survive the frosty days.

Spring will be here soon!

Love to you...

~A VINTAGE TATTERED LAMP~

I found this really charming vintage cherub lamp at a tag sale over a year ago and just fell in love with it.  It was taken apart to rewire and while it was laying in pieces I gave the brass covered pot-metal a makeover with several colors of chalk paint.  A dark wax was applied with a soft brush and then buffed out to a low-luster sheen.

 Reworking the shade was a bit of a challenge for me because I didn't want another lace-covered shade in the guest room (even though I love them).  One of those is enough.

I decided to add tattered strips of soft white linen fabric over the wire shade form, knotting them at the lower rim.  All the original shade fabric was removed and I didn't waste time painting it.  Once the fabric is attached you can't even see the metal...but, you could paint it if you want.

I added a linen tie/bow around the top, but plan to remove it as I actually like this one plain...

Hope you are all having a great week.  The weather is crummy here like it is across most of America.  I can't wait for spring...  That said, I'm TRYING to enjoy each and every Season this year and not rush life.

It's clicking by super fast as it is!  

Blessing and love to you.