Happy Memorial Day!!!

Dear Readers,

Happy Memorial Day! So let us celebrate the brave men and women who have lain down their lives to make this nation free! Let us not take advantage of our liberty, and let us all remember what this holiday is really about!

Hats Off!

by

Henry Holcomb Bennett

Hats off!

Along the street their comes

A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums,

A flash of colour beneath the sky:

Hats off!

The flag is passing by.

Blue and crimson and white it shines,

Over the steel-tipped ordered lines.

Hats off!

The colours before us fly;

But more than the flag is passing by.

Sea-fights and land fights, grim and great,

Fought to make and save the State:

Wear marches and sinking ships;

Cheers of victory on dying lips;

Days of plenty and years of peace;

March of the strong land's swift increase;

Equal justice, right, and law,

Stately honour and reverend awe;

Sign of a nation, great and strong

To ward her people from foreign wrong:

Pride and glory and honour, -all

Live in the colours to stand or fall.

Hats off!

Along the street there comes

A blare of bugles, a ruffle of drums;

And loyal hearts are beating high:

Hats off!

The flag is passing by!

God Save the Flag

by

Oliver Wendell Holmes

Washed in the blood of the brave and the blooming,

Snatched by the altars of insolent foes,

Burning with star-fires, but never consuming,

Flash with broad ribbons of lily and rose.

Vainly the prophets of Baal would rend it,

Vainly his worshippers pray for its fall;

Thousands have died for it, millions defend it,

Emblem of justice and mercy to all:

Justice that reddens the sky with her terrors,

Mercy that comes with her white-handed train,

Soothing all passions, redeeming all errors,

Sheathing the sabre and breaking the chain.

Borne on the deluge of old usurpations,

Drifted our Ark o'er the desolate seas,

Bearing the rainbow of hope to the nations,

Torn from the storm-cloud and flung to the breeze!

God bless the Flag and its loyal defenders,

While its broad folds o'er the batte-field wave,

Till the dim star-wreath rekindle its splendors,

Washed from its stains in the blood of the brave!

Again, happy Memorial Day, everybody!

May the Lord bless your day!

Your sister in Christ,

Grace

Summer!!!

Dear Readers,

This is going to be a very short post, but I just wanted to celebrate that SUMMER BREAK is around the corner!!! I only have two days left which include History Final Exam and Science Final Exam. I am somewhat nervous, but am praying that I will remember all of this year's information! So tell me how many days you have!!!

Yours in Christ,

Grace

Of Yarn and Crocheting Part II

Oh, thank you so much for the sweet comments that you left on my post about the flowers that I crocheted. I will definitely post a tutorial soon. Well, I had a few spare hours this evening while I was watching my Mom play Nancy Drew game and decided that I shall use that time productively by making a soap bag. :) (Yes, very productive to be sure*wink*) Here are some pictures:

Mmmmm, a handmade soapbag and hand crafted Lilac soap. Wouldn't that make a lovely giveaway? In fact, I am thinking that would make a simply marvelous one indeed:).

Do any of you know how to crochet?

Maybe I shall post a tutorial of that too just as soon as someone can help me video the process:)

Hope all of you are having a simply lovely day!

With lots of love and hugs from your sister in Christ,

Forgotten Awards

Dear Readers,

I am so sorry for letting my awards pile up! I have been really busy. My mom had a minor surgery today (they had to extract her tooth:( so I have been busy taking care of her, but now she is doing pretty well:).

Well, the first one here is made by Isiah 40:31 from Liz Darcy

I will award this to:

Miriam from "Maidens of Virtue"

Grace from "The Upper Road"

Jenna from "Where the Heart Remains"

Leah from "The Narrow Path"

Bess from "Bess Bag"

And Shannon from "A Bright Light in a Dark World"

You girls deserve it:)

Bess from Bess Bag awarded both of the following awards:

This award comes with a tag.

Instructions:

Answer the 10 questions your tagger made up, make up 10 other questions, and award six bloggers!

Okay, Bess asked this:

1. Have you ever swam in the sea? Why, yes, yes I have, and I love it. Our waters are pretty safe here in the mid-southern CA! I LOVE boogy(really funny word) boarding!
2. What is your favorite book in the Bible? Hehe do I have to choose? I like Ruth, Esther, Matthew, and Proverbs:) Can that be counted as one answer?
3. Do you have a favorite baby name for a boy/and or girl? Tell us! Well...for a girl: Rachel, Felicity, Elizabeth, Abigail, and JoyAnna oh, and maybe Noel! For boys on the other hand, I like...David, Edmund, Edward, I have a lot of other girl's names:)
4. Where's your favorite place? Can be specific or general.... Umm, I have a lot of favorite spots: I love my room, Yosemite (Happy Isles specifically), Monterey, and Disney Land!!!
5. When and why did you become a Christian? I grew up with a Christ-filled parents, church, Christ-filled friends, and school. I became a Christian at a young age and am very happy:)
6. Name a fav. movie. I do not think that I can name them all, but you can see most of my fav. movies on my profile.
7. What's something in your closet wardrobe you love? I love my pj's and SKIRTS and DRESSES!!! (I'm so old-fashion:)
8. Tell us something interesting, wacky, or unusual about yourself. Hehehehe (dry laugh) Um, I like the smell of wet cement? I do not know. Oh, I do know when something is wrong when I put the milk in the cabinet:) Or when my toothpaste tastes weird (that's when I know I have a cold) Is that unusual enough?
9. Which is your fav. Psalms or Proverbs? Both:)
10. Have you dreamed of being a princess? Yes, yes, YES!!

My questions are:

1. What is your fav. activity to do in summer?
2. What is your fav. subject in school?
3. Which do you prefer crocheting, knitting or sewing?
4. Do you have a hope chest? If so what is your fav. object in it?
5. Do you like writing letters?
6. Do you like writing stories?
7. Are you familiar with Road to Avonlea or Lark Rise to Candleford?
8. What is your fav. plant or flower?
9. How long have you kept your blog?
10. And what do you want to be when you grow up?

I will award this to...

All of the girls that I listed above. Oh, and be sure to visit all of their wonderful blogs:)

I love this award and am awarding it to all of you readers!!!! My blog would definitely not be the same with such great readers like you:)

Soli Deo Gloria,

Grace

Giveaway at Feelin Feminine!!!!

Dearest Readers,

Go check out the loveliest giveaway at Feelin Feminine! The winner shall receive a lovely tea cozy!!!! (squeal) I have always wanted a tea cozy! :)

Hope you are having a wonderful day! Hopefully, I shall be posting a tutorial that you requested of the crocheted flowers (just as soon as I film it:)

Your sister in Christ,

Grace

Of Yarn and Crocheting

Hello, dearest readers!!! Hope that everyone is having a lovely spring day!

Well, I have not posted my current projects in a long time so here are a few:

I made the blue and pink flowers in about an hour. They are quite easy; you just need to know the double crochet, half double crochet, and triple crochet. Perhaps I will have to post a tutorial soon including one explaining how to knit a headband. Would you like that?

Here is a photo of the yarn I bought to-day called Peaches n' Cream (pink and from Walmart) and Sugar n' Cream (blue and from Michelles). I think that they are by the same company, but am not sure.

May you have a blessed day!

Best Regards from Your Sister in Christ,

Welcome Friends from the Acedemic Fair!!!

This post is specifically for my friends who are seeking my stories from the acedemic fair.

Well, first of all I want to tell you WELCOME!!! I hope you enjoy your visit!

You can find

The King's Daughter Part I by clicking HERE,

Part II by clicking HERE

and you can find

The King's Quest Part I HERE and

Part II HERE.

Enjoy, oh, and please comment that you stopped by!

Your sister in Christ,

Modest Fashion Week

Dear Readers,

There's going to be a Modest Fashion Week at Simple Delights!!!!

I am so excited because I just bought a denim skirt the other day. So go check it out by clicking on the picture above.Hope everyone is having a wonderful day!

Your loving sister in Christ,
Grace

Awards, Tags, and Bloggers, Oh My!!!!

I am sooooo sorry for letting this pile up. I have had a lot of my blogging sisters award me.

Dearest Jenna from Where the Heart Remains awarded this sweet award:

I posted it on my Writing Blog and I will award this to:

Johanna from "An Old-Fashion Girl"

Kendra from "Ismikendra"

Miriam from "Maidens of Virtue"

Miss Grace from "The Upper Road"

Leah from "The Narrow Path"

And I know that you have already been awarded this but I shall also award

Lindsay from "Content in Christ,"

Bess from "Bess Bag"

You girls are the sweetest, and I always enjoy your comments!

Bess awarded me this and with it a tag:)

Instructions: List five random facts about yourself

Award five stylish blogging friends

Okay well...

1. I have petted a penguin and have swam with the dolphins!

2. I know a lot of the Disney princess songs by heart:)

3. I am usually a swim teacher's assistant in the summer and get a lot of great perks doing that job even though I am not paid:)

4. I was in a comercial for a summer break bus pass last year!

5. I have always dreamed of touring Europe.

Okay, I am really not sure that these facts are actually random, but you get the idea:)

And now I am awarding this too....

Any of my followers who comments that they want this award

Bess, Johanna, and Liz Darcy (Isiah 40:31) all awarded me this fun award!

I also pasted this one on my writing blog

About this award:

A prolific blogger is one who is intelectually productive, keeping up on an active blog with enjoyable content, after accepting this award, the recipients are asked to pass it forward to 7 other deserving blogs.

Well, I think most of the authors of the blogs I follow have received this award, so I am going to award this to some of the people who I am not follower of their blogs just to say thank you for following my blog!

Okay, I will award this to, how about...

Megan from "The Life of a Twelve Year Old,"

Miss Antoinette K. from "Pratical Simplicity"

Ashley Nicole from "Bramblewood Fashion"

Seriena from, "Seriena's Photography Blog"

Kimmi from "Kimmi's Corner"

Lizzy from "Tales of A Godly Maiden"

And Zara from "Maidens throughout the World."

Thank you, girls for following my blog!

Hope you are enjoying this lovely spring weather!

Your truly,

Happy Mother's Day!!!!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY!!!!!!

I wrote an acrostic for my mom!

Most wonderful person

Official best hugger:)

The best listener

Hard worker

Efficient Housewife

Righteous woman

Proverbs 31:28-31

Her children arise up, an call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her. Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands; and let her own work praise her in the gates.

To My Mother

by

Robert Louis Stevenson

You too, my mother, read my rhymes

For love of unforgotten times,

And you may chance to hear once more

The little feet along the floor.

My Mother

by

Ann Taylor

Who dressed my doll in clothes so gay,

And fondly taught me how to play,

And minded all I had to say?

My mother.

Who ran to help me when I fell,

And would some pretty story tell,

Or kiss the place to make it well?

My mother.

Who taught my infant lips to pray,

And love God's holy book and day,

And walk in wisdom's pleasant way?

My mother.

Mom

by

me

Three simple letters

with a meaning so strong

And a person who I will love, all the days long.

So go over to Bess's Blog and tell your mom how much you appreciate her!

Love always,

Grace

P.S. Here is a Mother's Day gift that you can make:

Spoil your mother with a manicure and pedicure!

Click here for my Lavender Linen Spray!

My Famous Lavender Soak:

1 1/2 cp. Epson Salt

Sprinkle of Lavender

A few drops of lavender oil

Mix altogether in a bowl and pour into a glass jar (may fill two) and tie with a bow! And that's it!

Directions: Fill a bowl big enough to put both feet in with warm water. Sprinkle salt in warm water, stir so it dissolves.

For extra happiness, rub your mom's feet while they are soaking in this heavenly soak.

Sugar Scrub

Sugar

Olive Oil

Lemon Juice

Mix altogether until it has a gritty consistency (not too watery, nor too dry)

Slather on feet and rub

Rinse in Lavender Soak

Happenings In My State Capitol Part II

Dear Readers,

Hope that everyone has had a lovely week! Now I have a lot of pictures that I took, so this will be a long post, but I do hope that you enjoy all the pictures! So sit back relax, and enjoy a tour of the Capitol's Rose Gardens and the Beautiful Architecture of the building itself.

Roes and roes of ROSES!!! I think that this is probably my favourite, but I cannot choose!!! Ooooo, this is one of the very first ones that I took, and I LOVE it!!!

Make it PINK!

And another one of my top favourites: And Purple ones too! These ones smelled delicious! Red roses, Red roses!!!

I took this one on my back! Read about this tip from a Costco magazine!!!

And the beautiful pillars:

Now let's take a tour inside, shall we?

Inside the Senate Chamber Room; I love the chandeliers!

I think this was a cool picture: Let's take a trip downstairs, shall we?A statue....

This closeup is rather haunting, no? This is the inside of the Dome

Not blurry....

..... And blurry.... This was such a cool nearby building that I had to capture a picture at this angle. Sorry that this is blurry (I had it on macro setting), but here is an idea of how beautiful and big the rose garden was.

Well, I hope that you enjoyed our tour. And please, feel free to leave a comment telling me which picture of the roses that you liked best! Hope everyone is having a wonderful day full of spring blessings!!!!

Your Sister in Christ,

P.S. Oh, thank you so much for your prayers of safe travel and for my sister. I do not think that I can express how much they are appreciated.

Happening in my State Capital

Dear Readers,

Well, I am afraid that I come to you with empty hands (more like with no pictures of the capital building). Tommorow I will, for I will be attending to the National Day of Prayer with my family at the Capital Building after my brother-in-law's memorial.

Thank you so much, readers, for all of your prayers for safety for my family and I. Please keep my sister in your prayers still too. Your prayers are much appreciated, and it is always a comfort to know that I have blogging sisters!

Well, last post was my 50th post, and today I received my 50th follower!!! Unfortunately, I do not have a giveaway, but am planning one (as I promised) and am going to set up a poll to see what ya'll would like. Though, any suggestions would be nice too!

I am very fatigued from the day's events. Here's what we did:

I got up at 6:00 A.M. (well, basically. I think I really got up at 6:30)

We traveled five hours to Sacramento. (But we had to stop at a Starbucks to get a Chai Latte':)

Ate lunch at Whole Foods around noon.

When we arrived at the capital, we checked into the hotel and started to walk around.

We went shopping, and I found a lovely denim skirt at Macy's; I had been looking for one for awhile (Do not get me started on skirts and dresses! All I can say is THESE STYLES THESE DAY!!!! (short skirts and dresses all sleevless, UGH!!!)

We ate dinner at one of my favourite restaurants called P. F. Changs. It is a yummy Chinese food restaurant with great, frest food! Oh, you must try it if you have one around you.

And now, I am here, typing away on my trusty (well, most of the time) computer.

Well, that is my day's account, and I will be posting some pics soon!

Hope you are having a lovely day!

Your Sister in Christ,

Planning a Trip

Dear Readers,

Hello Everybody!!! I hope that everybody is having a great Sunday!!!

Oh, my giveaway has been soooooooo much fun!!! I am so glad that everybody enjoyed themselves, and I wanted to thank all of the people who entered my giveaway.

This week is going to be so busy, and it has not even started. I cannot even believe I am having time to write this!!!!

Well, part of the busyness is because my family and I are in preparation for a small trip to our state capital, Sacramento for my brother-in-law's memorial; he was a CHP officer in Santa Barabra and was killed in an accident on October 29, 2010 (please pray for my sister and my niece).

We are staying in a hotel that is right across from the capital building! I will definintely post some pictures of the Capital Building while I am staying there, and I am so glad that we are taking this laptop!

Your prayers for safe passage with be much appreciated by the whole family. Thanks so much!

Have a wonderful Sunday, dearest Readers!

In Christ,

Grace