A New Adventure for Lily and for our family!

We took a little ride today to someplace special.  Mommie said she knew we were getting close when she saw the lighthouse in the distance!

Some of you may recognize this lighthouse as the one in St. Augustine, Florida.

Isn't it beautiful?

When we stopped the car at our destination, there it was right over my shoulder!

And then we walked up to the door of this place, this store, and guess who was there to greet us?

My big brother Benton!

I asked him, "How did you get here too?"  And he said, "Because this is our store now!!"

"What???," I said.  "How did that happen?"

He said "Because when God closes a door, He opens a window!"  (Well, he didn't really say that, but Mommie just thought of it now and thought it would go well here because that's the name of her other blog, "Closed Doors, Open Windows".  She said sometimes God closes one door to open up another door or "window" of opportunity that is even better than before.)

And so we went inside to look around and see what my big brother and my big sister (Auntie Rose) have done!  Actually, the store was already in existence, but another lady owned it and had to move away and so because my brother and Auntie Rose already were selling some of their specially made items in that store and doing very well there, they decided to take over the store when it came available.

Mommie said God made it possible for them to do this through a series of miracles and blessings and it is all very exciting.

So here are some of the beautiful things they sell in their store, which by the way is named

"Dixie Cottage". (If you have a Facebook account, you can click on that link and see more about their store there).

My brother Ben and Auntie Rose refurbish old furniture and also build some custom pieces of furniture to sell in this store.  (Refurbish is a big word Mommie told me, which means to make something like new again, to restore it and give it a new life and purpose.  Mommie said that's what Jesus does for us when we let Him come into our heart and make us brand new.)

 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17

They find these old things and they look really old and ugly, but then they sand off the old scratches and bumps and stains, and cover it with new paint and make it look beautiful again.

They also sell paints there so you can paint you own old furniture if you want.

They also have pretty knicknacks and things to make your house look pretty.

You could also come and sit on 

"The Porch" and "Sit, Relax, and Gossip", although Mommie said gossip is not a good idea...just talk and visit and laugh.  LOL.

"Be Our Guest"

Oh, look who I found working in the storage room!  Auntie Sherrie came today to help clean and get things better organized.  Auntie Rose is still working part time at her other job, so she couldn't come today, but she will be there every day she can be and hopefully full time sometime soon.

Looky at this neat pillow.  I like what it says:

"Family is everything"

This looks like a nice little spot to sit down and have a cup of tea...

This neat old "Butler's Desk" is behind the counter. I don't know if they want to sell it or not because they use it and it is an antique, but isn't it neat?

This little sign sits on top of it, and I think it is a good message to anyone thinking about making a change or doing something special...instead of being afraid to try something new...

"be afraid not to try"

My brother Benton and sister Auntie Rose were kind of afraid to try and do this, but they prayed to God and asked Him to guide them, and He showed them the way.  And so far He has been blessing this new adventure very wonderfully.  Mommie said that sometimes we might miss out on special blessings because we are too afraid to even try.  But when we put our faith in God, He will not lead us astray, and He will show us the way.  That doesn't mean you won't have to work hard or that everything will be easy, but He will help you and give you the wisdom and strength you need to do what needs to be done.

I think those are "oyster shells" on those plates, although Mommie said they are replicas made out of ceramics.  She said oyster shells are kind of ugly in the wild, but when you find one, you might be blessed to discover a beautiful and valuable pearl inside. But first you have search for it and have faith to believe and also to open the shell and see what God may have in store for you. 

Matthew7:7-11

7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9 Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? 11 If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!

This little sign says

"It is rain that grows flowers, not thunder".

Perhaps good things happen through the gentle rain of God's grace and blessings.

Yes, I think my brother Benton and my Auntie Rose feel like what this verse says:

Oh, and by the way, that cute little birdie above came from their store! Isn't it cute? She's wearing her spring bonnet.

It was a very fun visit to Dixie Cottage today. And afterwards Mommie and Daddy and I went to eat lunch at this place:

It was yummy!

Yes, I'd would say 

"The Lord has done great things for ALL of US, 

and we are filled with joy!"

Until next time,

God bless you all and be filled with joy!

Love,

Lily Grace

Oh, Mommie wanted me to show you how all of the amaryllis flowers are blooming now!

Aren't they beautiful???

God is so good!!