Marie's Sunday Six Smilemakers

Do not let the unknown future
fill you with dismay.
It is in the hands of God,
so go upon your way.
Trust in Him and have no fear.
You do not walk alone.
He leads the faithful
in the dark,
and careth for His own.
~Patience Strong

I found this little verse in one of my books and it was so fitting that I wanted to share it with you. Godd is indeed faithful and caring and while this past week has been a weekus horribilus (Not to quote the Queen or anything) it has also been a week filled with many blessings and things that brought a smile to my face and a song to my heart.



After posting my Digital Stamps on my Blossomtimes page, I have sold no less than 8 of them already. I have 3 more ready to go and will be posting them later on today. Eventually I will have converted all my images to this medium and have created some brand new ones as well. This has been so very encouraging to me. I love the thought that something I have worked so painstakingly on and created with my very own mind and hands can now be something that will give other's something to be able to create their own possibilities with. That brings me real joy!




I often go to Mormon Messages to see the films that are posted there. They are always uplifting and inspirational. I was in extra need of that this week and on one particular morning I clicked on this one that I have posted above. (I hope you will click on it as well so that you can see it too.) Entitled the Infinite Power of Hope, I found it touched my very core and gave me some much needed strength and inspiration. It made me cry, and then it made me smile. There is always hope, even in the darkest of hours. I am so grateful for a heart that believes, and a heart that hopes.



The love, prayers and emotional support I have received from all of my friends, both invisible and real, over this past few days. It is tangible and it is real and I have felt it so very keenly. It has helped to get me through those few days when I was feeling lost and it has upheld me, and strengthened me. I am so very grateful for all of it. That is what friends are for isn't it . . . it is just not for the good times, although very nice as it is then too, but it is for the bad times also . . . that is when we need our friends most of all, and I want you all to know I thank you for every scrap of it that has come and continues to come my way. I feel your love and it brings me joy.



We have decided that we are not going to pursue this same type of employment, where the job and our home are connected, again. This situation that we have found ourselves in is so very hard and difficult. We are not getting any younger and if we did take another job like this, we quite possibly would find ourselves in this same position again in another few years time and be that much older and that much more devastated and find it that much harder to begin all over again. We have really prayed about this and feel the Lord's direction. We are going to move back to Chester where we lived before we came down here. Within hours of having made that decision we had a phone call from a good friend there who has a positive line on a house for us to rent. We do not have jobs as of yet, and probably won't do, until after we have moved up there, a transition that may take several months, but we feel a peace in our hearts about this decision. It will be hard to leave our friends and church family down here, but we are going back to another church family and our old friends and we feel it is the right thing to do. We will be ok. The assurance of prayer makes me smile.



Remember the Canadian Geese Goslings that I showed you last spring that had been born at our local duck pond??? Well, they are back and they are adults now. I was so excited to see them all earlier this week! My, how they have grown. You might be saying . . . how could I possibly know it is the same ones??? Well, I don't know for sure . . . but I like to think that it is them . . . and that makes me smile!



Having this special man in my life makes me smile. Oh sure . . . there are times I find him a bit annoying, I am only human after all, as is he, but I do love him so very much and he is my everything. As long as we have each other and we have our faith, then we have all that really matters in this life. I am so very grateful for that, and for him. We are blessed beyond measure and that makes me smile. Life is filled with goodness, even when it's hard to see it through the tears.

And there you have it, my Sunday Six Smilemakers for this week. I hope that you have each found something to smile about as well!

This is my recipe for Tartar Sauce that we often have when I cook fish. It's so much better than anything you could ever buy in the shops and is very easy to make. I hope you will give it a try!




*Marie's Tartar Sauce*
Makes about 1 cup
Printable Recipe

This is an excellent sauce to be served with fish of all types. It will keep for about a week in the refrigerator. You can increase the amount of horseradish uses if you want to make it a bit snappier. I don't know why anyone would ever buy this in a jar when making it is so easy and so much tastier!

1 stalk of celery, finely chopped
2 TBS finely chopped cornichons (or sour pickles)
1 TBS prepared horseradish
2 TBS finely chopped flat leaf parsley
1/2 tsp dry mustard powder
6 TBS good quality mayonnaise (I use Hellman's or homemade)
1 tsp fresh lemon juice
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl, mixing them together well. Cover and chill for about an hour before serving with the fish of your choice. Delicious!




I made Todd a real treat yesterday. A delicious lemon flavoured steamed pudding called, "Sussex Pond Pudding." Hop on over to the English Kitchen to take a gander. It was fabulous!

I wish you all a very blessed Sunday!