{ Surviving "the Rona" }

I know COVID-19 is real and nothing to laugh about, but I still NEED to find all the FUNNY in my life that I can! My Daddy had a sense of humor, although he seemed to tell the same joke to me over and over and I HAD to laugh because, well he was my Daddy and I LOVED him to pieces and wanted to make him happy (maybe that was the beginning of my people pleaser issues?!? hmmm) Any-whoobs - that's how I'm coping with "the Rona", as I like to refer to it. And,  PLEASE don't tell Dr. Fauci that I'm finding things about it to laugh at because he's a tad TOO serious, but I know that's his job and I do appreciate him and Deborah (kinda like her name😊)

I've crocheted and ate and cleaned and ate and worked outside and napped and ate....and did I mention that maybe I've eaten a tad too much?!?!? (there's NOTHING funny at all about that part) I've done things that I NEVER even dreamed about doing, like having groceries delivered to the house, or doing grocery pick-up. What did we even do before online ordering, which might be a tad too convenient during a lockdown, isolation, quarantine, whatever we choose to call it, especially if you have Amazon Prime!  I've learned to value friendship much more and HOPE my friends know that when this is over and we can touch once again, you're in for the HUG of a lifetime! I've missed my grandkids and learned just how much even an elbow bump can fill my heart. I've come to appreciate technology and social media and funny memes and comedians. Although I'm retired,  this downtime has helped me to not be so antsy, feeling like I was on a schedule - I'm learning to relax a tad....just a tad, mind you!  And, devotions and Bible reading aren't as rushed to "get 'er done" as they once were. I'm appreciating so much all the time families are spending with one another and posting their pics on Facebook and Instagram - that my son-in-law is home with our grands and our daughter and how much fun they're having together. There's less pollution because there are fewer cars on the road and factories in operation. There is so much bad happening in our world - in our country - we're living in a time that none of us would have ever thought possible, that a deadly 'plague' would affect ALL of us in this way.  But, this definitely didn't catch God off guard. He's not surprised one bit. I hope this is giving each of us a time to reflect on our faith and what we value most!

So....what ways are you finding to cope during this pandemic sweeping the world?

💜💜💜

{ Friday Foto Friends #174 }

Happy Good Friday!

Y'all, it's been another beautiful week in East Tennessee, but as I write this on Thursday evening, we're expecting thunderstorms, rain and cooler temps the next couple of days. I've worked really hard this week outside spreading mulch and I'm almost finished, at least I'm seeing light at the end of a painful tunnel! 

😊

I've got several fotos to share that I took this week, so here goes.

After church last Sunday, Pappy and I took a drive through one of the local dogwood trails. For those of you who don't know what that is, there's a festival in Knoxville, TN, The Dogwood Arts Festival, and there are several trails throughout Knoxville marked off to drive through and look at all the gorgeous yards.

Took a few fotos of the skies this week.....

Do you see the rainbow?

And, a couple of things blooming in our own yard.....

These azaleas are about 35 years old.

Our pink dogwood.

This iris is from a really old bulb from my Mamaw's house. She had these flowers when I was just a little girl and I'm old, Y'all! I kinda like how this foto turned out.

And, that's that about that as my Mammie used to say, and I find myself saying it a bunch, too. 

(thought this graphic is applicable for Friday Foto Friends)

HOPE everybody has a blessed Resurrection Day celebration!

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{ Friday Foto Friends #173 }

It's been such a gorgeous week and I've got lots of work done outside.  Yesterday, I spread ten bags of mulch all by myself.....and lived to tell about it!

😊

We've got to pick up more mulch but I'm pretty sure I'm going to let two able-bodied young grandsons help their Nannie spread the rest of it.

Earlier this week I went to breakfast and shopping with my "sister" and took this foto of trees in the parking lot. Aren't they beautiful? I think they look like carnations. I've taken a great liking to ❤ in my old(er) age.

Pappy and I got caught in traffic so I was able to get this foto of Church Street United Methodist Church in Knoxville. The skies were so blue that day.

Such pretty flowers in the garden center at Lowe's.

I like pink, but purple is still my favorite!

💜

One last look at the tulip tree in the yard before the blooms are all gone 'till next year.

And, that's that about that as my Mammie used to say.  HOPE everybody has a great weekend!

Linking to Skywatch Friday and My Corner of the World

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{ Friday Foto Friends #172 }

HOPE spring has arrived where Y'all live.  We've had a beautiful week here, although it's still a tad chilly at night.  Yesterday was gorgeous and warm and I spent lots of time outdoors and then found that I very much needed to find myself some ibuprofen.....

ouch!

One day last week we went through a drive-thru and grabbed lunch and had a chilly picnic at Panther Creek State Park. This was the view from our table. 

The sky on the way down the highway one morning. I wasn't driving, by the way.....

And, I thought I'd show you my new to me vehicle.....

Just kidding, of course!

Or, am I?

😉

HOPE everybody has a great weekend!

Linking to Skywatch Friday and My Corner of the World

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{ Friday Foto Friends #171 }

Spring has arrived in East Tennessee and I'm loving it, especially the sunshine! I could never live in a place where the skies are gray all the time. One of my favorite things to do when I'm at Mom's is to walk over to the woods so I took advantage of the warm, sunny day recently and took a little hike to get a few fotos.

Don't you just love a bare tree against a blue sky?

I found a snail.

And, a "camo" feather.

Does anybody know if this is from an owl?

Wild violets are so pretty.

And, this is the tulip tree in our yard. It's the first year it has been full of blooms.

HOPE everybody has a great weekend!

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{ Friday Foto Friends #169 }

Hello, sweet Friends!

I find it kind of hard to believe that we've been sharing our fotos here on Friday's for over 3 years, but I'm going to have to let this one be my last.  I'm finding it more and more difficult to keep up with life in general and I feel so bad that I don't visit you all like I should.  I'll continue to post things that I feel prompted to share on the Friends of Breathing in Grace Facebook page, especially my daily gratitudes, and I also post each day on Instagram at nannie2four. 

You all just don't know how much I appreciate the friends I've made here at Breathing in Grace. There's a true camaraderie amongst bloggers that many who don't blog wouldn't understand. I'm so glad that most of us are friends on Facebook so we can still keep up with each other!

Love and hugs and prayers for each of you!

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{ Friday Foto Friends #168 }

Yesterday was one of the best days I've had in a very long time. Our grand-kiddos are homeschooled by our daughter and she decided to take a day yesterday because of the gorgeous weather and take the kiddos hiking at Ijams Nature Center and she asked me to tag along.  She didn't have to ask twice.  We hiked to what's called "The Keyhole" at Mead's Quarry and with all the issues I've had with my knee, I didn't have any trouble at all. 
God is so good!

 Here are some fotos I took along the way.

The old kilns where the rocks were heated and made into limestone. Trucks would back up to the openings to be loaded and hauled away.

Our kids on the rocks. The oldest one at the top actually climbed higher and scared the heebie-jeebies outta Nannie going up so high, especially since the rocks were so slick.

Our girl and the grand-kiddos standing in the "keyhole".

The quarry.

On the way home, we spotted the sunsphere. For my friends who are unfamiliar with the sunsphere, it's a landmark in Knoxville that was a part of the 1982 World's Fair. It's beautiful. I told Jess I hadn't been inside it in many years and she took the next exit off the Interstate and took me!

These fotos were taken from the observation deck. 

I took this one because I used to work in the TVA tower on the right.

Knoxville's very own"rainbow row"!

I ended the day staying with the kiddos while their Daddy and Momma went and got their taxes done. 

Needless to say, Nannie was a tad worn out by bedtime.....

but, happy!

HOPE everybody has a great weekend!

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{ Sit Still }

Sit still, my children! 
Just sit calmly still!

Nor deem these days, these waiting days, as ill!

The One who loves you best, who plans your way,

Has not forgotten your great need today!

And, if He waits, it's sure He waits to prove

To you, His tender child, His heart's deep love.

Sit still, my children! 
Just sit calmly still!

You greatly long to know your dear Lord's will!

While anxious thoughts would almost steal their way

Corroding within, because of His delay--

Persuade yourself in simple faith to rest

That He, who knows and loves, will do the best.

Sit still, my children! 
Just sit calmly still!

Nor move one step, not even one, until

His way has opened. Then, ah, then how sweet!

How glad your heart, and then how swift your feet,

Your inner being then, ah then, how strong!

And waiting days not counted then too long.

Sit still, my daughter! 
Just sit calmly still!

What higher service could you for Him fill?

It's hard! Ah yes! But choicest things must cost!

For lack of losing all how much is lost!

It's hard, it's true! But then, He gives you grace

To count the hardest spot the sweetest place.

~~~ J. Danson Smith ~~~

{ Friday Foto Friends #167 }

Is it really the first day of February?

  In our neck of the woods, January decided to end it's last week with snow, making it a black and white world for a day, or two!  I love snow, Y'all, and this one was perfect, with it on the ground and in the trees, but the roads were clear.  

Pappy took the first couple of fotos at Mom's house.

"The building" is what we call this little.....well, building! 😊 My Daddy built it many years ago. I love the rusted tin roof but you can't see it because of the snow.

These were taken by me here at the house and at Mom's.

The field across the road from Mom's house.

 Pappy pulled off on the side of the road on Asheville Highway and let me take this one.  It looked like a winter wonderland through the field.

And, for those of you who asked to see my Valentine shelf and crocheted garland.  I decided to put the garland on the TV cabinet in the living room. Why, yes, I do keep Christmas decorations up year-round!

And, here's the little shelf over the kitchen table.

I ♥ having this shelf to decorate for holidays and seasons.  I made the wreath many years ago and the burlap banner last year.  It makes my heart happy to have it to look at!

Well, that's that about that, as my Mammie used to say!

HOPE everybody has a Fantastic Friday and awesome weekend!

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