Knoxville Unites 11.11.11 and Angelic Ministries of Knoxville

Ever had an evening of your life that feels like something of destiny - but you can't quite put your finger on why?

I did, tonight.

My son-in-law, artist Jonathan Howe (married to my daughter Sarah)had this downtown art show on his schedule. Sarah and he got the idea, after reading my blog post about Angelic Ministries, to make his art show not just an art show, but also a fund raiser for this wonderful ministry. This decision was made, and cleared with the Art Show Powers That Be....oh, a little over a month ago.

In about six weeks, they came up with the name for the event - "Knoxville Unites 11.11.11"; they were able to meet with the leadership of Angelic Ministries, procure business sponsors from businesses in Harvest Church, plus television coverage (my friend Liz Overton rocks!), and radio spots. They sent out a mass mailing of invitations, secured a musician to play some live music, and put the word out on Facebook.

Huge amounts of food and drink were purchased and donated, and paintings (and paintings...and more paintings...) were hauled to the Emporium, in downtown Knoxville. Nametags were printed up for those of us helping out for the evening, and all that was left to do was to trust God for the results.

Jonathan, the "ar-teest" (the young guy in the middle), visiting with guests...

The paintings on display were a combination of breathtaking landscapes, and portraits of men and women. Beside each and every portrait was a story in that person's own words of their "faith journey" (read: their testimony of Jesus Christ).

Yeah. Art show turned fund raiser turned outreach for the Gospel. Totally my kind of evening. God multi-tasks so much better than I do.

The live music was incredible, if I do say so myself. (My son Josiah played acoustic guitar almost allllllll evening long...both solo, and with some duet acoustic help from a friend...)

My daughter Hannah was all dressed up, and professionally yet warmly greeted each one of the many guests that attended the art show.

Angelic Ministries had a table containing a display with very detailed print and visual information on their ministry.

Angelic Ministries needs both donations and volunteers. Right this moment, this comprehensive and important ministry needs about $130-150K to bring their warehouse-building up to code so they can keep doing what they do. They are 501C3, so your contributions are tax deductible.

Angelic's display, and behind it, you can see one of Jonathan's paintings...that painting of the little boy usually hangs in the foyer of our church.

My Preacher (on the right) who just got back from Cambodia last week and is still jet lagged - talking with Tony (left) - Tony is the leader of Angelic Ministries, working hard, six days a week, to train volunteers and to mend broken lives.

A big shout-out and thank you to my sister, Lynn Smith, and her friend Sabrina...they put hours and hours of work into the organizing and execution of this event. They rocked it. The food table was beautiful, the service was splendid, the organization was seamless.

I'm still not sure exactly what it was about tonight that whispered the words "Divine Appointment"
and "Destiny" in my spirit. I met lots of people. I reconnected with lots of people. I am sure God touched some hearts and lives in that place tonight...

Knoxville Unites. That was the name Sarah and Jonathan gave to this art event. They plan on doing it all again next year - uniting this community to get behind Angelic Ministries.

Maybe that is part of the destiny I am sensing...God is positioning His hand-picked ones, those who are serving, and will continue to serve, this city with integrity and love...

...for the Kingdom's sake.

Only He is Wonderful

(by the way, I have this necklace!)

"Open my eyes, Lord, to behold wonderful things out of thy law."

"...and His name shall be called WONDERFUL..."

Jesus Christ was the plan of God from before the foundation of the world. The law was/is meant to point us to HIM. What do you think are the "wonderful things" we need a supernatural opening of our eyes to even be able to see?

Our own ability to keep said law, in order to be blessed? I think not.

If that was the wonderful thing we were to discover, "all the blessings that are ours IF we keep God's law"....well, we will never be blessed, friend. On our best day, living our "best life now", we are under a curse if we look to the law in any way, shape, form or fashion for our right standing with God. Read the covenant in force today.

The only wonderful things there are to behold in the law: the character and nature of God, as fully manifested in the face of Jesus Christ. The law was a temporary measure, to be fulfilled in the fulness of time, and meant to be our schoolmaster to point us to Christ, and to the fact that we NEED His obedience (righteousness) to be credited to us by faith.

The law as the standard of righteousness? Yes.

The law as a means of righteousness? No.

He Alone is Wonderful.

Granny Chic - Interior Design

Did you know there is a style that is taking over the interior design and fashion worlds? I'm feeling quite validated, because this style is being dubbed "Granny Chic".

Basically, whether we're talking about an interior space or an outfit, Granny Chic is the age-old (pun intended) practice of mixing vintage (or vintage looking) with modern...but doing it right.

Here are a few of my favorite examples in interior design:


....yes, as you know, I am a big fan of LP's...my goal is to darn-near singlehandedly revive the art of LP record listening. This record player is a little too new for my tastes, but I like the LP collection. Love the vintage suitcase, too. Notice the plates on the walls. Mmmmm-hmmmm...that's called Granny You-Know-What. ("Chic")



(by Dreamy Whites)

in this little Granny Chic (some would say "Shabby Chic", but I like Granny Chic better) space, I am loving the nature study calendar. Grannies are big on taking walks and studying nature with their grands...also love the vintage linens. Be still my Granny Heart.


I love this so, so much. I think it is my favorite example of "Granny Chic". Color is important in Granny Chic. Neutral backdrop, with pops of color. Ecclectic, not all one single style. Someday, when we're looking at my very own creative space, my wall will be full of the grandchildren's art. Just you wait and see.



Color is important in Granny Chic decor - how much is up to the Granny. In this case, color is supplied by the single stems of flowers, each in its own bud vase. Very Granny.



This is one of my favorite examples of Granny Chic. I do imagine my someday-office to look a bit like this. My walls will be covered in the grandchildren's art, and Jonathan Howe originals...please note the fresh flowers. Always fresh flowers.




repurposed, restored, and slipcovered furniture is Granny Chic at its very best.

Somehow combine all the ingredients you've seen above, shake it and stir it and pop an olive in it, and you'll have the look I am going for...with one caveat: I'm hoping the only cluttered spaces will be our home office space, and my creative space. I would want all the public spaces of my home, and my bedroom, to be less cluttered. Everything with that neutral backdrop, pops of color, and an educated mix of vintage objects, antique furniture and modern fabric patterns.

And very grandchild friendly. Can't wait to show you my coffee table...it is my very first purposefully Granny Chic mini-design-project, since Little Britches is now holding onto it and walking around it all the time. I've designed it with vintage-looking toys, fabric blocks, my antique typewriter (which he is always free to play with), a trio of those LCD flickering light candles (no danger of burns!), and a ticking fabric runner. I am loving it!

Granny Chic

I am feeling quite validated. Because there is a design trend taking over both the interior design and the fashion design world...that trend is being called "Granny Chic". Look it up. It is very real.


I fully embrace it. Amen.



Did you know that celebrities (not all of them, but some famous, and quite young ones) are having their hair dressers put gray streaks in their hair, if they don't have a cool gray streak of their own? Stacy London, of "What Not to Wear" fame - her gray streak is real.

I'm talking celebs putting fake gray streaks in their hair.


Granny Chic...


Been working on a post about Granny Chic in interior design - can't wait to share it with you!

It's a great day to be a Grandmother, friends. If you don't have a cutie-patootie grand yet....well, be jealous. Be very jealous. You can't rock the Granny Chic until you are a Grandmother.

"Granny" is no longer synonymous with "old". We sequel-mothers are rocking our homes and our outfits, and are living our lives with such intention and passion and success. We are abandoning status quo, and redefining the whole concept of grandmothering by unapologetically combining our modern youthful sense of beauty with our great-great grandmother's educated domesticity.

We're having fun doing it. Full-time, work-at-home grandmothers, or work-outside-the-home grandmothers, we are finding our hearts filled with a fresh love and tenacious commitment to the success of our littlest ones.


And we find ourselves the trend setters. Crazy-cool.

The Preacher in Cambodia - Pictures

my sweet Preacher (in the white shirt, of course) teaching for hours...

Praying for a Cambodian woman who needed healing...

Enjoying his time with his interpreter...my Preacher has the most cheerful, compassionate countenance.

Every single pastor in the province (except for one) came out to the training sessions...please pray for these men.

I love this picture, because you can see our Jonathan Trentham (the young man on the left), then life-long friend Jeff Kear in blue, and my Preacher all praying for these women...

Jonathan (our missionary to Cambodia) is home for good now! Please also pray for him as he transitions from two years in Cambodia, to life here in the States. He is well-beloved at Harvest Church, and God has wonderful plans and ideas for his life, we are sure.

It is so good to have all three men home.

Today is My Birthday

Grabbed the smartphone tonight, after cake and candles and the Birthday Song, and made sure to get a few pictures of my first birthday as a Grandmommy. This time last year, Little Britches was still "baking in the oven"...




I wonder if you can see the pure delight on my face.

Sorry for the blurry pictures. Thank you so much for the many well wishes via email and Facebook...my family spoils me rotten, and my friends are the best...the very best. I look forward to the next year - God's goodness to me is precious.

It has been a Grand Day.

My Grandson's Ten Month Pics...

I cannot believe my baby (grandson, actually) is ten months old now. ::sniff::




Cute, or what?