Winter

Winter

Monday, November 30, 2009

Monday Morning


I loved this image because I remember when I was a little girl and leaning in close to get my hair fixed. I think you could call it a rite of passage. If you asked my girls they would give you stories of me doing their hair and burning them with a curling iron. I am and have always been sort of a klutz when it comes to doing hair.

Well, today is our last day of November. I feel like a horse I had once, she had a very hard mouth and liked nothing better to work until she could get the bridle between her teeth and just the moment you weren't paying attention, she would jerk that bit in her teeth and off she would run, her mouth was so hard that you had to jerk until you jerked it out so you could finally stop her from running away, it was always a contest of wills.
I am like that today, I want to do things my own way, and God keeps jerking the the bit out of my hands. Today, I find that trial is like a long tunnel, I do not want to walk down the path, but God keeps telling me I must go, but that he is with me, with a flashlight, shining just enough for the next step. I am afraid.
I want also to look at Christmas and keep my eyes on that and ignore the trial. So this morning I read this:
A sign of secularism among Christians is our focus on problems and our insistence on instant solutions. (Ouch!) Why did Jesus Christ save us? To solve our problems? No. He saved us in order that we may live in company with Him.
" He died for us that , whether we are awake of asleep. we may live together with him."
1 Thess. 5:10

So today, instead of trying to get away from the trial, I will wait on Him and know that I am blessed.
Happy Monday

Sunday, November 29, 2009

Christmas Lights


We put up our Christmas lights today. I am so glad, it is so nice to do normal. My husband and I were Christmas shopping and we were talking about how much has happened in the last two weeks. We traveled 3000 miles, we got home, did the shopping for Thanksgiving, had 30 people over for Thanksgiving and today we put up the lights, put up the Christmas tree and did our Christmas shopping and just have a few odds and ends which we hope to do tomorrow and we will be finished. I would like to have everything finished before the first of December.
The doctors have said that there is nothing more they can do so they are talking of sending my Mom home to hospice and she will die in 1 to 5 days because she won't be able to be given food or water. I have kept busy because I just don't know what else to do. I keep thinking that only Doctors can legally get away with murder. I know this is wrong thinking because the the degree of her cancer but still I have never had to walk though anything quite like this. I am so sick within my soul.
So my prayer has been for the Lord to be merciful. My faith in Him is absolute and unwavering because I know that our God is in heaven and if anything was ever out of His control He would cease to be God. I can rest in that this is His perfect will and His purpose and that He will be glorified. He promises that He is in the midst of it when you pass through the fire.
Today I thought, I must keep my attention on all of the little things I am thankful for and sometimes as I sit in that age long minute I look at His greatness and not the chaos.
So I am happy for Christmas Lights today because they remind me that long ago, a Father sent His Son to be the Light of the World for us. We have so much to be thankful for.

Saturday, November 28, 2009

What is Love?


I was thinking today about love. I think what triggered it was watching my dog. I was wondering if a dog loves or if it is just a fond expression because I feed her. Then as so often as my mind goes down these rabbit trails. I thought about feeling love myself. When I met my husband, it was like nothing I had ever experienced, where I rushed to give up all that I was to another human being, but being a human, I think it was mainly a very selfish kind of love. Then I had my first child and love took me deeper than I ever dreamed.
I then became a Christian and I began learning about Gods love for us. It being the Christmas season, always causes me to think about God, the creator of the universe and all that is in it and that nothing was made that was made and thinking of him putting himself at the mercy of the human race. It just blows my mind. I ran across this little thing written about love and I thought I would share it because that is what I am thinking about this morning.
"Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love; therefore with loving kindness I have drawn thee. (Jer. 31:3)
If ever human love was tender, self-sacrificing, and devoted; if ever if could bear and forbear;
if ever it could suffer gladly for its loved ones; if ever it was willing to pour itself out in a lavish abandonment for the comfort or pleasure of its objects; then infinitely more it is Divine love tender, and self-sacrificing, and devoted, and glad to bear and forebear, and to suffer, and to lavish its best of gifts and blessings upon the objects of its love. Put together all of the tenderest love you know of, the deepest you have ever felt, and the strongest that has ever been poured out upon you, and heap upon it all the love of all the loving human hearts in the world, and then multiply it by infinity, and you will begin, perhaps, to have some faint glimpse of what the love of God is. H.W.S.

Someday, and I say someday, I might be able to get a teeny-tiny glimpse of what love is, So Christmas to me always reminds me that God was willing to give up everything for us, and I ask myself today, what am I willing to give up for him?

Friday, November 27, 2009

Restful Friday


I think today's post will really be called random thoughts on Friday. I plan on resting today. Food fills the refrigerator, the house is clean because I knew I wanted to rest today, so I cleaned before I went to bed. This morning, the sky promised a storm. ( Which of course, I have become a cynic when it comes to red sky in the morning.)
My niece and nephews stayed over late so I know the kids will be in bed late. My husband is home today so all is well.

Thanksgiving was a wonderful day and we had so many people here and tons of food. We had babies everywhere and I don't know if the two year olds, walked very much. Every time I saw one they were being carried and the little babies I am sure were kissed up all day. It was really one of those days I have searched for all of my life, the kind of day right out of Norman Rockwell painting. Isn't it funny, that when you give, you are way more blessed in return.

Just one story though, as I am in a story mood. I got up early to bake my turkey. It was a larger turkey than I normally cook, in fact maybe the largest turkey I have ever baked. I get it all ready and my oven is preheated and I get it into the foil pan. I had bought two because I had the idea of using the extra to put the meat in while it was being carved. I try to lift the foil pan with this huge turkey and the foil pan just crumples...well like foil. So I quickly grab my extra foil pan and put it under the pan with the turkey in it.
Then I pick it up and walk over to the oven, all the while juggling it because both pans are threatening to crumple. I set it down on the counter and open the oven door. Now I must have shrunk since I got back from my trip because the oven seems really tall to me. I pick up the foil pan and try to lift the turkey over the door but I can't make it into the oven, which is hot because it has been preheated. So I am sort of in a quandary as I stand there and puzzle it out. Well, I get the bright idea to toss the turkey in the oven. So I pick it up and throw it at the oven and it goes in but the bottom rack falls off and become wedged on the heating element. I take the turkey out put it on the counter, grab my pot holders and start grabbing the rack but it really is stuck on the heating element.
My pot holders catch on fire, so I shake them and blow on them, thinking " this is not good because now the house is going to smell like I burned something. So I keep working on the rack, when they catch on fire again. ( I think I am going to have ask for new potholders for Christmas.)
I finally get the rack up where it is supposed to be and then my husband comes in and asks me what am I doing and what is that smell of burning? :)
So I tell him and so he helps me get the turkey in the oven but it did take both of us to do it and it did take two of us to get it out, but it was a wonderful tasting turkey.

So that was my turkey trial. I hope it is a nice and restful day for everyone.

Happy Friday!

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving


Psalm 100

Shout joyfully to the Lord, all the earth.
Serve the Lord with gladness;
come before Him with joyful singing.
Know that the Lord Himself is God;
It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves,
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter His gates with thanksgiving,
and His courts with praise.
Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
For the Lord is good; and His loving kindness is everlasting
And His faithfulness to all generations.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Cooking Today


I am so glad that today I get to cook and make yummy things. I love making pies and I am looking forward to making a bunch. My sons and my nephews love my chocolate pies so I have to make four. I am making this stuff that I call yuppy cheese cake, it is the simplest pie in the world, 1 package of cream cheese, 1/2 cup sugar, 1 container of cool whip mix it all together and pour it into a graham cracker crust and there you have the easiest, lightest cheese cake ever. Chill over night and it is good to go. So many people are bringing pies I won't be baking like in the past. We are going to have pumpkin, pecan, pumpkin cheese cake and the ones I mentioned above. We will be rolling away from the table. My boys look forward to this holiday all year. They love all of the food and even the leftovers.
Me, I keep thinking maybe I should run down to the Weight Watcher headquarters and sign up so I won't be tempted to eat everything. I admit that I am a stress eater and eat for comfort. I wish I was a exerciser who went out and ran off all of my energy.
So now I am off to play in the kitchen

Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Grand Old Ladies


On our trip, we drove I felt like the back roads of Texas. We drove through all of these little towns, that made me think sometimes we had went back in time. We went through this place called Henrietta, Texas. The houses were like this all along the road. I thought they were just beautiful and had we more time I would have loved to stopped and walked on the side walks and looked at all of the houses. Another thing that was amazing to me was how sweet everyone was every where we went. Getting gas in a gas station, people talked to you and when a man saw me staring at his cute dog, asked if I wanted to pet him.

I found a certain innocence that was so nice and refreshing. People were so open that I saw how untrusting and cynical I have become. Oh and very, very outspoken and vocal about the current administration in the White House. Signs along the road calling it the Obama deception.

I went hoping to find a wooden Indian so I could put it on our front porch. I found some but they were not what I was looking for. So I guess I will just look into carving my own, it can't be that hard. Or go to Buck Owens studio and see if I can buy theirs. :) I have always wanted a wooden Indian, since I read a old Nancy Drew mystery or something like that called like the Secret of The Old Indian.

There were things about Texas that just made me laugh. I will post the few pictures I took this week. They tickled me.

Monday, November 23, 2009

It's Good To Be Home


I think one of the nicest parts of a trip in coming home and seeing everything in a new light.
Things that before I left seemed so important, and now that I am home I don't even give a thought to it. Like cleaning my chicken pen. I enjoy fooling around and taking care of my chickens but the cleaning out of the coops, well lets just say, I can always find some other chore that I would rather do, but now I am looking forward to making their houses all comfy. I know it is just my own brain, but when I am down with my chickens watching them be chickens, it always feels like I just relax.
Another thing that I like is washing dishes. There is something so comforting and normal about washing dishes. When I was on the road, at night after I had fixed dinner and we were hooked up to electricity and I could fill the sink with hot water and then stand and wash dishes that made me feel so safe and normal.

I guess you could say, that I am most happy when I can do routine. Its Monday, and it is so nice to be at home.

Sunday, November 22, 2009

Finally, Home


We are finally home. The sounds in the house is the washing machine, the dryer. The cats have all come out from under the beds, the dogs are full of wags, and doggie smiles. The kids are still sleeping and all is quiet. I have went out and checked the chickens and walked in the pasture to see the progress of the trees, I didn't miss fall. I was so afraid I might. We had beautiful weather all across the land, 2,973.00 miles of it. Until, we get to here, which is Tehachapi. We drove into fog and rain and then we finally drove out from under it and then we were home.
After being on the road for so long, our house is really quiet, the heater is quiet. It was so cold that the heater in the motor home would run and then stay off 10 seconds then run from 20 more. The road noise that you don't notice until you get home because every thing is so quiet.

I find that I had pretty much a ungrateful heart and I didn't know it. We live in such a beautiful place. We drove all that way and as we were driving on 99 I thought, wow, it is just so pretty. Oh and clean. All of the junk everywhere just drives me nuts.

My sister said that my cousin who lives back there who has been as sick as my Mom died last night. When we were kids, we all lived on my grandparents property. He was my grandmothers youngest brother and because he was closer to my Moms age and his kids were our age he was more like a uncle. We camped together and were my Mom and Dads best friends. When the tractor turned over on my Dad and my brother and they were pinned under it, he lifted the tractor off of them and saved their lives. I thought about that when I got the news, how if not for him my brother might have died and maybe my Dad. He suffered the rest of his life with a bad back. I know that he is now in the arms of Jesus. There is quite a clan up in heaven now. This is my second cousin to die since October 31st. Wow what a fall.

But we are home and it was safe, now onto work and Thanksgiving.

Saturday, November 21, 2009

Loneliest Time of Day


This is the sky of Texas. It is huge and lonely. The sun was going down, and we have spent days racing the sun. We loose every time and go into campgrounds and set up came in the dark. Last night the campground we stayed in was unreal. When we were there 12 years ago it was out in the middle of no where. You could hear meadowlarks and there were cows all around and it was so peaceful. Now it is in the middle of a industrial area, there was a train that went by every hour. Using different horns too. Then there was the airport with jets flying by and you could hear hwy 40 like it was next door. We got in bed finally, and turned out the light and we were camping with a light shining in the window. We just laughed, because you just can't dream this stuff up. The water wasn't frozen so we did get hot showers and any day is good with a hot shower.
Tonight we are in Arizona at the meteor crater. The campgound is so quiet and the stars are so close. We could see the milky way so clearly. It will freeze tonight but that won't be so bad because we will be home tomorrow!!!
It is so nice to be back in our own time zone. My Mom was able to get out of bed today and sat in a chair for two hours. She was able to talk a bunch to my sister and that is so good. I am going home so much lighter than when I left.
I am so glad I am going to be home because "In all the world, my nest is best."

Friday, November 20, 2009

Lake Texoma


This is where we spent the night for two nights. It is five minutes from the hospital. It is just beautiful. Too bad we didn't bring fishing poles. It is full of these things called Alligator Gars. You can look them up. I know they must be living dinosaurs. My brother saw one going through the water and he thought they looked like a sea serpent. My Mom was really great today. She talked and new me and her color was so much better. I stayed with her until noon and then we jumped in the motor home and started back for home. We made it to Texas and we hope to make it to Arizona tomorrow and get home on Saturday night. That means if we don't hit weather. It is going to be 23 tonight in Amarillo, Texas tonight. It is cold but hey, I have been complaining about no weather for months now, so I am getting cold. Teach me to gripe. :)

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Home Away From Home


I thought I would show you a picture of our home away from home. The only place I went today was the inside of a hospital room, and I didn't take pictures. Even though, Lake Texoma is beautiful and the park is just lovely with oak trees and all of the red and yellow. You just have to take my word, I will try to get some pictures in the morning before we go to the hospital.
My Mom's surgery went okay, she has had two in two days. Today, they did a gastric bypass and inserted a tube. This is the only way she will be able to live. Even with that she might not leave the hospital.
She said she is at peace either way, she will either see Jesus, or she will wake up and see her kids. We were all there and I am so thankful I came back here. I know she knows all of us are there and that is good. She did smile at all of us.
It has been nice to sit and listen to my brothers, they are good story tellers.
This morning, after I had been in the room to see my mom, I came out and had Ron read to me out of my Daily Light. The verse that most ministered to me was, Let us fall into the hand of the Lord, for His mercies are great..."I am with you" says the Lord. It quieted my soul and I was able to rest in His everlasting Arms.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Cars in The Ground


We were driving down the road in New Mexico and we saw those Cadillacs that guy buried in the ground. We were out far away and my camera doesn't have a telephoto. I really don't have any good pictures today. For two days now we have drove over 12 hours each day, but tonight finally got here. God is so good to us. Again, we were driving in pitch black to a place we have never been and just at the perfect time, my sister called and told us which off ramp to get off of and then we drove straight to the campground.
I think in the morning, I am going to be so surprised at the beauty of where we are. It is so dark you can see all of the stars, so quiet you can hear all of the night sounds of birds and bugs, you know the kind of silence that presses down. I think also in the morning we will see the lake. It is Lake Texoma. The really neat thing is we are 5 minutes from the hospital.
I have had the hardest time with water, every time I open any water container, I get wet, I spill water or it just blows up. I also forgot my tooth brush. But Ron was so sweet, he is letting me use his. I just want to die every time. Hopefully, I can get to a store soon. I feel like I am in some sort of chick movie. My Mom goes in for surgery in the morning, 3 of my 4 brothers are here with my sister. We haven't all been together in 20 years. It is kind of weird. It has been a long day, but God has been really faithful.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009

My Answer Today


This morning, we woke up really early, I was one day from home and I knew that I could turn around and be home in one day. If we went further, then I would be two days from home. I just did not want to go but turn around and come home. Ron had asked me who I was going for and as I thought about it, I was obeying God.

Just as we got on the road, there was this truck in front of me, if you click on the picture you can see what all of it says, " Finish the mission, " jumped out at me first. I felt like God poked me, so I knew without a doubt I was to keep going. Then in the smaller letters it says " Prepare for Combat." I thought it was a great reminder that every day, we are to prepare for combat.

So what did I find out I forgot? I forgot a flashlight. We get into this place at 8:00 PM we have been driving since 8:00 Am. We need to hook up and I am out there striking matches to try and see the hook up stuff, which all keep blowing out. I go back inside find the lighter and Ron takes it back outside. When, thankfully God decides to send someone, who just happens to have a flashlight. Now we are staying in a place, like, think staying in a place old like Union Ave. When this sweet man, Larry is his name comes over and holds the flashlight for Ron when he happens to tell Ron that he is a Federal Marshal. Is that cool or what? Then begins to tell Ron stories of jumping into Grand Canyon by parachute, him and 5 buddies to rescue their friend. I just feel like giggling.

Oh and he told Ron that last night it was 10 degrees. That we should not plug in the water as it might break the hose in the morning. Guess what we would have done and woke up too. It is cold, that is why November is not a good camping month. It is okay though, because God goes before us at every step. We had such a clear day and the snow was on the hillsides. We will get to Texas tomorrow.

Monday, November 16, 2009

Arizona


I have always loved mountains that look like this, as we drove by, I thought about what they would look like with faces in them, and then as we got closer, ( my picture didn't turn out.) I thought I could see faces of old, old men staring down at me. Ancient statutes like in Fellowship of the Ring. The Argonath standing and watching a pass, they are Isildur and Anarion. That is what I thought of as we passed though the desert. Argonath means stones of the kings. As we drove and I kept thinking of the earth in upheaval because of the mountains of lava rock and cinder cones everywhere.

We got here and I cooked Chinese food for dinner. It doesn't matter that I didn't remember to bring scissors to open the bag. ( I used the sharp edge of the can opener.) I didn't have a lid so the vegetables could steam, ( they just took longer to cook.) I burned my hand on the hot pan because I forgot pot holders. Today when we stopped for lunch, we just had bread, meat and cheese because I forgot, mayonnaise, mustard and lettuce. I know they must still be in the kitchen.
It is cool though, we have internet and Ron and I both brought computers so we are just like uptown.

Will write more tomorrow.

Sunday, November 15, 2009

Grace upon Grace


One of the things I love about life is that, I have been given grace upon grace. I have always been aware of the consequences of my choices from a early age and also aware of when God allows things to come I don't understand.
My verse for today is this, "I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you, and you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all of your heart." (Jer. 29:11-13)
This was written at the saddest part of Israels history, the once great nation was being carried away into captivity and the great Temple of Solomon was carried off and torn down. Yet, God was still telling his people He was in charge and this was in His plan and all they had to do was call upon Him and He would listen.

Sometimes He is listening and I wish he wasn't. I was quietly talking to myself about needing to go somewhere so I could get some new pictures for my blog. Leaves are nice and all of that but some times I would like pictures of something else. Well, He heard me and I am going to get to take new pictures for about nine days.

I will try and post and show you pictures and glimpses of the perfect gifts God has planned for me for the next 9 days. It should be fun. I am sure I will have lots of lessons I have learned as I step out on that step that I can't see, and know God has provided all the light I need.
So begins my journey.

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Obstacles or Opportunities


As I have learned this year, life is like labor. In order to get something really good, you have to go through it step by step, then it is over and you can get on with the business of life. I liked this picture this morning because it sort of looks like a leaf tunnel. I am sharing a couple of things that I have collected from times past when I thought my feet would slip, but they never did God kept me on a firm foundation and they still minister to me.

Many time God places obstacles in our lives to keep us humble and dependent on Him. The very name God gave the promised land-Canaan-- means "A place of humility."

I must break myself of my intense love of self if I am ever able to allow Gods love to envelop me and fill me. ( I find trials revel so much about who I am, I love my comfort, my supposed control and my intense selfishness.)

How wonderful that the reality of His presence is greater than the reality of the Hell about us.
---Betsie Ten Boom---

Give us enough tests to make us strong, enough vision and endurance to follow your way, enough patience to persist when the going is difficult, enough of reality to know our weaknesses
and enough humility to know these gifts come from you.

God before us to prepare the way,
walk behind us to be our protection,
and walk beside us to be our companion,
Through Christ our Lord amen.
---Richard Langfort---

Friday, November 13, 2009

Making Hard Choices


When I was a little girl and we visited this beach, I thought it was magic, now every time I go back to this same place, I am the one who changes, not the beach or the tide. Making choices and knowing what to do is always hard for me. Today, I made a choice and of course even though it is very hard I know it is the right one. I always feel like I am going to step off into nothingness and like that movie The Last Crusade when Indiana is going to cross what looks like nothingness to find the Holy Grail, he throws sand and the step was there all the time. That is what I am doing throwing the sand and know that it is God who is giving me the light for the next step I am on. One thing I am reminded of is " The blue of heaven is larger than the clouds."

"Nothing that is not God's will can come into the life of one who trusts and obeys God. This fact is enough to make our life one of ceaseless thanksgiving and joy. We live charmed lives if we are living in the center of God's will. All the attacks that Satan, through other sin, can hurl against us are not only powerless to harm us, but are turned into blessing on the way." ---H.W.S.---

So I walk into the safety of His everlasting Arms and take up residence in the Rock that is bigger than me.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

Log Houses

http://www.swedishlogcabins.info/images/large-log-house1.jpg

Here is a picture of my cabin. I thought you would like to see it. I am pretty amazed that
I found a picture of the one that lives only in my brain. You see, when life gets really crazy,
I go visit this cabin. It looks like I have been there for awhile because all of the leaves are cleaned off the porch.
My Mom is in the hospital and she is dying. I have had a hard time coming up with posts that stayed happy and cheery. These last few weeks, I feel like I walk in two places and live no place at all. Always in my mind are the thoughts about her. She has been put in the hospital now. I am thankful for that because I think she can rest easier now. I am thankful that my sister is not alone but with people who can help. I feel like it has been years since I laughed and wonder if I will always be a grump.
God has been so faithful and has promised me that it is He who walks with me through the fire. I stare every day at my own mortality and understand about this body of death. So today when I found this quote I had written down when our grandsons were born at 1pound 5 ounces and 1 pound 7 ounces I rejoice that God is a big God.
" A God small enough for our mind would not be big enough for our need." So today, Lord, I need a really BIG God. One of the things that I love so much is God's word, this is what I read now that reminds me that this is not the end. There is hope.
"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death,
nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away" (Rev. 21:4) We shall bid farewell to earthly sorrows forever. "And there shall be no more curse, but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His servants shall serve Him" (Rev. 22:3) In the book of Acts there is this little passage that says, " They rejoiced that they were considered worthy to suffer for His name. Suffering is considered a gift from God, I am thankful that God gives me such a gift because I know, Joy will come in the morning.
It is after all Thankful Thursday. :)

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

A Little Hen


This is one of the little hens that hatched earlier in the summer. She has a bit of a attitude and I have noticed that she must talk back to the roosters a bit because I see her running across the pen and the yard fleeing the rooster so she doesn't get pecked. Funny how they are before they start laying eggs. Laying eggs just seems to mellow them out.

Today I get to have all the grand babies over, the girls and I are going to try for a knitting day. First ever. It sounds like a great November thing to do. I don't know if it will be warm enough for the boys to go outside and play while we try to knit, and it might be too cool to sit outside with the babies. But we will try.
Here is a couple of verses that are ministering to me right now.
He led them to safety. Ps 78:53
Behold, I send an Angel before you to keep you in the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Exod. 23:20

Have a great Wednesday.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Our Sugar Maple


One of the things that I love is our sugar maple tree. It has never let me down when it comes to fall color. This year it is just as beautiful as in years past. I always feel like a mother hen when it comes to this tree. In the spring as it puts on leaves, the green after a winter of brown, makes me so happy to just stand and stare at it. In the fall when I am starved for red and gold leaves it gives us such a wonderful gift. I find leaves and put them in wax paper and stick them in my phone book. Then at odd times of year I will pick up the phone book and they will fall out and then I hold them in my hands and thank the Lord that He even cares about leaves and He makes everything beautiful in it's own time.
Today, I am so thankful that the Lord told me "no" when I didn't want to move here, I am glad He said, Just trust me. He has blessed me and given me the desires of my heart and for that I am thankful for the No's He gave me because, really, I think my life would have been so sad, if I had received all yeses.

Monday, November 9, 2009

Strawberry Tree


I just had to post a picture of the Strawberry Tree. It is loaded with small berries which I think are the blooms. I couldn't believe how loaded it was, when it has fruit it does looks like funny strawberries. It has never had this much on it before. I think it is due in part to the bees.

The bees looked really good, except for the black widow we found living in the lowest box with the brood. We took her out and killed her. Her husband was also living there he is dead too. We put in the little stick so that the door way is restricted and maybe they can guard the front door better. Can you see all of the dead bees on the ground? It made me so sad to see so many bodies by the front door, but as I looked close all of the wings were just in shreds. They had worked themselves to death. The hive looked really good and the bottom box was filled with bees. The second box was filled with honey, but that is the honey they need for babies during the winter. The box that we had put on early in the summer was empty so we took it off and put on the winter lid. I bought 50 pounds of sugar today to make syrup for them to eat if they get hungry as there are less and less flowers. I couldn't take pictures of the inside of the hive as I wasn't wearing any protective gear. I just had gloves on. Ron was in the hive looking at each frame.
It is such a new hive, I guess that is why there is just not honey to share just yet. Maybe in the spring.
It makes me look forward to the spring because this year when the trees bloom there will lots of bees to pollinate the blooms. I didn't think I would even think about another garden after I worked so hard this year, but I do have that sneaky feeling I might even have a bigger garden. I do miss it so much.

Have a great Monday!

Sunday, November 8, 2009

Thankful Sunday


I am thankful it is Sunday and it is the Lord's Day. One of the things I am happy about is that God gave us His word. Today I read this: He will swallow up death forever, and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces; the rebuke of His people He will take away from all the earth;for the Lord has spoken. And it will be said in that day: "Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord;" ...We will be glad and rejoice in His salvation... Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

I am so thankful it is the Lord who saves and not we ourselves. I had a good Saturday, we checked the bees and got them ready for the winter. We took away one super and looked over the brood. It was full of brood. It was cool so it was very easy to work with them and get into the part where the queen lives. I will have to buy sugar and start feeding them. I then hung out with my chickens today. They are all so cute and the roosters are all so pompous.

Have a restful day today

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Thankful Saturday


I loved this old picture of two pilgrim people. One of the things I am thankful for is that the Separatists felt God leading them to America. I have always admired the kind of people who serve and follow God no matter the cost. Not being one of those kind of people, it is easy for me to wish I was. I am more of the type who is more concerned about what man thinks that what God thinks. I have had moments when I have went out on a limb for God and He has been so faithful.
I love this song just because it fits me in all of my moods.

Navigation: M \ Michael W. Smith \ Never Been Unloved

I have been unfaithful
I have been unworthy
I have been unrighteous
And I have been unmerciful

I have been unreachable
I have been unteachable
I have been unwilling
And I have been undesirable

And sometimes I have unwise
I've been undone by what I'm unsure of
But because of You
And all that You went through
I know that I have never been unloved

I have been unbroken
I have been unmended
I have been uneasy
And I've been unapproachable

I've been unemotional
I've been unexceptional
I've been undecided
And I have been unqualified

Unaware
I have been unfair
I've been unfit for blessings from above
But even I can see
The sacrifice You made for me
To show that I have never been unloved

It's because of You
And all that You went through
I know that I have never been unloved

Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, for His wonderful works to the children of men!

(Ps. 107:6)

Friday, November 6, 2009

Thankful on Friday


How could I write a post about being thankful and not post a picture of R. who now that you can see his face just say Ron. I am really, really thankful for him and how he has made my life better.
I think a person always needs a fan and he is mine. He has continued to love me in spite of me being unloving. He is what makes my life worth living and if not for him, I don't think I would bother to get up in the morning, and I know I wouldn't ever cook dinner. :)

He is my model of how God loves me. If he had not loved me the way he did when I was total pagan and always shows me how God loves I don't know if I would have ever gave my life to Jesus. He is always in my corner, her gets up every single day and goes to work. I live in a fairy tale just because God has chosen to bless the work of his hands. He has been a great Dad and now a great "Pa" and I am so thankful I said, yes when he asked to marry me. I do hope God gives us 30 more years.!

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Field of Dreams


As I thought about what I was thankful for today, I was thankful for our "Field of Dreams."
I am so thankful that I have so much dirt and it is good dirt. It is like a blank canvas waiting to be filled up with all sorts of good things. I think though, we use it the most for walking and doing laps. R. keeps our path so nice and we all use it to clear our heads. So often I sit out back and just let my mind wander to all sorts of places and it most often is my very large prayer closet.

When God brought me here with my grandparents and my parents in 1962 I thought it was the best place in the world and as a four year old loved the freedom I felt to be able to wander around and just watch everything that was here. Then I got married and moved away but our kids grew up climbing the same trees and walking the same paths that I did.
Then after the death of my grandparents, God brought us back and now our grandchildren get to have the very same gift to have the freedom to wander and when they are older climb the same trees.
I love this land, and I am very thankful to God for bringing me back to our Field of Dreams.

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Women Who Influenced My Life


Our trees are getting prettier and prettier each day, I am so excited each day to see each of our trees changing color.
Today I wanted to share a list of the woman God put into my life that changed me from a card carrying Woman Libber (or lipper as my case was.) To a woman who daily tries to live by faith in the Son of God.
The first woman who influenced me was my first Bible study teacher, Shirley Bergam. I went to Bible Study Fellowship full of my self and did not need these hypocritical woman to tell me how to live. I sat through the first lecture, wishing I had brought my car so I could leave. I got the first lesson in Matthew and took it home thinking big deal and then did it so I could show them how smart I was, wow, was I wrong. Not to far into that year I got on my knees and asked God to take over my life. Shirley every week said something that brought me to tears and every week my life changed little by little.

The next woman who changed my life was Mary Pride. I was pregnant with our third child and I read the Way Home and through that book, I wanted to be the kind of woman that trusted God in every area of her life even child bearing. I am so very thankful to God that he heard my prayer and gave me six children.

The next woman who really changed my life was Elisabeth Elliot and a little radio show called Gateway to Joy. I would listen and so often, things she said, I just didn't understand. I bought her tapes and I would have to listen to them over and over because I just didn't understand what being servant was or even looked like. Every book she suggested I bought and read it because I wanted so badly to be a Godly woman whose price was far above rubies.

I think I would have to add Nancy Missler to this because The Way of Agape changed my marriage and she showed me how to give up the right to be right.

I thought it would be nice to be thankful for the woman who had to go through so much suffering just so they could teach me how to live. As Elisabeth always says, we can all be a older woman to someone, so go out and be a older woman to someone today. :)

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Thankful Tuesday


I think by saying I was going to be thankful for something everyday in November has had the opposite effect. I have been grumpy and not thankful. I feel with all of the wonderful blessings I have been given, I have turned into a miser who just doesn't want to share at all. How sad is that, to want to write a thankful post and then not share it. So this morning, as I looked all around me for something to be thankful for, it was work and not easy, this is what I came up with this morning.
I am thankful for coffee in bed, and having that bit of time with R. before he goes to work.
I am thankful for God's word that reminds me who I am and that I have been called by God for a reason.
I am thankful that I get to stay home and teach the boys and that I have had the blessing of being a mother.
So today I will end with the verse that helps me not be grumpy and reminds me about who I am and what I am and what the final goal is for life.
"Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God."
Hebrews 12:3

Monday, November 2, 2009

What I Am Thankful For Month.


One of the things I am thankful for this month is that I had parents who did the best they
knew how to do and did the best with what they were given. Today is my Dad's birthday, and had he lived he would have been 73. To me my Dad was bigger than God and when he died it was such a shock because I just didn't expect it. My Dad was the biggest man I knew and I always felt so safe in his arms.
Every November I race though it without truly being thankful for all I have been given. So I thought my posts would be about things I am thankful for and this is my second post for November.
So today, I dedicate this post in honor of my Dad's birth, because if not for him, I might not of been born.

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Thankful November


Our Son and his wife and our grandson, baby pirate.

"Pa" holding smallest pirate.

The gang from Scooby-Doo and 3 Hole Punch Jim

Pirate Babies