Thankful Thursday - You!

Today is New Year's eve. It is time to reflect and revise. God has not promised anyone tomorrow or even today for that matter; so in retrospect a year is something to be thankful for.

Thanks for being you!

Many of you have been with me throughout the year, some I have just become acquainted with.
Your blogs are inspirational, motivating, entertaining and educational. The words reach me and leave an imprint on my mind and heart. Your comments are supportive and informational often leaving me with fuel for thought. I love that each blog has its own personal "flavor".

Fireplaces chase the chill.

My husband took me out to eat the other day and selected a seat right near the fireplace (pictured above). I thought how thoughtful! I love fireplaces. The front door was a few yards from us and would often be held open as people entered or left on this cold and snowy day. My hands and face felt the warmth of the fire taking away the chill of outdoors.

Your blogs/comments are like the fireplace.

The world can sometimes be cold and impersonal but your words warm the heart and soul. I am so glad you are there! The coldest and loneliest days are suddenly more bearable.

Happy New Years!

I hope each of you have a healthy, joyous and prosperous New Year warmed by the love of God.

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Wordless Wednesday - Cloudy Day

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Seeds for thoughts

I've a dozen ideas bouncing in my head
Bits and peices I've heard or read

Thoughts are competing for my time
Poems looking for words to rhyme
Wanting to blossom into something grand
If only I could lend a hand...

Seeds for thoughts wanting explored
Pictures taken of things adored
Friends to greet on blogs here and there
Why is it I've not enough time to share?

Grandchildren calling, they need a ride
Quickly I set my blog aside
But to this fact I am resigned
Thoughts needing written lurk in my mind

They will not be still; they must be said
Those many ideas bouncing in my head.
And if your a blogger just like me
You understand our destiny.

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How was your Christmas?

My mother sits here holding her great grand child. Her grandson, my son, sits next to her. Her great grand son is full of affection and innocence. He is quite contented to sit in his great grandma's lap and she is quite happy to have him. :-)

We enjoyed the day with family. Love and laughter filled the air. We enjoyed dinner and we munched on my mother's cheese spread and crackers and the peanut butter cookies I made while my daughter and her guy did their usual outstanding job of preparing dinner.

The cookies are super simple to make.
I avoid many desserts because of how unhealthy sugar is, so when my daughter asked me to bring a dessert I opted for cherry pie and peanut butter cookies. The pie was already in my freezer and I can whip these cookies up in less than 1/2 hour.

I switched from white sugar to brown to improve the nutrition and then added cinnamon because it helps the body regulate its sugar.
Preheat oven to 350 F. Blend 1 cup brown sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon with 1 egg. Once thoroughly blended, mix in 1 cup of peanut butter. Drop balls of batter on to a greased cookie sheet. Dip a fork in flour and criss cross each cookie ball. Bake for 10 minutes. Let cool before removing from cookie sheet.

Peanuts contain reservatrol.

"Of those who included peanuts in their diet, test results showed a marked decrease of 21% in cardiovascular disease risks." For more about peanuts and a recipe for your own peanut butter read here.

After we left my daughter's, Mom and I did a little sight seeing of Christmas lights and sang Christmas carols in my car. She has had a stroke, which has left her unable to talk but a few words, but some how her ability to sing is still intact and I love hearing her sweet soprano voice.

I've had a little time to reflect on the season realizing that I am unable to leave a gift for my mailman in the mail box this year. I have 25 grandchildren now, and am unable to shop for each of them. I have made a point in talking to each of them and letting them know that my finances are short and I still love them dearly. I remind them that we need to celebrate Christ's birthday. As I look at each of them, I cannot help but realize God truly loves us, as He gave His son for you and I. I could not part with any of mine and He gave the only one He had!

It was not an immediate gift. He really got to know His son. It wasn't like an unwed mother tearfully giving up her child at birth. He never left His son. He was a part of His daily walk and His teachings. He sent a dove to tell the world how proud He was of him. He was not angry or unacquainted with Him. He was not a father to abandon His own like some deadbeat fathers/mothers who don't take the time or effort to send in the child support. He LOVED, truly loved His son. He instilled in Him multiple gifts and wisdom. His son did not detour from the path He gave Him. Jesus was His only son, and He unselfishly gave His son's life that we may be free. Now THAT's a gift!

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Thankfully Thursday - Promises

As a child I often heard Mom ask something of Dad. When he did not perform the requested task and "promised" to do it at some future time, Mom's response was "Promises, promises, promises.."
Dad would also ask Mom for certain things, like cherry pie for example. She might respond that she would make it for him on the upcoming week end and he would in turn say "Promises, promises, promises..."

There are some promises which are sacred and are truly promises. They are meant to be kept and never broken. God made a promise to Noah in Genesis 9:8-16 that He would never destroy the world again by flood. As a reminder of His promise we have the rainbow.

While listening to a pilot's testimony on Family Life radio, I was surprised to learn that rainbows are formed in circles. The actual rainbow has no beginning and no end and flows continually, as a promise should. It does not have an ending date, like an expiration. It is similar to our wedding rings representing a continuous link of love between man and wife. A rainbow represents a timeless promise and a continuous love.

I found a profound poem written by John Keats. In "Lamia" the poet Keats laments the science of rainbows feeling that rainbows are not something science should be trying to explain away:

Do not all charms fly
At the mere touch of cold philosophy?
There was an awful rainbow once in heaven:
We know her woof, her texture; she is given
In the dull catalogue of common things.
Philosophy will clip an Angel's wings,
Conquer all mysteries by rule and line,
Empty the haunted air, and gnomed mine –
Unweave a rainbow

Rather than worrying about how a rainbow comes about, I rely on God's word and know that He is the source. I appreciate that His promises can be trusted, and do not have to understand the colors are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and then violet. Is the sequence of colors important, or the fact that God does not lie and we can trust His promise?

"I solemnly promise you and your children and the animals you brought with you - and these birds and cattle and wild animals-that I will never again send another flood to destroy the earth. And I seal this promise with this sign; I have placed my rainbow in the clouds as a sign of my promise until the end of time..."

The beauty of His words and His sign are something to remind us of His love and the meaning of giving a promise.

Stay well and God bless.

picture sources: rainbow, wedding bands

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Wordless Wednesday - Christmas Decorations

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Let the Flowers Grow

A part of me is very happy
A part of me is sad
A friend confided in me
A secret 'bout her dad
I'd never tell another soul
Because it's a private pain
I only pray she'll be made whole
And washed clean from the stain.

My baby girl has gotten married
Tis her wedding day
Everyone is celebrating
Our family is quite gay
The union of a loving couple
Makes joy to overflow

Life is sprinkled with joy and sadness
Wherever we may go
So we pull out weeds of sadness
And let the flowers grow.

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Thankful Thursday - the Cross

My father's favorite hymn was The Old Rugged Cross, and on the mornings when we were allowed to select our own personal favorite in worship service, it would be his request. The words of this hymn are a humble reminder of the love of God as he gave his only son as sacrifice for us.

Soon we will celebrate the birth of Jesus and I cannot help but think that He went from cradle to cross and every step of the way He shared His love with us.

"On a hill far ways stood an old rugged cross,
The emblem of suff'ring and shame,
And I love that old cross where the dearest and best
For a world of lost sinners was slain.
So I'll cherish the old rugged cross
Till my trophies at last I lay down;
I will cling to the old rugged cross,
And exchange it some day for a crown.

by George Bennard - 1913

If we gain the whole world we can count it as loss, if we forget who bore the cross...

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Wordless Wednesday - Christmas Decorations

Christmas Trees around the World

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Thankful Thursday - Spontaneity

The shortest path is not always the best.

This morning I awoke to Focus on the Family Doctor Dobson's familiar voice as he told of a young man who many years ago walked across a snowy field with his uncle. I imagine his uncle became some what exasperated with the boy as he meandered off to look at the cows or other points of interest before returning to his uncle's side. Upon finally arriving at the other side his uncle pointed out to the nine year old his own foot prints, proclaiming how straight and unswerving his path was. Then he showed young Frank how his small foot prints wandered. He pointed out to him that a direct path was always better and took fewer steps.

What's wrong with getting side tracked once in awhile?

I immediately thought about my own path. I admit that I have a tendency to get side tracked, but as I am getting older I actually plan extra time so that I can wander off and get side tracked. I want to take time to notice a sunrise or sunset, a small squirrel peeking at me or a fat little sparrow perched on a shopping cart. I want to have time to stop and speak to friends and loved ones when we happen to meet while out running errands. Life is too short. I don't want to make it shorter by always taking a direct path. God sends these many wonders and I want to take time for spontaneity.

Frank Lloyd Wright was born on June 8, 1967 and died on April 9, 1959.

By the way the young man was the well known and most influential American architect of the 20th century. "Often considered the greatest U.S. architect of all time, his greatest legacy is "organic architecture," or the idea that buildings harmonize both with their inhabitants and with their environment." He is responsible for designing many homes and buildings including the Johnson Wax Building and New York's Guggenheim museum. Had he always taken the "direct path" would he have created such works of wonder?

For more information on Frank Lloyd Wright, visit Britannica.com.

picture sources: home one, home two, Frank Lloyd Wright

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Wordless Wednesday - Thanks to William Locke's creativity

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Do You like to Inspire?

Camp Koinonia's web page


We Enjoyed a Wonderful Week of Camp

My children and I were only fortunate enough to go on vacation together once and we went to a beautiful church camp called Camp Koinonia. We spent an entire week with our minister, his wife and their family and it was truly a blessing. We canoed, hiked, swam, participated in family activities, paticipated in song fests and tent worship. We cooked and ate outdoors and surrounded by beautiful scenery and fresh air. We enjoyed petting farm animals who shared their space with us and when we finally laid down each night we slept soundly. Koinonia is a Greek word meaning communion with intimate participation. The communion we shared with God, man, and nature left us restored and refreshed.

Share your Wonderful Blog Entries.

Imagine my surprise when Marie, a fellow writer at ehow read one of my blog posts and recommended a site called Koinonia. She told me they take reader contributions and send readers back to your blog. If you like to post inspirational pieces, you will appreciate this site. Many of you post wonderful moving and uplifting words. Your blogs motivate me and inspire me. Why shouldn't they inspire others too?

Please take a look and see what you think. We write because we must, but we blog because we love to share and share our love.

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Gifts that are elegant and affordable.

Enjoy the festivities!

What's the difference between a casual get together and a elegant party? One thing is how we dress, another may be the attitude and expectations at a nice sit down. We look forward to seeing one another all dressed up. We enjoy giving and receiving compliments. We are using our best company manners. After all we spent hours on our appearance. Some how looking our best helps us to act our best. Pictures are snapped and we have keepsakes to look at in the years to come.

I tagged along with my friend Christmas shopping the other day. The packages look prettier than any other time of year; all so tantalizing and sparkling, but outside my price range. Gifts all wrapped and ready to give start at $9.99 and up to … well up...






These are beautiful gifts to look at.

I've snapped a few and will share them with you. I would not mind receiving any of these and would proudly display them under my tree, but what is Christmas about? What is giving about? The first Christmas involved God's gift to us, His only son. Can we give more than that? So as we search for the perfect stunning gift that will bring looks of appreciation and thankfulness we need to remind ourselves that the greatest gift is love and that comes from the heart.

We can give gifts just as elegant and appreciated.

As long as we give from our hearts our gifts should be accepted in the same spirit in which we give them. Gather pretty or unusual items from yard sales or second hand stores. A flower pot painted with metallic paint takes on a new look. A basket trimmed with lace and or ribbon. Hang a Christmas tree ornament from the ribbon. Wired ribbon works very nicely and keeps it shape, so bows can be made and adored giving your gift the look of one which cost much more and saving you money to spend to purchase other gifts. For more ideas read
How to Make a Gift Basket and don't limit yourself to a basket, fill a cup, planter, canister...
Merry Christmas everyone. I hope you get the gift of love and appreciation. That's the one I asked for.

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Thankful Thursday - My "Checking Account" with God

A coworker stopped me in the hallway at work the other day and asked if I received her email. She then went on to explain that when she receives an uplifting email she is not satisfied with the limited number of people she can send it to. She makes a point of sending special emails to me because the last time she sent a particularly moving message I posted it on my blog. She wants to find this one here also. Thanks Karen for sharing. I like to be inspired almost as much as I like to inspire. :-)

My mind wandered with this email message because it caused me to reflect back on an earlier error I made with my checking account. I am already (like many of us) living payday to payday without any wiggle room so when I accidentally forget to post a check in my register it hurt. Banks make us pay dearly for this mistake, and we keep on paying until we catch up. I immediately stopped spending money as soon as I found out and waited for the dust to settle.

I came across something online that states that half of our bank's profits are made from NSF charges:

"Overdraft fees now make up more than half of banks’ earnings on consumer checking accounts. In the past century, overdrafts have gone from the banker’s scourge to the banker’s profit center as bankers have learned that there is much to be made on these short term loans at breathtaking interest rates. I note that the federal agencies have been complicit in the growth of this form of lending. I propose that the banks and the agencies recognize the reality and attempt to mitigate these rates by encouraging the development of a competitive market."

NSF Fees by James J. White

I am eternally grateful that our Heavenly Father is not like this. He is not sitting there with a big red rubber stamp waiting to stamp NSF on our actions. He opens His arms wide and pulls us into His bosom, as he "pays it all."

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Wordless Wednesday - a Full Moon

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