On this snowy, wintry Sunday morning in the Ozarks, we are putting away Christmas decorations and going to the mundane, every other day decorations. As I pick up and put away each piece, I am reminded how it came to be in my home.
The stable for my Nativity set had been found at a garage sale with another nativity set in it. I didn't like that set as well as one that had been given to me, for Christmas, by our newly married son and wife. So, they were traded out. I gave the unwanted Nativity to someone else. The nativity fit handily into the stable. Now, they are one.
There is a star of gold thread pinned on the wall above it. It came from a now forgotten purchase and was not used for a couple of years, because I couldn't find a place for it. Then I put my nativity on the mantle and discovered that the nativity needed a star. How could the wise men find it if there were no star? And my eye fell on the star. It has now been on the wall in that spot for two years. Even when it isn't Christmas. We always need a star.
This year our daughter and her family gave me a large Jingle Bell, decorated and says "Welcome". When I commented that she had given me one last year, the reply was, " Of course". I had not thought of it before, but, as I took the ornaments off the tree, there were two from her that were Mickey and Minney Mouse with jingle bells for bodies. As I counted my ornaments, well, handled them anyway, I saw how many were jingle bells and most of them from her. So, she has always tried to make it a Jingle Bell Christmas for us.
I have five ornaments from young friends of ours who, she and the kids, make an ornament a year for us. Some of them are intricate, some are simple, but all are special. Among these ornaments is a jingle bell.
Jingle bells are special. They remind me of "Dashing through the snow", even if I never have, and of all the bells that ring on Christmas day to remind us of the birth of Christ. Jingle bells are soft and gentle in sound and remind us that Christ is gentle in his coming to us.
When you see a jingle bell, whether it be a little one on the shoes of a child, or a big one that says,
"Welcome", remember it is a gentle reminder that Christ came softly into the world.
Have a blessed day.
Sunday, January 5, 2014
Wednesday, January 1, 2014
Writing
I have joined a group of people that is going to write 500 words every day through the month of January.
I have decided to blog about my experience and let everyone know I am doing this. Writing has been a passion of mine for a very long time. Not necessarily story telling, but writing. I like to write letters, play word games and spell.
Some people love numbers. I love words. I think they can trip off your tongue or trip up your thoughts. I love them and want to get better at writing them. Making them tell a story.
I have made cards for special occasions for years, but the art work pretty much sucks. I hone in on the words and what they say and how to arrange them to say what I want them to say. Not just the words but the arrangement of them on the paper.
It is a new year. Time for new beginnings and old loves to come to the forefront of our lives. Every day starts a new year. We just don't acknowledge it as a culture other than on January 1. I am going to become someone who writes. Not just one who thinks about it, talk about it or read about it. I am going to do it.
Come along with me and enjoy the ride.
Thanks for listening.
I have decided to blog about my experience and let everyone know I am doing this. Writing has been a passion of mine for a very long time. Not necessarily story telling, but writing. I like to write letters, play word games and spell.
Some people love numbers. I love words. I think they can trip off your tongue or trip up your thoughts. I love them and want to get better at writing them. Making them tell a story.
I have made cards for special occasions for years, but the art work pretty much sucks. I hone in on the words and what they say and how to arrange them to say what I want them to say. Not just the words but the arrangement of them on the paper.
It is a new year. Time for new beginnings and old loves to come to the forefront of our lives. Every day starts a new year. We just don't acknowledge it as a culture other than on January 1. I am going to become someone who writes. Not just one who thinks about it, talk about it or read about it. I am going to do it.
Come along with me and enjoy the ride.
Thanks for listening.
Thursday, July 18, 2013
I Haven't Been Here Before
When you hear those words " I haven't been here before" you usually think geographically.
When I think of them, I think age.
You haven't been here before, because you have not been this old before and you will never be this young again. At least chronologically. You may act young, but not be young. You are as young as you feel. Um, nobody wants to be that old. As you age your body cannot do what it did ten years ago. Oh, you may still be able to bend and walk and jump and run, but trust me, it is not nearly as pretty as it once was.
Your memory is different. Everyone forgets stuff and appointments, but when you are below 40 everyone says, " Aw, you just have a lot on your mind", at 60 they are ready to get the Alzheimer drugs for you. Really, it is the same kind of stuff at 60 as at 40, just too much on your mind. At 40 it may be the kids ballgames, your work agenda, your spouse, and your dog. At 60 it may be the grand kids ballgames, their work agenda and their spouse. They don't have time for a dog, so you get the dog and it's stuff. But it is still just stuff.
Your body is different. It now has gray hair, and probably less of it, aches and pains that were just a nuisance are now a challenge. You learn to ignore them and go on, or you see the doctor and get pills to help. Then you get to deal with the side affects.
Getting older is not necessarily fun, but you can have fun dealing with the newness of it. And creative. How many of you under the age of 40 know six ways of getting something out of your reach? I do. Depending on whether it is high or low. If high, get a stool, with rails, use your pick up utensil, whether a rod, tongs or a long-handled spoon, reach high and stretch. On the low side, hands and knees, which takes longer than getting in the car and go buy a new one, reach with utensil, or call your spouse to get it for you.
All of this is to say, that we adjust to what God gives us to do and do it as well as we can.
Enjoy your age. Until, next time.
When I think of them, I think age.
You haven't been here before, because you have not been this old before and you will never be this young again. At least chronologically. You may act young, but not be young. You are as young as you feel. Um, nobody wants to be that old. As you age your body cannot do what it did ten years ago. Oh, you may still be able to bend and walk and jump and run, but trust me, it is not nearly as pretty as it once was.
Your memory is different. Everyone forgets stuff and appointments, but when you are below 40 everyone says, " Aw, you just have a lot on your mind", at 60 they are ready to get the Alzheimer drugs for you. Really, it is the same kind of stuff at 60 as at 40, just too much on your mind. At 40 it may be the kids ballgames, your work agenda, your spouse, and your dog. At 60 it may be the grand kids ballgames, their work agenda and their spouse. They don't have time for a dog, so you get the dog and it's stuff. But it is still just stuff.
Your body is different. It now has gray hair, and probably less of it, aches and pains that were just a nuisance are now a challenge. You learn to ignore them and go on, or you see the doctor and get pills to help. Then you get to deal with the side affects.
Getting older is not necessarily fun, but you can have fun dealing with the newness of it. And creative. How many of you under the age of 40 know six ways of getting something out of your reach? I do. Depending on whether it is high or low. If high, get a stool, with rails, use your pick up utensil, whether a rod, tongs or a long-handled spoon, reach high and stretch. On the low side, hands and knees, which takes longer than getting in the car and go buy a new one, reach with utensil, or call your spouse to get it for you.
All of this is to say, that we adjust to what God gives us to do and do it as well as we can.
Enjoy your age. Until, next time.
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Elections
I am sure that everyone is tired of elections and " I told you so's", so will just rant a bit. I spent Election at a precinct as an election judge. Yes, I had to be there early and stay late. Was it fun? Absolutely.
Was it tiring? Yep.
I learned a lot about myself, as well as others. I have a tendency to be a hillbilly in my speech and mix it with my Eastern US pronounciations. I will say, "Good mornin'" and then follow it with
"Choose eyether line". I had several look puzzled at that pronounciation of either. It is a lifetime habit. I will not expect or demand that you pronounce it that way, but I will.
People can be nice or nasty, but I want you to know that no one was really ugly yesterday, and I know how hard it is to stand in line for ten or fifteen minutes or longer, and then be told you are in the wrong place or cannot do what you came to do. I appreciated everyone having patience all around.
I love that all of us can come together and do something grand and enjoy the process and company.
People looked so intense when they came in and then were positively giggling when they left. We all felt as though a great weight had been lifted because we had done our part. I wish we could enjoy that feeling a long time, but according to some things I have read, we are now going to get the na na na nannas.
Our daughter has said that at their house they have 24 hours to gloat or mourn a victory or loss in the athletic area, and they will do that with the election and then move on. I think that is a good thing for all of us to consider, at least. It all gets a little old either way you do it, gloating or mourning, so do your 24 hour whatever and then put the shoulder to the grind stone and get on with life.
They come around every four years for the presidency and every other year for others things, but let's remember to get out and vote every chance we get.
Was it tiring? Yep.
I learned a lot about myself, as well as others. I have a tendency to be a hillbilly in my speech and mix it with my Eastern US pronounciations. I will say, "Good mornin'" and then follow it with
"Choose eyether line". I had several look puzzled at that pronounciation of either. It is a lifetime habit. I will not expect or demand that you pronounce it that way, but I will.
People can be nice or nasty, but I want you to know that no one was really ugly yesterday, and I know how hard it is to stand in line for ten or fifteen minutes or longer, and then be told you are in the wrong place or cannot do what you came to do. I appreciated everyone having patience all around.
I love that all of us can come together and do something grand and enjoy the process and company.
People looked so intense when they came in and then were positively giggling when they left. We all felt as though a great weight had been lifted because we had done our part. I wish we could enjoy that feeling a long time, but according to some things I have read, we are now going to get the na na na nannas.
Our daughter has said that at their house they have 24 hours to gloat or mourn a victory or loss in the athletic area, and they will do that with the election and then move on. I think that is a good thing for all of us to consider, at least. It all gets a little old either way you do it, gloating or mourning, so do your 24 hour whatever and then put the shoulder to the grind stone and get on with life.
They come around every four years for the presidency and every other year for others things, but let's remember to get out and vote every chance we get.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Good-bye Army Wives
I love the series, "Army Wives". Plain and simple, I think they are great. Since my daughter is an Army Wife, that explains why I started watching them.
They presented stories that were tackled and resolved in one episode, usually. The aftermath of one episode would be around for a while, but mostly it was resolved.
I have had a problem with the series this year as they added a homosexual couple or same sex couple, whichever you prefer. This goes against my Christian doctrine and belief. However, I kept saying it will be okay.
Then they got married. Folks, if you are Christian, marriage is between a man and woman. I am and I have that marriage. I still hung in there. The devil made me do it. Or more likely my own sinful nature kept saying, this is okay.
Then they wanted a baby.
Well, a pregnancy didn't happen. Adoption is the option.
Another storyline had a couple with marriage difficulties and the man had a one night stand with another girl. She got pregnant. She was alone and he wouldn't help as far as taking care of the baby or wanting to make a family with her. She went to the wife, about to be ex, and she talked to the man and he helped her with money.
Sunday's episode was the season finale. Pregnant girl came again to say she could not keep the baby and raise it by herself. Wife talked to hubby, but nothing could be resolved.
Now, mutual friend steps in. Has pregnant girl meet with same sex couple. She has little to say.
When she does, she says she can't do this. She's Christian and they are sinners. I am feeling better about this, when, wham. Hubby discovers that one of the women of the couple was the person responsible for getting his group of soldiers out of a very sticky situation. He was against it up til now, and then goes, " She's nice people. She's a colonel. She wants to raise my kid?" Well, he thinks that would be pretty cool. He talks to the pregnant girl. She says, " They are sinners. I can't do it." His response is that they, too are sinners. Which is true. They, however, are trying to make the best of it by giving the child a good home and staying away from the particular sin that put them here. When he points this the pregnant girl caves and says she will give the baby to the women.
Now, folks, if they had used Muslim, Hindu, or Shiite in this situation, I can pretty well imagine the brew ha ha that would erupt.
They not only made Christians look wishy-washy, but liars and whatever else you choose to read into this.
Please do not think that I am perfect or think so, I just think if you believe in something stand up for it. Someone is going to call you on it, and there will have to be decisions made. We all sin. We all make mistakes. As Christians. we believe that all are forgiven by God for our sins, if we believe. It is there for us.
I will miss Roxy, Trevor, Colonel Sheridan and company, but it is adios, mi amigos.
My decision is to stop watching and telling all I know that I have done so and why.
They presented stories that were tackled and resolved in one episode, usually. The aftermath of one episode would be around for a while, but mostly it was resolved.
I have had a problem with the series this year as they added a homosexual couple or same sex couple, whichever you prefer. This goes against my Christian doctrine and belief. However, I kept saying it will be okay.
Then they got married. Folks, if you are Christian, marriage is between a man and woman. I am and I have that marriage. I still hung in there. The devil made me do it. Or more likely my own sinful nature kept saying, this is okay.
Then they wanted a baby.
Well, a pregnancy didn't happen. Adoption is the option.
Another storyline had a couple with marriage difficulties and the man had a one night stand with another girl. She got pregnant. She was alone and he wouldn't help as far as taking care of the baby or wanting to make a family with her. She went to the wife, about to be ex, and she talked to the man and he helped her with money.
Sunday's episode was the season finale. Pregnant girl came again to say she could not keep the baby and raise it by herself. Wife talked to hubby, but nothing could be resolved.
Now, mutual friend steps in. Has pregnant girl meet with same sex couple. She has little to say.
When she does, she says she can't do this. She's Christian and they are sinners. I am feeling better about this, when, wham. Hubby discovers that one of the women of the couple was the person responsible for getting his group of soldiers out of a very sticky situation. He was against it up til now, and then goes, " She's nice people. She's a colonel. She wants to raise my kid?" Well, he thinks that would be pretty cool. He talks to the pregnant girl. She says, " They are sinners. I can't do it." His response is that they, too are sinners. Which is true. They, however, are trying to make the best of it by giving the child a good home and staying away from the particular sin that put them here. When he points this the pregnant girl caves and says she will give the baby to the women.
Now, folks, if they had used Muslim, Hindu, or Shiite in this situation, I can pretty well imagine the brew ha ha that would erupt.
They not only made Christians look wishy-washy, but liars and whatever else you choose to read into this.
Please do not think that I am perfect or think so, I just think if you believe in something stand up for it. Someone is going to call you on it, and there will have to be decisions made. We all sin. We all make mistakes. As Christians. we believe that all are forgiven by God for our sins, if we believe. It is there for us.
I will miss Roxy, Trevor, Colonel Sheridan and company, but it is adios, mi amigos.
My decision is to stop watching and telling all I know that I have done so and why.
Saturday, August 25, 2012
Feelings
Over a week ago I got a diagnosis that I have a chronic disease. It came out of the blue and shook me a great deal. It isn't that having it is a big deal as much as what can come of it. It is treatable, progression is probably inevitable, and I don't like it.
However, it is what it is.
I know someone who had gotten a similiar diagnosis and when I told her mine and asked for more info on hers. When we saw each other later, she said that she thought I was just looking for someone worse off than I. I really don't have to look far to find people in my world worse off: I have a friend who is in her last struggle with cancer, I have another friend whose sister has health problems that are recent, and I could go on, but I won't.
I didn't speak up about the remark at the time, because I thought she was kidding. After thinking about it, perhaps she wasn't and if not, then I truly did need to apologize. I did.
My mouth seems to run amok sometimes, and I really didn't mean it to. Have you ever had that problem? What did you do about it?
Sometimes God has to give me time to think on my sins for me to acknowledge them and repent of them. And ask for forgiveness.
Til next time.
However, it is what it is.
I know someone who had gotten a similiar diagnosis and when I told her mine and asked for more info on hers. When we saw each other later, she said that she thought I was just looking for someone worse off than I. I really don't have to look far to find people in my world worse off: I have a friend who is in her last struggle with cancer, I have another friend whose sister has health problems that are recent, and I could go on, but I won't.
I didn't speak up about the remark at the time, because I thought she was kidding. After thinking about it, perhaps she wasn't and if not, then I truly did need to apologize. I did.
My mouth seems to run amok sometimes, and I really didn't mean it to. Have you ever had that problem? What did you do about it?
Sometimes God has to give me time to think on my sins for me to acknowledge them and repent of them. And ask for forgiveness.
Til next time.
Sunday, May 27, 2012
Quiet
I have been quiet for a long time on here, and have decided to start shouting.
I may not be right. I may not be fair. I am, however, going to try to get my points across. This is going to be a long time going on. I may not make it every day, but I will make it every week.
I have been reading a lot of C. Hope Clark's posts and blog. She has just gotten her first fiction book into print and has taken us on her journey. One of her blogposts was about being quiet. It has made me think about shouting
A lot has been going on in my mind and I wish to share.
I have three ladies that I mentor as a cancer angel. They have been diagnosed with the same type of cancer I had two years ago.
They are all at different places in their lives, battle and living. The fact that we all live on this planet and endure different difficulties, does not mean that we can not understand each other's pain. I do not know what is like to be told there is no cure, but I do know what is like to be told you have cancer. I will listen and learn and try to give some kind of empathy and hug.
I hope to become better at this blogging thing and hope that you will share your thoughts with me.
God bless and take care.
I may not be right. I may not be fair. I am, however, going to try to get my points across. This is going to be a long time going on. I may not make it every day, but I will make it every week.
I have been reading a lot of C. Hope Clark's posts and blog. She has just gotten her first fiction book into print and has taken us on her journey. One of her blogposts was about being quiet. It has made me think about shouting
A lot has been going on in my mind and I wish to share.
I have three ladies that I mentor as a cancer angel. They have been diagnosed with the same type of cancer I had two years ago.
They are all at different places in their lives, battle and living. The fact that we all live on this planet and endure different difficulties, does not mean that we can not understand each other's pain. I do not know what is like to be told there is no cure, but I do know what is like to be told you have cancer. I will listen and learn and try to give some kind of empathy and hug.
I hope to become better at this blogging thing and hope that you will share your thoughts with me.
God bless and take care.
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