Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday. Show all posts

Easter 2019

 Morning dawned, dense with fog.
We braved it to attend the first service-described as "traditional".
Reflecting now (late afternoon), I realize one highlight 
of the morning was conversation with one whose name I'd heard,
but whose face I did not know.
I followed her on the way to the parking lot, 
watching her lone, bent frame 
and silently praying she would make it safely 
to her car.
I remarked on the sunshine that had replaced the fog 
as we had worshiped, and the conversation unfolded.
I learned that she, like me, was somewhat of an introvert.
She didn't need or seek out a lot of activity for activity sake.
"I've heard about you!" I said.
"And I about you," she returned.
And then we discovered our mutual lack of interest in
social activity and mindless chitchat.
***
Since our children live far away, my sister and brother-in-law were headed
to be with his side of the family, and I had failed to 
invite guests to Easter dinner,
we ate at the local cafe--thankful for the servers and cooks
who created and served our meal.
After naps, we roused ourselves for a beautiful walk
on a paved trail in the town next to ours.
Besides the sunshine, bird songs, croaking of frogs and budding out of trees,
a small patch of the two wild flowers shown here 
were the primary evidences of spring that I noticed.
I thought about my new acquaintance and wondered if she and I
were as rare among the crowd surrounding me this morning
as the two small patches of wildflowers  
among the dying excesses of winter....
Sometimes I feel that way.
Hmmmmmm. 

A Look Back at the Holiday

 The 2017 Thanksgiving holiday is history.
The much-anticipated Cracker Barrel dinner was a disappointment.
(Plate containing the meat and a spoonful of cranberry relish
came out sans the cornmeal dressing and sweet potato casserole.  
"It will be done in about 15 minutes," the waitress informed us.)
But games were played, and Father and I enjoyed the day and were thankful
for the innumerable blessings of life and the past year.
...a game for two...
Late that night, Hubby returned home safely from his marathon Thanksgiving travel.
Friday was spent away in the company of almost 40 family members.
Saturday found us at home where I served a soup lunch
and later enjoyed a short shopping trek to local Amish stores
with my sister-in-law who with my brother and two of their grandchildren
stopped in on their way back to North Carolina.
Only a grandson remains with us.
and I make a mental note of what I already know--
I am much more of a one-on-one person than a crowd-person.
In fact, the older I get, the more awkward and unsettled I am in a crowd...
Hmmmmmmmmmm.


The Day-After-New-Year's-Day

 Gray skies and a parking lot blanketed with vehicles...
a perfect day to spend a few hours at a table in the corner.
Four stacks of magazines--his and hers, read and unread.
f
 Ideas abounding!
 Inspiration-packed!
....and then home to share a breakfast-type supper
with Dad, sister & brother-in-law and the love-of-my-life.
Afterwards, we cleared the table to play a couple of card games.
Now, the evening draws to an end as the long third quarter of the Rose Bowl game continues.
I'll head upstairs to read my book soon...
What a relaxing way to spend the day-after-New-Year's-Day.
(I hope YOUR new year is off to an equally fulfilling start.)

Black and White

 These are our grandchildren....
 gathered for less than 24 hours at a central location on Thanksgiving Day.
 We celebrated Christmas, too,  since one of our children's family will be unable to join us then...
We'll take what we can get!
 This is a black and white Christmas stocking
 hanging on the single knob of the antique wardrobe....
 This morning my husband followed up the Children's "Sermon" 
 with the lighting of the first Advent Candle.
 It was a very sweet moment.
 Too bad my phone's camera chose this instant to be uncooperative.
(Have you noticed how impossible it is to do-over some things?)
This is an interesting book that I finished while traveling over the Thanksgiving holiday.
It is filled with a lot of details 
about the latter years of this literary couple and
written by their personal secretary.
Though I'm a fast reader, I couldn't read this one "fast"...
I AM glad I stuck it out and finished it.

All this black and white reminds me that I am by nature 
a "black and white" person.  
There are probably too few grey areas in my thinking.
I wish this wasn't the case.  I really do.
It DOES make a life a little easier for me - but probably not
for the people that have to LIVE with me.
As I age, I think I'm mellowing a bit.
But not much.
Any suggestions?

Red, White, Blue

 For what avail the plough or sail, or land or life, if freedom fail?
Ralph Waldo Emerson
 My God! How little do my countrymen know what precious blessings they are in possession of, 
and which no other people on earth enjoy!
Thomas Jefferson
This, then, is the state of the union: free and restless, growing and full of hope. So it was in the beginning. So it shall always be, while God is willing, and we are strong enough to keep the faith.
Lyndon B. Johnson

On the Menu:  Burgers & fixings, refrigerator mashed potatoes, Oriental cabbage slaw, baked beans, watermelon and cookies.
Guests:  My parents and sister & brother-in-law, a niece & her boy-friend.
HAPPY FOURTH, FRIENDS.
GOD BLESS AMERICA.

 After the meal, several games of cornhole
and relaxed conversation.
(My parents, below.  So thankful to have them with us!)

Happy Birthday, Mr. President


Sir, my concern is not whether God is on our side;
my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.  (Abraham Lincoln)

Seeing this quote by this man (whose birthday seems to me to have been lumped with a bunch of others and swept into the dustpan of history somehow) made me think of an old gospel song...Do you know it? Its language is a bit archaic, but its message is timeless! "By His call of mercy and grace divine, we are His!

Who Is On The Lord's Side?

Who is on the Lord’s side? 
Who will serve the King? 
Who will be His helpers, other lives to bring? 
Who will leave the world’s side? 
Who will face the foe? 
Who is on the Lord’s side? Who for Him will go? 
By Thy call of mercy, by Thy grace divine,
 We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine! 

 Not for weight of glory,
 nor for crown and palm, 
Enter we the army, raise the warrior psalm; 
But for love that claimeth lives for whom He died: 
He whom Jesus nameth must be on His side.
 By Thy love constraining, by Thy grace divine, 
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine! 

Jesus, Thou hast bought us, 
not with gold or gem, 
But with Thine own life blood, for Thy diadem; 
With Thy blessing filling each who comes to Thee, 
Thou hast made us willing, Thou hast made us free.
 By Thy grand redemption, by Thy grace divine, 
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine! 

Fierce may be the conflict, 
strong may be the foe,
But the King’s own army none can overthrow;
’Round His standard ranging, victory is secure, 
For His truth unchanging makes the triumph sure. 
Joyfully enlisting, by Thy grace divine, 
We are on the Lord’s side—Savior, we are Thine! 

 Chosen to be soldiers, in an alien land, 
Chosen, called, and faithful, for our Captain’s band, 
In the service royal, let us not grow cold;
Let us be right loyal, noble, true and bold. 
Master, Thou wilt keep us, by Thy grace divine, 
Always on the Lord’s side—Savior, always Thine!
(Frances Havergal, 1877)

"Let Nothing Be Wasted"

Finally I got around to it--sorting through a stack of Christmas cards.
Some I folded to make note cards.
Others I kept because of their renditions of the story of Christ's birth.
These, I'm thinking, could occupy young minds and hands next Christmas season.
Assignment?  Arrange them in the correct sequence, etc.
THIS bunch (above) all had pictures of snowmen on them.
Large, medium and tiny.
I combined them and put in an envelope for our young grandson
who has a January birthday. 
(Do you see the $5 bill tucked into a slit in the top one?)
His assignment is to count them, pick out the largest, the smallest,
create a family of snowmen...and whatever ELSE his little mind may challenge him to do.
I cut out a few large words:  PEACE, JOY, JESUS.
I didn't cut out any more name tags for gifts.  
Still have a bunch from year before last.
I chuckle at myself doing this, but they are just too pretty to waste!

Besides, I remember the words of Jesus when giving instructions 
to His disciples to gather the food that remained after feeding the 5,000...
"Gather the pieces that are left over. Let nothing be wasted."
John 6:12

What do YOU do with Christmas cards from seasons past?

The Greatest Love

 While putting away "Christmas", 
 I stumbled upon traces of the NEXT holiday--
Valentine's Day tins...
...reminding me...
of the Greatest Love!

O The Deep, Deep Love of Jesus
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, vast, unmeasured, boundless, free!
Rolling as a mighty ocean in its fullness over me!
Underneath me, all around me, is the current of Thy love
Leading onward, leading homeward to Thy glorious rest above!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, spread His praise from shore to shore!
How He loveth, ever loveth, changeth never, nevermore!
How He watches o’er His loved ones, died to call them all His own;
How for them He intercedeth, watcheth o’er them from the throne!

O the deep, deep love of Jesus, love of every love the best!
’Tis an ocean full of blessing, ’tis a haven giving rest!
O the deep, deep love of Jesus, ’tis a heaven of heavens to me;
And it lifts me up to glory, for it lifts me up to Thee!



It's a New Year!

This is a picture of my father delivering his annual state-of-the-heart address to children, grandchildren and great-grand-children gathered for a couple of days of fellowship, food, and festivities last weekend.  Many, many memories are created; songs are sung; words of encouragement exchanged. 

And almost before I said good-bye to 2012, here it is!  A New Year.  My focus all morning was spent trying to set up and initiate a new "smart phone" -- a first for me.  And CLEARLY, I'm not as smart as my phone!

I've had little time to think of any New Year's resolutions, but two have been strong in my mind.  First, I will write a Scripture song every week for a total of 52 in 2013.  I already have a Moleskine music book waiting for notations, so no more equipment is necessary.  Second, I will keep my weight below 140#.  I worked hard in 2012 to lose 45 pounds and do not want to have to go through that again!  All the other things I "resolve" are on-going.  Necessary, but not new.

As for my "word" for the year, I have decided to stay with the one from last year.  Graciousness.  I am dissatisfied with my progress in that department and want to improve.  OH!  How I want to improve!

I shall look forward to hearing how YOU have prepared for 2013 and what desires God has placed in your heart.

Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires.  Psalm 37:4

I'm Dreaming...









Next year, I may decide to put little white lights
on our little white Christmas tree.
Not this year.
Keeping it VERY simple while
enjoying the music on our Christian radio station,
candles,
and OTHER people's decorations!

Thanksgiving Weekend

I couldn't say it better than Janette, so I won't try.
Go to her post HERE for a powerful Thanksgiving reminder.
May YOUR Thanksgiving Day & Weekend
be a peaceful and joyful one.
We enjoyed OUR day at my sister's house..



 ...culminating in an early celebration of my father's birthday!

More Than Water...

...at THE WELL...
a Borders-like Bookstore/Coffee Shop in McPherson KS!
 It was busy during the mid-morning hours we were here!
 People of all ages chattered at tables.  
 We were surrounded by laughter and friendly banter.
 Chalkboards hung from the ceilings identified the various classifications
 of Christian books.
 And though only mid-November, I was not unhappy to see
 Christmas trees decorated throughout the store.

 I remember when I used to think the season was rushed.
 But not the past few years!
 I'm ready for the lights and cheerful colors
that announce Christmas
as soon as the time change renders it dark
LONG before my should-be bedtime!
 I could hardly keep my hands off the keys of the piano
 that sat in the center of the store!
Books of Christmas carols stood ready to accompany
a Christmas sing-a-long...
 Wow!  I wish we had a store like this near our home!
In addition to the chalkboards hanging from the ceiling,
THIS chalkboard was on the front wall...
ready for recording the names of all who enjoy The Wall!
Joy to the World....the Lord is come
Let earth receive her King.
Let every heart prepare Him room...

Writing a Song a Week #3

Writing a Song a Week #3
♪ I wait for the Lord; my soul waits and in his word I hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning ♪ (Psalm 130:5-6)