HAPPY NEW YEARS!

May all the kindness and love that you gave this year be returned to you many times over in the coming year!

God bless you!  And if you do not know the Lord, May He come to you this year!  Happy New Years!

Irish Blessing

May the road rise to meet you,

May the wind be always at your back.

May the sun shine warm upon your face,

The rains fall soft upon your fields.

And until we meet again,

May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

May God be with you and bless you:

May you see your children's children.
May you be poor in misfortune,
Rich in blessings.
May you know nothing but happiness
From this day forward.

May the road rise up to meet you

May the wind be always at your back

May the warm rays of sun fall upon your home

And may the hand of a friend always be near.

May green be the grass you walk on,

May blue be the skies above you,

May pure be the joys that surround you,

May true be the hearts that love you.

 

The Day After Christmas....

This is the Missouri River--all chunked up in broken pieces of ice. Ice pieces crashed into each other, as the flowing water carried them forward.  They then became covered in snow. It is amazing that this big flowing body of water could freeze up (only on top)!

Christmas Day came to an end yesterday; and, as I headed home, I felt a strange sense of freedom. It was as though, maybe, an impending happening, that will set us free, is on the horizon. But, how can one become free from the bondage of old age? Of course, I do believe in miracles. We'll see. Maybe it was a touch of spring fever, since the weather was so nice!

Last year's new year resolution is still going strong--no candy! Not difficult when cookies are still on the "good" list--but it is mighty tempting during the holidays. This year I want to be a better person. So, maybe two resolutions for this year -- exercise twice a week and be kinder to people.

There are so many things we can do to better ourselves. Paul, an Apostle of our Lord Jesus Christ, however, gives us insight and instructions on how we are to live:

1 Timothy 4^:7 But reject profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise yourself toward godliness. ⁸ For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things, having promise of the life that now is and of that which is to come. ⁹ This is a faithful saying and worthy of all acceptance. ¹⁰ For to this end we both labor and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of those who believe. ¹¹ These things command and teach.

In so reading, walking with the Lord is the greatest resolution we can make. So, resolution number two will be physical excercise, and number one will be to walk with the Lord in obedience.

Amen! -- "So be it!"

A SAVIOR is born!

We cannot imagine the depth of God’s love for baby Jesus—HIS ONLY SON. Yet, at the birth of Jesus, His thoughts were not on declaring the miracle of the birth of HIS SON; instead, He sent His angel to tell the world of the birth of A SAVIOR! God’s thoughts were ON US.

Shepherds saw the magnificent Glory of God that night and it shone all around them. An angel of God told them the good news— declaring the great joy of the birth of a Savior. What a Night!!! A glorious, wonderful night.

God, who created all things, had brought Mary and Joseph to a stable, where Jesus, the Son of our all-mighty and all-powerful God, would be born in humbleness. Not in the majesty he deserved, but as an infant, in the lowest of surroundings.

Jesus didn’t come to save us that we might earn our way to heaven, or claim a birthright that would get us into heaven. He came for those who would take up their cross and follow Him. Redemption and grace is freely given to those who love and accept Him. He is returning soon. Not as a small humble infant, but with all the powers of Heaven — in Glory, as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, to bring deliverance to His children and justice to the world.

Wishing you a Merry Christmas. May God bless you and keep you throughout the season and through the coming year.

Luke 2:⁸ Now there were in the same country shepherds
living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. ¹⁰ Then the
angel said to them, “Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tiding
of great joy which will be to all people. ¹¹ For there is born to
you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. ¹² And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling
cloths, lying in a manger.”

¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude
of the heavenly host praising God and saying:

¹⁴ “ Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

Christmas Treats

Last Friday Victoria and Madison started baking cookies; and, on Saturday Brandie, Janet, Huimin, Serena and Timmy joined them.

The rain was coming down in buckets in California, but inside Victoria's kitchen it was hot and the smell of baking filled the air. Tray after tray of cookies were coming out of the oven. The Krumkake iron was heated up and baking one tasty cookie after another to be rolled into that tempting cone shaped cookie. Dozens of cheesecakes were mixed up and baked.

Madison, Serena and Timmy decorated the cookies. Everyone, then, taste-tested the cookies. They were as delicious as they look!!!

The holiday treats were wrapped and, with Christmas greetings, sent to neighbors, friends, co-workers and family. Victoria was still delivering by Sunday night. All made and sent with love. God bless you busy bakers!

Getting Ready for the family Christmas

Kathleen decided that she wanted the Christmas tree up. Thinking the kittens would not stay out of the tree, she had been adamant earlier in NOT putting it up. Her fears were realized! As she tried to put the tree together, both kittens were running in circles around her, trying to get past her to climb the tree with the pretty little light bulbs. We are now trying to keep them out of the tree, but with limited success. I've found both of them, a number of times, lying over the branches, in what looked like total comfort, in the high branches of the tree!

Kat and Andy went and bought them both little Christmas costumes to wear for Christmas. The little green elf suit, with bells on its toes, went on Little Black. The red santy elf suit went on SuperFuzz. SuperFuzz immediately pulled her hat off and took off with it. Then Little Black took off running, and, when his bells started jingling, he ran even faster trying to escape them. Super Fuzz is now in hot pursuit of the bells and Andy in hot pursuit of both of them, trying to catch them before they ruined their costumes! What a comedy! Their little suits are now safely tucked away until the gathering at the tree for the Christmas celebration.

Every year do you fear not having gotten the present that will make your child happy? How many years have I overdone it, spending enormously huge amounts of money on toys that soon end up broken or not played with? I shudder to think of all the wasted money on unwanted "stuff." As I get older, and see the end of the dollar, the giving becomes critical. Giving gifts that last, that have value, or add value to the family, or the home, has become the criteria.

The children all have their own families and I know their kids will have their trees stuffed with pretty presents and lots of new toys. It amazes me that their moms and dads seem to know exactly what pleases their children! However, from Grandma the grandchildren all will get a picture book, put together on the computer, of the times they have spent together. The years are slipping by quickly, as I watch the babies all starting to grow up, and the good times from the past fading away forgotten. With little time left for the organizing, composing, printing and mailing--its now time to get it done!!

Looking back, I see the fun of the Christmas tree and the giving, but one of my favorite rituals is the cards given and received. This one special time everyone stops, and together, we all recognize and worship, Jesus, our Savior, born as a child, in Bethlehem.

I long for that time when we all will live with the Lord and know His peace. God is good.

Pets In Heaven?

Late last summer I went out to start the riding lawn mower. From the corner of my eye I saw something fly out the side of the mower. I turned off the mower and looked. There was Little Black. She had disappeared on us last spring and now here she was, hidden away in the bags of the mower! Then came another sound--muffled little "mews." I tried to identify what direction they were coming from, but couldn't tell. Then the story unfolded. I walked to the back of the rider and opened the lid. There in one of the tubs was a passel of little kittens. Eyes open and meowing for their Mom. I was stunned!!

I moved the little kittens to the shelter we had for the cats in the back. Little Black was not use to being around us, so she backed off. After I left, she came back to the mower and began looking for her kittens. I went back around the house and picked up the sqwakiest one and took him to the front. When she heard him, she came running. She was very happy in her "home."

Little Black was a fantastic mama cat. She kept those little kittens in line. At night she would settle them all down and then go off for mice, even though there was cat food available. When they got up where they could fall out of their shelter, she would make a noise and they would all run back to her. She loved her kittens and we loved her.

One morning I went out to pick up the newspaper. There in the middle of the road was a black spot. I wondered what it was, then my heart stopped and I rushed over. It was Little Black. She was laid out and she looked like she was dead, but she was still warm. I carried her to the house and called Kathleen. We put her in the garage on some tarps. I left to get to an appointment and returned before noon. We found a pretty white box and I put a warm blanket in it. Then we set her in it. She was cooling down, but until the body is cold, we won't say she is dead. We knew she was. Finally she was stiff and cold. We went and buried her.

Kathleen, in the meantime, had brought all her kittens into the house. They were way too little to fend for themselves and too little to give away. They all could drink warmed up milk and a couple would eat canned cat food. The days were not cold yet, so the dogs didn't need to come in. They got the front entry.

My bedroom window faces the front of the house and drive that goes out to the road. I awoke the next morning and opened my eyes and I saw Little Black in the window. It was as though she was peaking through, but yet her head (and neck?) was completely visible, and I could see through her to the curtains behind her. Her head was the width of the window, but for some reason did not seem out of proportion. She was looking for something and I knew she was checking on her kittens. Then the next instant she was gone.

When I was a kid my cat died. I no longer remember how, but I do remember praying for her. I kept her in my prayers for ages. Now, I wonder if there is a place in the new world to come for our pets.

We know God loves His creation and made provisions for all to be taken care of when He created the world.

In Leviticus, God tells us we are not to eat animals that go on their paws:

Leviticus 11:27 And whatever goes on its paws, among all kinds of animals that
go on all fours, those are unclean to you.

The angels that are at the throne of God have the face of a lion, calf, man and eagle:

Revelation 4:6 Before the throne there was a sea of glass, like crystal. And in
the midst of the throne, and around the throne, were four living creatures
full of eyes in front and in back. 7 The first living creature was like a
lion, the second living creature like a calf, the third living creature had
a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle. 8
The four living creatures, each having six wings, were full of eyes around
and within. And they do not rest day or night, saying: “ Holy, holy, holy,
Lord God Almighty, Who was and is and is to come!”

Certainly, if animals are represented in heaven, in the spirit of an angel, it would give hope that our animals, themselves, would be in the new world.

God shows that He has respect for the mother and its young:

Exodus 23:19 The first of the firstfruits of your land you shall bring into the
house of the LORD your God. You shall not boil a young goat in its mother’s
milk.

God provided for the animals:

Matthew 6:25 “Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you
will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is
not life more than food and the body more than clothing? 26 Look at the birds of
the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly
Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? 27 Which of you by
worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

In the last thousand years the animals will know peace:

Isaiah 11:6 “ The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb,
The leopard shall lie down with the young
goat, The calf and the young lion and the
fatling together; And a little child shall
lead them. 7 The cow and the bear shall
graze; Their young ones shall lie down
together; And the lion shall eat straw like
the ox. 8 The nursing child shall play by
the cobra’s hole, And the weaned child shall
put his hand in the viper’s den. 9 They
shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy mountain,
For the earth shall be full of the knowledge
of the LORD

And also:

Isaiah 65: 24 “ It shall come to pass That before they call, I will
answer; And while they are still speaking, I will hear.
25 The wolf and the lamb shall feed together, The lion shall eat
straw like the ox, And dust shall be the serpent’s
food. They shall not hurt nor destroy in all My holy
mountain,” Says the LORD.

All things are in the hand of God. He has promised us great and awesome things in the world to come, if we are His children. He is Just, Righteous and Merciful and He knows even the heart of one little black cat who loved her kittens. I will trust in His judgment.

Recipe Book to be updated

Today another batch of scones came out of the oven. A great treat -- a scone with a glass of iced tea! (mmmm-- Not too sweet and not too bready.)

This time I added another cup of flour to the recipe. Before, I always had to put lots of flour in the dusting, when rolling out the dough, as it was so sticky! Also, 3/4 cup corn meal was added instead of 1/2 cup, as that was all that was left in the container. It turned out very good. Just right for the recipe book. Thanks, Anita, for turning me on to scones!!

The outside temps dropped down to 12 F, so I brought the dogs in. Besides a treat, I gave Sam a new squeeky toy to play with. I threw it in their area and it rolled up next to the fence. Little Fuzz, the one who charges without thinking, immediately ran up to play with it, sticking her paw through the squares. Then, she backed up when she saw Sam. Sam is now standing as a sentinel, waiting, watching, and not moving, knowing that Super Fuzz will again try to paw that ball.

You can see the straw, on the rug, just brought in by the dogs. Their dog houses are filled with warm straw. Each stalk, insulates against the cold. The dead air space in the empty hollow tubes create a barrier, as the straw meshes together, one stalk against another. Since Beamer is losing his hair (The vets cannot explain it or stop it.) I try to bring them in if there is no sunshine and the temps drop below freezing. His store-bought coat and vest does protect him, but not all of him can be covered.

So, as we catch the edge of another winter storm, I'll have a break, with tea and scone, and then start on that recipe book, that I have procrastinated the updating of. Everything sounds like fun when you plan it, but I guess there are a lot of lazy bones in me that don't want to get started!!

Winter on the Prairie

What a beautiful wintery day! As I came home the other day, I spotted a sun dog in the sky. A "second little sun" that added the touch of a miracle to the day. A gift from God.

Traveling down the road, winter's beauty was everywhere. The countryside sparkled with white frost and a fine, powdery mist of snow. Weeds and grasses stood majestically on the silent, white prairie. The animals burrowed deep in their holes, awaiting the warmth of the sun. Everything was still.

The Lord kept us safe, as our tires crunch over the snowpacked graveled roads. Plows have long since pushed the hugh drifts, that once made these roads impassible, into the ditch. In the distance, huge bales, now covered in snow, loomed high above the fields, as a reminder of the summer past, when they had stood as tall stalks of grain basking in the heat of the sun.

All things are as the Lord meant them to be. God is good.

Isaiah 55:9-11

9 “ For as the heavens are higher than the earth,
So are My ways higher than your ways,
And My thoughts than your thoughts.
10 “ For as the rain comes down, and the snow from heaven,
And do not return there,
But water the earth,
And make it bring forth and bud,
That it may give seed to the sower
And bread to the eater,
11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth;
It shall not return to Me void,
But it shall accomplish what I please,
And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.

Thanksgiving

"Cozy comfort" as the kittens bathed in the warmth of the fireplace. One would think with their fur, they would look for cooler places!






The kids dug a snow cave while they were here. Kat, Andy, Tim and Huimin helped (and got to play in the cave too). It was quite warm and sheltered on the inside, keeping them from the biting, cold wind that continued to blow across the prairie.




Later on, Huimin, Tim and Serena put their talents to work and finished off the Christmas ornaments. Their creations turned out beautiful. The final touch is to add the family pictures to those with frames.


Tim took time out and did some drawings that came out fantastic. It is such a blessing to have a talent! We enjoyed his company and that of his family. It is so good to have a child come home!

Time flew by. It seemed like, except for eating the turkey and ham dinner on Thanksgiving, there wasn't time to get hardly anything accomplished. Everyone came and the next thing we knew, it was time to get ready to leave. On the last night together, Tim brought out his new XBox Kinect game. They took the furniture out of the family room downstairs and then everyone took turns interacting with the game. Well, except me! You have to be able to jump and be quite agile to play. It WAS fun to watch, though.

Everyone went home on Sunday and what a travel day that was!! Tim and family went South, and Andy and Chris went East. They braved snow storms where they couldn't see but inches in front of the car. Tim then hit icy roads going over the Sierra Nevadas. We lived on prayers that whole night. Finally, in the early morning hours of Monday, they got to their homes.

Tim, Huimin and kids, after returning to their home, then went to retrieve their pets. Madison was the pet-sitter for Bane and Lily. She is such a caring person and did such an excellent job!! (Thanks to Victoria and Nick for letting their house be turned into a temporary "zoo"!!)

God is good. I am so very thankful that we are so blessed to know His love.