Christmas is coming...

Cookies and candies are done: Two batches of sugar cookies, two batches of krumkakke, two batches of chocolate marshmallow rolls, two batches of sand bakkels, two batches of quick spritz, two batches of chocolate almond bon bons, two batches of fudge, and a batch of chocolate chips cookies. They have now been gifted up and are on their way to share the Christmas spirit with my other kids and their families. Not to mention the ones gifted up and shared with family, friends and work here. Tomorrow Kat and I will make some chex mix. The girls (2 1/2)have decided their favorite is the sugar cookies with its icing and sprinkles. They love it when you open the container for them and they get to gaze over all the different colored cookies and try to decide which one they want THIS TIME.

The tree is surrounded by presents and the girls have been admiring the ribbons and papers, and the teenager checking out his presents as to what they could be. It is a fun time to look forward to. Cards have been sent and have already reached their destinations.

Christmas Dinner came early as the other grandparents were not going to be here for Christmas Day. All that is left is to celebrate and worship the Lord. This year is different. All my daughter and son-in-law's children are with them, and old enough to understand what is going on. It is time to establish a family tradition. Will there be a reading of the Christmas story with prayers? Will there be a Christmas video and prayers? What will they decide to do?

My prayers are that my children will be God-fearing and will walk in the ways of the Lord. His return is soon...not again as a little child, but as our Savior. Bringing justice to the world. Lord come quickly.

Two Gold Pieces

Did you ever have a dream that frightened you?  A dream that you were caught doing something wrong, something that you would not do!  

 

The other night I had a dream.  I was somewhere looking at these beautiful pieces of gold.  There were two of them and they were in a display case with other items.  I had picked them up to admire them and then got distracted as I somehow went somewhere.  The next thing I knew I was reaching in my pocket and finding the pieces of gold there.  I was shocked and my heart sank as I knew I would have to explain to everyone why they were in my pocket. 

 

Trying to make sense of the dream, I thought that maybe my heart was really evil and I was a going to be a thief--I was very depressed. 

 

But, perhaps the explanation is not of a future happening, but something that was and is happening.   Was I not bathed twice in the Glory of God?  Did I not experience His fingerprints on my life as He reached out to others?  Is this dream about me hoarding the Love of God?  Most certainly I haven't done much of  anything to  reach others.  Lord, what is it that you desire of me?   Most certainly, my talents and abilities are very little.  Open the door Lord, where you wish me to go.

Matthew 7:7 “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened.

 

 

Kitty Is Coming Home

We just got good news.  Tim received a facebook message from someone in California.  She had found a cat that looked like their cat, Lily.  He forwarded the message to Huimin, who called the person.  A picture of the cat was then messaged to Huimin.   It is Lily!   The kids are all excited.

Last week Timmy had got up and then came downstairs for breakfast.  He told me that he had a really good dream.  He dreamed that "Mom" had found Lily and was bringing her home.  He was absolutely convinced Lily was coming home.   Then, this morning, I was moving some furniture and I moved the cat tree.  I was going to take part of it down so I could use it as a stand until we found something for the scanner to sit on.  Tim said to just leave the cat tree as the cats may still come home.  So, they both had hopes that Lily was coming home.

Little Black is still out there somewhere.  Hopefully someone will befriend him and help him find his way home, too.  Until that happens, all things are in the Lord's hands.  My trust is that He will care for Little Black and watch over him.  Whether kitty comes home or finds a new home, I pray all will be well with him.

Patience

My computer did quit working permanently.  The technicians replaced almost everything on it until they got to the processor.  It is now a sure thing, I will be getting a new computer when I return to Montana.

The cats took off one night on us.  We have spent countless hours out there calling them, and looking for them.  They apparently have taken a liking to the little bit of paradise that they have found.  There are wooded areas, streams, and meadows in the area; and then we have a great supply of abandoned houses that are awaiting future demolition.  Many houses have crawl spaces beneath that are open to any small animal.  Apparently raccoons tear the screens off the vents, to the crawl spaces, leaving dark sanctuaries for cats to hole up in--probably with a big supply of mice.  We'll post the cats on the lost and found page, and wait for them to surface.

Tomorrow we head East, going across the U.S.  The trip has been delayed for one reason after another.  I think that perhaps God has given us mountains, that we may strengthen His gift of patience. 

God be with us all in these days ahead. 



 

A Change of Pace

At the end of the month I will be taking  a four month visit to the deep south....I am going down into the  "Bible Belt".    My computer is back in the shop as they try to diagnose the real problem.  If I ever get it back and it works I will write more.  I have reached my limit on typing with one finger.  May the Lord be with us.

Life Goes On

It appears nothing gets done without a challenge!  I am going to take that trip sooner than I thought.  Now there is so much to do to prepare for it.  As if there weren't enough problems, my computer now went back for the third time.  If it is not fixed by the first of the month, it may be time to get another--even though it is only a year and a half old.

I do look forward to the end.  People I know or are aquainted with are passing on in greater number as time goes on.  I wish to have the peace of God also.  Well apparently there is still work to do, as I am still here. 

Planning a Trip

I don't foresee it happening earlier, but I am going to take a trip back East next year.  Its time for a vacation and for an adventure!  But, today, the battle with the weeds continue before the rains circle back.

The song "More Than I Can Say" has been running through my mind and heart lately:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-mBsC8LTBU    The pictures with the video are beautiful.   All a reminder that the love God has for us is beyond captivity, that it is in our hearts and in our spirit and, like a cup running over, flows out wherever our hearts go. 

Up and Running Again!

Its been two months ago, or so, since my computer went down.  I finally got it in to the shop and fixed; and, then, when I got home with it, the wifi no longer worked.  So, I have been without an on-line computer.  Today, we got everything situated so that I can get my computer plugged in directly to the internet outlet.  Yahoo!  I'm back on line!! 

Life has been progressing at a fast clip.   VBS is coming up, then the grandchildren are enrolled into some summer week-long courses at the college, and with all the rains, the weeds are growing rapidly.  God is good, He never lets us sit and get stagnant.  Although, I must admit, I sometimes wistfully think how nice it would be to just kick back on a hot beach and soak in the sun.  Well, perhaps next year.  Life is good, God is good.

The Family Book Begins Again

Its been 2-3 years ago, maybe longer, since I collected, from my brothers and sisters, the scrapbooks Mom made for each of us.   The scrapbooks were scanned, so that we could create one "family" book.  As it is, there was only one copy of all her photographs and only one person (or Mom) had it.   Mom, also, had a bookcase full of scrapbooks and picture albums.  I am not entirely sure how she put them together, but for the most part, it was not chronological.  

 

After completing the scanning of the "children's scrapbooks," the scanning of Mom's albums began.  After 3 or 4 albums, I stopped, with the intention to return and finish.  Of course, one thing  happened, and then another, and I never did go back and finish.  After Mom died, all her scrapbooks were put into two huge tubs, plus, there is another tub of miscellaneous stuff--leaving me with no idea which albums I have  scanned. 

 

 

So...now I am almost half way through one album--only about 30 left to go!   The tubs were stored in my bedroom, and I just had no room to turn around.  With a busy summer ahead of us, this just has to be finished and sent out to the family. 

 

Hopefully, everyone will keep on enjoying Mom's diligent work at keeping all the information and pictures of her family.  In the end, we will get it all into one place, so that our children will know their ancestors and the heritage they left for their children.   A heritage, not of money, but of love for their children and for being there for each them through the hard times.  

 

I've thought about Mom and Dad many times and wished that I could go back, as the person I am now, and help them through their hard times, but things can't be changed.  I am just thankful that Our Creator and Lord loves us so, that when all else fails, He provides a way out.

Burn Out

Our Heavenly Father told us to rest.  He not only gave us the commandment to rest, but He, Himself, was an example to us.

Exodus 20:10 but the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord your God. In it you shall do no work: you, nor your son, nor your daughter, nor your male servant, nor your female servant, nor your cattle, nor your stranger who is within your gates. ¹¹ For in six days the Lord made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Therefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day and hallowed it.
 

 He, also, showed us how to keep the Sabbath.  When the Israelites were in the desert, the Lord provided for their needs.  On the sixth day of the week, he gave them enough food for two days, thus they did not need to gather food on the Sabbath.

Exodus 16:4 Then the Lord said to Moses, “Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you. And the people shall go out and gather a certain quota every day, that I may test them, whether they will walk in My law or not. 5 And it shall be on the sixth day that they shall prepare what they bring in, and it shall be twice as much as they gather daily.”
 

To rest in the Lord we not only stop our work, we also put our trust in God.

Psalms 37:7 Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.
8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath;
Do not fret—it only causes harm.

9 For evildoers shall be cut off;
But those who wait on the Lord,
They shall inherit the earth.
10 For yet a little while and the wicked shall be no more;
Indeed, you will look carefully for his place,
But it shall be no more.
11 But the meek shall inherit the earth,
And shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.

12 The wicked plots against the just,
And gnashes at him with his teeth.

13 The Lord laughs at him,
For He sees that his day is coming.
14 The wicked have drawn the sword
And have bent their bow,
To cast down the poor and needy,
To slay those who are of upright conduct.
15 Their sword shall enter their own heart,
And their bows shall be broken.

16 A little that a righteous man has
Is better than the riches of many wicked.

17 For the arms of the wicked shall be broken,
But the Lord upholds the righteous.

18 The Lord knows the days of the upright,
And their inheritance shall be forever.
19 They shall not be ashamed in the evil time,
And in the days of famine they shall be satisfied.
20 But the wicked shall perish;
And the enemies of the Lord,
Like the splendor of the meadows, shall vanish.
Into smoke they shall vanish away.

 21 The wicked borrows and does not repay,
But the righteous shows mercy and gives.
22 For those blessed by Him shall inherit the earth,
But those cursed by Him shall be cut off.

 23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord,
And He delights in his way.
24 Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down;
For the Lord upholds him with His hand.

25 I have been young, and now am old;
Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken,
Nor his descendants begging bread.

26 He is ever merciful, and lends;
And his descendants are blessed.

27 Depart from evil, and do good;
And dwell forevermore.

28 For the Lord loves justice,
And does not forsake His saints;
They are preserved forever,
But the descendants of the wicked shall be cut off.
29 The righteous shall inherit the land,
And dwell in it forever.

30 The mouth of the righteous speaks wisdom,
And his tongue talks of justice.
31 The law of his God is in his heart;
None of his steps shall slide.

 32 The wicked watches the righteous,
And seeks to slay him.
33 The Lord will not leave him in his hand,
Nor condemn him when he is judged.

 34 Wait on the Lord,
And keep His way,
And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;
When the wicked are cut off, you shall see it.
35 I have seen the wicked in great power,
And spreading himself like a native green tree.
36 Yet he passed away, and behold, he was no more;
Indeed I sought him, but he could not be found.

 37 Mark the blameless man, and observe the upright;
For the future of that man is peace. 

Lately I have been so overcome with so many of the Facebook messages I receive.  They are no longer filled with information, but have turned to hate-mongering, filled with slanderous words and unsubstantiated lies.  Do I stay and try to bring peace, or do I cut them off?    If they are allowed to go unanswered, then their words are spread to how many more without any protest from anyone.  Yesterday I could take it no more.  I had a day totally to myself.  I deactivated my Facebook sites and until my mind quits hurting, I am not going back in there.   Yesterday was pretty much a day of rest...although I had returned home, I did not even go to church, I could not handle anything. 

Jesus says He will give us Peace when we walk with Him, let it be so.

Matthew 11:28 Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.”

And, as God promised Moses, so may the Peace of God be with us.

Exodus 33:14 And He said, “My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.”

 

 

Sunday

What A Day That Will Be:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2dEldd9h-Q

Does not it seem like all around us the world is going into chaos?   Homosexuality is like the Morning Glory weed whose roots spread and strangle all in its path.  Abortion is finding its way into the lives of all, and soon to be indirectly paid by all taxpayers, in the upcoming health care change.  In almost all the lands there is civil unrest.  Countries are threatening other countries with annihilation as they build up their arsenal of weapons and nukes.  Terrorists are overtaking countries  and murdering people in the name of a vengeful god.

 

Freedom is slowly being taken from the People as laws, rules and regulations are imposed on all things in our lives, from the number of animals we are allowed to have, to whether we can have a gun, and what type, to the type of home we can have, and the endless list goes on into all aspects of our lives.  

 

I have been so blessed to have been born on a farm and having parents that weren't afraid to build a life for themselves and their family.  Dad remodeled the house, built a huge chicken house, a garage, a pump house, and, also, built a dam and went into irrigation farming.  Part of the land was ranching and he raised range cattle, milk cows, sheep and pigs.   My Mom over the different years raised chickens and turkeys.  Every year she planted a huge garden and her and Dad put in a huge shelterbelt that included cherries, currents, plums and apple trees. They helped their neighbors when the neighbors were sick and the neighbors helped them when they were.   I quite image when the Lord returns, the people that will be left on this earth will return to the land.

 

I pray the Lord will come soon.  That the children, that on this day and the days ahead, who face abortion, physical and sexual abuse, sickness, loneliness, abandonment, and death of themselves or family, will find a Deliverer that will return and save them.  Lord let the day of your return be soon.

 

 

Days of Condemnation

Those days always come.  Something brings you down, and, as the hurt settles in, the world seems to turn against you.  Satan, in his condemnation of you,  uses guilt trips and remembered hurts  against you, that were buried, forgiven and forgotten, and, with them, stomps on your chest with grief and  pain.  Can life be so unbearable that we should despair of it and hope for the end?! 

 

God does not forsake us, no matter how we feel.  He is there, He is always there.  With a quiet touch your Spirit will be lifted by a kind act from the Lord, as He brings you to once again turn to Him.  He is our Hope!  He is our Light! 

 

The following are words spoken by Moses to all of Israel:

 

Deuteronomy 31: 6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

 

Moses told the Israelites not to be afraid of their enemies, as they were about to enter the Promise Land, that God was with them.   So it is with us in our lives.  Where God leads us will not always be without stones, thorns and encounters with evil, but He will not forsake or leave us.  Trust Him. 

 

My Mom use to say if you are feeling sorry for yourself, just think of someone worst off than you. For me, I think of all those little babies crying out in abortion procedures.  They have a right to despair--they are losing their life, but they don't, they die fighting.  I think of all those little children that are abused, the suffering inflicted on them seems endless, they, too, have a right to despair.  We can certainly get on our knees and give our pains to the Lord, and move on.  There are battles yet to be won.  Follow your God -- the almight God and Creator of all, who loves you. 
 

Waiting for Spring

My Dad use to say, of the weather, "If you don't like it, just wait a minute and it will change."   And, we did get a change!  Snow came down out of Canada and with it the North wind--and that North wind is always so cold!  Especially across the prairie where there is nothing to stop it.  As the nights dip into the minuses, I think of the poor kitties out in the  cold.  With a bale of straw, I made up beds for them, and they have food, water (electric bowl) and shelter, but it is still cold out there! Thank God for His planning, in that he gave them such soft, warm fur!  The world isn't the way God created it, having changed as a consequence of sin, yet, He, in His wisdom, still gave them protection.

 

The temperature is going to improve in the coming days; and, in the meantime, we just have to sit through it and wait for Spring!   My daughter and son-in-law gave me a program for making scrapbooks and cards, so there is plenty to do while waiting.  It is my plan to have all our pictures scanned and made into a scrapbook and then a copy given to each kid.  But, that is a project I have to do when the babies aren't around.  In the meantime, I am thinking that perhaps I ought to try writing a book.   The babies are old enough that they don't need constant eyes-on, so tomorrow I am going to start Chapter 1.  Of course, it will be about God and His love.   God willing, I will be scribbling notes, and words will be flying off the paper tomorrow.  All is good.

The Wind is Here

Awakened, during the night, by the wind, I listened as it tore through the trees with the weight of its force.  An eerie crying sound could be heard in the darkness--something on the outside.  It was only the wind rubbing something against the house.  The wind continued all through the night and still it blows, hopefully lulling the babies back to sleep.  They have just had their morning bottle and I hope to crawl back into my warm covers for a little bit more sleep.   The clapper in the stove pipe clanks with the downdraft, and outside something big just rolled by thunking with each roll--I imagine someone's garbage can.  Sleep little baby, sleep.  Only one is now still awake.

I loved the wind as a kid.  Today I still do, unless the cold is with it.  The wind brings change--sometimes for the better, sometimes  not. We need change in our lives, and this world is in sore need of change--change that only our God- the God of the impossible, a God whose love and power know no boundary, can accomplish.