Got Worms?

This past weekend was absolutely beautiful here in Oregon. Blue skies, 70 degrees; what more could you ask for. Well, you could start by asking for worms. Yep worms. And I've got the worm crew for you! Here they are... ready to unearth as many worms as you need. And in case you're worried about the pretty-pretty princess in pink getting dirty? No need. Dirt doesn't seem to cling to her at all... whereas the bare little feet and hands on our prince charming seems to be getting a tad bit grubby. What's a Grammy and Poppa to do?

Thank Full for dear Like-minded Friends

I was sitting in a room full of people the other day just listening. The conversation was spinning around and around and I felt pretty much an outsider. The talk was leading down a road I haven't ever walked. Most everyone there had no idea what to do about the situation they were talking about; it was all bleakness and desolation in fact. Suddenly I wanted out of that room so badly. But, I was bound to my chair having been invited to be there and I saw no escaping until the clock set me free. Finally, having been released I bade my farewells and wondered at my weepy feelings. What was wrong with me? I felt like the room's conversation of bleakness had worn off onto me! I called my husband and spoke to him and he cheered me up. We spoke of God's mercy to His people and how we should love people in the world, as the Lord does, but not the things they do. That it's okay to keep these two things separate. Love the person, not the works they do. Now skip ahead to later that night. I was again in a room full of people; this time they are all my sisters in Christ. Again I sat there listening. And suddenly I was so lightened in heart. I wanted to start singing! I was an insider here in this room... I belonged. Every woman there knew exactly where she was going in life and there was no bleakness or desolation. Now I didn't want the clock to set me free, I wanted that clock to stop exactly where it was. I wanted nothing more in life than to sit there in my chair and hold on to the sweetness in that room. When the time finally did come to leave, I realized on my way home that I was refreshed because I had been with dear friends who were like-minded and so dear to me. Once again, I am so thank-full of God's mercy to me to give me such a cloud of dear friends to walk this way with.

Dinner at the new apartment

Last night Daughter L and Son T had The Dad, Son J2 and I over for dinner at their new apartment. Words cannot convey how proud of was of them. My daughter; for making a wonderfully prepared meal and our son; for hosting us at his table. They have made themselves a comfortable home together. After dinner we sat and visited on the Word and then we played a quick game Son T had gotten for Christmas. It was a wonderfully comfortable evening. They both talked about it being their intent to have the brethren over for meals and visits and it struck me that they had grown up just like I wanted them to. How blessed am I to have a bounty of faithful children around me who love the Lord with all their hearts! This surely is all I could ask for as a servant of God.

Thanks Giving Season starts

I really love that our holiday season begins with Thanksgiving. I believe that the whole season from Thanksgiving through New Years Day is a season of giving thanks. On Thanksgiving Day we celebrate a bountiful harvest, which we all truly do enjoy. We give thanks to God for all our many blessings and gather friends and family close around us to enjoy their company. Then it's on to a whole month of preparation culminating in Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. We decorate our houses to remember Christ's birth, we gather and shop for presents for our loved ones, we plan delicious goodies to give to each other, we look forward to our church Christmas dinner celebration, all the while remembering that Christ was born one day a long time ago to save us and to bring us true "peace on earth and goodwill toward men". Every family has their own special way of doing this, and what a blessing and I am so thankful that we have the freedom to do whatever we choose to do! Even when the festivities of Christmas are over, we then celebrate the bringing in of a New Year. A New Year to live for our Lord, a New Year to give our lives for our family and brethren, a New Year to begin again the turning of the tide toward spring. We truly do have much to be thankful for beginning with our Thanksgiving celebration.

On that note, I'll post a few pictures of our Thanksgiving Day!