December 30, 2011.

Been lax in posting this week.  Heading north this evening to spend the weekend with our friends The Garlands.  

Hope everyone has a safe and happy New Year!

December 27, 2011

“Of David. Praise the LORD, my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. Praise the LORD, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—” Psalm 103:1-2 NIV

December 26, 2011

Christmas Day is over.  It seems to come upon us so fast sometimes, then suddenly it's over.   Next we have New Years Day....then, we enter into the long months of January and February with cold and snow.  Though so far the month of December has proved warmer then normal and hardly any snow thus far!

I can't believe that the year 2011 is almost over.  In six weeks my husband will turn the age of 50.  It seems like just yesterday it was 1985 and we were getting married.  I am reaching the age that when I was 12 I thought was old. 

At the start of  a New Year, people often think back and reminisce on their past.  Not just of the previous year, but of other years gone by.  There are some things I do regret in our life.  One is not having children.  I'm very mixed on this decision.  Half of me regrets it, the other half of me doesn't.  Even as a young girl, I did not picture myself a mother.  My regrets on this is that Chris never has had the experience of being  father.  He has talked recently about possibly becoming foster parents, or maybe adopting an older child.  I am just not so sure.  I just really don't know if I could deal with such an abrupt shift in my life as this would be.  

The decisions in life.  Sometimes they are easy, sometimes they are not.

December 25, 2011 Christmas Day!

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” Isaiah 9:6 NIV

December 24, 2011. Christmas Eve.

“So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2:16-20 NIV

December 23, 2011

“Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”” Luke 2:11-14 NIV

December 21, 2011

“While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.” Luke 2:6-7 NIV

December 19, 2011

“And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him, to give his people the knowledge of salvation through the forgiveness of their sins, because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven” Luke 1:76-78 NIV

December 18, 2011

One week from today is Christmas!  It's hard to believe, this month has gone by way to fast.  It's been a busy past week or so here.  Friday evening we went out to dinner with the employees of one of the places I work, Rensselaer Swine Services.  Dr. Tom and his wife Denise always take the employees out for Christmas dinner.  This year we went to a restaurant in Lafayette that I have never been to called, Hour Time. It was a really nice dinner and we had a good evening with everyone.  The Gillespie's passed out Christmas gifts to us all.  We all got several different gift cards to various restaurants.  It was a nice surprise!  I work there part-time and have done so since we moved here in 2004.

Then, Saturday we went to Wolcott United Methodist church and assisted in their food giveaway.  The doors open an hour before the giveaway, but people begin lining up outside even before this.  Chris made a big batch of hot chocolate and passed it out to those standing outside.  During the hour inside while people waited, I played Christmas carols on the piano and those who wanted to sang along.  There has been some difficulties in recent months there with people trying to move ahead of  others in the line waiting.  It is first come first serve.  There were no problems this month which was a blessing.  Times are difficult and it can been seen in the number of people who come to this food giveaway.

Today at church was the children's Christmas program. It was so cute and funny.  The kids and adults who helped put it together did a wonderful job.

All this is leading up to Christmas Day.  And what a day!  To celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus.  I wish December would come around more then once a year...it's such a wonderful time!!!!!!!!!

December 17, 2011

“But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.”” Matthew 1:20-21 NIV

December 16, 2011

“ And Mary said: “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.” Luke 1:46-47, 49 NIV

December 15, 2011

“But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; his kingdom will never end.”” Luke 1:30-33 NIV

December 13, 2011

Life is short and precious.  Most of us, as our days go along often forget that in the blink of an eye it can be over.  Or our lives can be changed quickly into something totally different then what we are used to.  This has happened to someone I am acquainted with.  I work part-time for the local swine veterinarian here in town.  In the years I've worked there, I have gotten to know many of our clients.  One of our clients lives in Iowa.  A few years ago, the girls in the office we took a road trip to Illinois.  We visited one of our distributors there, then we went the next day and visited this client in Iowa.  We had lunch, got to meet his lovely wife and just had a wonderful visit.  A true Christian man and family.  He is about 53 with 8 children, 7 boys and one girl, and several grandchildren.

Last Friday, this man was struck down by a severe stroke.  He is fighting for his life in a hospital in Iowa City.   It is a day-to-day thing, with the next couple of days being the most critical for him.  If he survives, he will not be the same person physically that he was before.  He is paralysed on the left side and right now cannot speak.  He is a long road of recovery ahead of him.  

I'm sure on Thursday he had no inclination that on the next day his life was going to change forever.  His family has a strong Christian faith and an even stronger Christian family within his church.  One thing he will not be is alone in his struggle to recover.

While things like this happen everyday in some form or another...whether it be a stroke, heart attack, car accident, etc....it really makes you step back and realize how precious life is.  This man is only a bit older then I am.  

A similar thing happened to my husband in 2002 when he was involved in a serious boating accident on Lake Michigan.  Chris lost the sight in one of his eyes and had to experience two surgeries to repair his forehead.  While he has made a full recovery, and has learned to adapt to only having one eye...it's one of those experiences that changes your life forever.  I have seen since this accident he is a bit different.  Some ways are good, some ways are bad.  It's kind of hard to explain.

One very important thing in all of this....a trust and faith in God.  I did not have that as strongly in 2002 as I have now.  Perhaps we both would have come through his accident a bit different had we been closer to the Lord then.  

I'm not really sure where I'm going with this blog post.  Just remember, life can change fast...keep a strong trust in the Lord to help get you through.

December 13, 2011

“When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written: “‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.’”” Matthew 2:4-6 NIV

December 10, 2011

“The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among you, from your fellow Israelites. You must listen to him.” Deuteronomy 18:15 NIV

December 8, 2011

“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 NIV

December 6, 2011.

Somehow the month of November has ended and December has arrived!  The Christmas Season is in full swing and before we know it, it will be the year 2012.  For the past couple of years I have had not a whole lot of Christmas spirit.  Lots of stresses and problems in my life, I had let get in the way of enjoying the holidays.  I really didn't even want to put up any decorations the past couple of years.  In fact, the tree I put up in the front of the house...for the last two years stood undecorated.  Just lights turned on.  (couldn't tell it from outside!)

Anyway, this year...I am really looking forward to Christmas.  I still have some worries and stresses in my life (who doesn't), though not as bad but, I am finding it easier to turn all my worries over to God.  It's still not always easy, but it's getting there.  I put up more decorations in my home then I have the last couple years combined.  I would probably put up more if I had them!

 I'm full of the spirit of Christmas, and it feels good.  I'm looking forward to the services we will have at our church both Christmas Eve and Day.  I look forward to helping pass out the plates of cookies to people who have to work Christmas Eve.  I'm looking forward to being with family over the holidays, to Christmas dinner with my office, the children's program at church.  But, of course we all have to remember what Christmas is all about.  The birth of our Savior, Jesus  One of my most favorite renditions of the Christmas Story is from A Charlie Brown Christmas.  Enjoy!

December 6, 2011. Scripture.

“I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me— just as the Father knows me and I know the Father—and I lay down my life for the sheep.” John 10:14-15 NIV

December 3, 2011. Scripture.

“Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.” John 6:35 NIV

December 3, 2011

I'm finding it difficult to type on my laptop due to a missing "B" key.  I'm hoping Chris can fix it, but I have never had much luck getting a key to stay on once it comes loose.

It's having some other issues to, so I know it does not have a long life left in it.   It's time to save my pennies for a new laptop.  Hopefully by the spring I can buy one.  Until then, will have to make posts from Chris' computer.