Well, isn't life grand. The Christmas tree is up and the new fangled LED lights have been wrapped this way and that. As in my previous post, I was hoping that with garland, beads, and bulbs that the tree with its new lights would come together.
So in anticipation and apprehension, I quickly made tracks to getting the bulbs and accessories on the tree. I waited patiently till evening came and turned on the tree. Where are my ornaments?!??!?! The LED lights totally wipe out the color of the bulbs!!!
So on a beautiful Sunday with the weather just as perfect as God could make it, I was stripping the tree of the LED lights and back to Target they went. No regrets. Someone else will have to support the economy. I can't do it all.
On Monday, I will be putting the old lights back on and redecorating the tree................I should be a happy camper.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Saturday's Prayer
Heavenly Father
I need your help and guidance. So much going on around me that I can't take care of and make right. Lord, I pray that you would place your hand of comfort and strength on my daughter as she makes her way through murky waters. Take her hand and guide her and let your will be done.
Father, I pray for protection over all 5 of my grandchildren and that you would walk closely with them showing your kindness and grace.
Lord, many relationships are struggling right now and I pray that you would open eyes and hearts and that as you have forgiven, so shall they. We so often quote "life is so short" upon the untimely or unexpected death of someone, but we never do anything about it!
Lord, let us remember that this is but a temporary stop and that our true home is heaven and being with you on the streets of gold and in your glorious presence. Show us how to be the person you want us to be and role model "love your neighbor as thyself."
Your son's birthday is around the corner and I'm anxious for it. You have blessed me with beautiful children and sons-in-laws I could not have done a better job of picking. Bless their marriages and mine as we move into another year.
I pray for employment for those who need it, restoration of health and healing for emotional and physical wounds.
I pray for our President and the next few years. I pray that your hand would be on every decision made and that we can reclaim our country again.
Lord, as the days go by, we get closer to events that are hard on us. First the birth of Garrett and then the death of not only my mom but then Garrett and then the birthdays of both my mom and Chris. This is a difficult time Lord and I pray that you would have your hand of comfort and healing on us.
I humble myself before you Lord, knowing that you gave your only child for me and my sins. I do not feel worthy but then again, as most parents do, you also make the sacrifice of yourself for us. Thank you Jesus, for being my comforter, leader, rock, ear, confidante, Father and most of all my friend that I can come to any time or day. I love you.
Barbara
p.s. Say hi to Mom and Dad and Garrett and Harry and Betty and John.
I need your help and guidance. So much going on around me that I can't take care of and make right. Lord, I pray that you would place your hand of comfort and strength on my daughter as she makes her way through murky waters. Take her hand and guide her and let your will be done.
Father, I pray for protection over all 5 of my grandchildren and that you would walk closely with them showing your kindness and grace.
Lord, many relationships are struggling right now and I pray that you would open eyes and hearts and that as you have forgiven, so shall they. We so often quote "life is so short" upon the untimely or unexpected death of someone, but we never do anything about it!
Lord, let us remember that this is but a temporary stop and that our true home is heaven and being with you on the streets of gold and in your glorious presence. Show us how to be the person you want us to be and role model "love your neighbor as thyself."
Your son's birthday is around the corner and I'm anxious for it. You have blessed me with beautiful children and sons-in-laws I could not have done a better job of picking. Bless their marriages and mine as we move into another year.
I pray for employment for those who need it, restoration of health and healing for emotional and physical wounds.
I pray for our President and the next few years. I pray that your hand would be on every decision made and that we can reclaim our country again.
Lord, as the days go by, we get closer to events that are hard on us. First the birth of Garrett and then the death of not only my mom but then Garrett and then the birthdays of both my mom and Chris. This is a difficult time Lord and I pray that you would have your hand of comfort and healing on us.
I humble myself before you Lord, knowing that you gave your only child for me and my sins. I do not feel worthy but then again, as most parents do, you also make the sacrifice of yourself for us. Thank you Jesus, for being my comforter, leader, rock, ear, confidante, Father and most of all my friend that I can come to any time or day. I love you.
Barbara
p.s. Say hi to Mom and Dad and Garrett and Harry and Betty and John.
Changing Another Person's Mind
My relationship with my sister, Elizabeth, has been a strange one but in the past years with hard work on both our parts, I have come to enjoy the quirky person she is and abound in love and joy that she is my sister and who she is.
One thing that I thought very strange about her, however, was that even though she was a dedicated christian, she never decorated for Christmas. I'd tell her about the weeks of decorating and she'd just say "it's no big deal, why do so much?" I kept to my course as I have always been comitted to it.
It wasn't until about 4 years ago, she couldn't stand it. What is it about Christmas that you love so much and decorate your heart out for? Well, let's see.....where to start....
1. I always use WHITE lights because to me it stands for pureness, love, hope, peace and the light of God.
2. I use red bulbs because red is my favorite color, looks good with the white lights and represents the blood of Jesus.
3. I decorate because Christmas is the birth of Christ and that to me is a very good reason. To show him he is not forgotten and to celebrate and to show respect. Also, to celebrate the sacrifice his birth was to us. When we celebrate a child's birthday, we get a cake, decorations and gifts, why not this?
She remained quiet for a long time. She said she loved me and would call later. Later was about 10 days. She called crying because she said she had never thought of it that way and what an injustice she had been doing all these years.
Changing someone's view on something can be done when it is spoken with the heart, with honesty and love. God must have shown her I was right and therefore she realized she may have made a mistake. It's ok to make mistakes, it's that we realize that and take appropriate action.
Elizabeth: Thank you for being my sister. How I love how we have come together as sisters, each enjoying our own quirkiness and still being able to share and love each other.
Merry Christmas
One thing that I thought very strange about her, however, was that even though she was a dedicated christian, she never decorated for Christmas. I'd tell her about the weeks of decorating and she'd just say "it's no big deal, why do so much?" I kept to my course as I have always been comitted to it.
It wasn't until about 4 years ago, she couldn't stand it. What is it about Christmas that you love so much and decorate your heart out for? Well, let's see.....where to start....
1. I always use WHITE lights because to me it stands for pureness, love, hope, peace and the light of God.
2. I use red bulbs because red is my favorite color, looks good with the white lights and represents the blood of Jesus.
3. I decorate because Christmas is the birth of Christ and that to me is a very good reason. To show him he is not forgotten and to celebrate and to show respect. Also, to celebrate the sacrifice his birth was to us. When we celebrate a child's birthday, we get a cake, decorations and gifts, why not this?
She remained quiet for a long time. She said she loved me and would call later. Later was about 10 days. She called crying because she said she had never thought of it that way and what an injustice she had been doing all these years.
Changing someone's view on something can be done when it is spoken with the heart, with honesty and love. God must have shown her I was right and therefore she realized she may have made a mistake. It's ok to make mistakes, it's that we realize that and take appropriate action.
Elizabeth: Thank you for being my sister. How I love how we have come together as sisters, each enjoying our own quirkiness and still being able to share and love each other.
Merry Christmas
YOU Can't Make Me....................well..........maybe
I love Christmas. It's my favorite time of the year. I would spend weeks just putting up the tree because there are so many branches!!! I would painstakingly put the lights on making sure every nook and cranny had a light. When it was turned on and it shone the brightness and glory of God, I knew it was right. The lights had a soft, white look to them and every time I looked at the tree I was infused with something, joy, gladness, peace.
Last year, LED christmas lights came out. I'd see them on the houses in the icles and think, "that's just wrong." I can't do those.
So several days ago, I got the tree up and started on the light experience. Plugging in each strand to make sure they worked BEFORE putting them on the tree. Now, these were my favorite lights because all I had to do was walk around the tree and lay them gently on the branches and wha la, within 5 minutes I'm done and the tree is looking good.
So, I realized that I only had half a tree of lights. Yuk. What to do. So I went to Menards, Lowes and Joanns looking for lights. The section dedicated to my lights was about 6 feet. The section dedicated to LED was 300 feet. Wow....tells you where retailers are going and that they're cutting back this year.
When Candice came I dragged her to Wal-Mart, nothing and then Target as frustration kicked in. While we examined the selection of LED (white) lights, we decided that the warm white was what we wanted. So reluctantly, Candice and I stocked up on LED lights.
Friday they went up on the tree. As I started putting them on, I remembered the days past of wrapping each branch to fullness and making sure it was done right. As I remembered I grumbled a bit but I kept wrapping, wrapping, wrapping around the tree I was wrapping, wrapping, wrapping.
Upon getting finished, I invited the neighbor, Jimmy, to come and turn them on. His Mom had told me that he looks for my tree and knew Christmas was around the corner. He also warned me each and every time there was a woodpecker on the house, returned Mitzee many times and is the designated food messenger between his house and mine. So with a gift and a card, I asked him to come and do the honors.
They went on and my mouth went down. They look nothing like the warm white lights in the store. So to look to the bright side (no pun intended), I am hoping that with bulbs, garland, and LOTS of tinsel, I can get the warm and cozy look I know and love.
But I've joined the boat on the LED front, supported the economy and made an 8 year old boy very happy. Isn't that what it's all about?
Merry Christmas.........it's only 48 days away!!!
Last year, LED christmas lights came out. I'd see them on the houses in the icles and think, "that's just wrong." I can't do those.
So several days ago, I got the tree up and started on the light experience. Plugging in each strand to make sure they worked BEFORE putting them on the tree. Now, these were my favorite lights because all I had to do was walk around the tree and lay them gently on the branches and wha la, within 5 minutes I'm done and the tree is looking good.
So, I realized that I only had half a tree of lights. Yuk. What to do. So I went to Menards, Lowes and Joanns looking for lights. The section dedicated to my lights was about 6 feet. The section dedicated to LED was 300 feet. Wow....tells you where retailers are going and that they're cutting back this year.
When Candice came I dragged her to Wal-Mart, nothing and then Target as frustration kicked in. While we examined the selection of LED (white) lights, we decided that the warm white was what we wanted. So reluctantly, Candice and I stocked up on LED lights.
Friday they went up on the tree. As I started putting them on, I remembered the days past of wrapping each branch to fullness and making sure it was done right. As I remembered I grumbled a bit but I kept wrapping, wrapping, wrapping around the tree I was wrapping, wrapping, wrapping.
Upon getting finished, I invited the neighbor, Jimmy, to come and turn them on. His Mom had told me that he looks for my tree and knew Christmas was around the corner. He also warned me each and every time there was a woodpecker on the house, returned Mitzee many times and is the designated food messenger between his house and mine. So with a gift and a card, I asked him to come and do the honors.
They went on and my mouth went down. They look nothing like the warm white lights in the store. So to look to the bright side (no pun intended), I am hoping that with bulbs, garland, and LOTS of tinsel, I can get the warm and cozy look I know and love.
But I've joined the boat on the LED front, supported the economy and made an 8 year old boy very happy. Isn't that what it's all about?
Merry Christmas.........it's only 48 days away!!!
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Contentment
For the last several weeks, my heart has been filled with joy and overwhelming contentment. Here we are, unemployed and we are at peace with the job loss and knowing that God is with us and softly guiding us.
Just driving down the street brings joy as I look around and take in all that God has made and the beauty it brings to my life.
Being outside with Mitzee on a beautiful day, watching leaves fall straight down to the earth, or swing from side to side, or float gently and come to rest on the ground is beautiful. There's a certain grace and calm in it. And when you add the fact that you are loved by so many and have been blessed with much, you think "it just doesn't get any better than this."
We know as the leaves fall that summer has ended, fall is present, and winter is waiting its turn around the corner. How thoughtful God was in giving us four seasons to enjoy, be amazed by, thankful for and to look forward to.
I, for one, take in every day and everthing God has made and marvel at the thought and planning and effort he put into everything. Amazing!
Enjoy!
Just driving down the street brings joy as I look around and take in all that God has made and the beauty it brings to my life.
Being outside with Mitzee on a beautiful day, watching leaves fall straight down to the earth, or swing from side to side, or float gently and come to rest on the ground is beautiful. There's a certain grace and calm in it. And when you add the fact that you are loved by so many and have been blessed with much, you think "it just doesn't get any better than this."
We know as the leaves fall that summer has ended, fall is present, and winter is waiting its turn around the corner. How thoughtful God was in giving us four seasons to enjoy, be amazed by, thankful for and to look forward to.
I, for one, take in every day and everthing God has made and marvel at the thought and planning and effort he put into everything. Amazing!
Enjoy!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)