A wonderful extended weekend with family and friends!  Good food, good fellowship, and great times.  It has taken me a few days to recover, but that is age not infirmity. 

I thank my daughters for straightening and cleaning after the fact and giving me a chance to recover without all that on my mind.  I so enjoy having the family gather here for Thanksgiving and hopefully they enjoy coming. 

The broke warm and sunny and provided the perfect weather for the kids to enjoy the outside and many to eat on the porch and patio.  The counters and tables were filled with good food and everyone ate their fill.  Dad stayed with us for four hours and went home to sleep it all off and get some rest.  He called to make sure I was going to do it again at Christmas. The man does enjoy his food.  He will celebrate his 87th birthday in January, so each year we are thankful he can still join us in celebration and thanksgiving.  His health has gone down rapidly in the last three years, but he keeps on trucking.  Mom moves a little slower than she once did, but don't we all.  She doesn't look as if she has aged a day. 

I am thankful for my family and the blessings I receive from each and everyone. 

Time for Reflection

The week before Thanksgiving is always my time of reflection.  There is always so much to be thankful for, but there is also so much that I feel I could have done differently.  Not a time for regret, just a time of adjusting ones thinking so that in the coming year my actions and reactions can be more positive and fulfilling.

With only a month and a half left in this year, there is not much time left to accomplish great things, but today is the first day  - well you know. 

I have made new friends and reconnected with old friends this year - there are two that I have spoken with but not really re-established a relationship with and that is a project that I hope to rectify soon.  It has brought my heart joy and comfort to see these people again; to remember the joys of youth; and to take many strolls down memory lane.  Forty plus years ago we all parted and started on our life journeys.  For twelve years our journeys were focused on each other and then we were declared ready to start our life without instruction.  It is interesting to see what paths each chose to follow and the changes we have all been through.  It is a sad fact that we, as a whole, have not been a healthy group and many have been lost in that 40 years.  Dear ones, know that you were missed at our great reunion.  Thank you Dawn for bringing much sunshine, smiles and joy into many lives this past year.

Every day my faith becomes deeper and I am in awe of the works of God.  God is far from being dead as I am witnessing daily, but the pull of the world on our youth is a frightening thing.  Our youth must be guarded and guided to follow in the steps of our Lord.  Pray for our youth which is our tomorrow.

Hubby and I have had a healthy year without any major calamities.  We experienced the loss of hubby's father this year, but by the grace of God it was not a long, drawn out sickness.  Missed by family and friends, his loss had a sobering effect on his family. 

We also had two marriages in our family this year which is always a celebration.  I am now looking forward to hearing of upcoming births from some of our younger ones.  Nothing brings joy like the birth of a child!  The first of the grandchildren are entering their teen age years and that is always an interesting time.  There are so many changes that a person goes through at this age.  It is a most difficult time and one of great change.  I love to hear the sound of their voices changing.  I know it is frustrating to them and sometimes embarrassing, but it shows they are in transition from childhood to manhood.  We have four boys in our group and five girls and I can't wait until these girls reach their age of maturity and the changes they will go through.  I am so glad they all have stable parents to guide their thoughts and actions.  So much to look forward to!

The families will all gather next week to catch up on "what's happening" and to fill their stomachs with every one's favorite recipes.  I look forward to seeing and visiting with each and everyone.  My wish for you is a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving! 

Until next time  . . .
Happy Reading!
Belle

Acknowlege vs Acceptance

There is a gift sitting on your table.  You know it is there, therefore you acknowledge its existence.  You walk by it everyday, you dust around the edges, but you don't open the package.  One day you are ready.  You sit down and remove the ribbon and paper.  Now you have accepted your gift.

This is much like the gift from God of his Son and our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Many acknowledge the gift of the Savior, but few accept this gift from God.  There are still many that are not aware of the gift.  The Savior is there, waiting for our acceptance.  The joys, blessings and comforts from this gift is life changing.  Don't wait too long to open your gift.

Oh my!  I was taking stock of the front yard yesterday afternoon, planning what needs to be done and what needs to be left alone.  Low and behold, there at the end of the gutter at the downspout were two pretty little pines trees, sprouted and growing as pretty as you please.  Well, that is a sure sign to get it in gear and clean the gutters out.  The only problem is that end of the house is about 20 feet to the gutter and I will not climb that far without proper supervision.  So, a good excuse to put it off until I can find a responsible person to take care of that problem - usually my son. 

I have to clean some dead and damaged limbs out of the pear trees.  These trees have been here over fifty years and have to be petted and pampered at this stage.  My pears had some kind of blight last year, previously mentioned here, but they seem to have recovered from this.  This year the squirrels feasted on the blooms and the nuts from the baby pears dropping them to the ground for the rabbits to feast on as they came along.  Therefore, I had no pears this year either, which makes for two years in a row there will be no preserves.  I am thinking I am feeding God's creatures more than keeping food in the pantry.

There are many changes taking place in all our lives and this takes adjustments and reorganizing.  I am thankful for all of God's blessing for all time, but especially over the last few months.  I am thankful for God hearing and answering our prayers when our cousins serving this country were concerned.  One cousin arrived home safe and sound from Iraq this week. Thank you sweet Jesus!

My redneck chihuahuas are having quite a time adjusting to the drastic change in temperatures we have experienced over the last 3 weeks.  They have returned to their cuddle mode for warmth and have been spending more time inside.  They love the hot sun of summer, but that is passed and they are now waiting for me to build the first fire of fall so they can warm their backsides.

Have much to do so until next time  . . .

Happy reading!
Belle

God's World

We didn't have any measurable rain for 5 weeks.  A mist once when a large cloud passed to our south, but that only made us hunger for something more substantial.  And finally on Sunday, God sent a blessing with more than 3 inches of cleansing rain and then again this afternoon a good shower!

That is what is meant by God's time.  Sometimes we know what we need, we just need to be patient and wait.  God provides in his own time.  Sometimes we think we know what we need, but God knows what our future holds and he provides what we need when we need it.  We are suppose to turn our lives over to Him and trust Him to handle our problems, needs, and desires, but we are such a demanding people.  We don't have time to wait.  Like small children, we want what we want when we want it.  Patience is the one thing I continually pray for in my life.  I need to wait for God and know he will lead me in the direction he wants me to go.


The air is much cooler after the rain this afternoon and I am hoping that tomorrow I can get back to the yard work and the many things I have neglected in my outside world.  I have been so anxious for the cooler temperatures, but know by the end of the year I will once again be anticipating the warm sun on my face and the ability to spend hours outside without being bundled up.

Until next time  . . .
Happy Reading!
Belle