Merry Christmas!

The "Ole' Ladies'" party was nice. There were six of us and we all enjoyed being together. After lunch we almost forgot to play our Dirty Santa game we were enjoying each other's company so much. The ornaments everyone brought to exchange were so nice. The only youngster, a 30 yr old Developmentally Disabled girl, opened her package to find a Santa Claus ornament. Her delight with the ornament told us all we had better not try to steal it.

I got a lot of baking done Thursday and Friday. I like to bake things that I myself enjoy eating. The Cranberry Bread is so good. And I make a Brandied Fruit Cake that I think is so much better than the ones you buy. I'm giving some of them as gifts. I had some cookie dough in the refrigerator and made a batch with a green Christmas tree in the center. I made some decorator's icing and trimmed the trees after the cookies were baked. Some I put the multicolored sprinkles on and stars on top. Another batch of dough was just plain sugar cookies so I sprinkled some green and red sugar crystals on them then put a chocolate kiss in the center of each one while they were hot from the oven.

I'm flying to the daughter's for Christmas. I'll get to enjoy the grandchildren during the holidays. We only have her two. A boy 8 and a girl 4. We have a great time together. Her church is having a Christmas Eve service but no service on Sunday. It is so difficult for young families to attend a service on Christmas Day.

PaPa can't leave the cows that long so he will make the 9 hour drive on the 23rd and head back home the 26th. We still don't have any moisture and the only feed the cattle get is the large bales of hay he puts out and the grain he feeds them. It takes 5 big bales every 3 days.

I won't get to post while I'm gone so I'm wishing everyone

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

We're having a Party!

Our home is in a very rural area. Closest neighbor about 600 feet away and no one after that for about 1/2 mile in all directions. But we stay in touch. One of my elderly neighbors has been calling me alot needing advice on her Medicare stuff, etc. Her only child belongs to a denomination that does not observe any holidays. Not even birthdays. This is much to my neighbors disdane.

After visiting on the phone with my elderly neighbor, I got the idea to have her over for a little Christmas socializing. The more I thought about it the bigger the event grew. I kept thinking of other ladies that might enjoy a little ladies' lunch and get together. I called the neighbor back and asked her if she would enjoy coming to my house for lunch next week. I ran my proposed guest list by her and she was delighted.

I make a great turkey, walnut, pineapple salad and also a some tasty bacon wrapped stuffing balls. Maybe have some cranberry juice cocktail and some pumpkin pie and fruitcake for dessert. Then we can play "Dirty Santa". It is a really fun game. I am telling each lady to bring a wrapped Christmas ornament. They can be homemade or bought but must not cost more than $1.00. My guest list so far numbers about 7, which should be fun. Who knows, I may make this an annual event.

Let it Snow! Let it Snow! Let it

Snow! I can't help it. I love Snow! Being born and raised in Florida, snow will always be a novelty to me. Watching it fall is so peaceful. Unlike rain, snow is quiet. Silently turning the dull brown and grays of winter into dramatically contrasting white. The undone yard work of the fall is covered under a beautiful blanket. (Is that like sweeping dirt under the rug?)

The weather forecasters are predicting our first measurable snow this evening. DH has gone to the larger town about 65 miles away on a one-day business errand. He is driving and I hope he gets back before it starts falling. They said the snow would be very light and fluffy but would pack down and freeze into a very slippery glaze.

The best description I've ever heard of snow clouds is: "They look like the underside of a dirty quilt." I guess because the snow is so heavy in the cloud it makes the bottom of the cloud grey while the tops are still white.

If we get very much, I will post some pictures.

A Wonderful Thanksgiving

I often think after family gatherings that they are just a little appetizer for what Heaven will be like. We had 24 for dinner on Thanksgiving Day. At least five different States were represented.

Four of the couples were married within the last two years. We had them "Jump the broom". Everyone had not been able to attend each wedding and this was a way for us to sanction the marriages into the family. I had never witnessed a "broom" ceremony before and found it very cute. The couple stands next to each other with their backs to the broom which is on the floor. Then they have to jump backward over the broom at the same time. It was all done with lots of laughter and good nature.

That evening, the living room was wall-to-wall people. At one time there were 4 different table games going in the living room and dining room. Since we had such a large crowd, someone suggested we play a game called "Mafia". I had never played that before and it is so much fun. A little like the game of "Clue" except everyone actually plays the part assigned to them. There is a Mayor, a Sheriff, a Nurse, four members of the Mafia and the rest of the players are Townspeople. The goal is for the Townspeople to outlast the Mafia. It was so much fun trying to guess which people were in the different roles. I don't know who developed the game, but it is a great way to bring out the actor in people.

We all have so much to be thankful for and most of all for the love we all have for one another.

(Rev 4:3 KJV) " And he that sat was to look upon like a jasper and a sardine stone: and there was a rainbow round about the throne, in sight like unto an emerald." This tells me that there was a rainbow colored rectangle around the throne. Noah saw a rainbow as a sign of God's covenant to not destroy the earth with water again. Bible scholar's tell us that the rainbow is a sign of God's grace to mankind.
(Psa 100:5 KJV) "For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."
We can look for God's grace and we will see it or we can expect his judgement and we will see that. He will be to us what we expect. The slothful servant in the Parable of the Talents said, "(Mat 25:24 KJV) Lord, I knew thee that thou art an hard man, reaping where thou hast not sown, and gathering where thou hast not strowed:"
(Mat 25:26 KJV) His lord answered and said unto him, Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou knewest that I reap where I sowed not, and gather where I have not strowed:
God will be to us what we expect of him. If we consider his commandments hard and unreasonable and rebel against Him, He will be hard and unreasonable with us. If we accept His grace and love and live so as to please Him, He will accept us with grace and love and forgiveness for our failures.
The "End of the Rainbow" will be filled with more treasure than the human mind can comprehend.