Thinking.....

...about the many places I have never seen but am familiar with.  Yosemite National Park is one of those locations.  It is the subject of many artists paintings and it is easy to understand why.  When I look at these photos, taken by my brother, I am awe struck at the beauty!  Gary and Margie have visited Yosemite twice now.  Once last year and once this year.  Both times were in November.  The cold, cold weather had not quite taken over, the snow had not fallen and the park was virtually empty.  They were able to take in the spans of the outdoor arena without the distraction of cars and other noises. 

Here are my brother and SIL.  They have been married a year.  I posted about their marriage in November of 2009 at "My brothers marriage."   It is very nice that he took his bride back to this spectacular park just a year after their first trip.

 Included is a map, which I found on the Yosemite National Park web site at:

http://www.nps.gov/yose/planyourvisit/directions.htm

The park sits almost due east of San Francisco and near the eastern boarder of California with Nevada.

With a place like this within a couple of days drive of our place...I wonder when we get to go?  :) We shall dream of that day!  Have you been to Yosemite National Park?

Ancient Faith Radio

Glad Tidings of Great Joy! 

http://ancientfaith.com/

Go to the upper right hand corner of the page and click on RADIO...stream it in your favorite mode and enjoy!! 

O Holy Night

O Holy Night! The stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Saviour's birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining.
Till He appeared and the Spirit felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.
Fall on your knees! Oh, hear the angel voices!
O night divine, the night when Christ was born;
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!
O night, O Holy Night , O night divine!

Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,
With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.
O'er the world a star is sweetly gleaming,
Now come the wisemen from out of the Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus lowly manger;
In all our trials born to be our friends.
He knows our need, our weakness is no stranger,
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!
Behold your King! Before him lowly bend!

Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains he shall break, for the slave is our brother.
And in his name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
With all our hearts we praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! Then ever, ever praise we,
His power and glory ever more proclaim!
His power and glory ever more proclaim!

We extend our warmest wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a joyful New Year! 

From our house to yours!

Fourth Sunday of Advent

On the fourth Sunday of Advent we celebrate the PEACE that the Christ child gives us.  Christ the King!

Oh, Come, All Ye Faithful

By: John F. Wade

Oh, come, all ye faithful,
Joyful and triumphant!
Oh, come ye, oh, come ye to Bethlehem;
Come and behold him
Born the king of angels:
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,

Christ the Lord.

Highest, most holy,
Light of light eternal,
Born of a virgin,
A mortal he comes;
Son of the Father
Now in flesh appearing!
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,

Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels,
Sing in exultation,
Sing, all ye citizens of heaven above!
Glory to God
In the highest:
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet thee,
Born this happy morning;
Jesus, to thee be glory given!
Word of the Father,
Now in flesh appearing!
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Oh, come, let us adore him,
Christ the Lord.

These days right before Christmas do get hectic.  My prayers of thanksgiving are with you.  I hope that you have time to stop and take in the joy of the season!  God Bless!!



Third Sunday of Advent

Joy, for the Lord is coming!! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joy to the World!

Joy to the World , the Lord is come!
Let earth receive her King;
Let every heart prepare Him room,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven and nature sing,
And Heaven, and Heaven, and nature sing.

Joy to the World, the Savior reigns!
Let men their songs employ;
While fields and floods, rocks, hills and plains
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat the sounding joy,
Repeat, repeat, the sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow,
Nor thorns infest the ground;
He comes to make His blessings flow
Far as the curse is found,
Far as the curse is found,
Far as, far as, the curse is found.

He rules the world with truth and grace,
And makes the nations prove
The glories of His righteousness,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders of His love,
And wonders, wonders, of His love.
 

I am smiling...how about you?

For our granddaughter a trip to see Santa has not always been a happy experience....at least for her.  This year...today...it was! I look from afar...and I'm grateful for my Blackberry because I have access to these endearing moments...and right as they happen! 

"Hi Sweet Girl!" 

Another first today was a Cinnabon!!  LA looks like she is on a mission to get that eaten! To be honest...I would have liked to have been there! 

Below...is the sweetest picture in my memory..of my own two darlings!  Laura Jane was almost five years old and Derin was 16 months old.   It was Christmas 1982 and I won't ever forget this day!

I hope that each of you have fond memories of days past and certain thrills for today! 

Merry Christmas all month long! 

Christmas and the trimmings.

Just like we have done for the past several years, Gail and I spend one morning, early in the holiday season, making our wreaths.  We have learned how to get the job done speedier with each year of

experience.

 

The music is playing, we have snacks and a hot drink.  It's a fun day away from the regular routine of life, and one filled with gratitude for natures abundance around the farm!  Everything we need in the way of evergreens are right outside the door. 

I made an advent wreath among other things.  Since it is fresh, I leave it outside during the week.  It will last far beyond Christmas by doing that. 

This is the day we lit the second candle of Advent. It brings us into the true meaning of Christmas. Hope, Peace and Love wrapped up in swaddling cloth, laying in a manger.  Jesus!

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After completing the wreaths I decided to make a few small arrangements to give as gifts.  They are cheerful and bright.  The message that goes with them is one of hope and joy!

 And......now to my favorite kind of designing! No matter where I go..I collect things for this purpose.  I don't know if you remember me talking about gathering organic material just a few weeks back..but this is what I do with natures treasure.  I play..have no plan ...and the outcome is thrilling to me!  These two wreaths are about 12 inches in diameter.  Not big.  They can be brought in the house but they will thrive outside in any weather. 

 For the person who wants something simple, these swags fill that order.  They are aromatic and multi layered with Douglas Fir, Spruce and Noble Fir limbs.  The cones are often found on a camping trip or a walk through town.  No cone is safe in my path!! 

I'd love to make each of you something.....and if you live close enough...give me a call! :))  I'll get to work! 

By the way..there is to be a wedding next weekend and the bride is giving me freedom to present her with some things that are delightful.  I'll be sure to share next week! 

Going back......

 ...many years ago, before I was a twinkle in my parent's eyes, they lived on my father's family farm in Leduc, Alberta, Canada.     I love these pictures because it shows what their transportation was during the winter months in a very cold (sometimes 40 degrees below zero) region of the prairie in Alberta.  The horses were sturdy looking..bigger than average.  I wonder if they were Percherons?  They look like it. 
The photos below were taken in 1939 and give me the impression that my parents must have been having a good time!  My mother would tell me about hitching up the horse and going to town..alone!  She was a small person but had a mighty spirit.  A "can do" kind of soul!  And, she did! 

This picture of my dad is especially memorable.  He stands so tall and proud!
Look at the windmill and there are few trees behind the house.  The trees look like they are newly planted.  On the prairie there aren't a lot of trees and that is why I mention them.    

I appreciate having a record of my parents lives.  My SIL, Chris, scanned many pictures like these, and I copied them from her computer before it crashed.  They are now saved on an external hard drive and I encourage others to do the same thing with your old photos.  It is a meaningful experience to go through them, and be transported back in time.