Bonus to close the year

The Big Picture Day 1,406

Blessing 1,406 (borrowed this one from my friend Ilona , she is so right & I so agree, sums up life & our 2012 very well)

.. lesson learned from lace knitting with beads. "Holes"=yarn overs and knit 2 together look like complete chaos; a few in a pattern are just like everyday life.   Nice even stitches and everyday routines; then there are hiccups aka holes. 

Some days are worse then others.  Car not starting, missing appointments, not feeling the greatest ... that is tame lace knitting ... then you have the extreme lace knitting ... holes all over the place, looks like life has turned you up side down, you don't know which way is up ... but the end results is beautiful ... breathtaking!

And blended in are these little bright beads, just showing lessons learned ... As we are ending 2012 I am seeing hiccups, chaos, etc ...   My goodness, what a jumbled mess it is, then you block it & gaze at it all beautiful & complete.  Like looking at the big picture of my year, of my life; I see God's hand through all - little jewels sparkled throughout.

I am hoping that you to can look back at 2012 and see God's leading, and pray that 2013 will be just as beautiful, that you can feel God's hand holding you through life.  (Thank you Ilona, great way of putting it, I was praying for the perfect blessing to summarize our year.  God came through, you carried it to me for Him.)

Gods Blessing for 2013

Sermon Day 1,407

Today's service was really awesome.  It started with music lead by Sarah.  She was really rocking & praising the Lord.  The songs were somewhat new; but  the words were praising & worshiping from the heart & soul.  Loved it, really got the mood set for our youth pastor's sermon on Revolution vs Resolution.

Then Pastor Brian stepped up & called us to accountability.  Didn't put anyone on the spot, just asked everyone to check themselves & see where they were in their service to the Lord.  It was an awesome message.  Hoping to listen again.  I will add the link once it is added to the church site. 

All in all it was a great way to start the year, revving our engines.  The beginning is only 2 days away & we are getting ready as the starting gate.  Thanks to both of you for rallying the troops for the Service.....of God!! Great teamwork!!  Each of us lives in a Mission Field.  No two are alike, we may cross paths; but we each come in contact with a variety of people every day.  May you be a shining light in yours & may I shine in mine. 

Have an awesome day!!!!!!!!

Silliness (Saturday 12/29/12) Day 1,408

Yesterday, my son's fiance' posted a video of him on facebook.  All he did was shake his head, flapping his cheeks & make funny noises for a few seconds.

It made everyone who saw it just roar with laughter.  Why??? no one really knows, it was just the silliness of it.  Sometimes that is what we need, just to drop everything & be silly. 

It makes others smile!!!!!

Being Productive Day 1,409

We had a wonderfully productive day spent with Eddie's input & friends. We first went to Barb's & discussed her memory quilt. Her mother-in-law passed on 2 1/2 years ago, her mom just a year ago.  She kept several shirts from both that will be worked into this quilt The kids will be adding a significant part to it by adding some painting to the center block.  Their one gramma had taught them to paint some trees & the piece we chose for the center is a woodsy setting.  So they will accent it with the talent she shared with them.  When it comes to tying the quilt we are even involving her hubby, Bob.  He will be able to help in some of the finish work. It will truly be a building of memories that they will enjoy together for years to come. Eddie had no shortage of input either. He was quick with excellent suggestions & we saw a great deal of likeness between him & Ryan. It was funny.  Some of Eddie's quips were on the smarty side; but so were Ryan's.  None disrespectful, just typical teen & old man type.

Then we stopped for a relaxing lunch, and off to & Pastor Brian & Marsha's to work on a birthday blanket for their son.  It is going to have a hand pieced applique of bomb bird from Angry Birds in the center, then the basic blue background.  There is no pattern, just something I am putting together for her. Got the center medallion cut out. I will do the piecing & we will meet again next week to applique it to the object of the project. Then Marsha will complete it in time for presentation. 

Eddie did some much needed repairs for Pastor while we were there, the circuit breaker kept popping off when they would use the microwave.  Turns out it was a simple fix, just replace the breaker.  The original was an old model & probably worn out.  So now the microwave works fine.  He & Pastor Brian then entertained young Dylan who was as smilely as ever.

Great visits in both areas & a lot was accomplished toward our goals. Truly a blessing to spend productive days with friends & family. Thanks all!! ♥ (can't believe I have counted back 51 days already, wow)

Who we are, not were Day 1,410

.I love this, saw it on a friend, Ruth R's, page. Eddie & I have been blessed to stand by hundreds of men in this way through prison ministry. I think this is one of the greatest blessings God has given us.  We were not particularly happy with the relative who got in trouble, thereby showing us the need for volunteers in this area; but in doing so we found there was a great need for people who truly cared about others.  We learned to look past what the men may have done to land in prison, to who they had become.  We learned to see the goals they wanted to reach were genuine & that they needed guidance to attain those goals.  Someone who was genuinely willing to stand alongside & answer the questions they had, someone who was willing to care enough to be there & help them.  We received so much from them, we were so very very blessed in so many ways that we couldn't begin to count them.
                                                                                                                                                                                 

We have been blessed to be able to not even ask what their past was, instead we worked with them in the person of who they were from the time we met them.  It didn't matter what their crime had been.  That isn't who they were now, that was their past.  A past they were working to put behind them & move on from.  Not to forget; but to learn from.  It was something they needed to take a lesson from; but not to let control who they had become.  They were better than that now.  They needed to seek forgiveness from those they hurt & most of all to be able to forgive themselves & move on.  They would also need the ability to be able to forgive those who would never forgive them and not let that hold them back.  To not let that make them angry or stumble, in the future.  These are tools we would share.

So often people look at what people did, instead of what they have become. I don't know too many people who haven't done something they are ashamed of. Sure it may not have always been against the law; but you are NO longer that same person. Yes, you did do something & that something did make a difference in your life; but a lot of times it is that thing or things that contributed to make you the BETTER person that you are today.

I admit, sometimes it doesn't work that way; but that is not for me to judge. The Bible tells me not to do the judging. So we work on the present & future. It is up to the individual to decide what they will do with the tools & knowledge we share.

We are totally blessed by the lives we come in contact with & can honestly say that we would not change one moment. We went into prison ministry inside the prison from 2004 - 2011. Now we mentor to fellows on the outside & continue to be blessed.

We are truly thankful for this opportunity to serve & stand beside each of these men. We have come to love each one for themselves. ♥  We thank God for the opportunity He gave us, how He showed us that another bad thing did work for good for those who loved Him.  (Romans 8:28)

Thankful, peace of heart & mind Day 1,411

Today was just a really nice laid back & quiet day. Had a few phone calls to make; but otherwise it was nice to not have any deadlines or places to go. All, but one, order has been filled & there is time to do that one yet.  So I took time to work on a shawl for me.   Relaxed with time to meditate & be thankful for what I have.

It is really a neat thing to ponder that I could not think of a single thing that I wanted or needed for Christmas. I did receive a really cool t-shirt & a couple friends sent me some stitch markers for my knitting; but I still cannot come up with any ideas for anything I really want or need.  God has provided everything we need, there really isn't anything we are lacking.  We have enough food & the means to prepare it.  We have heat & the furnace, electric, electronics.  We have friends & family, near & far.  Our vehicles both work fine & our health is satisfactory.  I have enough yarn to keep me busy for a while yet; though I can always use more needles.  

I am sure there are a lot of things I could put to use. Yarn is always something I enjoy, shawl pins are fun to find; especially ones that used to be brooches in days gone by. I love the ones with a vintage look & found a few more today; but I really look for the bargains.  I also enjoy making my own, being creative in unusual ways.

But all said & done, I have to say I am quite content with where God has me & with what He has provided.  So that being said, I am just thankful for that peace of heart & mind today. 

Be blessed everyone!!

Memories Day 1,412

Merry Christmas Everyone
Started the morning with Bing Crosby in Going My Way, love that movie, especially the end when the old priest's mom comes in from Ireland after not seeing each other for 45 years. Makes me cry every time & I have seen the movie hundreds of times. Even when I don't watch it, the memory of it brings a happy smile to mind. Then I will watch a few more oldies, love these old movies on TCM.  Can watch them over & over again, enjoying them even though I have seen them a thousand times.

Then I gave Eddie his one gift, a goofy flashlight (he likes unusual flashlights & levels). Turns out it needed 9 AA batteries, we only had 4; but you can do it in sets of 3 so he was able to do one leg.  It is a 3 leg light with really bright lights on each leg, like a tri-pod & he really likes his light too.  We don't exchange gifts. We usually go shopping & choose what we each want, been married so long it is better this way, then we really get what we want. He chose a 24 in 1 ladder; but I found this neato flashlight a while back so had it stashed. I truly cannot think of anything I really want, so have no gift as of yet. I am fine, if & when I think of something we will go get it; but I don't need anything & there is nothing I really want, so why spend the money on anything. ♥

Off to make breakfast for the two of us. Maybe some heart pancakes, or eggs & ham. Haven't decided; just wanted to take time to first wish you all well & a blessed day.

May your Christmas be a special one, spent with someone (or many) you love. It is a special day, first & foremost because of Whom it represents; then for the spirit of Love that it carries with it. Finally for the joy it seems to bring to so many. 

For those who have the bittersweet joy of loved ones gone, I pray you have joyful memories to remember & smile on. Wrap yourself in the happy times together, knowing this is the rose they give you to hold in times when you need them most. That rose that is always in your heart; because they will always be close to you there. It is the strength of those memories that gets me through when I miss friends who are no longer near or who have gone on ahead of me. Hugz to each of you!! ♥

Gifts Day 1,413

Well, just got home from Christmas Eve service.  It was a wonderful blessing.  Was able to bring a gift of love to someone who is missing their mom this Christmas.   A simple hug to wrap around her shoulders when needed.

I, myself, received two gifts in the mail today.  Our grandchildren's mom sent us a beautiful photo of them together.  It was a great pic of two grown kiddos, smiles that will warm our hearts many times to come.  Thank you Shanda for that treasure.  Secondly, my mom sent me my favorite cookies; as she does every year.  She always says to share them with hubby.  I do, I give him one.  This year he got one & a crumb; but he also got a whole tub of cookies baked by Patrick.  Since we got those for Christmas I figure I get to keep my special ones for myself.  :) 

 I am working at stretching them out as long as possible.  There are not a whole lot of them, so it is not easy to do though.  I am resisting the urge to nibble.  LOL  

 Eddie & I are praying that you all have a Blessed & Merry Christmas.  The greatsest gift that we have every rec'd is our Salvation.  Though there is some dispute as to when our Lord was actually born, this is when His Birth is celebrated.  So though the date may not be exact, the Gift is & always will be Perfect.

From our home to yours to each & every member of our friends & family, be blessed.  ♥

 

 

 

Smiles Day 1,414

Today I was blessed to see 2 smiles at church.  Our youth Pastor Brian has been quite ill from the flu.  He was back today & Jasmine is home on respite from her missionary post.  So two very special smiles. 

Now that is not to say that there were not a million other smiles; but these two were kinda special for the reasons mentioned.  All throughout church there are always lots of smiles & living in Northern WI people smile & say hello all the time.  It is very infectious & contagious.  A good kind of contagious.

This young man has an awesome smile, I won't show his whole face since he is not my child; but who could resist such a beautiful smile.  In fact he was up visiting his grandparents today, for Christmas week.

He is a charming lad, good helper, polite & great big brother. 

Smiles are always a blessing, be sure to share yours with someone every day.  Not just during the holiday seasons.  Not just when you feel good, you may make another person's day better (& not just people you know!!); you'll be surprised, it may just help make you feel better too.   ♥

Amazing Day ~~ Day 1.,415

This has just been an amazing day. Started out with mail this morning and a letter from a friend, Jonathan. Yup, Shannon, we rec'd a letter from our mutual friend. First in a few years. He does sound tired but well. We worked with Jonathan for several years in prison ministry.  Once he was released we could not have contact.  After we quit volunteering inside, we sent a note to the last place we had heard he moved.  One of the men who attends our church, knew where he had moved.  We were blessed to hear back & that he is doing well, staying out of trouble, & following the Lord.

 Then I was able to complete work on a project for Jill so it will get delivered tomorrow.  She had attempted to do a t-shirt quilt for her daughter.  She cut pieces & added the stabilizer; but had not squared up or made the pieces a consistent size.  So when I got the squares there was a wide variety in size & shape.  It finally came together in an interesting; but amazing way.  I think she will be pleased.

Finally it ended with a Christmas concert at Peace Church in EauClaire. Linda was in the choir, it was a wonderful concert. We had no clue where the church was, then all of a sudden Lenny passed us up. So there, in the dark, on Hwy 29, God had our paths cross & we followed them right to the church. That was definitely God's perfect timing.  We could not believe that we ran into them.  We are talking about a busy highway & it was dark outside.  The odds of finding another vehicle under those circumstances is not very good; but nothing is impossible for God.  Evidently we were supposed to go to that concert.  It was an amazing performance.  Afterward we went with Lenny & Linda for a bite to eat & a good time of laughter & fellowship. All in all this day was totally blessed.

I am thinking Linda & I will be laughing over the dinner conversation for a long time to come. We have a whole lot of things in common, it is going to be a fun time building our friendship. Yup, this day was truly amazing & blessed.  We plan to do something for our birthdays since we are on consecutive days in June.  That was just too cool.  We are going to enjoy it whatever it is we decide to do.

Well, here's hoping you will have an amazing day too~!!

Combined together Day 1,416

Listening to the radio today, their was a guest speaker sharing his joy.  He was blinded as a young lad,by his father.  It was a tragic gun accident, for which he held no animosity toward his father or God.  He talked about how things work together & come out in the end for good.  Thinking about what he said made a lot of sense.  Often we see bad things as ONLY bad, we don't take the time to consider the good that comes from some of the bad happenings.

In our own lives, I have seen our grandson get into some serious trouble.  Through this trouble, we came to discover a great need for workers in the prisons.  We were blessed to volunteer for 7 years in 2 programs that reached hundreds of men, and a 3rd program that I went on to work in for 1 1/2 years in which I was able to talk for a few hundred more.  After our time inside, we continue to work with men on the outside.  Still not sure who has been blessed more by this occurrence, them or us.  We have gotten so much from this ministry that we could not tell all that we have from it; but if you ask the men they say they are the more blessed.  So I will call it a draw.

Other times there are losses that later lead to people finding a future mate, who seems perfect also.  Or a business or home is lost, only to turn to a new path & that one is even better or brighter.  So many examples all around us. Tragic accidents, the movie Soul Surfer, where she lost an arm; but in the end said she wouldn't change it because of all the people she was able to reach because of that loss.

This guest speaker spoke of Romans 8:28  ALL things work together for good for those who love the Lord.  He told how manure used by itself would burn a plant; but combined with water it becomes a fertilizer making things grow tall & strong.    Joseph's brothers meant him harm, as did many along his journey to his final position; but in the end God used all of it together to weave a good thing. 

God can take all our circumstances & weave them together into a good, even great thing.  If I had not gone through both the good & bad in my life, I would not be the person I am today.  He has woven all these experiences into who I am.  We need to count it all joy, think it & believe it.  The guest speaker was Jimmy Gale & I heard him on WWIB with Mark Halverson on Friday, 12/21/12 a.m. 

If you have an opportunity to find out more about him, I suggest you do.  It could truly make a difference in your life.  Be blessed & smile ;)

Thank you Day 1,417

Today, I am so thankful for each person in our lives.  It is you who make our days special.  Thankful for those who read my blog, who cross both my & Eddie's paths.  Who reach out to say howdy.  Those who say a prayer for us & we don't even know it.  You have all made a difference in our lives & we appreciate it so much.  So today, I am thankful & blessed by YOU!!!!

Blessed (Wed 12/19/12) Day 1,418

I do realize how VERY blessed I am....in many different ways. ♥

I have a faith in God & my Salvation

I have a husband who is cranky; but here with me, only me.

My hubby & I are comfortable & able to be there for others.

We have family & a home, not fancy; but shelter from the elements.

We are rich in everything, except money...

friends

health 

spirit

family

giving hearts

so many things

In the eyes of many, we have so little; but in reality our cup is overflowing & we are able to share that overflow with others.  What makes it even better is that we both believe it is our blessing to be able to share it with others.  We agree that it is fun to do just that.

Be blessed one & all!!!!!!

Perfect timing Day 1,419

Have you ever had one of those days that you seemed to be in the right place at the right time. Strange; but it has happened many times throughout my life. Things just seem to fall into place. Or something is just perfect in timing.

In my heart I know it is God's perfect timing & that makes it even more special. That is all, simple as that. Can you think of times it has happened for you???

~Maybe it is perfect timing of stoplights when you need to get to an appointment...
~Or one time I was watching the RFD channel, a rodeo was on & they had a commercial about a rebate on a certain kind of tire.  Okay, so my hubby's truck was in getting that exact kind of tire put on at that very moment.  I printed off the form & we qualified for a $75.00 rebate.  That was a big help in paying for a big tire cost.
~It could be something as simple as making a call to find a job, one just opened & your timing was right on.

So many things, so many opportunities to be blessed or bless others....

~Did you happen by someone talking, overhear a need they may have that you could anonymously fulfill????
~Has God laid someone on your heart to pray for????

Look around, listen to that still small voice, don't miss that nudge to your chance to perfect timing!

Medical Miracles Day 1,420

Oh how I marvel at the medical miracles I have seen performed in my own husband's life.

This came even more to light on Friday when we returned from seeing his respiratory therapist. He had a new sleep study a couple weeks ago & they discovered his apnea was more serious than they had realized. He has the most common obstructive kind that is often treated with the c-pap machines & that is what he'd had for the past 4 years; but it wasn't improving no matter how high they set the pressure. Turns out he also has the kind that requires a ventilator to take over & breathe for him. When he goes into the deepest sleep his brain doesn't tell him to breathe so he just 'doesn't'. Heck, I've been telling him this for 31 years, now they told him for me. His brain doesn't function right. LOL We did have fun with that one. Seriously, he now has a BiPAP autoSV Advanced. It works on 2 levels for the congestive stuff & will do what a ventilator does, breathing for him, when he stops, until he starts again. Interesting & it can go to 30# of pressure. That is a lot of air pushing in.

So it got me to thinking about the other items. Of course his accident when he flipped the semi in 1989 & only got a compressed fracture of the lumbar vertebrae. Not a bad injury. A very sore back for life; but could have been paralysis. That one the doctors missed so he is stuck with it. He was in the hospital for quite a while for that one, couldn't work for almost a year.

In 2004, they almost missed the aneurysm below his kidneys. We have our PA to thank for catching that. Had he missed it, Eddie would most likely have not survived. It was an artery below the kidneys & we know for a fact of experience it takes the ambulance 30-35 minutes to get to our house. That was replaced with artificial artery that went down into both legs. Looked like a 'Y' shaped inner tube. His arteries in the legs were both blocked more than 97%. No wonder he had no pulse in his ankles & cold feet. Like NO blood flow, duh!!!!

In 2007, I argued with a VA doctor in January that something was not right. She asked me if I thought I was a doctor & dismissed my concerns. In May, he had a massive heart attack & a quad-bypass. Yup, I guess I was a better one than her. They replaced those arteries with ones from his thigh. One of them was too short & had to be spliced together. A medical marvel, 3 were over 95% blocked the other only 87%; but the doctor figured to fix it then was wisest. (She was taken off practice shorty after that.)

It still just keeps me smiling in praises how wonderfully God has made our bodies, how the doctors can do these marvelous repairs to them. I am in constant awe, I live with the proof of His wonder & have seen it in action. I will never understand it; but I am thankful for the wisdom & knowledge that man has been granted to repair our vessels. I thank God often & wonder what it is He has for this guy, I am married to, to do yet on this Earth. There has to be something that is yet to be done; because I have lived with him through 3 times for sure that most would say he should not have lived if not for the Lord's intervention. It will be interesting to see what is to come, I think.....

 Do you ever think about all that they can do???  A young man who is a friend of a friend, just 24, received a new heart.  The process of connecting all the veins & arteries.  The nerves & muscles, what a talented hand that must make & a more talented Creator to design us to work in such a marvelous way.  Then the body needs to accept the heart, so other elements have to be at work to prevent rejection.  

So much of these medical miracles, so many differences made in so many lives....I bet you could think of several too!

Harmony, of a Different Kind Day 1,421

Today there is a different kind of harmony. Not one that most would think; but by one our mom taught us. A unique one; one that many have thought weird over the years.

It is not unusual for Eddie & I to share that we were not only introduced to each other by my ex-husband; but we often went to motorcycle rallies together as a group. He & his 3rd wife, Eddie & I. For the first few we would go as Bahrs, Bahrs, Bahrs & Davis.  We weren't even married yet, that really got the looks.  It was fun & really got the conversation going.  Then all of a sudden we were hitched & it changed to B & B, D & D.  Still fun, just didn't draw the looks like before, LOL.   You will still see his 4th wife post positive comments on my FB postings.

That harmony our mom taught us is the peace for our children. Regardless of the fact that we could not get along & ended in divorce, our children were not to be in the middle of it. We lived it fully & completely while growing up in her home. I honestly do not remember her putting down my father in a negative manner. He had faults, yes; but we found them out on our own. He was welcomed in our home on holidays or whenever, by the current husband & my mom. Never with discord in front of us.

I did the same with my ex & my sons has done the same. My grandchildren see to have been blessed to know the same harmony & it is a blessing to see it throughout our family. I often see positive encouragements throughout for all sides, lifting everyone.  Though my son & his girl had not married, they did have two beautiful children & parted ways peaceably.  She is now happily married, he is engaged & both ladies post positively & encouragingly on each others FB pages.  The children are free to love both families equally & that is beautiful.  It gives them the freedom of loving without guilt & is so important.  My sons call their dad just that & my hubby is pops.  I am mom & I am not sure what they call his current wife; but I am not threatened by any name, it is fine with me.  They are free to call her mom if they like, it is their choice & freedom to do so. 

Though it is sad to see the homes that had been broken, it is a blessing that those broken homes did NOT result in broken lives of children whose parents used them as pawns in arguments or ping pong balls in battles. Instead they were allowed to love both families freely & completely. Not only my children & grandchildren; but it is throughout my sisters families too & the harmony that started with my mom's unique & what others call weird (we call wonderfully blessed) way of parenting, has blessed more than one generation. I pray the broken homes stops with ours. If it doesn't though; I know the harmony will continue thanks to the matriarch at the top who taught us the importance of loving a child ..... completely with harmony from the heart ♥

 

This one makes a difference in a child's heart; think of how many lives that will affect as generations pass down....... WOW

Committment Day 1,422

Today we were blessed to witness two godly friends join their lives in marriage. What a treasure to see this ceremony bringing God into the mix with sincerity & joy. I had the pleasure of taking the candid photos & planning a special quilted frame to go around one of them. Gathering signatures & well wishes from friends & family.

Pastor Mike, delivered an awesome message of love, faith & the true meaning of marriage. I think it touched more couples attending, than just Lenny & Linda.  That is always the sign of a great message.

Thank you for including us in your day, looking forward to spending time working on the frame & just building our friendship as couples & ladies in Christ. May your years be blessed in so many many ways for a very long time to come.

Destination Known (Friday, 12/14/12) Day 1,423

Because of the shooting of so many wee ones, it is a hard to find one today. The one I was going to use, will be saved for tomorrow in the light of so much tragedy. Instead, I think I am so very blessed in knowing the peace of Salvation. I am blessed to have a close knit family in most ways, one where we generally talk it out...sometimes even shout it out; but not in violent ways.

I have NO understanding of why a person would do something like this shooting today. I do understand we are given a free will; I also understand that for some reason (that I DO NOT understand) gov't saw fit to tie the hands of parents so many years ago. To the point of having children report them to the schools & social services if they got disciplined in a way they didn't like. They then put the parents under scrutiny & often punished them. I do not understand why the gov't takes the Bible & prayer out of schools; but allows other forms of religious or non-religious activities in. Not saying that students need to be forced to participate; but that they need to have the same freedoms TO WORSHIP as those who choose not to.

They make it such an important thing that children have the freedom to obtain condoms & birth control without their parents permission; this is not something a child should be getting without their parents. Maybe I am old-fashioned; but it just takes away one more door of communication. Kids need to talk to their parents; they need feel they can talk to their parents about anything. The gov't teaches them this is one more way to sneak around behind their backs & they wonder why there are problems.

Maybe I am crazy; but I still think parents need to be the first line of defense in discipline & upbringing. They need to guide their children & be the person they come to when there is an issue, not some stranger. All this gov't interference does not build a stronger family bond, it builds walls. This is just my opinion; but I have seen it coming for a long time & it is getting worse all the time.

I know stronger gun laws will NOT stop the criminals, only those who are doing it legally now will follow them & be more restricted. So that is NOT the answer...

People keep voting for the gov't to have more power, then they complain when things go wrong. Sorry, you get what you vote for..... JMHO ♥

Through the Lens(Thursday 12/13/12) Day 1,424

I am so lucky to have had an awesome year in photos. I have an album on Facebook, My Journey Through 2012. It has been such a blessing to view our world through the lens of a camera. So neat to get those pics onto the computer & then see things I missed when just looking at them. I am in awe at the beauty & detail of God's wonderful world. In nature, creatures & in people. I am so looking forward to continuing into 2013, doing a whole new journey & seeing the many new things His Creation has to offer.






I have gotten skylines, seasons, birds & critters.  It has been so awesome.  I think my favorite was catching a drop of water as if fell.  That one is a particular fascination of mine.  Or when I caught an eagle in flight, the butterfly on the road stretching its wings.  A particular beautiful sunset or the sunrise behind a silo.  So many beautiful opportunities came past my lens & each made my day better for it.  

Thank you Lord & thank you to all who have patiently let me take your pic. Each of you is a part of this blessing.  By the same token, I was able, several times, to share with others & make a difference for them also.  Thank you again, everyone.

Ability (Weds. 12/12/12) Day 1,425

OMG, I was so busy playing with monkey's yesterday I forgot to post a blessing. I would have to say it was having fun playing with yarn & the ability to do so. 

 I have friends whose hands are arthritic & they can no longer crochet, knit or both. I do have a great deal of arthritis from my Lyme's; but am still blessed to be able to do all of them & I thank God for that.  These guys were fun & so darn cute.  Well off to do more hats & sweaters for orders for Christmas.

Shelter Day 1,426

Have you ever thought about 'shelter'???

Sure we all think about it as a building, that is the first thought & I, for one, tend to take it for granted.  I see on the news the homeless people who are thankful for a piece of cardboard to keep the frost or wind off, the side of a building to block the same.  A stand of trees for someone or something can also be a shelter, or a vehicle.

Our youth pastor's car was recently a shelter for a family/litter of mice, who proceeded to chew up his wires.  This was not a good thing; but to them it was shelter & food of a sort. 

The arms of another can also be a shelter & at times, an animal has sheltered a human from the elements.  Protecting them & keeping them warm till help could come.  In some cases saving the life of a small person, who would have possibly not survived without that intervention.

Some find themselves discontent with what they have, thinking theirs is not good enough & always striving for more.  Not that there is anything wrong with wanting to better yourself; but it is also important not to exceed what you can afford either.  In our current economy it is easy to find yourself without work, doesn't matter how well you are doing today.  You could be upper middle class today & in poverty tomorrow.  No one is immune. 

It happened to us, though we faired well because we had NOT overextended ourselves.  We had been careful in what we owed to others.  We never had much that was fancy.  My hubby had a serious accident.  Sure, the company paid the bills.  He was no longer able to drive, he was not found at fault; but they were a big company & we got a meager settlement that paid off a few of the bills we did have. 

I guess this thought came about as I was thinking about our past, we used to own this property just for hunting & had another piece in Kenosha county too. We had a pretty good two income life & didn't want for much. So many people are quick to judge those who are homeless or don't have much, you see them comment on how they should have done this or that different. How can anyone know what someone else should have done if they didn't live their life? Especially in our current world?
As I said, we were NOT hurting. Then one night Eddie went out on his route. I got a call about 5 a.m. There had been an accident & they didn't know if he was dead or alive. Did I need a ride to pick me up. They thought I was up here; but I was down by where he was so I said no, I had someone who could take me to the hospital. The next two weeks his employer was very attentive. Eddie was okay, though no longer able to do his job, so he was let go. The company was a large one, so a moderate settlement was made & he got some help finding a low level job that he could perform after his injuries. We could not fight them as no negligence was on their part or his. Heck it didn't even make the papers & it involved a semi blocking the entire road for hours. Like I said a BIG powerful company. We did manage to get a lump payment, after arguing a long time, for the workman's comp. Had we not, we would have been homeless. We lost our home in Southern WI. It was foreclosed. Our income dropped to $125 a week. The property we had up here was on land contract & she demanded the total after she found out he was no longer working. I fought hard to get the full WC, had to go all the way to the head in Madison & that is how I was able to keep this land. Otherwise we would have gone from owning a 3 bedroom home in the suburbs & 60 acres of hunting land to homeless in a matter of months.

This same company/union did not tell him he was eligible to take early retirement benefits because of the accident. We found this out 1 year & 11 months after the accident. If you do not claim them by 2 years, then you cannot get them till retirement age. We just stumbled onto them by accident & NO they did not pay him a bunch of back pay. He was turned down at that time for disability SS too; because he could do light duty work. He did this for 15 years, in a great deal of pain. Eddie had a compressed fracture of the lumbar vertebrae. They did not find it & it healed over, he still suffers from it.

We dropped from upper middle class to lower class overnight & survived.  We never ended up on the streets, by God's grace; but easily could have.  So, we are careful not to judge when other do.  Like I said, no one is immune. 

When you do see someone who needs shelter, is there something you could do.  Offer them a hot meal?  Guide them to a shelter?  Contact an agency, not the gov't kind; but the private ones that really give a hand-up not the hand-outs, the ones that help people get back on their feet with dignity.  Think about it.  Sad as it is, I also say do it with caution.  There are also people who do scams in this field, so do not approach anyone alone.   Always, have a group of people with you if you are going to extend a helping hand.  Do not offer your home, there are people who will help in the areas; but also do not turn your head or judge them.  It could very well be you, never say never, YES it could be you.

Take time to make a difference in someone's life.

Watchful Eye Day 1,427

Today we were blessed to have God's protection.

 

We have 60 acres, on a corner piece of land.  A great deal of it has areas that drop off steeply if you go off the road.  By this I mean if you go off the road, you go down a ways. In some areas, quite a ways down. Yesterday, we got a large accumulation of snow, so Eddie was out plowing.  Because the township likes to plow in our driveway, he cleans the road in front of it so there is nothing for them to deposit there.  As he was turning around, this morning he slid a bit with the tractor & the front end went off the road, a ways; but not too far. Just far enough I had to rescue him with the truck & tow strap.

 

Hee hee, I even got complimented on being a good tow truck driver. But I am very thankful it didn't go off on an area where there is one of the deeper drops. Could have been a bit more challenging (and dangerous).  He could have been hurt had that happened, so we are blessed it did not.

Both our vehicles are 4 wheel drive; but I used his truck to do it, seemed the wiser choice as he has the luggy tires. Didn't want to embarrass the big old tractor with my little Tracker pulling it out of the ditch. Heck the tires are almost as tall as my 6+ foot tall hubby & they could easily roll over my little car if the tractor wanted to get even. (& to all Eddie's buddies, yes he knows I posted this)

Blessing another Day 1,428

Here is an opportunity to be able to bless another.....anonymously

Did you know there is a place where you can answer one of the many letters that go to the dead letter office during the Christmas season??? Yup, those North Pole letters??? Here is a link, if you feel so inclined....

I know many of my friends don't do gifts; but heck sometimes helping out a family that has gone through a hardship or a child who needs a coat or has a wish for something special, sometimes giving something special goes beyond a myth...just a thought. 

It is called Be An Elf & is not actually affiliated with the U.S. Post Office at all. They just accumulate the letters sent to a certain someone at 26 post offices around the country. Here is the link to their web page & they do have a FB page. It is legitimate, I saw it on the Today show. My kids often didn't have a lot of necessities, others sometimes stepped up & helped.  It was often done by someone we didn't know, left without a note other than a helping smile or with love at a special time.  It always brought a smile & a tear, never felt it as charity; always appreciated.

We step up & help children in other countries, we can also help children in our country. So even if you don't believe in a 'Christmas' gift, couldn't you just give someone a 'gift'? From your ♥ ? Isn't that what true giving is ??? Just my humble opinion !!! Eddie & I give year round, we don't box giving into a day or two anyway....

(It appears some post offices only have open days in December, others don't have set days. If you go to the link I have put, it gives you a link to locations with dates & times. Check with them.)

I just thought I would share & maybe make a difference in another person's life.  Not only the recipient; but the person who was able to bless another, from the heart ;)

http://beanelf.org/directory-of-operation-santa-branches/

(I am not affiliated with this organization in any way, learned about it on the Today show myself.)

Humor Day 1,429

Today, I have been blessed by my daughter-in-law's sense of humor.  She is in Florida, we are in Wisconsin & under a winter storm watch.  So she politely posted the following story.

As a trucker stops for a red light, another driver catches up. She jumps out of her car, runs up to his truck, and knocks on the door. The trucker lowers the window, and she says, “Hi, my name is Heather, and you are losing some of your load.” The trucker ignores her and proceeds down the street.

When the truck stops for another red light, the driver again catc

hes up. Again she jumps out of her car, runs up and knocks on the door. Again, the trucker lowers the window. As if they had never spoken, the woman says brightly, “Hi, my name is Heather, and you are losing some of your load!” Shaking his head, the trucker ignores her again and continues down the street.

At the third red light, the same thing happens again. All out of breath, the woman gets out of her car, runs up, and knocks on the trucker’s door. The trucker lowers the window. Again she says, “Hi, my name is Heather, and you are losing some of your load!!” When the light turns green, the trucker revs up and races to the next light.

When he stops this time, he hurriedly gets out of the truck, and runs back to the woman. He knocks on her window, and as she lowers it, he says…

“Hi, my name is Kevin, it’s winter in Wisconsin and I’m driving a SALT TRUCK!”

 

 Her humor is sweet & well intended.  We all need some of that humor.  Fun, hurts no one, brings a smile & a chuckle.  Humor is a healing quality & it can change your day for the good.  So share a smile & some humor with someone special today.  Make a difference in both your days....stay warm & safe today and always.....

Blessings Day 1,430

For 30 days in a row (well a couple got bunched up because I forgot my password), I have found a reason to be blessed.  In being blessed I have been happy & when I am happy then I smile & when I smile I can make a difference in another's life :)

So today I am simply & plainly thankful there are so many small thing that may seem insignificant, if we don't take time to look for them, that are a blessing to that day.

Today I am so blessed to be blessed.  Just simply that!!!!!  Nothing more, I don't need more!!!!!
How could That not be enough, all by itself?????   After all, isn't even a small blessing an awesome thing???

Have a most wonderful weekend!!!!

What a difference a day makes, Day 1,431

Wow, looking out the window & feeling so very blessed, snowy & icy out there. It would have been a miserable drive home in that yesterday. Thankful it is today instead of then. Wet (well of course, snow is wet, duh), packy, heavy, slippery.  All the things snow should be; but it would have been terrible to drive in.  Yesterday it was dry & great driving.  We were able to go down to Racine & have lunch with a friend.  Pick-up a spinning wheel, some treats for friends that don't get to experience true Kringle & make it home safe & sound before winter set in.

Now we hibernate for winter, safe at home with only minor driving trips to make close to home till Spring.  That is truly making a difference for us.

Short & sweet!!! Eddie will track deer in it today, or so he hopes. ♥ (Bow, gun, muzzle, bow)

Wednesday, Dec. 5, 2012 Day 1,432

Hi everyone, did you miss us????? We left yesterday so I am having to update all my blog days at one time, this is why each is dated.  So sorry.  They were all on FB; but I forgot my password for here on the blog.  

So yesterday we left at 9 a.m. for Tomah, Eddie got his flu shot. Then off to Madison for his sleep study. Don't often get a motel stay after October, we heat only with wood so in order to keep the house warm you need to be close by to put the wood in the furnace.  Duh!!!!!!

So we were able to enjoy an hour in pool & hot tub before he headed over to VA for the night  of wires, while I stayed locked up tight on the 3rd floor. I watched ME (memorable entertainment) TV & knit, enjoying old shows; especially Perry Mason & Daniel Boone. Then when Eddie got back we had the good old motel breakfast, actually not bad, & shot down to Racine to pick up Kringles & my spinning wheel.

Yup, blessing #1,432 is not only having 100's of miles of safe travels; but finally getting my spinning wheel. I have wanted one for over 23 years. In God's perfect timing I now have one :)

Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2012 Trumped Day 1,433

Today is full & overflowing. I had two wonderful one that have been trumped by the greater blessing of answered prayer in Lakken going home. That is definitely the best. The others are also great. We have been concerned about my 'frog' leaking oil (that is our smaller, more used vehicle). Stopped to have it checked & our mechanic was concerned that it appeared to be leaking by the re

ar main seal. A costly repair, though less than a replaced vehicle. Upon closer inspection, following the direction of the spray, it seems it may be, instead, the oil sensor plug. A $50 repair that will be replaced at next oil change. Now, this is a first check; but seems to be the problem & a true blessing. So today, we have been blessed in many ways.

 

Sometimes it is another who makes a difference in our day.  Isn't it a wonderful feeling when something happens to another that you have been praying for & it makes you smile??? Though, when you smile then you make someone else smile & like the dominoes, it keeps going.......

Monday, Dec.3, 2012 Day 1,434

I kept wondering what was today's blessing. It is a kinda gloomy day; though we are both alive & well; nothing seemed special. We headed out early to pick up some ends of wood from our Amish friend, truly that is a blessing. We just didn't realize the many that would come with it till we got back home & added them up.

We had a wonderful breakfast at the small restaurant in Gilman, WI. The owner in a nice fellow who aims to please with a perfect prepared meal of a good; but not overwhelming quantity of food. Great courtesy & a wee bit of humor thrown in.

Then we headed out to the Town of Marshall, a ways beyond Sheldon. A bit far to go for a trailer of wood; but it was only $10.00 for it & it is all hardwoods. Nice chunks that will require both the chainsaw & log splitter to process to the wood furnace.

The men were right there with the forklift to get it loaded into our old trailer, not letting Eddie do much. They see him as an elder, someone they are to serve and treat him with the utmost respect. The wood dumped in with a thud of great weight, we got our money's worth. After they finished we began our drive home. Obviously a heavy load, trailer towed well.

As we turned the last corner & into our driveway, we blew the tire on the trailer. Talk about blessed. We could hardly pick up one of these pieces of wood that they have in the trailer. We would not have been able to change the tire out on the road. Anyone who knows the distance from the Town of Marshall to Lublin, knows we would have had a problem & cell phone service is not to be had in much of the area.

So we are truly blessed in many ways today. ♥

More to us than what you may see...Day 1,435

Here is reminder a to look beyond the outside package & see the inside life (this poem has been around a long time & rightly so, it is a reminder we need to NEVER forget) ♥

When an old man died in the geriatric ward of a nursing home in an Australian country town, it was believed that he had nothing left of any value.
Later, when t

he nurses were going through his meager possessions, They found this poem. Its quality and content so impressed the staff that copies were made and distributed to every nurse in the hospital.

One nurse took her copy to Melbourne. The old man's sole bequest to posterity has since appeared in the Christmas editions of magazines around the country and appearing in mags for Mental Health. A slide presentation has also been made based on his simple, but eloquent, poem.

And this old man, with nothing left to give to the world, is now the author of this 'anonymous' poem winging across the Internet.

Cranky Old Man

What do you see nurses? . . .. . .What do you see?
What are you thinking .. . when you're looking at me?
A cranky old man, . . . . . .not very wise,
Uncertain of habit .. . . . . . . .. with faraway eyes?
Who dribbles his food .. . ... . . and makes no reply.
When you say in a loud voice . .'I do wish you'd try!'
Who seems not to notice . . .the things that you do.
And forever is losing . . . . . .. . . A sock or shoe?
Who, resisting or not . . . ... lets you do as you will,
With bathing and feeding . . . .The long day to fill?
Is that what you're thinking?. .Is that what you see?
Then open your eyes, nurse .you're not looking at me.
I'll tell you who I am . . . . .. As I sit here so still,
As I do at your bidding, .. . . . as I eat at your will.
I'm a small child of Ten . .with a father and mother,
Brothers and sisters .. . . .. . who love one another
A young boy of Sixteen . . . .. with wings on his feet
Dreaming that soon now . . .. . . a lover he'll meet.
A groom soon at Twenty . . . ..my heart gives a leap.
Remembering, the vows .. .. .that I promised to keep.
At Twenty-Five, now . . . . .I have young of my own.
Who need me to guide . . . And a secure happy home.
A man of Thirty . .. . . . . My young now grown fast,
Bound to each other . . .. With ties that should last.
At Forty, my young sons .. .have grown and are gone,
But my woman is beside me . . to see I don't mourn.
At Fifty, once more, .. ...Babies play 'round my knee,
Again, we know children . . . . My loved one and me.
Dark days are upon me . . . . My wife is now dead.
I look at the future ... . . . . I shudder with dread.
For my young are all rearing .. . . young of their own.
And I think of the years . . . And the love that I've known.
I'm now an old man . . . . . . .. and nature is cruel.
It's jest to make old age . . . . . . . look like a fool.
The body, it crumbles .. .. . grace and vigor, depart.
There is now a stone . . . where I once had a heart.
But inside this old carcass . A young man still dwells,
And now and again . . . . . my battered heart swells
I remember the joys . . . . .. . I remember the pain.
And I'm loving and living . . . . . . . life over again.
I think of the years, all too few . . .. gone too fast.
And accept the stark fact . . . that nothing can last.
So open your eyes, people .. . . . .. . . open and see.
Not a cranky old man .
Look closer . . . . see .. .. . .. .... . ME!!

Remember this poem when you next meet an older person who you might brush aside without looking at the young soul within. We will all, one day, be there, too!

PLEASE SHARE THIS POEM (originally by Phyllis McCormack; adapted by Dave Griffith)

The best and most beautiful things of this world can't be seen or touched. They must be felt by the heart!

Technology Day 1,436

Today I am thankful for technology.  Though Eddie & I live our lives a bit more primitive than most of our family & friends, it is nice to have some advanced technology.  Even there, we are behind most & don't have the most up-to-date; but it does afford us the ability to communicate with friends & family that we, otherwise, may not be able to as often.

I get to chat with my good friends/family in Canada.  A sweet young lady in Italy & another in Thailand.  I have a lady friend who lives in Japan, too.  There is family in Florida & Georgia, we do call & talk, I even surprise them with an occasional card or Kringle in the mail.  Sometimes we even ship something to a local store for them to pick-up; but to be able to catch them, on a moments notice, & send a smile is fun.  Some live just down the road; but go to school, or have different hours.

So to all my friends, all over the world, howdy & hello.  So happy we have this connection; but don't ignore your mailbox.  You never know if there is a card or surprise in it, not only bills.