Yes, I know. I haven't posted anything for a while.Here's the story, my excuse as it were.  I've been busy. No, I did not get a job. My dear friend and I are working on a project.  It is something new for me. I'm not willing at this point to say what it is but if it turns out ok, I might let you know what the project is. I have really enjoyed working on it, learning something new, recharging my batteries. The whole Christmas season was just very pleasant. We cut back on the number of gift purchases so there is a lot less pressure/stress involved with that.  I've increased my baking and have given a lot of cookies and fudge and other goodies away.  I've really enjoyed that. Two Christmas gifts (from others to us) involved donations to Heifer International and St Jude's Children's Research Hospital .  Those were wonderful gifts! Our pastor led an Advent Bible Study, focusing on the "support people" as I call them, the shepherds, Joseph, the wi...

I thought I'd attempt to be a little creative this year for Christmas. I am not the creative type.  I don't see marvelous things hiding in ordinary items. I don't easily picture adding this to that to get some really nice centerpiece, or wall hanging, or door decoration.  That's not one of my strong suits. But sometimes I get the urge to try.  I prevented my husband from pruning the holly bushes a couple of months ago just in case I might want to decorate for Christmas with some real holly branches. He had doubts that I'd do anything with the holly (I did say I'm not the creative type!).  In spite of his doubts, he left them alone to be pruned later. Today, the sky is gray, covered in clouds. The sun is not shining brightly. So I went outside to cut some holly to see what I could do with it. My plans were to make something for the windows in the front of the house.  Some holly with a bow, perhaps in the center of each window. I've seen that before and fi...

by Deanna Etienne.  Used by permission. Isaiah 9:6 For to us a child is born,        to us a son is given,        and the government will be on his shoulders.        And he will be called        Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,        Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Read it again , each word. Read it again until you see something new that you hadn't seen before. Or perhaps you saw it the first time or one of the other numerous times you've read this passage.  But I didn't see it until today. " A child is born......he will be called ......Everlasting Father. " We read this nearly every Christmastime.  Even so, I've never put the child and the father in the same sentence.  It is very clearly stated here that this child is also THE Father. Jesus is also God.  Of course I already knew that but I hadn...