Taken last night while walking to church.

I cannot believe that 2009 is at a close! This has been a great year, with change bubbling over the rim, yet I pray that 2010 will be a better year than this. I have been looking over last year’s resolutions and have to chuckle to myself…such goals. God has blessed me with another year and I pray that I will use my time more wisely. Less movies (though I enjoy them), perhaps less computer time, more time studying the Bible myself…I fall short in that area. Though we read the Bible every night as a family, I rarely dig in and study on my own. And to carry on the tradition of making resolutions, that probably won’t be kept….I plan on: entering at least 2 poetry contests, learn to drive, complete a novel of mine, use 50 new - 3 syllable words in everyday conversation, learn ballroom dancing, and organize and plant the entire garden by myself. Those are just a few.

I pray that everyone will have a blessed New Year and a God-honoring 2010!

photo from Cards Unlimited

On Christmas Eve’s Day, I want to warmly wish my readers and friends a healthy, cozy Christmas with family and friends. When others call out “Happy Holidays” may you remind them what this season is and was originally about and that no political agendas are going to change it. Whenever you see a fat, grinning Santa think of Christ coming down to earth to offer us the priceless gift of eternal salvation. When you see reindeer…think of the stable and humble conditions the Lord was brought unto us. When you open gifts, try to think about Mary and Joseph as they held mankind’s gift in their arms.

Merry CHRISTmas everyone!

I am a winter person. I feel the most comfortable, peaceful, and cozy in the wintertime, when the snow covers the ground, the touch of holidays are in the air, and people slow down a bit more (well, most do). Being in your home with Christmas music playing, the tree’s lights sparkling, while snow flurries down to the ground is perfectly enjoyable. There’s just something about winter. Perhaps because we have no snow for most of the year and then snow comes after being gone for so long and the reunion is gaiety in our hearts.

Yesterday morning, we walked to church-we have walked to church for the past two years since we live right next to it- but as we walked, it was lightly snowing, the ground was fresh with packable white snow, and our little country church stood just a few yards away. It was so quite, as no cars were coming. Then we looked down the road, and our dear neighbors (who have just lost a loving father, husband, and grandfather) were walking also to church. I felt like I was in Road to Avonlea, where people walked to church in the wintertime, all bundled up and ready to get warm in the little church where others were bustling for the morning service.

Isn’t it the most wonderful time of the year?

Blizzard Dumps Snow on Copenhagen as Leaders Battle Warming…

I found this exceedingly humorous as I opened the Drudge Report this morning. Maybe God’s trying to get a point across…

For my second week ( I skipped the last one) of A Homemade Christmas hosted by my cousin, I present to you my own designed ankle warmers.

What started out as practice on DPN’s, quickly turned into a project. None of us were surprised. It was too chunky of yarn to use as wrist warmers, and then I remembered a present I helped pick out a week few days ago for Christmas. They were leg warmers with two buttons on the side facing out, yet I wanted it to fall more onto the top of the foot (which would be over the top of the shoe) I tried to do the same and this is what I got:

Using thick chunky wool, and size 10 and a half DNP’s, I cast on 32 stitches, ribbed for about 4 and half inches, then increased in stockinette gradually until it was the size I wanted it. Then sew on two black shiny buttons onto each one. As crazy as it is, that is how I work. No pattern and room for mistakes…and in case anyone would like to hear about the mistakes…one is longer in the ribbing than the other.

I’ve worn them into town and they are quite cozy…and when I go to take them off, my poor ankles are cold, and I slip them right back on. They would be great for someone who likes handmade items, socks, and doesn’t mind quirky fashion.

Our dear family is off at the Sufficiency of Scripture Conference in Ohio, learning and seeing both old and new friends. I must admit, I envy their pleasure, but I am content to stay at home, helping “dog-sit” their cutie. I must also admit that I wasn’t too fond of Bently when they first got him, or even a few months after that. He was tiny, a little bug eyed, and a rat terrier….the three weren’t my cup of tea…but when he came to our home…that changed. Now, he’s kinda cute. You can’t trust me to decide anything…

Isn’t he cute?