thankful for. A great meal for the both of us. Watching the parade. A relaxing day with a little nap in the chair. Had to work a little, but so what. Not bad.
Now starts the crazy holiday time - I refuse to participate. Christmas is not about the crazy commercial side....I feel blessed that we know the real reason for the season - Jesus. That is what I will choose to focus on. So, gifts will be home-made. Decorations will keep focusing on Jesus, with Santa on the side....lights, now that night time comes sooner - trees - all the decorations that have many meanings and memories attached. Going to all the free community activities in our new home area, with those tree-lightings, decorations and family experiences - and hopefully we will have snow. A crackling fire in the fireplace. A cozy blanket. Each other. No other gifts required.
And photos of all of it - a lot of photos. I think that will be helpful should the Alzheimer's ever kick in for either of us. Photos and scrapbooks to help the memories stay alive. To show our grandkids, if we ever have any.
Off to address our Christmas cards and see if I can find my DVD of "Miracle on 34th Street" with Natalie Wood. The black and white version. On Donder and Blitzen.....
Be blessed,
Kim
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
The wind howls and...
the rain is coming down. It has been blustery the past couple of days and we are getting much needed rain. I admit I am tired and fighting a nasty sinus thing. So much to do and so little time and energy. Yet, here I am, typing away at 4 AM before heading off to work. Hmmmm - guess it explains the tired part.
We had a great visiting pastor at church this weekend. Rev. Arnold, whose son is one of our missionary family's dad. There are several generations of missionaries in this family - and more to come, I believe. I was most impressed with his story for Children's Church - not the content as much as the way he told it and how attentive the little ones were. It was fun to watch them as they listened to him. Then he did the same thing with the rest of us - as he talked about how God can provide and we should just leave it to Him. He told us to wait - God will come and take care of everything. It was good timing as we are in a season of waiting right now - waiting for transition at my work, mostly. Philippians took on so much more meaning this week. It reminded me that another Pastor Arnold, (Lisa's Dad) brought me to Christ at age 13 long ago on an Easter Day at his tent revival in a park in Ft. Lauderdale. I never got to thank him....(thanks, Pastor Arnold, wherever you are)
Thanksgiving is coming, and the birthdays of my beautiful daughter and beloved husband. I have a few plans up my sleeve for them....that is the fun part of birthdays - planning surprises. Even though we can not always do expensive things, we can do fun things. Even with a tight budget, this old gal has a few tricks up her sleeve.....(hehehehe I know you are reading this honey - no hints here!)
My beautiful daughter turns 30 (ok, ok "29 and some months") on Saturday, which means she is an adult and "not to be trusted". She turned out to be wonderful, praise and thanks be to God. She is His daughter above all else - I was just privileged to be her mom.
My handsome hubby and dearest friend turns a few years older than that....but he, too, is a wonderful child of God, only seeking His will. It has been such a blessing these last several months to see him become active in our new church, attending each Sunday, helping with the database and parking and putting his hand to the new ministry of leading the 12-Step group meeting at our church. He is not finished yet.
Winter is coming - the wind and temperatures tell us so. Some people hate this time of year - they think the leafless trees are ugly in their barrenness. I think they are beautiful, their true hearts revealed. You can see so many homes you never knew existed when the trees are fully leafed. The greyness has the stark beauty of an Ansel Adams photo - painfully beautiful, raggedly real and richer than any colour we know. It is not just the blacks and whites, but the shades of grey that make the world interesting....that is true about life as well....
Off to work....
Be blessed,
Kim
We had a great visiting pastor at church this weekend. Rev. Arnold, whose son is one of our missionary family's dad. There are several generations of missionaries in this family - and more to come, I believe. I was most impressed with his story for Children's Church - not the content as much as the way he told it and how attentive the little ones were. It was fun to watch them as they listened to him. Then he did the same thing with the rest of us - as he talked about how God can provide and we should just leave it to Him. He told us to wait - God will come and take care of everything. It was good timing as we are in a season of waiting right now - waiting for transition at my work, mostly. Philippians took on so much more meaning this week. It reminded me that another Pastor Arnold, (Lisa's Dad) brought me to Christ at age 13 long ago on an Easter Day at his tent revival in a park in Ft. Lauderdale. I never got to thank him....(thanks, Pastor Arnold, wherever you are)
Thanksgiving is coming, and the birthdays of my beautiful daughter and beloved husband. I have a few plans up my sleeve for them....that is the fun part of birthdays - planning surprises. Even though we can not always do expensive things, we can do fun things. Even with a tight budget, this old gal has a few tricks up her sleeve.....(hehehehe I know you are reading this honey - no hints here!)
My beautiful daughter turns 30 (ok, ok "29 and some months") on Saturday, which means she is an adult and "not to be trusted". She turned out to be wonderful, praise and thanks be to God. She is His daughter above all else - I was just privileged to be her mom.
My handsome hubby and dearest friend turns a few years older than that....but he, too, is a wonderful child of God, only seeking His will. It has been such a blessing these last several months to see him become active in our new church, attending each Sunday, helping with the database and parking and putting his hand to the new ministry of leading the 12-Step group meeting at our church. He is not finished yet.
Winter is coming - the wind and temperatures tell us so. Some people hate this time of year - they think the leafless trees are ugly in their barrenness. I think they are beautiful, their true hearts revealed. You can see so many homes you never knew existed when the trees are fully leafed. The greyness has the stark beauty of an Ansel Adams photo - painfully beautiful, raggedly real and richer than any colour we know. It is not just the blacks and whites, but the shades of grey that make the world interesting....that is true about life as well....
Off to work....
Be blessed,
Kim
Thursday, November 11, 2010
My addiction....
is all forms of paper arts - scrapbooking, constructions, you name it.....it all enhances my photography (my passion). And what are my favorite brands? Well, it is without a doubt Close To My Heart ....from the fabulous papers and white core cardstock, to the My Acrylix designs that actually drew me into stamping (hated to add designs to paper when I could not see where it was landing), to the sturdy and beautiful Stickease....a girl can not pick just one thing to love! They are the perfect compliment to photos - whether heritage, romantic, faith-based or whimsical! The techniques and tools, such as the distressing tools set or the eyelets, the Liquid Glass, the inks, the markers, all highlight the beautiful pages and cards I create....and it is all so much fun. "Magic", the most recent of the inspirational books in Jeanette's series, gets me really excited to "play". This is my therapy, Close To My Heart is the company that creates the products I choose to design with....it is easy to share their products with others...I could go on for hours - and DO! Nobody can choose just one.......
CTMH forever,
Kim
CTMH forever,
Kim
Monday, November 8, 2010
Welcome Winterrrrr....
with a blast of cold. Below freezing every morning when we rise. "The frost is on the pumpkin" puts it mildly. Had snow at the upper elevations this past weekend and DD and DSIL got to see snow on our way to Helen. It was fun to watch how excited daughter got over this. Their visit was fun and we enjoyed a good time together. They went on the train from Blue Ridge to Copper Hill, TN and back and checked out the local sites. DD was like a kid and it is always enjoyable watching her revert to her "little child" self.
The only bad part of the cold is rolling out of bed at 3:30 - the bed was warm and cozy and the cold, cruel, dark morning is not. I have to remember to praise having my toes above the turf. There are so many things to look at differently - a load of dirty dishes that means you have food to eat - laundry, which means you have clothes to wear - floors to sweep and mop, which means you have a house to live in. We take a lot for granted. Preparing for the possibility of power loss over the winter (a frequent event by report) . Have a lot of logs for the Franklin stove, preparing to can/jar up some soup and make sure the canned goods are stocked so we can eat, and have a generator to run the refrigerator or the pump (yes - if the power goes out we have no water). It is sort of like preparing for hurricanes without the boarding up - and power loss is immediate and unexpected. Hmmmm...wonder were I find a stove-top percolator for my coffee....
The orchard is bedded down with hay/mulch protecting the fragile roots. Blueberries, plums and pears. Still have to pick up apples to make the apple butter and apple sauce for the winter. Yeah, I know, I can go to town and buy it. But home-canned is so much nicer and I can use only the sugar and salt I WANT to. Gonna try the butter and asauce with Splenda this time - better for the waist-line.
Praying for DH for tomorrow night. He starts the All Addictions Anonymous for the community. He is nervous, I am sure. But what a blessing to put the difficult times in his life to work for the good of others. He has a lot to offer them and as always, to learn from them. I am praying all the folks who need to, come and find acceptance and and kindness and a path to a healthier life without substances. They will have a knowledgeable leader with a humble heart to serve. Will let you know the outcome.
Be Blessed,
Kim
The only bad part of the cold is rolling out of bed at 3:30 - the bed was warm and cozy and the cold, cruel, dark morning is not. I have to remember to praise having my toes above the turf. There are so many things to look at differently - a load of dirty dishes that means you have food to eat - laundry, which means you have clothes to wear - floors to sweep and mop, which means you have a house to live in. We take a lot for granted. Preparing for the possibility of power loss over the winter (a frequent event by report) . Have a lot of logs for the Franklin stove, preparing to can/jar up some soup and make sure the canned goods are stocked so we can eat, and have a generator to run the refrigerator or the pump (yes - if the power goes out we have no water). It is sort of like preparing for hurricanes without the boarding up - and power loss is immediate and unexpected. Hmmmm...wonder were I find a stove-top percolator for my coffee....
The orchard is bedded down with hay/mulch protecting the fragile roots. Blueberries, plums and pears. Still have to pick up apples to make the apple butter and apple sauce for the winter. Yeah, I know, I can go to town and buy it. But home-canned is so much nicer and I can use only the sugar and salt I WANT to. Gonna try the butter and asauce with Splenda this time - better for the waist-line.
Praying for DH for tomorrow night. He starts the All Addictions Anonymous for the community. He is nervous, I am sure. But what a blessing to put the difficult times in his life to work for the good of others. He has a lot to offer them and as always, to learn from them. I am praying all the folks who need to, come and find acceptance and and kindness and a path to a healthier life without substances. They will have a knowledgeable leader with a humble heart to serve. Will let you know the outcome.
Be Blessed,
Kim
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