Where is Winter?

"There is no season such delight can bring, as summer, winter autumn, spring."  William Browne, 1630

One thing I like about living in Maryland is that God's creation is gloriously displayed in all four seasons of the year. As most of you know, I love snow! Watching it fall mesmerizes me as I ponder God's purity and our sins being covered as white as snow.

I admit it's hard to drive in and causes accidents. It also makes it hard to drive somewhere if there is an emergency. Evenso, it makes my little corner of the world still and quiet, and people have the opportunity to sit back and ponder life.

When I worked I always did a "snow dance," when snow was being forecast, usually when no one was looking. But I have been caught a few times and enjoyed a good laugh with friends. During my Bell Atlantic days, when being absent wasn't appreciated by upper management, I always danced, in hopes of a snow that I just couldn't drive in.

While at the convention, the snow policy was liberal, and we closed when the county school closed, although I did have to drive home a few times with uncertainty.

Now that I'm retired, a good snow fall finds me in front of a window, with a fire blazing close by, reading, watching a movie or just staring out the window with gladness in my heart. As Stanley Horowitz said, in Country Heart & Soul, "Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all." There just isn't a bad season!

One of my favorite memories during frigid winter weather and snow is driving past a pond near our home, watching the geese and ducks take baths in the water at 20 degrees! It always made me chuckle!


So I say "Where is Winter?"  The temperatures tried to get in the 60s this past weekend. I'm thankful for the snowfall received Christmas Eve and after, but January is winter! I want to enjoy winter!

Thankfully winter isn't over yet. It could come back this week and provide a lovely snowfall. I'll be ready!

Dream Along

Every one has their dreams. In my July 6th, 2012 post titled "Soul Searching" I shared mine. Well, last evening I was reminded of another dream.

Jerry and I were watching a movie and the scenery caught my eye. My thoughts eventually took me to a scene I created that sits on a shelf in my dining room wall cabinet.

I'm a country and mountain person. As Jerry said once while driving through Pennsylvania, "The mountains just seem to hug me." That's the way I feel.

I moved out to the country when Jerry and I married. Mt. Airy was an hour from the city of Rockville and all its traffic and congestion and people. 27 years later its become more crowded but not too far away from real country.

I created a cabin scene, close to my mind's image of my cabin in the woods. Named "Mc Giffin's Cottage" it sits in the middle of the woods with a huge chimney and fireplace. I've been fortunate to enjoy a fire place ever since moving to Mt. Airy and there just isn't anything more pleasant than to sit in front of the fire and enjoy its warmth.

The back of the cottage is called "Thot'ful Spot." That's where I do all my creating with pictures and writing. The window affords me the joy of watching nature unfold as I work. Just like my writing room window in Mt. Airy I see deer, fox, birds, squirrels, hawks and an occasional chipmonk and cat. At my cabin in the woods I just may see a bear.

There's a small stream that runs through the property and I sit on the bench and listen to the water flow. The lightpost brings warmth to that spot when the cooler temperatures arrive come fall. And, of course, there will be a dog, probably two or three.

There's a tree house that I can't climb into anymore, but provides the feeling of laughter and love.

The deer pass through, resting under our trees. The wood pile is always stacked, ready for that warm fire. And my friend, Eeyore, will be welcomed.

I don't know if I'll ever have a cabin in the woods. Sometimes I think I'd be too scared to live in the woods, especially with all sorts of insects and bugs around. But it is a dream I like to imagine every now and then.

Dream on, my friend. The God of miracles wants to give you your hearts desire.

As my friend, Gail, said: "You are Eeyore!"

Still Learning

"As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God." Psalm 42:1  Although this psalm is about an intense longing for God because of conflict in the life of David, it expresses for me a continuing thirst to fill my soul with God. So, I'm ready to be filled this new year! I purchased three new books for a fresh supply of learning material.

My first new book is "The One Year Chronological Bible." About 10 years ago I read the Bible beginning to end for the first time. I'd read a chapter a day. I also read the same chapter in a commentary to help me understand what I read. It took me two years to complete this task. It was a major accomplishment in which I gained valuable insight into God's Word.

I hope reading the Bible in chronological order will, again, provide valuable insight and great gain. As most of you know, each time you read the Bible you have the opportunity to learn something new. This will be an adventure.
Have you studied the Bible chronologically? What did you learn from that study? Leave me a comment on this blog or via Facebook.

Warren Wiersbe's book "50 People Every Christian Should Know" is what inspired me to purchase the two other devotional books for 2013. I loved reading Wiersbe's accounts of faithful men and women of centuries past.

I picked up "The One Year Christian History" devotional by E. Michael and Sharon Rusten which highlights an event associated with each day of the year. And "The Christian History Devotional" by J. Stephen Lang which includes the birth and death of notable persons, the beginning of new ministries and the ending of a wave of persecution among other information.

I'm excited about these books. I'm excited about the treasure chest of information I will glean from them.

Are you excited about God's Word? Do you crave reading it and hearing it preached? I once told my present pastor, "Your gift thrills my soul!"

Why not take this new year and delve into God's Word in a different way. A book you may not have studied. Reading a commentary along with your daily reading. Listening to studies by Christian leaders such as David Jeremiah, Charles Stanley, John MacArthur and Charles Swindoll.

Whatever you choose to do, His Word will fill you up and overflow, bringing great satisfaction to your soul. Do it! Resolve to go to Jesus each and every day and be filled with Him!

Picture Perfect Christmas

Marcel Marceau, French actor and mime artist, made this statement: "It is good to shut up sometimes."

So I decided to take
his advice for this last
post in 2012
and just share
some Christmas snaps of 2012
where Mt. Airy, MD had a
white Christmas!

Christmas morning on Ridge Road.

Sam napping after       breakfast.

                                                          Looking in the Mc Giffin window.

Mom's Christmas room

Christmas lights around town.



  

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.   

Christmas cardinal at our feeder.

Christmas morning at the Kreyling home . . .

See you in 2013!

Joyful Words for Christmas

Spurgeon wrote: "There is too much in this Psalm for a thousand pens to write, it is one of those all-comprehending Scriptures which is a Bible in itself, and it might alone almost suffice for the hymn-book of the Church."

Psalm 103. One of my favorites.

"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits—

who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel:

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust.

As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children’s children—with those who keep his covenant

and remember to obey his precepts. The Lord has established his throne in heaven,

and his kingdom rules over all.

Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who ovey his word.

Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will.

Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, O my soul."

As you celebrate the birth of Christ with family and friends, praise His name with your whole heart, and may your celebrations be filled with joy and love.

The pictures are ones my friend, Kathy Kreyling, took in previous years at Longwood Gardens, Kennett Square, Pennsylvania.

In the Pew

I'm sitting in the sanctuary of my church home. Jerry went with other folks to the cemetery to lay to rest a lovely women from our church. It's a cold and windy day, although the sun is shining bright.

Cancer took her life and now she is enjoying the Savior she longed for while here on earth. Times such as this usually give way to musings of your own life.

Since the beginning of November, I've had the joy of enjoying lunch with several of my friends during these months of Thanksgiving and Christmas. I gave thanks that we all have been fortunate to not have endured severe health issues so far. As you know, one second can change your life.

Friends have played a major role in my life. Family doesn't always provide healthy atmosphere for development and mine lacked warmth, affection, conversation and love during my growing up years. In early adulthood, through friends that I made, I learned what a loving family was like, and it showed me what I missed as a child.

My friends families weren't perfect, but underlying everything was the warmth, affection, conversation and love I didn't grow up with. I tried very hard to give love and affection when I had my own family, but I know I failed miserably in that and many other areas.
You can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends. I have been blessed overwhelmingly with the friends who came into my life. As some of you remember, I had a "Celebration of Friends" party for my 55th birthday. Sixteen ladies from all age groups in my life were in my living room for me to celebrate. It was, indeed, the best party of my life!

When I became a believer in Christ, I was born into the family of God. This family of friends helped me discover the trust and closeness one can know only through faith. I am honored to have so many friends that mentor, encourage, make me laugh, give wise counsel and love me.

These serious thoughts turn into a GIANT thank you to those friends that have have made a difference in my life. Although the dying of a sister in Christ brought these thoughts on, it's good to reflect on your own life. One day I look forward to when my soul joins Christ in heaven. There is no comparison in this life to the family I will live with through eternity--from nothing I've done; for all Christ has done!

Yes, sitting in the sanctuary has been good for my soul. It's a reminder that one day I will leave this earth and dwell in heaven. There, I will have my very best friend for all eternity, Jesus.

My Annual Treat

As some of you know, I am hooked on Longaberger baskets. I was introduced to them back in '87 when I attended my first show. Since then I have faithfully enjoyed collecting their baskets.

Every year in December my consultant holds an open house and it has become my tradition to attend and purchase a basket just for me. It's a yearly treat I look forward too. That's Beth, my consultant, above, and her mother, Fran, where the delicious meal is laid out for guests.

Beth sets up the baskets and other goodies in her garage, where a heater keeps it nice and cozy.

Longaberger baskets are hand made at their Homestead in Ohio. Jerry and I have been there twice, and we both made our own baskets.. I also enjoyed a bus trip with my friend, Carol B, to the Homestead.

I use my baskets for decoration and storing. Many of my note cards sit in baskets in my writing room. Larger baskets hold books and teddy bears in the living room. Others just sit out for me to enjoy looking at.

These baskets with the red-lined liners are from the sweetheart collection. Jerry actually surprised me one year with one!

Longaberger also has pottery, and I've enjoyed purchasing pieces for my home. Jerry loves them too!

You gotta love these baskets because their rather pricey. Each year I start a "basket" envelope where every month I put ten or twenty dollars in it. At the end of the year, I can reward myself with a new basket!

I love them and delight that they're hand made in the USA. In recent years they began having glassware and a few other items made overseas, but just a few months ago the company made the decision to have all their products made in the USA.

For many years now the Longaberger company has made Horizon of Hope baskets in July to help raise money for breast cancer research. I have several of the "hope" baskets, and when I was working I was able to purchase some to give to others that needed a little hope.

I also purchased the material which has the word "hope" in its design. With the help of my friend, Gail, I made pillows which I now send to those people who need a little hope. My notes tell them the heart is filled with God's love.

In earlier years you could only purchase baskets through home shows. Now you can purchase their products online.

My selection this year: the crescent basket! I love the red, green and rust pattern of the liner.

I'm almost up to 100 baskets and they all have different functions in my home. My purchases have slowed down with the arrival of retirement. But my Christmas treat will always be a special joy just for me!