CHRISTMAS BEGINS WITH CHRIST

Loving this time of year, I give attention to the details and relax as I know everything will work out even if I don't get the house ALL DOLLED UP for CHRISTMAS.

Even if I get little baking and cooking completed....I know it will all work out.  The Christmas Cards may not have Christmas Letters in them and be mailed the day before Christmas....even then, I know it will all work out.

There may not be very much under the tree.  There may not be Christmas lights dangling from the house as we sing, Joy To The World, but we will sing and I know... it will all turn out alright.

There may be no snow on the ground, but I'll be home for Christmas and it will all work out as we give Thanks to God in the Highest for HIS goodness and His MERCIES.  It will all work out as we remember that JESUS came into this world as a wee Baby and the Angels sang.  He lives even today! 

Wise Men presented THE KING of KINGS and LORD of LORDS gifts fit for royalty.  They knew who He was. 

As I remember and think on the things of God.........I know that I have the Lord in my heart, in my soul, in my life.  I will celebrate as Christmas comes and I know it will all turn out alright, because He lives in me.  

I can take a deep breath now.  I am ready.

Christmas begins with Christ.
May you have a most delightful Christmas Season.
God bless you,
d

 

Zig Ziglar

~Zig Ziglar~

Passing from this world into eternity, "Zig" entered into Heaven  

on Wednesday November 28, 2012.

He was 86 years old.

Becoming a Born Again Christian while in his 40's 

turned his life around.

The Born To Win Seminar 

series can still be ordered.

I'll be ordering this.

1-800-527-0306

ziglar.com

You were Born to Win. 

But to be the winner you were born to be 

you have to plan to win and prepare to win. 

Then and only then can you expect to win._Zig Ziglar 

God Bless,

d

 

IT IS WELL

 As we were going through storage boxes down in the cellar last night....I was thankful that I have some order down in our dungeon.  SOME.  It will be even better when there are shelves to stack my seasonal storage boxes on and my collection of dishes, etc. 

As we morph along, it will be better when I can go downstairs and pull a box of what-nots when I need them and know exactly where my what-nots are.  Having stuff here and there and everywhere has been a push toward discontentment.

I have to give myself a PEP TALK from time to time because my estate is disorganized.  I need to see victory amongst the mess.  Not the easiest place to be.  God took void and gave it order.  He takes corruption and turns it into something good.  Gives meaning and order.  I like that.  To have order is godly.  

God is good.  He takes chaos and gives it order.
I will have victory....i will have victory....i will have victory.  

God is doing something to me today that feels healthy.  My soul feels more satisfied.  Thinning through our clutter is satisfying.  I have a ways to go, but I know God is doing something to my soul to quiet it down.  When being exhausted for so long and then beginning to feel satisfied.....refreshed.....I can't explain it very well.  

It is well with my soul.
d

Autumn Goes Into Hiding

 ~Prairie Farm In The Kansas Flint Hills~

 Autumn's face has changed on the Kansas Prairie 

with the trees bare now.

It was a lovely drive to Topeka and back just a few weeks ago.

Captured the essence.

Now the Landscape colors have morphed into greys and browns.

But for the time being......I want to recall the earlier Autumn that fell on the Prairie.

I am sooooo NOT ready for sub-zero temps.

God, Please warm our Hearts and Homes,

d

Cabin Fever

Hello from Kansasland USA in the middle of the Flint Hills that stretches across the Prairie.

There are days that I think I could give it all up and move into a primitive log cabin and stay a season or two living like a pioneer.  It's just a thought that perhaps needs to go into a compartment of my brain and be stored for when I need a fantasy escape.

I know deep down inside I would be a rotten pioneer......who am I kidding.  I like my modern life way too much.

In the little Kansas community of Alma, is a log cabin.  I peeked inside the window since the actual cabin was pad-locked shut.  I hope there will come a day that I catch the cabin open for public  viewing.  Better pictures and thoughts of roughin' it.
  
Would you brave it in a cabin and tell the modern world good-bye?
d

CHRISTMAS Strawberries

via internet

Santa's little Helpers never looked so delicious!

Believe I can make these.

Pull off the green.

Clean the strawberry.

Slice a hat off.

Whip Cream the head and buttons.

Not sure what was used for the eyes, but will figure something out for that.....maybe frosting.

I am sooooo going to fix these 
and then eat some.

Yum.

Happy Tummy to you,

d

 

Surprise!

JUST HAD A NICE SURPRISE!

My folks stopped by and visited for about an hour.  

Had enough coffee to serve them a cuppa joe.

Turned the Christmas Tree lights on and have her spinning in the bump out off the Parlour.  
This week-end Hubby and I got the Parlour Tree up and almost have her completely decked out.  
Want to add some beads and a topper.  
Tonite's the night to crown her.  

If I find ornaments out of last year's keepings I will add them to her as the week passes.

I was glad I ran the sweeper last night and sucked up flocking that was on the floor.  The dishes were washed and not in the Kitchen sink.  I was dressed in blue jeans and a Christmas blouse when the door bell rang.  Made me HaPpY to see my folks.  

They were on their way home from Topeka.

AND NOW I want to wrap a few gifts, tidy some of the house and take a soaking BATH!  
I had Prayer time earlier 

and read JOHN 8:12.

12)  Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world.  He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."  

THE LIGHT OF LIFE.

I do LOVE this time of year

and I LOVE the LORD.

 

I look forward to decking the house out and doing some baking, and shopping, and singing Christmas Carols, and gifting, and sleigh riding, and wrapping some gifts, and

I am into my second or third childhood as I type.

I'm almost giddy.

 d

'Life Just Got A Little Easier' Gift Wrap

 ~Gift Wrap Idea~

 I mailed a small gift to a friend in Alaska and skipped the paper wrap.

Simply tied a bow made of see through ribbon that has wire in it.

Life Just Got A Little Easier with easy enough to do present.

Simplifying makes our busy lives a little easier to handle.

Wishing you a pleasant day!

God bless,

d

There is a Fountain

There Is A Fountain written by William Cowper

CHRISTMAS TREE DECORATIONS

 ~CHRISTMAS TREE SKIRT~

Sorting through Christmas Tree Decorations and getting ready to deck the halls.

Changing the main tree to soft hues of midnight blue, silvers, whites and crystal.  The colors are just like the Kansas sky I saw on Thanksgiving day as I drove to Marion, Kansas to celebrate with Family.

The white flocked tree is placed in the conservatory bump out.  Christmas wreaths will be placed on the doors.

Tis the season to be jolly...Fa La La La Laa La La La laa.   

 Wishing you a beautiful day,

d

Home Happenings and Thanksgiving

This was a very pleasant Thanksgivings Day for me.  THANKFUL for that.  Hope yours was decent.

Slow paced and relaxing.  I needed this.  Am thinking about what I am Thankful for. 

Lil Miss had no school on Wednesday. We had a slow start to the day.  She had an eye appointment, so we had a HAPPY MEAL beforehand and picked up her Mom from work.  Went to look at eye glasses.  

Don't feel like paying $500 for frames that don't fit my head.  Still looking. 

Bought eggs for the Deviled Eggs that I'd make for the Dinner on Thursday.  I put the eggs in a pan and put enough cold water to cover the eggs.  Turned the heat up under the pan and went off to have a cup of coffee.  After the eggs came to a boil, I turned the heat off so the eggs could continue to cook in the hot water and went off to the storage unit to get our flocked Christmas tree and stand.

Cleared off the front porch of the harvest decorations and took them to the storage unit.  Afterwards, I rinsed the boiled eggs in cold water and peeled the eggs.  Watching some television while preparing the eggs made the time go somewhat faster.

My Deviled eggs turned out all right and placed them in a hard plastic egg dish with lid for the fridge.

On Thanksgiving Day we traveled to the little town where my Parents live and had Dinner at Marion Lake.  There was plenty of food and I sat with my Parents, Husband, Daughter, Grand-Daughter, Brother Dan, Sis-in-Law Brenda and Brother David.  I did get some Dressing and a sliver of Pumpkin Pie with whipped cream.  This is really all I wanted and I was pleasantly filled with a delicious THANKSGIVING DINNER.  Visited with Relatives, helped clean-up and went to my Parents'  Home to visit.  Nice.  We watched old HOME Movies. 

Drove HOME and started Christmas decorating!  
I wiped the glass windows in the bump out of the Parlour.  I had already done this on Monday, but the windows streaked so terrible.  Hope this time it was a cleaner job.  The Parlour Radiator was wiped down.  Tomorrow I will sweep the wood floor and vacuum the area rug then dust the wood furniture.  I'll wash and dry four glass vases to place on the tiny coffee table then fill with silver and white Christmas Ornaments.  I need to get some beads to add to the ornaments.  Easy and quick decorating that's very affordable and nice to look at.

Hubby sat up our flocked tree and she is rotating as I type.  Tomorrow I hope to get some ornaments on the tree, go buy some paint primer and paint for the smallest room of our house.  Have big plans of getting the room PAINTED!  I am praying for more energy so I can get this place cleaned up and oh so beautiful for the Christmas Holiday.  Yes, Yes, Yes.  I have got to clear the Dining room Table off.  She's covered with a little of this and a little of that.  Slowly the Harvest decorations will find there way back into storage boxes and go back into hiding for next year,  I'm so ready to have more order in our HOME that I could cry.  There's a tear.

The Kansas sky today was powdered blue, white, grey and silver.  My tree will look like the color theme of the sky I saw today as I drove our little car to the Thanksgiving Dinner.  A Kansas Sky. 

The Christmas lights on the tree are sparkling.  Looks lovely from my overstuffed chair. 
Praise God from whom all blessings flow,
d from on the prairie

Thanksgiving Song - Mary Chapin Carpenter

MAY YOU HAVE A BLESSED THANKSGIVING.
GOD BLESS YOU, YOUR FAMILY, YOUR HOME, YOUR LIFE.

GIVING THANKS FOR YOU,
d on the prairie

Finding A Turkey

PLUS SOME WORK PRODUCES A DELICIOUS MEAL

Wishing you all the best and a very delicious  

Thanksgiving Day!

I'll take blogging back up after turkey day.

For now, 

I'm preparing a FEAST, 

time with Loved ones and time to think 

on the things that I am very thankful for.

Giving THANKS.

God Bless you and know that you are loved,

d on the prairie

Happy Birthday

~HAPPY 11th BIRTHDAY~

Grand-daughter

MAY YOU HAVE A WONDERFUL DAY!

We love you!

God bless,

Grammy

Curr Plow On A Sunday Afternoon

We call them Towel Fights.

Curr plow....you can hear the towel about to pop you.

Run if you must, but play fair.

No popping one another in the face.

It makes folding the towels a game.

Notice I'm the photographer.

My arm got tired.

Did you know that LAUNDRY could be so physical?

It takes a Village.

d

All is well that ends well.

ATHEIST'S VIEW ON LIFE

Amazing. Read it, then read it from the bottom up:

An Atheist’s View on Life

I will live my life according to these beliefs

God does not exist

It is just foolish to think

That there is a God with a cosmic plan

That an all-powerful God brings purpose to the pain and suffering in the world

Is a comforting thought, however

Is only wishful thinking

People can do as they please without eternal consequences

The idea that

I am deserving of Hell

Because of sin

Is a lie meant to make me a slave to those in power

“The more you have, the happier you will be”;

Our existence has no grand meaning or purpose

In a world with no God

There is freedom to be who I want to be

But with God

Everything is fine

It is ridiculous to think

I am lost and in need of saving

A Christian’s View on Life

(Now...read from bottom to top to see a different view.)

Airedales

 ~EMMETT~  

Emmett is part goat, but a great guard dog.

~DELILAH~

Delilah talks and knows how to open gates.

We have two Airedales that are a man's best hairy friend.  They are so very good nature and each one has a personality all their own.  The largest of the Terrier Family, they are a bundle of energy and so playful.  Powerhouses.  Emmett is part goat, but such a good guard dog.  He listens to every little noise and goes from there.  I think Delilah is a great watchdog as well, but her sweetest feature is that she talks.  By this I mean she sounds like she is imitating words.  It is neat to listen to her.  You see that shovel in the picture?  I think she'd use it if she wanted to.  She opens gates like it was no effort.   

The Lord knew what He was doing to set us up with Airedales.

May you have a great week-end!  
It's that time of the week,
d