Favorite time of the year

What’s your favorite time of the year? I always have such a hard time answering this question. My first response is almost always the season we are in. Like right now, I would say spring. It is so easy to love spring. To watch the renewal of the earth from winter as the grass begins to turn green, when the trees and flowers begin to bloom your heart opens to the wonderful sights before you.
But then I begin to think about summer, oh how I love summer. Camping at the lake, basking in the warmth of the sun. I love the long days. Summer is filled with watching fireflies, drinking lemonade, playing outside, eating fresh garden treasures.
But then I begin to think of Autumn, oh how I love fall. When the summer heat gives way to the crispness of the air. Bonfires in the evening, the brilliance of the changing leaves. I love Autumn, the shorter days with cooler nights. Fresh Apples and pumpkin pies.
But then I begin to think of winter, oh how I love winter. The winter wonderland filled with snow. Time spent reading a good book, or watching a movie snuggled up under the covers. Drinking Hot Cocoa and decorating for holidays. I love winter,enjoying the stillness of fresh fallen snow. Building snowmen and making snow cream.
How can I choose a favorite? Maybe instead of picking a favorite, I will just be content in the season I am in. I pray that we will all chose to live in our favorite time of the year, everyday.

Forgiveness

May you receive the gift of forgiveness…

Forgiveness is the action or process of having a debt canceled, to pardon an offense or an offender.

We all walk through this life in need of forgiveness.  We are painfully human at times, we cause offense to others and to God.  Even when we try not to offend, sometimes we do.  What shall we do then, do we give up?  No, I hope we do not.  I hope we are able to give and receive forgiveness.

Forgiveness is such a powerful gift, not only for the recipient but also for the one who gives it. As the recipient, you feel the strength of love.  That love is such a motivator.  You strive to honor the forgiveness with giving your best in return.  As for the giver, you feel such a connection to that love, you feel it wash over you, encouraging you.

Maybe that is why God want us to have His forgiveness, maybe that is why God wants to give us His Forgiveness.

I hope you will search your life, seek to give and receive forgiveness.

Sacrifice

May you receive the gift of sacrifice …

Sacrifice is the surrender or destruction of something prized or desirable for the sake of something considered as having a higher or more pressing claim.

Sacrifice is not something that many people like to do. We don’t seem to want to give up things. We tend to want to hang on, even to a sinking ship. I have learned that through sacrifice we sometimes end up with something far better. I am reminded of a wonderful story I have heard many times. A little girl spent a couple of dollars for a stand of “pearls” at the discount store. Of course they were not real, but she loved them all the same. She would wear her pearls every day. Even though the “pearl” finish on the beads was beginning to wear, she still wore them. One day her father asked her if she would give him her “pearls”. Of course she said no, she loved her “pearls”. He talked with her and told her he had a gift for her, that he loved her and he only wanted her “pearls”. After several weeks of her father asking her for her “pearls”, the girl decided she loved her father and she would give him her precious “pearls”. She turned them over, slowly, with her a hands lingering, hanging on till the very last moment. Her father then pulled out his gift to give to her. The box was so beautifully wrapped, but for a few moments her heart was so grieved over the loss of her “pearls” she couldn’t bring herself to open the box. Her father patiently waited. He knew what was in the box. He knew the gift he had for her all along. Then finally she opened the box. Laying beautifully inside the box was a strand of real pearls. They were laying there, a perfectly matched strand just waiting for her to wear.

How many times are we like that we hang on to things we thought were “pearls”? When our Father has the real pearls just waiting for us. Can we make the right sacrifices in our life?

Our Father sacrificed His Son for us, will we accept His gift?

Teamwork

May you receive the gift of teamwork…

Teamwork is the combined action of a group of people, especially when effective and efficient.

I hope you have the opportunity to be a part of a great team, the opportunity to participate in teamwork at it’s best.  To be a part of a group working together towards attaining a goal can be very inspiring.  The greatest of teams will set aside their individual interests for the combined interest of the team.  Each person on the team contributes in their role unselfishly, working together towards the goal.  When each team member is willing to do their part in harmony with the others and without self-promotion goals are attained, people are inspired to work together.  Together we can accomplish so much more.

Self-discipline

May you receive the gift of self-discipline…

Self-discipline is the ability to control one’s feelings and overcome one’s weaknesses; the ability to pursue what one thinks is right despite temptations to abandon it.

As we mature we should be developing the ability to have some measure of control over our feelings.  Young children wear their hearts out on their sleeves, while it is good to have a big open heart in our life.  It is not good for us to allow our feelings to be hurt over small insignificant matters.  How many times do we allow trivial things to expand into fights and holding grudges.  When we allow these types of feeling to control us we find our self controlled by this type of weakness.  I hope that as you continue to grow and develop that you will seek to overcome your weaknesses.  Sometimes it is hard for us to examine our lives and find our weaknesses.  Once we spend some time really examining ourselves against what we know to be right, we can grow beyond petty disagreements.  We will begin to act instead of reacting.  We will do things in an orderly and efficient way.  We will take charge of our life and we will enjoy the things that truly matter in life.

Resolutions and Virtues

With the upcoming new year, I’ve been thinking about resolutions for a while now.  Of course we all have our standard every year resolutions.  I’m going to eat better, exercise more, lose weight, etc.  I’ve been thinking about what can I do to make 2012 different.

I’ve decided that I want to take 2012 and dedicate this blog to my daughters.   I want to give them the gift of several virtues.  This year I will have two teenage daughters which will be a first for our family.  It is hard to believe sometimes that they have grown so fast.  I hope that they will be able to read these posts and learn something that will help them during the years to follow.

Stay tuned….

Christmas bedroom decor

I thought I would do a few posts on Christmas decorations. I usually have a few people come over to the house and ask …”How did you do that?”

Usually I say, that’s easy…. Most of my friends know I like to do things the easy way.

So, let’s talk about an easy way to make your bed look festive for the holidays. Take a printed fleece throw and put it on the end of your bed. Use a solid color comforter and bed skirt and sheets to make the holiday print stand out. Next take the same printed throw and wrap your pillow sham pillows. Use safety pins to make it easy. Next take a coordinating print and make a bolster pillow. Just roll up an old blanket or sleeping bag, use your imagination. Wrap your printed throw around it, again securing it with safety pins. You can fasten the ends using a ponytail holder.

Easy as can be, using fleece throws make it no-sew. If you find them on sale it can be very affordable. I decorated my bed for only $20. I used 5 throws at $4 each.

Christmas

Christmas is my favorite time of the year. Most everyone that knows me is aware of my holiday decorating. Yes, I decorate the entire house. All the everyday decor is packed away, and Christmas decorations are hung everywhere.

I usually get Christmas decorations for my Birthday and Christmas gifts each year. Plus I love making decorations.

But do you know why I love decorating for Christmas? Let me tell you. When I was a little girl, we would go to my Grandma’s house just about every Christmas. When we would get there, there were decorations everywhere. My Grandma didn’t have a lot of money, but she decorated all the main rooms, the windows, the doorways.
I always felt such wonder. I knew I would always want others to feel that way when the came to my house.

My Grandma passed away several years ago, but every Christmas as I’m decorating or creating a new decorating project. I always feel extra close to Grandma.

Maple or Oak?

A few weeks ago an old friend asked me a question.  Would you rather be an oak tree or a maple tree?  My initial reaction was interrupted by an opposing thought, so I answered, “I think that’s something I need to think about before I answer.”   Upon giving her my answer a few days later, she said I needed to share my thoughts.  So here goes.

A Maple tree is often though of as being beautiful.  The great colors often catch your eye.  Maple wood is frequently used in decorative furniture, for musical instruments such as violins and guitars.  Maple is also used for bowling pins, pool cue shafts and baseball bats.  So I guess maple likes to have fun.  Maple sap is used to make sugar and syrup.  Maples produce a fruit that turns to seed, but it isn’t used as food for others.

An Oak is also used for ornamental purposes.  Oaks take longer to grow, by the wood is durable, tough and if you look closely it is attractively grained.   Some of the oldest living trees are oaks.  Their strength helps them to endure the storms, such as wind and ice.  During our recent ice storm the oaks fared much better than some of the other trees.  Oak wood is especially valued in shipbuilding and construction for the most durable flooring, furniture, barrels, tool handles & even railroad ties.  Oak trees are very resistant to insect and fungal attack.  Its strength and durability made it the top choice for the construction of ships, especially navel ships as oak holds up well under attack.    The bark of oak trees have been used in medicine.  The oak tree produces acorns as fruit.  Acorns are a staple in the diet of many woodland creatures.   The oak is a common symbol of strength and endurance.  It has been chosen as the national tree of many countries.  Oak leaves symbolize rank in the US armed forces.  Arrangements of oak leaves, acorns and sprigs indicate different branches.  An oak leaf cluster represents multiple awards of the same medal for a service member.   In the Bible, the oak tree at Shechem is the site where Jacob buries the foreign gods of his people (Gen 35:4)  Joshua erects a stone under an oak tree as the first covenant of the Lord (Josh 24:25-27)  In Isaiah 61 the prophet refers to the Israelites as “Oaks of Righteousness”

So in answer to the question, I don’t think I want to be a Maple.  Yes, they are pretty.  They are nice to look at and they may be filled with sweet sap. But, I would rather be strong, able to endure the storms of life, protecting others, and providing for them.  Yes, I think I’d rather be an Oak.

Crickets

What is it about crickets that can make it seem like time can stand still? The sound of crickets chirping on an early fall evening can transport you through time.
You can find yourself for a moment once again barefoot in your Grandmother’s back yard, clinging to the memories of the days filled with summer fun. Knowing that the pink streaks of sunlight fading into the dark night sky will be your final call to go inside. You close your eyes so you won’t have to see, then you hear the melodious chorus begin. But as the crisp chill of the fall breeze awakens you from your dreams of times gone by, you surrender your daydreams to the crickets and go inside.