A New Heart

Resolutions for the New Year are swirling through my head. For me, it is important to make sure that my resolutions count and will be followed. Don't want to hurriedly make ones that will drop by the wayside in a few weeks. My resolutions need to center on improving my heart to see life as it really should be seen, through God's heart.

Lord, please give Me a Heart to See
▸ a light in the darkness
▸ laughter from deep within an anguished cry
▸ a smile upon a face blanketed by a frown
▸ innocence upon the sheets of evil doing
▸ a twinkle in the eyes of blindness
▸ genuine prayer kneeling before an atheistic altar
▸ truth’s cancellation of deceit’s documents
▸ exquisite packages wrapped in newsprint and tied with string
▸ You Lord, even when my faith wavers and the way is rough

Please Lord, in 2013, give Me a HEART that sees the Desires of Your Heart.

Happy 13th Birthday

Happy Birthday to our new teen, grandson Preston
No. 13 fits you well
Love you to the moon and back

Goal(s) Setting 2013

2013 is on the horizon

What Goal(s) Are You Setting for Yourself?

In Memory of Our Son

Happy Birthday Mark.
We Miss You Always!

Our Wish to You

Merry CHRISTmas
and a
Happy New Year

To Be Like the Christmas Candle

A Christmas candle is a lovely thing;
It makes no noise at all, But softly gives itself away;
While quite unselfish, it grows small.
- Eva K. Logue

Dog's Christmas Rules

1. Be especially patient with your humans at this time as they may appear to be more stressed-out than usual.

2. When they come home with large bags of things called gifts, do not assume all the gifts are for you.

3. Be tolerant if your humans put decorations on you as they get pleasure out of seeing how you look with fake antlers.

4. They may bring a large tree home, set it up, and cover it with lights and decorations. Bizarre as it may seem, it is an important human ritual, so you need to know: (a) don't go to bathroom on the tree, (b) don't drink water in the container holding the tree, (c) control your tail when near tree, (d) if there are packages under the tree, even ones that smell interesting or have your name on them, don't rip them open, and (e) don't chew on the cord running from the hole in the wall to the tree.

5. Your humans may occasionally invite strangers to come visit during this season. The parties can be fun, but call for some discretion by you: (a) not all strangers appreciate kisses, (b) don't eat off the buffet table, (c) beg subtly for goodies, (d) be pleasant, even when strangers sit on your sofa, and (e) don't drink out of glasses left sitting around.

6. Likewise, your humans may take you visiting. Here your manners will also be important: (a) observe all the rules in #4 for trees, with #4a particularly important, (b) respect animals and their territory in the house you are visiting, (c) tolerate children, and (d) turn on your charm big time.

7. A chubby man with a white beard and a very loud laugh may emerge from your fireplace in the middle of the night, DON'T BITE HIM!!

Proverb of the Bird

You cannot prevent the birds of sorrow from
flying over your head, but you can prevent them
from building nests in your hair.
- Chinese Proverb

The Original, for sure

This Christmas, give the GPS that lasts a lifetime!

Got Room?

Do you have room for Him
this Christmas season?

Loving The Word

The Bible isn’t an answer book. 
It isn’t a self-help book. 
It isn’t a science or history textbook. 
It isn’t even a single book – but rather a collection of
letters and laws, prophecies and proverbs,
stories and songs, spanning thousands of years and
written in languages and cultures
far removed from my own.

Love the Bible for what it is,
not what you want it to be.

Church Parking Only

Personally, I'd prefer solution #2

When Alone

Beauty can be observed when we walk alone
and in such quiet surroundings,
we can find restoration for our soul.

Do It Right the First TIme

Not all of our mistakes
can easily be corrected.

So let's watch what we say and what we write!

Say It Isn't So!

I'm losing all faith in this guy!

Reindeer Performance

Wishing you PRE-Christmas fun with the

Sounds of Christmas Reindeer choir/orchestra

conducted by Old St. Nick.

Just click on "Sounds of Christmas" above,

and be sure to adjust your volume for listening.

Montgomery Ward Icon

Guess my mind is running wild this week on things that are a part of Christmas tradition (in a few days I will focus on the real reason for the season but still being a child at heart, please allow me the liberties to rant). I got to thinking of that little deer that heads Santa's "flying unit". Cute little guy who has never completely grown up (kinda like me).

I love Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer. Many people probably aren't aware that "Rudy" only goes back to the early-to-mid 20th century. His character began as an attempt to promote a chain of department stores. In fact, he was born the same year that I was (oh no, just revealed my age! Come to think of it, he's just a baby, not old at all. lol). His birth year: 1939.

The large department store chain, Montgomery Ward, had been giving away coloring books every Christmas for years, and decided it was time to produce its promotional give-away inhouse. Robert L. May, who worked at Ward's as an advertising copywriter, was commissioned to write a story for young readers - the result: Rudolph. Robert May's character was a result of his own childhood experiences; the story of a picked-on kid who made good, prospering as a result of the very attribute the others made fun of.

Thus Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer became an icon among Christmas traditions. I LOVE RUDOLPH, don't you?

Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
had a very shiny nose
and if you ever saw it
you would even say it glows.
All of the other reindeer
used to laugh and call him names
they never let poor Rudolph
join in any reindeer games.

Then one foggy Christmas eve
Santa came to say:
"Rudolph with your nose so bright
won't you guide my sleigh tonight?"

Then how the reindeer loved him
as they shouted out with glee
"Rudolph, the red-nosed reindeer
you'll go down in history."

Christmas Star

Poinsettias are such beautiful accessories for the holiday season. I always find myself filling my home with these beauties, which is most appropriate because poinsettias are called "Christmas Stars" by many.

These flowery shrubs (yes, they were originally known as shrubs) began association with Christmas in 16th century Mexico. Legend tells of a young girl who was too poor to provide a gift for the celebration of Jesus' birthday. An angel came to the child and encouraged her to gather weeds from the roadside, then place them in front of the church altar. Miraculously, crimson "blossoms" sprouted from the weeds, turning into beautiful poinsettias. 17th century Franciscan monks in Mexico started including the plants in their Christmas celebrations. Today, we just can't do without a few "Christmas stars" in our holiday decor. It's called Celebrating Jesus, just as it happened centuries ago.