just a thought for the new year ...

"... God's grace is not only sufficient - it is inexhaustible. Remember the story Roy Gustafson told of the little fish who said, "I am so thirsty but I must not drink too much . The ocean might run dry." Or the little mouse in the granaries of Egypt who said, "I am so hungry. But I must not eat too much. The grain might not last." Or the little swallow, soaring and dipping through the sky, thinking, "I must not breathe too deeply; I might use up all the air."

Whatever the need, whatever the situation, "he giveth more grace"
(James 4:6). ..."

taken from Legacy of a Pack Rat by Ruth Bell Graham ...


to you my dear blog buds ... i wish a new year that is so full of God's grace - for every and all situations - that your cup will continually run over ... so you may glorify HIM, who redeemed us ... that the world will know we are different and children of the Most High ...

O Lord, you are my lamp.

The Lord lights up my darkness.

2 Samuel 22:29

snowy walk

i took these pics a few days ago ... but the walk i had today was very similar ... a light snow ... and milder temperatures ... very tranquil ... *smile*

it was a picture postcard type scene everywhere ...

kids were out with their new sleds ... and the older kids were out on snowmobiles!

it was a great walk ... until i wiped out! ... owie!!!! just checking out my almost 55 year old bones! ... my feet just flew out from under me and i landed on my hip ... i know i'll be sporting a bruise ... i shoulda worn my walking boots ...

we had a quiet Christmas eve ... Christmas day ... and boxing day ... leo and i watched some Christmas movies ... visited via phone with family ... and just enjoyed the lights of home ...

I wish we could put up

some of the Christmas spirit in jars

and open a jar of it every month.

~Harlan Miller

And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

Hebrews 11:6 (NIV)

remembering christmas past ...

once upon a time ... in a time without chronic pain ... we built our first house ... it was a work in progress ... leo put hours and hours of labour into it ... i was his faithful sidekick "lucy the klutz" ... we had 2 cats and a dog ...

at christmas ... we became giddy kids ... and went all out ... the picture below was from our second christmas in the cortina (the style of house) ...

it took 3 burly men to stand that tree up ... we didn't have carpets yet, so we were able to put wires on the bottom and nail it into the floor so it didn't fall over ... the cats loved it! though it may have confused them a little ... *grin*

decades later we've had a wide variety of trees ... fake, real, card trees, potted plants ... and we've celebrated christmas with family, away from family, with friends and just the 2 of us ...

above is our first condo "tree" ... along with our fearless feline (we miss him SO much) ...

leo and i have spent 35 christmas' together ... not knowing what each one will bring ... or what we will keep as a memory ... we just remain thankful for each one ...

and still - every year - we get that tingly christmas feeling ... that anticipation of "something wonderful" about to happen ... i think that is the coolest part about christmas ... and that in turn always always always, speaks of God's gift of love to us!

He who has not
Christmas in his heart
will never find it
under a tree.
~Roy L. Smith

“Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and myself founded empires; but what foundation did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded an empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men would die for Him.”
~ Napolean Bonaparte

40 below fashions ...

tips on how to dress for the elements ...

first you double or triple all the clothes you have on underneath your coat ...
add a vest over the layers, for a little extra ...
a touque on your head is a must ...
lastly, secure a scarf around your face - the mummy look ...

then with only eyes showing, you are ready to head out the door ... which is a bit frozen and you have to tug on for a while before it finally opens ...

this is how i have been dressing for the past few days ...

with the windchill, it is a bone chilling 40 below ... brrrrrrr ... and ho ho ho !!!!

Winter is the time for comfort,
for good food and warmth,
for the touch of a friendly hand
and for a talk beside the fire:
it is the time for home.
~Edith Sitwell

i take, He undertakes!

if you are still wondering what to get someone for Christmas ... i strongly recommend "Springs in the Valley" by Mrs. Charles E. Cowman ... even tho' it was first published over 50 years ago, the truths in it are timeless and timely!

here is yesterday's reading ... may you be blessed by it!


"He is faithful that promised." (Hebrews 10:23)

God's power will keep God's promises! Promises for the soul, promises for the body, promises for others, promises for our work, promises for our business, promises for time and for eternity: these are all ours! It is not your weakness that can defeat God's promise, nor your strength that can fulfill the promise: He that spoke the Word will Himself make it good. It is neither your business nor mine to keep God's promises: that is His grace.

The signed check is given us. How foolish if we fear to present it! Never yet has one single check been dishonoured! "He is faithful that promised."

I take; He undertakes!

We may pray much over a promise, and yet never obtain it. Asking is not taking. Beseeching is not claiming.

I clasp the hand of Love divine,

I claim the gracious promise mine,

And add to His my countersign.

I take, He undertakes.

I simply take Him at His Word;

I praise Him that my prayer is heard

And claim my answer from the Lord.

I take, He undertakes.

~Dr. A.B. Simpson

'tis the season for ... cookies!

look at the lovely homemade cookies my aunt gave me! i am just so blessed .... *smile* ... and now with my lower cholesterol readings, i can crunch away in true enjoyment - not fearing what the numbers will be!

then we received a package from my west coast sister ... there were all kinds of wrapped up gifts ... plus homemade surprises ... it made me smile ...

may the simple things in life - bless your heart today ...

I always believed that

the true spirit of Christmas

demands thought and effort

on the giver's part,

not just lavish spending.

~Inez Hogan

the good way

Ask where the

Good way is, and walk

in it, and you will find

rest for your souls.

- Jeremiah 6:16, NIV

talking about food ...

i got some good news last week ... my cholesterol is now perfectly NORMAL!!!!

YAY!

i was glad that a change of diet was all that was needed ... i was eating too many lean cuisine type meals ... leo doesn't eat normal at all - and the aroma of something cooking can actually make him nauseous - therefore i got lazy in preparing meals for myself ... the result - elevated cholesterol ...

now that i'm back on track, i can enjoy some Christmas treats ... not too many - but some!

YAY! thank you Lord!

Vegetables are a must on a diet.
I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread, and pumpkin pie.
~Jim Davis

tis the season ... to get our hearts ready ...

pic copied off 'net

There had been no peace on earth since Adam fell. But, now, when the newborn King made His appearance, the swaddling band with which He was wrapped up was the white flag of peace. That manger was the place where the treaty was signed, whereby warfare should be stopped between man's conscience and Himself, man's conscience and his God.
~Charles Spurgeon

December 1st ...

i know it's not officially "winter" yet ... but with the outdoor reading at
-20C, it doesn't have to be "official" here in our little town - it's here!!

thought i'd just update you on leo's doctor situation ... in case you were wondering ... he has an appt. in january with yet another newbie physician ... this will be his 3rd NEW doctor in 2 years ... tho' i must give thanks on this point - each one has added something positive to leo's overall care ... we keep praying ... and the answers always seem to come in the oddest ways and means ... must be "God thing" ... His ways just aren't our ways!

blessings on you!