So many tears...so much sadness and heartache...so much pain........... As many of us rejoice and celebrate the season and it's true meaning.....the other element is suffering.
A car accident and loss of a job....a dysfunctional person trying to get it together only to be evicted...a person who is in physical pain.............We are busy cooking, buying and wrapping gifts from the heart....helping the needy....giving to the food bank......
What should we be doing?  Are we doing it right?  Are we there for the suffering?  How are we helping them....a few wrapped gifts? ... a food hamper...sometimes that is enough...but not always....the child waiting for a heart.... the person with cancer......
......take time out to pray...to come before our Lord...to thank him...to lay our burdens down....ask Him to show us how to love, how to give...................revel in His wondrous love for us..............the biggest gift of all is love...............

Java....

No to mediocre beverages!  Research your coffee....consider free trade....and of course grind you own beans.   It takes time to prepare a great cup of coffee or latte' but worth it!   

Nothing like premeditated pee in a foam Elmo chair to start off the eve of the full moon!    I just have this feeling today will be one of those days...............that I need a double dose of grace..............

The cold wind blows..............

The wind is blowing from the north.....chilly....stripping the golden leaves....a reminder of what is to come......
I have this urge to bake, preserve, and shop for Christmas, but by mid-November I am sure the novelty will have worn off.   We used to have many traditions, but most have fallen by the wayside as the older generation fades...and the new becomes too busy.
I want to be motivated.  I want to create.  I want to read and learn.  I want to improve my ability to write.   

This little piggy went to market....or bring home the bacon....

'Bring home the bacon' or 'This little piggy...' took on new meaning today.............. not sure I want to see or smell bacon again for awhile............Caesar salad can do without!  Six pounds of bacon are resting comfortably in the freezer, all nicely cooked awaiting Sunday brunch....and four more to go!   Tomorrow on to sausage cooking.......8 dozen!   Insanity awaits!   Enough pork already!!!

In life so many things are futile....cleaning my windows and my deck...........

Often, I ponder how people can torture other human beings...or any living thing.  After today, I think we may be born programmed to torture.......have you ever watched tiny sibling children???  They definitely know how to torture...they do it every time Mama turns her back...... Have you not heard mother's in Walmart screeching at their child not to pinch their sister or pull her hair or spit on her?   I would call that mild torture, but when you are miniature, it is probably huge torture.  Bullying is torture.  Teasing can be torture.   We don't all tear the wings of insects and burn mice with lighters when we are kids, but do we go out of our way to make life more pleasant and easier for others???  We definitely need to grow in God's grace..........daily.....

Jinxed it!

Ok.....I might not have, but maybe???  Originally, it was supposed to be another hot one, but I may have jinxed it by buying a Slip n' slide last night...............darn!  Going to be difficult to have outdoor time when it rains every 15 minutes.
Life sure is a hiway for many with a lot of crashes.........daily, I have so much to be thankful for when I hear the drama of others.......some...granted is one's own doing and stupidity, but some just seem to have bad luck.....I don't personally believe in luck.........probably because I am not lucky....lol.
God has a plan.....how do we figure out his plan and follow his expectations.....we don't really take the time to listen for His voice in our busy world.   We expect fast answers just like fast food................not sure that God works with a 24 hour day and 60 seconds in a minute..........after all He understands eternity.............how often do we thank Him when all is flowing along...... do we only cry out when we are in turmoil?   I wonder some days if I really even notice what He has done for me during the day...............
Henry Ripplinger is finishing up his very long book signing tour.....and promoting his Angelic letters series............heartwarming to know so many are reading inspirational books.............I don't believe in praying to angels, but I do believe we have guardian angels and I believe we can pray to be protected by angels.......
This aside and genre aside (don't usually read Christian romances) there is much of value ....good scripture and quotes worthy of thought in these books.   I think Henry must have been divinely inspired to write this series and for a man to be so romantic.................good summer reads!   I got a signed copy!

How much poop is too much poop?

I go from room to room sniffing like a blood hound........... I know there is poop somewhere!
I chase down each suspect and check between their little chubby cheeks..............nothing.
I guess I am just imagining poop or did they hide it.  A definite possibility for a child who fears the toilet.    On another inspection of the bathroom just to be sure...............oops!  The toilet is filled to the brim

Big Bang!

The hot hazy day ended with a Bang!!!  A noisy.... cooling thunderstorm rolled through....lots of sirens....not sure if they were storm related.  Disturbing to see many yellow leaves littering the ground in the aftermath....
Those market potatoes were delicious...butter, sour cream, fresh chopped green onions, and dill added to the succulent crabs legs and garlic butter...........not a cholesterol free meal..............
In the middle of the storm went out to buy a slip n' slide...hopefully didn't jinx he rest of the week.....
The non-Canadian boy who waited on us absolutely could not count change..............I get it....nice to give people an opportunity in our country......teach them so they can receive our respect before you throw them out to man the till............... my other rant is that I am almost positive he was stoned..............the customer in front of me wasn't as nice as I was :(
The bomb was just dropped............there are 40 people coming to the brunch I am having this weekend!  Yikes!  Help!  Oh, my how am I going to pull this one off?  Sign up on my FB page to volunteer!

Hot Haze

It's a hot and hazy day.....finally after months and months of trudging and shovelling my way through drifts.......... a robin is warning Stella and all the ceiling fans are whirring....
A much needed holiday is now a distant haze, too.....................
Reading some devotionals.........why are some so depressing and others so uplifting...surely we are talking about the same God?    Why do so many want to take from us without giving anything back?   Why do we judge others when we don't wish to be judged?

I just spoke to a woman wishing before and after school care for her 7 year old child.  She is stressed that my yard isn't fenced and her child doesn't know boundaries because he  is a farm child....do you not teach a farm child boundaries?   That tells me that this might not be a child who would fit our group.   This woman's child is so well behaved that I should give care for almost free...........

Just love all the fresh market produce, even if we have a piddly ass market here............a couple of awesome vendors and a lady is making soap and selling it..............nice....  I want soap making to be my next adventure..............   love cutting the tops off the carrots and smelling their strong fresh scent......love chopping up the onion tops to freeze for future soup......can smell the peppers and tomatoes......................

Now to find rhubarb and make some pies.......................

A Time for Reflection

A much anticipated long weekend............a time for family, rest, reflection on the enormity of what our  Saviour did for us! 
The last flower on the Easter lily is opening!   The annual purchase of this symbol of spring ...and so much more lifts my spirits, even if the weather is anything but spring like!
Looking forward to a Communion service and a Baptism.....someone committing their life to Christ...............
Thinking about Passover......................used to have a tiny worn book that was my Mother's called.............???  I think something like The house across the hedge???  Wonder what happened to that little gem.   The story had something to d0 with Passover and two girls....one who had the blood upon the door...........one who didn't............sobering thought....
When you lose a loved on a celebrated day............forever that day is tainted......Good Friday is not that great, but on the third day He arose!   That is our hope.....listen to the words from 'Alive' by Don Francisco.......
As we break bread together and sip the wine....................................we do it all in remembrance................