Happy New Year!

He who was seated on the throne said "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true." Rev. 21:5

Growing up, my family had a saying that whatever you were doing on New Year's day, you would be doing for the rest of the year. Keeping that in mind, I would like you to be looking at something beautiful on New Years day. This is one of the prettiest trees I saw this year. I think the theme was New Orleans because it was very reminiscent of Mardi Gras. It may be too bright and tawdry for some, but I am rather like a crow, attracted to bright, shiny things. I will wait till tomorrow to post my New Year's eve happenings and my resolutions. Speaking of tomorrow, I don't know what all the fuss is about a New Year. To me, every morning is like a mini new year. A blank slate before us when we wake up. A chance to be thankful that we did wake up and can start anew. Over and over and over, all the days of our lives. Each one fresh and full of grace. Happy New Year!!!

"Because of the Lord's great love we are not consummed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfullness." Lam 3:22,23

Hats Off

Here are some very unusual hats for you. The last hat is actually a Christmas tree. We wear lots of different hats during our lives, don't we? But more about that in a future post. Jesus wore something you might call a hat of sorrow in his very short life, but later he will wear a different kind of hat altogether. And we will all take our hats off and bow down to worship him in not only a New Year, but a New World. Wishing my dear followers peace in the New Year.

"They stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head." Matthew 27:28,29

"His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns. He has a name written on him that no one knows but he himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and his name is The Word of God." Rev. 19:12,13

Spreading Light

I thought I would show you just a few of my Christmas decorations before I put them away. I love my little singing angel, she turns colors as she sings. I found her a few weeks ago for under $4.00. The wooden reindeer I got many many years ago at a craft show. There is the tiny Chinese girl holding a lantern and standing in front of a pagoda. This makes me think of my granddaughter, and her mom has one too. It is a Christmas tree ornament, but I removed the hook and have it on a table. And the last very special one is from my blog friend Doris, isn't it beautiful? Have you ever seen a candle with a flame all in crochet? Doris made it, and I just won it on her blog contest. Her blog, Crocheting In Georgia, is so sweet, and she shares it with her cutie pie dog Gizzy. She is a real pleasure to visit and read. And now she has given me an eternal flame to look at and think of her and Gizzy. And I'm all about light... whether it's from a singing angel or a crocheted decoration, but even better when it's from within ourselves!


"There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it."
Edith Wharton


"Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel. but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house." Matthew 5:15

My Brother's Keeper

I sought my soul, but my soul I could not see.

I sought my God, but my God eluded me.

I sought my brother and I found all three.

Anonymous

Today we went to our family reunion. Again, we got lost and were quite late, even though Phil went to college in this city. Finally,once at the restaraunt, we got lost again in the parking lot and couldn't even find the right door. It seems we are getting lost every week now. At least this time we didn't stop at any dangerous places for directions. First picture is Phil and I with his sister, brothers and their wives. Phil and I are on the left. Next picture is Phil with his sister and two of his brothers. Then the two men in my life, husband and son. Phil's brother Jacob was not there, he is ill with a form of blood cancer. And the brother in the red shirt, David, has just donated his stem cells to Jacob. Brother to brother. This would be the best Christmas gift ever if the transplant were to be successful.

"Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves."

Romans 12:10

Goodnight Moon

Today has been a busy day, and I need to get up early in the morning for a family reunion. So I am going to bed early, and will leave you with these pictures, which I just took a few hours ago. These lights were on a little country store on the side of the highway, and I was totally charmed. But of course you know that I have a thing about letting your lights shine! So goodnight dear followers, sleep well. And goodnight moon.

Reflecting

Hello to all my followers, I am enjoying reading about your Christmas celebrations! On Christmas eve and today we had snow!! And of course I was on the alert with my camera. I happened to capture some multi colored flakes, a rare occurrence, indeed! I bet none of you had snowflakes like this! They may set a record for size! So here are some pictures reflecting my day in the house. After the snowflake reflections, we have our tree reflected in the living room window. And Phil with the tree superimposed in front of him. Looks like it's all outside, doesn't it? Actually, I'm inside with the camera, our Christmas tree is inside and Phil is outside, standing in front of the reflection. Reflect on that awhile if you can figure it out. In the last picture, I thought I would finally show you our whole tree as it really looks, because I have been showing you nothing but bits and pieces and reflections of it all month. As to reflections, when we follow Jesus, we become transformed and our own reflection is truly beautiful.

"And we, who with unveiled faces all reflect the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the spirit."

2 Cor. 3:18

Rah Rah Sis Boom Bah!

Here's a small moment of our Christmas day, and a joyous one for me. At one point, our little granddaughter was so overcome with joy that she used the two pieces of tissue wrapping paper she was holding as pom poms, and became a cheerleader. What a creative way to express her emotions. Paul was all about cheering others on and encouraging them. A few simple words of encouragement can make a world of difference in someone's life. Too bad that so many people stifle this impulse, it can be used to great effect. Looks like little Anne is getting the idea early!

"For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing."

1 Thess. 5:9,11

Under His Wings

Under his wings I am safely abiding;

Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,

Still I can trust him, I know he will keep me;

He has redeemed me, and I am his child.

Under his wings, under his wings,

Who from his love can sever?

Under his wings my soul shall abide,

Safely abide forever. - William O. Cushing

"How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing...you shall see Me no more till you say "Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord." Matthew 23

The Moon And The Star

Our granddaughter came over today to have a sleepover with us! She will be spending a couple days here, then going home Christmas eve afternoon. Surely this has to be one of the best Christmas gifts we will recieve. And we wasted no time in making the most of it. We did crafts, built things, watched Christmas shows, went out for dinner with pink peppermint ice cream for dessert, and went to the festival of lights. We also did this one other thing. The moon was beautiful tonight, and it led us to a nearby city, where the star led us to this manger with a newborn baby. The wise men, shepherds, and all the others were real people, it was a living nativity. If Anne Marie looks a bit uncomfortable in this picture with me, that is because it was cold!! And she did not want to stop even momentarily for a picture. But I wanted our images preserved under the star on this cold night before Christmas eve. As the moon guided us home, she talked very excidedly about our day. She fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. So I feel that we had our own little miracle tonight. Two geezers actually wore out a four year old.

"After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshipped him." Matthew 2:9,11

You've Seen The Best - Now Here's The Rest

Yesterday I showed you my favorite tree ornaments, now here are some others. The second picture was made by our granddaughter. She glued together and painted dried wagon wheel pasta. The last two are a silver pig. I'm afraid that my reflection shows up more than the pig, I guess I have actually become a pig! Way too many holiday cookies and candy, you know! He has a cute tiny glass tail, so that is the last picture, a pig's tail! It looks like blown glass. Here is something more glittery and sparkly than all the Christmas ornaments in the world.

"And he carried me away in the spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. It shone with the glory of God, and it's brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal." Rev. 21