Merry Christmas 2019

Merry Christmas 2019

A copy of my all-time favorite Christmas Card. The image of a baby 'Christ Child' in Mary's or maybe Joseph's arms never ceases to take my breath away! The gold wedding band....
Thank you, Randy for putting this card together in 2016 (I'm guessing).

Christmas, December 25th

If, as Herod, we fill our lives with things, and again with things; if we consider ourselves so unimportant that we must fill every moment of our lives with action, when will we have the time to make the long, slow journey across the desert as the Magi? Or sit and watch the stars as did the shepherds? Or brood over the coming of the child as did Mary? For each one of us, there is a desert to travel. A star to discover. And a being within ourselves to bring to life.

~ Author Unknown

The treasures as 'the quote above' re-discovered again this time of year from my Simple Abundance 'A Daybook of Comfort and Joy' by Sarah Ban Breathnach bring a delight to my heart. It's really so true that if we get too busy, we can miss out on so much. Maybe this happens a lot at Christmas time as Christmas is becoming more & more commercialized each year. My second favorite Christmas card has 'one of' Saint Teresa of Calcutta's quotes. 

"It is Christmas every time you let God love others through you. 

Yes, it is Christmas, every time you smile at your brother and offer him your hand."

~ Saint Teresa of Calcutta

I am so very thankful for my family and friends. Today I ask God to forgive me for not reaching out more often to them and also for not giving more kindness to the strangers on my journey. I'm such a work in progress.

Yesterday on Christmas Eve afternoon we visited Randy's cousin Richard & his beautiful wife Jeanette Powell. Blessed to see their lovely daughter Emily 'visiting' and meet their fur babies Madeline and Matilda. What a Christmas joy! Then last night 'on Christmas Eve' we enjoyed dinner with our awesome son Jason and his precious daughters at his home. Unfortunately Nicole was not feeling well and sleeping and Anna was away visiting a friend. Wow...the places we go.

Of course I'm missing all of us being together however the love we have in our hearts for one-another keeps us connected. Amy and Chris are following their star 'so to speak' to Cali in a few days and we are truly excited. 

Yes, let us celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ! Merry Christmas! You are loved!

'Totally Toto' - Psalm 37:4 Oct. 2019

'Toto'
'Take delight in the Lord and He will grant you the desires of your heart'
- Psalm 37:4

Toto was an answer to my prayers! For the longest time I prayed for a little dog to call my own. He came into my life and I named him Toto. The nine days (October 18-26, 2019) that I had with Toto will be treasured forever. It wasn't easy to let him go but under all the circumstances I knew it was the best thing for this precious little puppy. Followed up on an ad on Craigslist and Michael had already found a new home for his dog. He mentioned right away of a friend who had Chi-weenies for sale. Before I knew it, there was only one puppy left (out of a litter of eight puppies that just turned 8 weeks old) and I said 'YES'. I purchased Puppy Chow and made arrangements to meet Michael at a restaurant and happily drove back to our farmhouse with Toto right next to me. The week that followed was one of the coldest and because of a family member needing me (which was out of state & not a good place to take Toto with me) I chose to return Toto to Michael.

Funny looking back I totally rearranged my life and I didn't mind. We played and played and played. Toto 'this little cream & white fur baby' laid in my arms. Toto was adorable and not only did he give me good eye contact, he didn't hesitate to give me lots of wet kisses showing me how special I was to him.

I had the worst cry when I made the decision, came to the reality of giving him back. Where I  needed to travel sooner than later just wasn't a good place to take him.

 I am so thankful for the time I got to spend with this precious puppy and I know that having Toto 'even only for a little while' is a gift, a blessing from God to me. Another desire of my heart was to hear back from Michael, that he would take Toto back. The last thing in the world I wanted to do was to take Toto to the KHS.

Chi-weenies are I understand are a designer mix of (1/2 Chihuahua 1/2 Dachshund). As energetic as Toto was, he was laid-back, affectionate and loving everyone even Bella our family farm cat. A comforting 'bittersweet good-bye to Toto' was giving him a kiss, putting him into Michael's wife's arms and watching Toto lick her like crazy all over her face. Yes, I loved that little dog and I miss him. The photos are for my memories! Toto was totally a gift from God and I loved him all the time he was with me.

News! Yesterday, December 21st I adopted a little kitten named Lucy. She and her two sister-kittens were rescued and bottle fed to good health. It'll be a few weeks of waiting for me and I don't mind at all. She'll be safe...an indoor cat who I will leave safely at home if I need to travel. God is good all the time. All the time God is good!