Family and Holidays...

 I love my family, and being with them is one of the beautiful parts of the holiday season.  But, for some, family can bring a lot of pain due to past actions and hurts.  

I think of my parents who are well on their way to 80 years old.  Hard to believe.  They so enjoy it when everyone is there, altogether.  But, the family is growing and it's getting harder for everyone to be in the same place at the same time.  It's easy to feel hurt and long for something better.  Even if we can all be together, there is always the end of the day or the end of the visit.  Everyone packs up and goes back to their own homes. We wish these times filled with laughter and joy would never end.  We love that feeling of togetherness and warmth.

But, there is a place where we can be together in unbroken fellowship, and that is heaven.  For those of us who have placed all of our trust in Christ Jesus for our salvation, we can be assured  that eternity together will be a reality!  We can gather together around the throne of God in a family gathering that will NEVER end!  We will never need to pack up in our cars and go back to our homes, apart from each other, ever again.  Living for that day will make the family gatherings here that seem so short, alright!  

Enjoy your family during these holidays!

Joy in Christ...

 Being very hypersensitive, I'm always very in touch with my feelings, often too much so.  I'm at a place in life where I feel very burnt out, very frustrated and very trapped.  In the midst of this, comes a hint of joy that is nudging me around the edges...plunge into this place of joy that nothing can take from you...what is this?  It is the reality that Christ Jesus, Himself is with me in EVERYTHING.  Those early morning drives, alone in my car, in the dark, to a job that I dislike...He is there.  His guardian angels set out each morning sitting on the top of my car, guiding me away from the deer, away from accidents and safely to my destination.  When I'm sitting at my desk, struggling to focus due to the ravages of a postmenopause brain, discouraged, feeling trapped and frustrated, He is there.  When I'm home cleaning the bathrooms, cooking the meals, doing the laundry, in my marriage, in all of my relationships, even the most mundane things, Jesus is THERE!  He, alone, is the source of everything that I long for.  His Presence, Peace and Purpose are THERE!  In joy, in sorrow, in good times, in bad times, He is THERE.  

"You will show me the path in life, in Your presence is fullness of joy."  Psalms 16:11

Pockets of Joy

 Been struggling again with feeling weary, burned out and discouraged.  Trying to hold down a job, take care of our home, stay connected to family and friends along with dissapointments, etc. has been taking a toll on me.  I always expect too much, care too much and am way too sensitive it seems.  I don't enjoy my job much, it's just a JOB, but it's what I have to deal with right now and maybe for a very long time.  So, what do I do?  I try to find little "pockets of joy" in my life.  What are those things right now?  They are the Tuesday afternoons when I get off of work early that I take time to visit my niece, have lunch with a friend and maybe do a bit of shopping up in the city.  These times refresh me a lot.  Other pockets of joy include my time spent in the Word with Jesus each morning, the precious time I get to keep our home clean and cook and help Rob with our yard work.  They are the moments on weekends when we sit down to a meal with my mom and dad or Rob's family or some of our friends.  

If you're discouraged right now and who isn't?  Try finding and guarding those little pockets of joy in your life.  And remember, "The Joy of the Lord is our strength."  Even when everything is going wrong, if have Jesus, we can have joy!  Joy Unspeakable!

Things that Bring Me Joy...

 Been going through a rough patch...despair...struggling as a post menopausal woman.  So much I could say.  But, today, I thought, what brings me joy?  I started to make a list...coffee with my niece, Luanna and her little gal, Evie; cooking; keeping our house nice; playing piano; studying the Bible.  Right there are several lovely things.  What are things that do NOT bring me joy?  Feeling tied to a dead end office job when I really want to focus more on homemaking.  This is really hard.  But, I am here.  Jesus is in control and He is allowing this in my life right now.  So, I have to do what Paul said in Philippians.  Think on good things.  Things that are good, lovely, praiseworthy and of a good report.  Some of those things are the ones I already mentioned, coffee with my niece, cooking, the time I DO have to keep our home, playing piano, studying the Bible.  Perhaps the joyless activities will help to make the Joyful activities even more enjoyable.  Lord Jesus, help me to find my greatest joy in You alone.  You truly are "Jesu, joy of man's desiring."  

STRUGGLING...

 It's that time of life when you struggle with everything...please grant me a few moments to be very honest...the change of life is so devastating to a woman.  You're just humming along, and then around age 40 or so, you start to have these hitches.  At first they aren't to much, just a little here and a little there.  But, as age 50 approaches, it starts to become more frequent.  More difficult.  More disruptive.  What was once an occasional hum in the background begins to consume your thoughts.  Many little aches, pains, bodily malfunctions, and, of course, the dreaded and at the same time, welcomed change of life.  Perhaps, it's the transition that is so hard.  You've left one shore, but you're lost out on the ocean of doubt and bewilderment as you head off to the next shore.  A new place where you've never been.  A part of you is ready to go there, another part wants to stay with what you know already.  

Weight piles up.  It doesn't come off like it used to.  The drive to get it off and keep it off is much less.  Emotions become dulled.  Just getting out of bed in the morning takes every ounce of energy you have and then some.  Every ache and pain screams that it will be your undoing.  It will be the dreaded cancer, it will be the condition from which there is no cure.  Your confidence is gone.  You doubt everything.  One one hand you feel dull, on the other hand you are perhaps more sensitive to other things.  It's a huge shift in thinking, feeling and just being.  

In the midst of the chaotic, swirling, ugly soup, there is One who neve leaves.  His name is Jesus.  He created me.  He knows me.  He loves me.  He died for me.  He numbers every hair on my head.  I am still His child.  I am still beautiful to Him.  He will never fail me.  May my thoughts rest in THIS reality.  

Prairie Fires-The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder by Caroline Fraser-Book Review (what I've read so far)

 I grew up with my own set of the Little House Books by Laura Ingalls Wilder.  I've read them numerous times, even reading on them in my adult life.  Several years ago when I was teaching, and had a Christmas break, I enjoyed reading all of the Christmas passages in the books.  There are several, starting with Little House in the Big Woods.  That Christmas was enjoyed with family who lived nearby and Laura received her precious doll, Charlotte.  Among the other Christmas accounts, was the one written about in On the Banks of Plum Creek.  Their church had a Christmas tree adorned with many gifts for the people from people better off back east.  When entering the church that night, Laura saw a beautiful fur cape and muff hanging on one of the branches.  She was so surprised when it was given to her!  

Recently, I found this book written as a Biography of Laura.  I am really enjoying it.  The author seems to be of a more liberal persuasion than am I, but I am still enjoying the history and background of Laura's life.  There is great information about how the Native American's were treated and the Homestead Act which furthered westward expansion of this continent.  It was a very hard life and many farmers failed.  She discusses the grasshopper (locust) plague which Laura wrote about in On the Banks of Plum Creek.  It was devastating for two years in Minnesota and other parts of the Midwest.  

The author, Caroline Fraser, traces the whole path of Laura's family with history of the path her parents took prior to meeting and marrying, and then Laura's entire life.  There is so much American history here, and much to be learned.  I highly recommend it thus far.  

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/blog/prairie-fires-american-dreams-laura-ingalls-wilder/

Refrigerator Pickles...

 Do you want to do homemaking tasks but don't feel you have the time due to necessary work, etc?  Then, here is a way for you to enjoy a simple task that will reap benefits for awhile and won't take up much time.  Make Refrigerator Pickles.  They will keep in your fridge for up to a year.  This recipe was given to me, but I have taken my own liberties with it.  

6 C. Sliced Cucumbers

1 C. Sliced Onion

1 C. Sliced Green Pepper

1 C. Vinegar

2 T. Salt

1 t. Celery Seeds

2 C. Sugar

Mix together and store in refrigerator.  Ready to use in 24 hours.  Keeps 1 year.