So-long 2005

Let nothing disturb thee,
Nothing affright thee;
All things are passing;
God never changeth;
Patient endurance
Attaineth to all things;
Who God possesseth
In nothing is wanting;
Alone God sufficeth.

That shall be my prayer for this year;
The first and the last lines challenge me the most.


I am thankful for a year full of many wonderful small things....
and nothing horrible.

That's a good year to me. :o)




Just one of the many, wonderful small things :o)

Encourage one another,
Donna

Carrie at Mommybrain has posted a doozy of a New Years Meme....

I have chosen just five questions for that list to play with today.

1. What kept you sane this year?

2. What was the best book you read?

3. What was your favorite TV show?

4. Who was the best new person you met?

5. Tell us a valuable life lesson.



Big doin's around here lately.
Matthew's girlfriend (yep, I'm gonna call her that)has come to visit and will stay with us for four days. She is a very sweet girl and is easy to be around.
We took her to the big Booshay family Christmas dinner and gift exchange last night. Everyone was very sweet...but it is still a little daunting for a moderately shy girl to walk into our loud family gatherings :o)
She did beautifully.

We played Sports "Screen it!" It was very fun.

Bring on the movie and television versions!!!


Emma will head North today for her yearly New Years gathering. This has become a great tradition for Emma and her friends! The Yates' open their house and the kids come from all over. I would love to be a fly on the wall for this one!!!
Last year they filmed 'The Lord of the Rings'....for days.
I can't imagine the silliness!


I'm was starting to enjoy The Count of Monte Cristo...because I thought I thought I knew who was who....
but now I have some Villeforts mixed up. I thought Villefort was murdered by Benettio...who is the Villefort that the Count is now speaking with???
It's all very confusing to me.
I must buy Cliff Notes soon!

I am on page five hundred and fifty now.
Almost half way.

It really is an interesting story. If only I weren't so daft!


Looking forward to your Friday Five answers :o)

Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. Everyone is still asleep. (Well except for Emma and her Dad who are off working) It is so quiet here.

Seen and heard in Sandy's comment box.

I once heard a wise man say that raising our children is about bringing them to love the standard, not chafe against it. If there are lots of rules and no joy, they will run hard in the opposite direction.
~Carol in Oregon

I have often wondered why children rebel. Especially children from families that are trying so hard to do the right thing.

But joyfully living 'the standard' instead of joylessly following a long list of rules sounds to be an excellent step in the right direction.


Of course there is sin, and personalities, and circumstances, and environment to consider....but so much of that we have no control over. But, joyfully living 'the standard'...yes! That's it! That is how I want to live.

Sounds like a perfect New Years Resolution!




Encourage one another,
Donna


Carol...can you think of the 'wise man's' name?

Knowing God means a great deal more than just knowing about Him.
It means walking with Him, talking with Him, living with and for Him.
~Elisabeth Elliot

"Whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in Him.
By this we know that we are in Him."
1 John 2:5






Hinds' Feet for High Places is an allegory which tells of Much-Afraid's
journey to knowing God and His love.

If you are finding your journey difficult, you might be encouraged by this book.
(It was a blessing to me when it was given to me on my 40th birthday.)


Encourage one another,
Donna

On the needles





Yes, the yarn is called Neapolitan.
Like the ice cream, of course.

Isn't it delicious!

I prefer the woolish kind to the creamy kind :o)


**********


Matthew is feeling a little bit better. The swelling around his eyes has gone away and he looks more like himself. He also says that his swollen lymph nodes are getting smaller and less sore.

He has been resting...except for a trip to Lambeau Field on Christmas Day. I am pushing liquids and we are adding Echinacea and Astragalus to his drinks several times a day.

Continue to pray...if you don't mind.
Thank you :o)


Is everyone just cleaning and picking up all day?

It seems to be all I do...in between the movie watching and cooking and knitting...

Encourage one another,
Donna

Birthday Cake Part II






I'm not much at decorating birthday cakes...

but I happen to love how this one looks :o)


The frosting is my sister's recipe. It is called Twinkie Frosting.

3 C. powdered sugar
1/2 c. veg. oil
1/2 c. shortening
1/2 c. butter
1 large egg
1 tsp. vanilla

Combine sugar, veg. oil, short., and butter.
Mix at high for 5 minutes.
Add egg white and vanilla.
Beat 3 more minutes.

Cindy frosts a white cake with this frosting thus the Twinkie name.
I frosted a chocolate cake....so I guess it was more like a Suzy Q :o)


Movies watched since Christmas eve...

Cinderella Man
On Golden Pond
Sky High


All good.

Cinderella Man was a little too depressing and slow for the first hour.
And really all I wanted was for them to move out of that horrid hovel.
Visions of Angela Ashes danced in my head.

The boxing matches were too long for me too...thank goodness I had some gorgeous yarn to knit on!

I'll show you the sock I am knitting....
tomorrow.


Encourage one another,
Donna

Merry Christmas to all





Good Christian men, rejoice with heart and soul, and voice;
Give ye heed to what we say: News! News! Jesus Christ is born today;
Ox and ass before Him bow; and He is in the manger now.
Christ is born today! Christ is born today!

Six kisses when you wake...



Six candles on your cake!

Happy Birthday Katie!

I love you to infinity and back plus one.




Illustration by the wonderful Linnea

A Christmas Meme


1. Hot Chocolate or apple cider?
Sometimes hot chocolate....sometimes apple cider....
I don't drink many hot drinks.
I wonder how Diet Dr. Pepper would taste hot?
I'm guessing....gross.

2. Turkey or Ham?
Turkey. As long as I have lots of gravy to go on it :o)

3. Do you get a fake or real-you-cut-it-yourself Christmas tree?
Real tree. A must.

4. Decorations on the outside of your house?
Very few. One very nice wreath :o)
A Christmasy flag.
Sometimes a few lights on shrubs.

5. Snowball fights or sleddin'?
Sledding

7. Do you enjoy going downtown shopping?
I would prefer an outdoor mall....like Oakbrook to an inside mall.

8. Favorite Christmas song?
I like most hymns sung in the Christmas season. Big loud singing by a whole church!
Songs that everyone remembers, loves and delights in singing.

10. How do you feel about Christmas movies?
Love 'em.

11. When is it too early to start listening to Christmas music?
I prefer to wait until just a few days before Christmas.

12. Stockings before or after presents?
After.

13. Carolers, do you or do you not watch and listen to them?
Very....very....rarely do we get carolers!!!

14. Go to someone else's house or they come to you?
In-laws come to our house on Christmas Eve.
My sister-in-law has us over sometime during the Christmas break.

15. Do you read the Christmas Story? If so when?
We listen to Linus read it.
Perhaps we should read it today.


16. What do you do after presents and dinner?
Watch television...usually sports...
I look around for a movie to watch.

17. What is your favorite holiday smell?
Fresh winter air.

18. Ice skating or walking around the mall?
I hate walking around the mall.
I wish I could skate like I use to.

19. Do you open a present or presents on Christmas Eve, or wait until Christmas day?
We do the relative exchange on Christmas Eve.
Family presents in the morning.

20. Favorite Christmas memory?
When Katie was born...and we came home on Christmas morning.

21. Favorite Part about winter?
How pretty it looks.
Sleeping with the window open and having a cold face and warm bod.

22. Ever been kissed under mistletoe?

Yes. The last misletoe I remember was in Wheaton ( in the 70's)....and I'll bet my sister Cindy kissed me under it. She was probably being sweet and silly!
Which she usually is :o)


We have company coming tonight...
I have gifts to wrap, food to prepare, a cake to bake, a house to clean, a song to sing....

I better get this party started :o)

Happy Christmas Eve day to you all!

Love,
Donna

Christmas Friday Five




Why do we give gifts at Christmas?
Is it because the Wise Men brought the Christ child gifts?
Or is it because God sent his son as a gift to the world?
Or does the gift giving have non-religious roots?



Would you like to share five gifts that Jesus has given you?


Mine would be...

The gift of my faith.
The gift of family.
The gift of health.
The gift of salvation.
The gift of friends.


Who could ask for anything more?


Encourage one another,
Donna

Winding Wool

She'd bring to me a skein of wool
And beg me to hold out my hands;
so on my pipe I cease to pull
And watch her twine the shining strands
Into a ball so snug and neat,
Perchance a pair of socks to knit
To comfort my unworthy feet,
Or pullover my girth to fit.

As to the winding I would sway,
A poem in my head would sing,
And I would watch in dreamy way
The bright yarn swiftly slendering.
The best I liked were coloured strands
I let my pensive pipe grow cool . . .
Two active and two passive hands,
So busy wining shining wool.

Alas! Two of those hands are cold,
And in these days of wrath and wrong,
I am so wearyful and old,
I wonder if I've lived too long.
So in my loneliness I sit
And dream of sweet domestic rule . . .
When gentle women used to knit,
And men were happy winding wool.

~Robert William Service


A fish tail lace scarf




For me this scarf is the Monte Cristo of knitting.
Slow, detailed, a little confusing, but very much worth pursuing.


How are your Christmas preparations coming?

Is that list getting shorter? Are you able to rest yet?
Are you able to reflect yet?

Are you yearning for some Peace on Earth?

Shall we all sit in a circle and sing...

Dona Nobis Pacem, Pacem.
Dooooooona, Nooobis, Paaaaaacem.



a. Dona nobis pacem, pacem.
Dona nobis pacem.
b. Dona nobis pacem.
Dona nobis pacem.
c. Dona nobis pacem.
Dona nobis pacem.

Translated, "Give us peace," this
traditional Latin hymn may be sung
as a canon. A new voice starts
when the preceding voice reaches
the next section.

Listen here.

There, that was nice :o)

Encourage one another,
Donna

Ho Ho Yummy Yo



Ho Ho Ho



I love this time of year.



I love it so.





All of my siblings live far away...
So, in the last few weeks, a Christmas package has arrived almost every day.
Plus it is Katie's birthday on the 24th!
Plus I have been buying myself a little yarn...

It's like......Christmas!

Yesterday we received a big plain white box.

Katie stood next to me as I sawed at the tape with a kitchen knife.

The small gift card dropped to the table. Ah, it's from Nancy.

I flipped open the box tops to find a large spiral cut ham.

Oh. This will be nice to have on Christmas Eve, I thought.

"Huh" said Katie. "Why would she send us a ham?"
"Does she think we are poor?"

"No, honey. She doesn't think we're poor."
"This is a very nice ham from a very nice place. I'm sure it is delicious!"


It reminded me of The Best Christmas Pageant Ever.
When the wise men (Herdmans) brought their food-basket ham to the Christ Child instead of gold, frankincense and myrrh.

When we finish reading the book, I think Katie will think of ham as a very lovely gift :o)

I do :o)


Encourage one another,
Donna

Thank you very much for your prayers for Matthew.

He is indeed sick. He has mono.

I picked Matthew up in Des Moines on Sunday (Patrick Jr. met us there so I didn't have to drive all the way to Omaha) and man, he looked wiped!

He was mostly worried about the little lumps on his neck and one on his back. And, well, the fact that he is exhausted and has night sweats...

So he agreed to go to the doctor.

Yesterday we headed to the pediatrician. (It was odd to go to the pediatrition with a big strappin' boy. He is almost 21! But the receptionists assured me that it was fine for Matthew to be there. They said, it is not uncommon for people to stay with their pediatrition until they are out of college.)

They checked for strep. Nope.
Bloodtest. Yes.

Definitely Mono.

"Drink fluids and rest."


Isn't it surprising that there is not a drug to kill virus' yet?
I find it surprising.


So you might think Matthew is resting away. Drinking his organic Apple Juice.

You might think that!?!

But, no.

He went on a trip to visit some friends in the Northwoods.
The big basketball game reunion is tonight and he was NOT going to miss it.

Bother!


There comes a time when children don't do what you tell them.
It is a challenging time.

I usually don't boss my college boys. They are making decisions for themselves now.

I know I am right. I know I should be honored.

I know I am not in control.

Like I said, challenging.


This is why I am so thankful for my faith in God.

When I don't have any control over things....or people....

I am glad I can entrust my things or people to Him....

To His capable, loving, trustworthy hands.

It's all I can do, sometimes.



At what age do you stop 'forcing' your children to do things?
How did you determine this age?

Encourage one another,
Donna

Why we do it

Daily

True love is but a humble, low-born thing,
And hath its food served up in earthenware;
It is a thing to walk with, hand in hand,
Through the everydayness of this work-day world...

Help me, O Lord, to serve
with a gentle and gracious attitude.

Amen



Encourage one another,
Donna

Well Done


Well I worried about Katie's wiggliness for nothing.
(which is usually the way with worry)

Our homeschool group climbed to the very tip top of the Overture Center, found our comfy seats, and settled in for the two hour show.

Katie was quiet and still and seemed to be enjoying it.

And then it was over.

And I asked her, "What was your favorite part?"

"When it was over."

Perhaps she was worn out by using every bit of her self control to sit so nicely.
Or perhaps it went on a little long for one so young.
Or perhaps her tummy was distracting her.

All I know is that she was glad it was over!

But, she said she would still like to be in the Nutcracker.
Because..."They get the movements...and we just sit around, not talking"

Ha.


". . . for it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself."



Encourage one another,
Donna

You may think that because we live in Wisconsin, it snows like this all of the time.
Well...since we have lived in Southern Wisconsin we have had such mild winters, we have not even had snow on Christmas.

Not this year!

Wednesday we had fine, dry snow all day long.
And yesterday the snow came down in giant clumps.

Entertainment, Quiet Life Style.

This kind of snow also gives the girls in this family reason for exercise and fresh air.

And you see, Patrick's favorite thing is a shoveled driveway. He's crazy about it.
It's not food.

No.

The way to this man's heart is through a shovel.
(Or Rug Dr. as I learned this week)


*************

We are going to see the Nutcracker today!!!

I can't wait!

Emma and I went to the Nutcracker in Seattle about ten years ago. (We went with Janice! It was fabulous!)
At the time the Seattle Nutcracker sets were designed by Maurice Sendak.
It was very different and beautiful.





Friday Five


Do you like going to the ballet?
Have you see the Nutcracker?
Would you want to be in the Nutcracker?
Do you have a nutcracker at your house? And do you use it?
Do you think Katie will sit quietly through the whole thing?


Better get going! We are going to the 'school performance' of the Nutcracker.
So we will go this morning! Neat huh?

Encourage one another,
Donna

P.S. Matthew (our 20 year old son) is not feeling well at all. He had a fever all week and has swollen glands. Seeing that he is at college it's hard for me to do anything but suggest he see a Dr. and pray.
Would you join in praying me for Matthew's health today?

Thank you so much.

Go and see....


A most beautiful Holy Family



My sister Sue asks in the comments;

What is your favorite ornament on your tree and why?

Won't you post a picture on your blog or describe it in the comments?
Purdy Please?


Last year I posted a picture of my favorite ornament.

My children always prefer their 'babies first Christmas' ornaments.

Katie does not have one. She was born, unexpectedly on Dec. 24th 1999. By the time I thought of it....all of the babies first Christmas ornaments were long gone from the store.

Perhaps I should search around ebay or have one specially made for her :o)

*******

Do you need a new recipe for hash brown potatoes?

Janie posted one yesterday morning...and well....I made it already.
And. Wow! Is it good!

Hash Brown Potato casserole

1 32 oz frozen hash browns
1 stick butter, melted
½ cup finely chopped onions
½ cup mayonnaise
1 can cream of celery soup
1 cup (8 oz) sour cream
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 cups cornflakes, crushed

Combine frozen potatoes, ½ of the melted butter, mayonnaise, onion, soup, sour cream, and cheese. Mix well and pour into a greased casserole.

Stir the remaining butter with cornflakes and sprinkle on top.

Bake uncovered at 350 for 50 minutes.


I hope you don't mind my posting your recipe over here.
Just trying to make it easier for the folks :o)

Oh, and by the way, this wacky Cheesehead, accidently put in two cups of cheddar cheese, instead of one. Ooops. Didn't hurt it a bit :o)


Hey...those might be nice with some friend eggs.

ttfn

Encourage one another,
Donna

Three nights in a row I have read The Count of Monte Cristo...and I have no idea who the author is talking about. But I plod along gathering information and hoping it will come to me. Who is Morcerf? I have a vague recollection of that name...but who is it?

Last night I go back 300 pages and look for the name. I look for the men that Cristo hates...Danglars, Villefort, Fernand.
Nope.
No Morcerf.

So this morning I visit my trusty information place.

IMDB

Internet movie data base.

Yes. I visit a movie site. Because here is where I know I can find the movie of The Count of Monte Cristo and a list of the characters.
Here is where my cultural literacy begins and pretty much ends.


And there it is. Fernand Mondego, Count of Morcerf

Ah yes,
Fernand, the man who loves Mercedes, the man who sends the Count to prison, has become the Count of Morcerf.

Now I remember.

Thank you internet movie data base!


************

And so The Amazing Race Family Edition comes to an end.

Man, those editors really worked it at the very end.

If you didn't see the finale. The Linz family raced to the million dollars just seconds ahead of the Bransens. Well....it looked like seconds. In fact, it looked like the Bransens would win. But actually, the Linz family won by a few minutes.
It was the closest final leg I have ever seen.

The final task was putting a giant puzzle together. I loved this.
It was a map of South, Central and North America.

The Bransens and the Linz families got to the map almost at the same time.
It was exciting.

(Katie and I have done some of her 100 piece puzzles so many times...I ask her if we can time ourselves. Play beat the clock with the puzzle...no she says, she doesn't like to do that. She would rather enjoy the puzzle.)

Good for her :o)

Here is an online place the state game. Place the States
It's a good one!




~actual size

Ho Ho!

Encourage one another,
Donna

The carpet in the living room is dry.
And I was able to carry the little tree in all by myself.
Do you see how small the space if for a tree?

We lost a bit in order to fit it in the stand...

So it is even smaller than even I thought it would be.

I don't think I will put my Muffy Angel on top. She will look like King Kong.




Wouldn't it be funny to put a blue blanket around the bottom of the tree this year?



Okay...enough about our wee tree.

The carpets look very nice. They were filthy and I had my work cut out for me.
So glad it's done...and remind me on June 15th to do it all over again.

That would be the smart thing to do.
Don't you think?


Onward and upward....

We've got so much time and so little to do.
Wait.
Reverse that.

(We watched Willie Wonka last night, can you tell?)

I have a nice hardy list of things to do today.
Better get started :o)

Thank you for so many complimentary comments yesterday! Reading them brought me cheer amid the buckets of dirty water and trips to Madison.

XXOO

Encourage one another,
Donna

p.s. Have you ever peeked at your Christmas presents prior to receiving them?

Merry Christmas Everyone!





We made a quick trip out to a tree farm yesterday. We chose a little tree, Patrick chopped it down and Katie got to spend a little time in the glorious snowy sunlight with her old folks.

And most importantly, she had the perfect opportunity to model a precious hat I just finished knitting in the morning!

I truly think it is the cutest hat I have ever seen. It thrills the nostalgic side of me. It belongs in Miracle on 34th St. doesn't it?

And that picot edging...well it is soooooo pretty and perfect :o)




Here is what it looks like lying flat.

Everything Old is New Again
Child's Bonnet
Cascade Yarn
Design by Amy E. Anderson


That is my first tassel.
It took a few tries...and I am not sure if it will hold.
But it is a tassel.


********

Just a few comments about the Survivor last night.

Yeah! Danni.

But, man, what is with the collagen filled lips? She was so beautiful without those puffed up, fake lips. Give me a break :o(

Do you really think Stephanie thought people would forgive her for stabbing them in the back? Get a clue girl. They all were furious with you.

Rafe, Rafe. Rafe. Don't tell the girl she is free to vote for whoever she wants....and then hold it against her when she doesn't take you.

I actually thought the jury was too kind to Stephanie.
Three people in a row took her on special rewards with them...
and she voted against them at the next council.
Bad form.
Bad strategy.

**********


Today I will be cleaning carpets. Very needy.
Tomorrow we will put up our little tree.
Wait till you see how small it is!

Oh, and by the way...

I have only purchased ONE Christmas gift so far.

I'll think about that tomorrow.


What are you doing today?


Encourage one another,
Donna

Tending to your marriage

The news comes in from near and far...
Marriages are crumbling. Husbands leave. Wives give up.
Children mourn.

It is just about as painful as it gets.

So what can be done...to keep our own marriages strong and to encourage other women.

Be aware.
Remember your promises.
Pray for your our marriage and your family and friends marriages.
Teach the younger women to love their husbands.
Share the good parts. ( I am always so encouraged when I read loving words spoken about a marriage or husband/wife)

Learn to love. Like God loves us.
Undeserved love. Unconditional love.
I happen to think this is what life is all about.
Your marriage is your classroom to learn this lesson.

Teach your children about this kind of love.
Host a Bible study and learn about this kind of love.


And Forgive

Study what it means to forgive.

It's all of those bitter roots that grow and destroy a marriage bit by bit.

Work hard to forgive and weed out all of those bitter roots.

Get together with other women and share this information.


We can not control others...but we can ask the Holy Spirit to do some convicting.

Be willing to listen.
Be bold enough to pray with a hurting sister....or sister in law...or friend.
Teach them about Biblical forgiveness and love.

Pretty standard stuff that seems to get lost in the weeds.

But why do we forgive and love?

Because God tells us to forgive and love.

It is obedience to God to learn to forgive and love.

No promises for results.

It's just the way to live. The way that would honor God.


Here are some books that I have read and Bible studies I would recommend for your personal study or for a study with friends.

The Bible
The Excellent Wife by Martha Peace
Loving Your Husband by Cynthia Heald
The Other Side of the Garden by Virginia Fugate
Becoming a Woman of Excellence by Cynthia Heald
Marriage tapes/CDs/DVD by Larry Wright of Abundant Life Ministries

I have one or two more books that come to mind right now...but I have to run.
Christmas Pageant Practice :o)


I'm sorry this is a bit scattered.
It was on my heart and now I don't have time to proof it too well.
But I am not going to let that stop me from sharing something this important.


Pray for marriages!


Encourage one another,
Donna

Friday Feast


Appetizer
Name something you'll miss about 2005.

Salad
What is one thought that went through your mind today?

Soup
On a scale of 1-10 with 10 being highest, how compassionate would you say you are?

Main Course
If you could invent something, what would it be?

Dessert
Do you prefer salty snacks or sweet treats?




~Jessie Wilcox Smith


Is anyone watching Survivor?
I tell ya...the back stabbing is monumental.
Next week will be full of surprises.
I can't wait!


************

The little grocery store in town hands out coloring pages for the children. They stick the completed artwork on the window at the store.
Katie has colored pages before. She thinks she is going to win the prize.

I happen to lack the 'get tough' gene.

I don't like when the children lose a game.
When they enter a stupid coloring contest and don't win.

I know that many lessons are learned from losing.

But I just don't like it, one bit.

So to answer the compassion question.

I'm nearly a ten.


Encourage one another,
Donna

What's blogging ever done for you?

It's given me loads of laughs!

See Wendy interview Vickie

Given me something to think about.

Should church ever be cancelled on a Sunday?

You'll never cry alone

People to pray for.

Hans

Patterns to knit and yarn to buy

button hole bag pattern

Not buy as much as drool over

And a community of women I'm so thankful to know.


Here are a few questions from the Question of the Day gal;

What do you think of tip jars on blogs? You know, the "Donate Here" button? Do you ever give anything?

Which song is the most over played Christmas song?

Which of the seven dwarfs personifies you the best -- Dopey, Sneezy, Sleepy, Bashful, Grumpy, Happy , or Doc?

See ya in the comments!

Encourage one another,
Donna

Winter-time

Late lies the wintry sun a-bed,
A frosty, fiery sleepy-head;
Blinks but an hour or two; and then,
A blood-red orange, sets again.

Before the stars have left the skies,
At morning in the dark I rise;
And shivering in my nakedness,
By the cold candle, bathe and dress.

Close by the jolly fire I sit
To warm my frozen bones a bit;
Or with a reindeer-sled, explore
The colder countries round the door.

When to go out, my nurse doth wrap
Me in my comforter and cap;
The cold wind burns my face, and blows
Its frosty pepper up my nose.

Black are my steps on silver sod;
Thick blows my frosty breath abroad;
And tree and house, and hill and lake,
Are frosted like a wedding cake.

~Robert Lewis Stevenson




A warm smile on a frosty day.

Do you remember wearing tights when you were little?
I would guess ours were wool...because they itched so...

I sent Katie outside yesterday to follow a bunny trail.
She stayed out unusually long; half an hour :o)

She tells me she played, just played.

It's a start.

Camy called the other day and I asked her how long her children played outside.
She said, "Until I let them in."

She is one smart momma :o)

Encourage one another,
Donna

Today is the last day to vote for The Blogs of Beauty.
Vote here

********


Last night PBS was running a special on John Denver.
I wouldn't call myself a big fan...in fact I only have his Christmas album.
But I enjoyed hearing many of his songs again.

The song you must hear tho is Aspen Glow...

listen

I'm a folkie. No doubt about it.

Aspen Glow is on the Rocky Mountain Christmas CD/Album.


******

Do you have a great chocolate cookie recipe?

I made a recipe that I found on the Droste' cocoa box yesterday. They were just okay.
I think I'd like a little chocolate frosting on the cookie too.

ummm...chocolate....

*******

Heard in church this weekend...

How deep the Father's love for us, how vast beyond all measure...

I will not boast in anything: no gifts, no power, no wisdom,
But I will boast in Jesus Christ: His death and resurrection.
Why should I gain from His reward? I cannot give an answer.
But this I know with all my heart--his wounds have paid my ransom.
~Stuart Townsend~

I may just have to make Emma learn this one on the guitar so we can sing it together.

Think Judds.

HA!!

By the way...they have a very nice Christmas Album too.

At Christmas it seems my musical tastes get all country-fied.
The Judds, Kenny and Dolly, John Denver, Kathy Maetea...
what's with that???

Off to search for my Christmas tapes.
Yeah, tapes.

Happy Tuesday! Happy Listening!

Encourage one another,
Donna

The Ghosts of Winter Past


Once upon a time I lived in hilly, pine tree covered Wausau, Wisconsin.
Every day at noon I would head over to the ice rink at the fair grounds to skate.
Typically four or five skaters would be there; a mother and a child, a young man skating figures, an elderly gentleman and me.

The young man showed me how to skate a figure eight. I learned to use the edges on my skates.
Harley, the elderly man, taught me to skate the waltz. The waltz is skated much faster than you would imagine and very close to your partner.

Stroke, swing, inside edge, loop.
Stroke, turn, outside edge, glide.

I was nervous and scared and worked very hard to keep up with Harley's speed and steps.

I loved it so much.

It was possibly the coolest thing I have ever done.





Quite a few years ago I asked my family this question at the dinner table;
If you could do in anything in the world and not fail, what would it be?

All of us chose something athletic. (football, soccer, golf and skating)

Ask your families. I wonder if you will have more philanthropic folks around your table. he he he

Encourage one another,
Donna

I almost always cry at the end of a play.
Not because the play was sad. But I cry tears of joy for the participants.
I happy because something they worked on so hard has gone so well.
These are my most embarrassing tears...cause they don't seem to fit.

"Why are you crying?"

"Well...everyone did so well...sniff....wipe...."

Embarrassing I tell ya.


The Flame Christmas concert went off beautifully last night.
The little children were darling! They performed "A Backward Christmas Story"
I am always awed by small children who are brave enough to sing solos!
I do not have any solo singers in my family....yet.
Katie wiggled so much I thought I would lose my mind.

Emma's choir came out and sang beautifully.
Quietly but beautifully.
Is it my ears or the church we were in?

Patrick, Katie and I came right home. We three were tired.
Katie from wiggling. Me from holding a wiggler.
And Patrick from a long day of work.

Emma went to Perkins with loads of friends and parents.
She said they filled up the place.

(This group of homeschoolers is single handedly going to dispel the rumors that homeschoolers are anti-social!)


I waited for Emma to come home...and started watching an old black and white movie with Bette Davis and Charles Boyer.

Can you guess what it was...it's a famous movie, that I have never seen.
Bette is a nanny.


Yes. It was All This and Heaven Too.
It was good enough to keep me up til 2:00!

Charles Boyer says something very romantic in the death-bed scene...and I goggled like crazy to find it for you, but I'm not finding it.

So you are just going to have to watch all 140 minutes of it :o)

One funny thing:
There is a little boy, about five.
He has a southern accent.
The movie is in France.
ooops.

Katie has choir practice this morning...I guess I getter get ready for that.
She is in a little Christmas program with her friend Leoni. Very exciting.
I have a little job too. Line coach.

Wishing you a song-filled weekend!

Donna

GOOD Morning!

One of our blog-sistahs has the best news ever.
Go over to Janie's blog and read her wonderful homecoming story!
Take some tissues, you're going to need 'em.

(I can't seem to stop crying.)




Friday Feast

Appetizer
How often are you sick?

Salad
If you were to have a painting done of you alone, what would you want the background to be?

Soup
Describe your voice.

Main Course
What is something you would like to do, but you're afraid of the risk(s)?

Dessert
What was the last television show you watched?





I planned to go to bed last night around 10:00. The Count of Monte Cristo has drawn me in and I was looking forward to an hour or so of quiet reading.
But then I checked the blogs one last time...
and before I knew it, it was 10:45.
And as I walked past the television...it seemed to whisper to me...
Oprah is on David Letterman tonight.

Now this may not be a real big deal to me and you...
But Dave has been begging Oprah to come on his show for 16 years.

I had to tune in to see how Dave would handle having Oprah on his show.

Well...I know most of you don't care...but it was fun and I'm glad I remembered...
and that is the last thing I saw on television.


And well...I ended up reading Elisabeth Elliot's Keep a Quiet Heart...
She says we need to reach out and be Spiritual Mother's to the younger women. (see. Titus 2:3-5)
And when I read that I think about how she is my Spiritual Mother.

I believe that if God intends for us to be of influence at all to anyone...
He has to do all of the work. We just need to be open to it. Willing to be used by Him if the opportunity presents itself. Willing to meet with or listen to or pray for the younger women. It's not something one can force. And to be honest it isn't something we ever feel ready to do.
But God can do it. He can put people together.
It takes time and prayer and patience.
And willingness.
If it is meant to be...God will work out the details.

May God Bless our Elisabeth.

(And I say 'our' because I know so many other women feel the same way as I do about Elisabeth.)


I can't believe it is Friday already...
Emma's big Christmas Concert is tonight.
Can't wait to hear the beautiful music!
I better end this because I need to bake cookies for the reception following the concert...and they need them this morning. ( I can mix and bake the Neiman Marcus cookies in 1/2 hour. Speedy huh?)

Encourage one another,
Donna

Warm Hands




My favorite mitts.
Vintage Pattern
Size One DP's
Sunshine Yarns by Dani
The yarn is called Watermelon...but it looked like Christmas to me :o)


Playing around a little...



I used the same sock weight yarn and the same needles as for the mittens above with a free baby sock pattern.

These are just the right size to be an ornament.

I'm delighted with this teeney sock!



********



Yesterday at Walgreens I bought some Jergen's lotion. On the bottle it said, "Original Cherry-Almond Scent'

I sniffed.

It was.

I love that smell.

This is the lotion we grew up with.



This morning...

Katie: Mommy, can I put some of this lotion on?
Me: Sure
Katie: umm
Me: Doesn't it smell good? It reminds me of my mom.
Katie: She smelled this good?
Me: *grin* Yes, she did.


Encourage one another,
Donna