Something New

If you live in the north east, colored leaves are nothing new to you, as a matter of fact, by late fall they can become quite a bother...but we love the color year after year. It is just the raking that we can tire of quickly.  Oliver is playing in these dry and colorful leaves for the first time and shows his delight.  Of  course most children relish playing in the leaves year after  year. It is the adult whose attitude has made them a little less than awesome.

Attitude can mean everything in many situations.  Lets nurture good attitudes, especially toward other people.  The Bible instructs us to love others as we love ourselves. We make mistakes, and we must realize that all people do. Don't judge your fellow man by  one mistake. Try to understand where he is coming from, where he has been, what he has experienced. Try to love him, as God has instructed us. Learn to forgive. It will mean a lot toward getting along with others and in avoiding heartache, both physically and spiritually.

The Pumpkin Farm

I may need to work on this tile again. It just doesn't show up well enough.

I wish I could have been there to see the mountain in the distance, the bright blue sky, the pumpkins scattered on the ground, and of course, my little grandsons.

I seems in all the pictures I get of long outdoor adventures, Oliver has fallen asleep on his mama's chest. He certainly is nice and comfy there. He's getting to be quite a load. It is a good thing Beth is strong.

Tonight, I  have  a lot on my mind, mostly depressing news we are hearing on the national scene...I'm just too tired to handle it right now. I just pray that people will stand back and see the racial discord that is being stirred into a frenzy and pull back from the fray. Hatred is being fomented by those in power. That is definitely not a good thing, but simply one more way to divide the people.  We have rich and poor, male and female, Christians and non Christians, young and old, black and white, now  policemen are  pitted against the rest of us. The liberals are working toward a divided state, which will fall. That is their objective. 

But, we  need to pull together in love and strive to understand one another, united and strong under one flag.

Topping the Tree

My early gift for Christmas, yes I picked it out myself, was Photoshop Elements 13.  It's a big jump from the last one I had...10. Anyway. I've taken some time off today to play with it while I should be cleaning.  I just had to get a start on Christmas layouts, even though I still have pictures from back in October that are crying out for some attention.

Here is my baby boy and his little Caleb doing their trick of putting the star up on top of the tree. Thinking about the fact that I have to climb up a step ladder to place mine. There is a little unfairness there. We were not all created equal...in the height department.

Many if not most trees are topped by a star.  Do you know why? If you are of my generation, you do. If you are of my children's generation, you probably do. But, if you are in your twenties, you may not. Those younger WILL NOT know useless we teach them. They will not learn in school and they probably will not learn from movies or TV shows. Their friends will not likely tell them. Christmas, because it has to do with the Christ child, is being wiped from our country.

We have three active enemies of Christmas: atheists, Muslims and worst of all, socialists who want the state to be the god of the people.

Put a star atop your tree and explain its role to your young visitors. It represents the star that pointed the way to the baby Lord Jesus...asleep in the hay. You'll need to talk about Jesus as well. The Bible tells us to teach our children throughout the day, along the way.

Deuteronomy 11:19 Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.

Sporting Braces

Mason, one of the triplets, has been sporting braces since September. He is still handsome, of course not quite as handsome as he will be when they are removed. OH, and those braces don't affect his singing one bit. 

I heard a sermon tonight that was so simple and to the point. Oh that all that I hear were so good. There was no mistaking it. His point was that Christmas was not a holiday. It was never intended to be a holiday, nor was it intended to be a religious tradition. It is the promise of forgiveness.  How true.  Think about it. God sent his son to set an example and then to die on this earth so that we may be forgiven of our sins and raise from the dead to eternal life.  Hallelujah!

Your Mountain

This may not look like a mountain to you, but it sure is an uphill grade for Caleb. It takes work. But he is up to it. He is a fighter. He climbs on that bike and pedals with all he has.

What is your mountain?  Everyone has one.  Have you not found yours yet? You will. When you do, remember to give it all you have...and ask God to go with you...for a sure and safe arrival.

International Digital Scrapbooking Day

No, it was not today.  I was not last week. It was last month, November 1. It always falls on a Saturday. This year, I was actually able to take part. I didn't participate with any groups, just sat at my computer most of the day and produced lots of layouts. It was a fun day and helped me get a lot done.

I wish I had one of those days each month. You would think it would be no problem scheduling such an event once in a while, since I'm retired; but anyone who is retired can tell you, it just doesn't work like that. It doesn't take many days after quitting your job that your days fill up with things you'd never even thought of before. You wonder how in the world you ever had time to work.Then  as the years pass, you start thinking and moving slower and that really complicates things.

On a positive note. I'm really enjoying these years. I  can blog about September, October and November in December and it really doesn't bother me much...a little, but not much.

Christmas is coming and I am more ready for it today than I was yesterday. That is good news.

Color My World

I am, as usual, months behind in my scrapbooking. It seems most of the layouts I have to post right now are of Caleb and Oliver, because two months ago they were here in Ohio.

 I love that fall color and was glad to use those colors on this layout of a picture taken in October...with Caleb coloring on his maternal grandmother's driveway.

Yes, my grandchildren, like my children before them, are and were the color for my world. They made life vivid and I truly love each one.

This Christmas season, I'm thinking of the blessings they have been and are for Ron and me.

Thank you, God, for all they are and all they've done and all they will do for each other and the world.