Sunday, December 29, 2013


 Check it out!!!

This month's featured artist, Kathryn Housepian, is also a gifted writer.  One of her books is available for Kindle purchase on Amazon.com.  Below is my review for the book, followed by a link to it on Amazon.
Enjoy!

Review
My Father My Heart is a beautifully transparent, genuine telling about Kathryn Housepian's relationship with her father.  I was taken in immediately by the welcoming first paragraph, which stirred within me my own happy childhood memories.  Because of the common thread then, of a childhood perspective toward a loving parent, the reader can, if she desires, travel on a journey with the author, and learn that death, in all its finality from the world's point of view, is not such a horrible event.
With courageous honesty, Housepian shares why she decided to stay by her father's side and "bear witness to the terrible beauty of the coming days".
Though the title includes "Farewell to a World War 2 Veteran" I found it to be as much about life as it is about death. Perhaps that is why, to those who's aging parents still remain on Earth, the book is tremendously comforting.  jdc

http://www.amazon.com/My-Father-Heart-World-Veteran-ebook/dp/B0089ZPYN6/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1388380349&sr=1-1&keywords=kathryn+housepian




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Monday, December 23, 2013

Merry Christmas!!!


Christmas Eve has arrived!  Well, the morning of, anyway.  It's 1AM and I'm waiting for the meringue cookies to finish baking.  My 19 year old son is awake as well.  Together we baked and iced cookies, laughed into the night as we got just a little too tired and slap-happy, and now here we are, still up in the wee hours of Christmas Eve morning.  In just a few moments I plan on getting ready for bed, and am wondering how many other folks are up at this hour-thawing the turkey, baking, writing to do lists for the next few days, or wrapping presents.  It's nice to take a moment and think about the day, which was very busy but wonderful.  Time spent with friends and family, a little last minute Christmas shopping, baking, and listening to those familiar Christmas TV specials in the back ground-made for a blessing filled day.  Tomorrow I have lots to do but plan on enjoying every minute of it!  My prayer is that I remember throughout the Christmas holiday why I celebrate The giver of all the blessings I've mentioned here, of all good things, gave us the most perfect present!   2nd Corinthians 9:15 says it well: "Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!"  


                                  Wishing all of you a joyous Christmas!

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Thursday, December 12, 2013

Taking Christmas Slow


Our family room tree


Most years my Christmas decorating starts in early November and by the weekend following Thanksgiving, my house is decked out in greenery and lights. I often have 2 or 3 open houses planned, complete with caroling, and with that planning comes cleaning and baking and numerous trips to the grocery.  It's all fun for me, mind you, all the crazy hectic celebrating. I love catching up with people, laughing, singing, and just being together. To me a full house is a happy house!

This year, however, I'm taking Christmas slow. The first decorations didn't come out until after Thanksgiving. I waited until my son was finished with his college exams to get the small live tree for our family room. It was so nice to have him decorate it with me. The family room tree is the tree full of memories: Ornaments the kids made when they were young, pictures in tiny frames, gifts people brought to us from their travels.  If I had been in a hurry to decorate I would have missed that time with my 19 year old talking and reminiscing while we hung the ornaments.  My older son has stopped by several times over the past two weeks and it has been good to be able to talk with him as well.  Had I been planning for my usual parties I'm afraid I wouldn't have sat down with him at the table like we did for such heart-warming conversations.

My heart is overflowing with thankfulness to God for the gift of His son, but as I write this I still haven't baked a Christmas cookie or bought gifts for under our tree.  Yesterday, I received phone calls from 2 dear friends.  It was great to be able to catch up without feeling rushed.  Today after I finished work I spent a couple hours with a wonderful friend and neighbor, Betsy, sharing tea and some of the best fudge I've ever tasted!


This is a different type of celebrating to me.  It's restful, refreshing to my soul. 

If you know me you probably know there most definitely will be Christmas celebrations at my home next year, because that's what I love to do.  It's true.  To gather and celebrate the birth of our Lord and Savior is always a joyful event and I believe we should do it often! This Christmas, though, I'm enjoying the blessings God has given me in a quieter, less crowded way.  I guess what I'm saying is I'm taking Christmas slow this year.  It's nice.                                                                ©2013jdc


 Psalm 62:1 “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.

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Friday, December 6, 2013

Snow!







It is snowing!  The ground is white and the flakes are  those big fat beautiful ones that seem to swing playfully back and forth as they float down to the ground.  I know that it can be treacherous out there, with the slippery roads and sidewalks.  I understand that in our busy crazy lives we don't "have time" for snow-but I'm encouraging you today, to stop and look, really look at the snow.  I did, and it was wonderful!   Go outside and look up and let the snowflakes land on your face.  Look around and see how it decorates the evergreens.  Listen to the quiet.  Even a soft rain makes a noise- but snow- it's so quiet when it lands.  Today with all the school closings on the news, I found myself praying for the safety of those who must travel in this weather, but I also took time to look at the beauty of the snow and thank God for it.  Stay warm and cozy everyone!

“It was You who set all the boundaries of the earth; You made both summer and winter.” ~Psalm 74:17

Snowfall


Outside, walking in winter's white,
Just before the dark of night,
I saw the branches high and low
Were painted perfectly with snow.
 
Each evergreen, dusted with care.
Not a single needle bare.

  The frosty paint was also laid
      On items human hands had made.
      The mailbox, and the garden swing,
     Decked out in crystal coverings.


I knew no mortal could portray
This beauty cast in white and gray.


 And for a moment-frozen there,
As I breathed in the icy air,
And leaned against a maple tree,
I sensed God's presence there with me-

My God, who made this world I know,
And paints it perfectly with snow.
                               ©2012 Janet Carol Davis

(Poem is repost from 2012)                               











 


 

Friday, November 29, 2013

Thankful!



Friday, November 29th

Throughout the month of November I've enjoyed reading the social media posts about thankfulness.  Since I missed the boat this year, I decided for today's post I’d list 10 things for which I’m thankful.   (Some of them surprised even me.)
Here ya go!
1)  God: The Father, Son and Holy Ghost-all powerful, all knowing, all loving, all forgiving, and always here.
2)  Family: All of them.  Immediate and extended.  AMAZING!!!!  We all have way too much fun together!

3)  Friends: old and new. My peeps-buddies-pals-love them all. 

4)  My doggie. We thought we were going to lose her this year.  One hero vet, a surgery to remove a 3 lb benign tumor and 3 months later, she is like a puppy again! 

5)  The vet mentioned in item 4.

6)  Interrupted plans: that’s right. It seems we make plans and pray and think we are on the right path, then life gets in the way.  Interrupted plans force  me to listen more closely to God.   When I listen to Him I find peace and clarity and the ability to slow down and appreciate the gifts in front of me right now.

7)  Hardship:  Let’s face it.  Life can be hard!  Bad stuff happens.  But I see now how those dark times have brought me closer to my Heavenly Father.  There is a line to a song by Switchfoot that says it well: “The shadow proves the sunshine.”

8)   Love:  That's all I'm sayin'...

9)  Music:  The way it speaks to my soul.  It lifts me, makes me want to dance, causes me to smile or brings  tears to my eyes.  Music inspires.

10)  Creativity:  I am thankful for our God given ability to express ourselves creatively and for the joy it brings us to do so. 
     Hope everyone had a wonderful time with  family and friends this Thanksgiving!  Enjoy the leftovers!
1Thessalonians 5:16-18
"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."


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