Catch Up Time!

Okay, we haven't blogged for a LONG time! I've had several people tell me in the last few months that they miss it though so I will try to do a few more posts than in the last year!

Probably the same where you live, but the news this week is the bitter cold! We've had quite a few days now where it hasn't reached 0 degrees F. My father-in-law keeps a thermometer in the valley behind our house and one morning it said 59 below!!! That happened one other time in my memory. It's been tough on the cows, and the water pipes to the cows. Poor Arthur is pretty busy keeping them with fresh drinking water.  

Backing up to Christmas, I had fun making a special pillow for each of the older grandchildren with my new Cricut machine.

The Christmas highlight was having Nate and Hosanna come up for a whole week with their adorable little Ruth. By the way, Hosanna is expecting again!

In January our nephew Josh, who has been on this blog a lot over the years, and Priscilla's friend Jessica got married! What a beautiful wedding with two of the sweetest people!!! I can't wait to see what God has planned for their lives.

It doesn't matter how cold it is, Arthur keeps on working, and anyone else he can get to help. Last week, he got a bunch of firewood with Eli and some grandsons. I hear their going out again today. Brrr! And I'm freezing in the house!

For Valentine's Day I made everyone in the family a hot chocolate bomb. They were so fun to make even if it took me a long time. I'd like to perfect them a little and then maybe sell some at the maze.

Speaking of the maze, this is the first 2021 project for the maze getting worked on in our kitchen. I also had the fun of attending a virtual agritourism conference. Getting together, even if its online, with a bunch of other maze owners is so much fun. Everyone shares their ideas and what works for them. They share pictures and farm video clips. Plus there were lots of workshops.  My brain is "amazed" at all the things we could do! My family wasn't so enthusiastic!

At our church we've been having a ping pong tournament. Pretty much everyone is in it from young children to us older ones. It has been so much fun watching people play that we don't normally see play. 

So that's about it for now. A quick catch up on the last few months. Again, I will try to do better. I actually like blogging way better than facebook because I like to write more than people read. I hope you all stay warm, and count your blessings from God, and name them one by one!

 

Christmas 2019 - So far!

It seems as if the whole month of December we have events that remind us that we should not be celebrating the birth of our Savior only one day of the year!  These are Aaron and Naomi's children at the Immanuel Baptist Church program this last Sunday. For as many programs as we've seen over the years, each one is still special including this one!

Okay, this isn't Christmas but its something that happens most years in December. We ship the calves that were born in the spring. They sold okay and we are happy. It sure cuts down on Arthur's work this time of year! Some years I go along but this year I stayed home and watched it online.

Our church ladies had a Christmas Tea. Jaime D. was in charge and she did such a good job! The theme was Christmas around the world and included foods from around the world, a skit about how Christians aren't able to celebrate Christmas in some countries, and devotional by Arlette, and more.

The young ladies in our church have a Christmas party each year as well and take turns hosting it. Priscilla took the job on this year and made "Gingerbread" houses for the girls to decorate. I wish I had picture of it, but they did an awesome job with them! They sang carols, exchanged gifts, ate, watched a Christmas movie, and had a devotional.

I was asked to share a devotional at the Berean Baptist Church ladies tea this year. I did it on the shepherds and how they were anxious to tell everyone the good news, as we should be. Priscilla, Jessica and Krystal came along and did a couple of music specials. Miriam came along for moral support! I only got this one picture because I thought this wreath made of clothes hangers was pretty creative!

About 35 years ago this year, I returned home from a visit to France and gave Arthur a sweater I had bought for him in France. We got engaged that Christmas! Anyway, every winter he digs it out and wears it. A LOT! It looked good for quite a few years but now he just wears it for work on the farm because its almost see through in places! Last year I thought he must've misplaced it because I didn't see it or that that maybe I chucked it. But one day a few weeks ago, here he was again in the sweater!

We watched Amos and Rebekah's children one day and Miriam and Priscilla entertained them with 5-Day club style Christmas songs, and stories and taught them the verse I Timothy 1`:15 ...Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners...  Such a good reminder that it isn't just about the baby Jesus, but why He came, to save sinners, all of us!

If you have time this special season, take time to pray for our brothers and sisters in countries of the world where they are persecuted, tortured, or even put to death for celebrating Christmas. Pray that God would bless them and allow them to celebrate it in their hearts with joy and for His protection.

Decorating the House

I'm not sure what it is that is making us all eager for Christmas this year, but we couldn't wait to start decorating.  Maybe its the fact that the long fall is over, or maybe its because Arthur and Eli headed to the auction for the day to sell off our beef calves for the year, or maybe its just the thought of all the people that will be coming through our door in the next four weeks! Whatever the reason, we had a lot of fun today! We got a new fake tree this year.  It looks so "perfect" after having real trees for a few years! I like to put all my favorites on, the poinsettias and snowflakes, bulbs and sparkles, and then fill it in with treasured ornaments. That includes a variety of cow ornaments that the grandkids love finding!

Above the bookshelves in our living room I put the family picture the girls got us last year for Christmas along with garland and lights.

The buffet got a more woodland look with an adorable reindeer and the two trees. I'm pretty happy with the trees. They took all of about 15 minutes to make! We'll see how long the bowl of Hershey kisses last!

Miriam put up the giant snowflakes and garland on the kitchen shelf.

Hosanna put up our Bethlehem village on the piano.

Priscilla always sets the village up in the china cabinet. The kids love seeing who can find certain things first, as we ask "Where's the cat?" kind of questions. 

And then there was little Heidi who joined us today. She loved the lights!

Okay, I know that's a lot of decorations, and we haven't done our bedrooms yet. I get it from my mom who faithfully decorated our house from top to bottom each year growing up, as did her mom. It's just in my blood and brings back so many good memories!

My favorite thing about Christmas though, is not only how people tend to put aside the problems of the world, or the special times with family, but the real reason for the season - Baby Jesus! Most of the year people just forget Jesus even came, but Christmas is such a good reminder that we have a Savior that was born about 2,000 years ago, and is still alive today! I know December 25th isn't the exact date of Jesus' birthday, but does it even matter? I'm just so thankful for another day to remind me to be thankful for Him and what He's done for me.

Have a wonderful time remembering the real reason for the season as you decorate your home this Christmas!

Our Family Christmas

We had Christmas with our immediate family on Saturday. I made sure to get a picture of each family this year and so here's Silas and his family.

Isaac and his family.

Amos and his family.

Us!

And Naomi and her family.

The last few years we've gotten together for brunch but this year we did a noon meal. These four loved that they had their own special table, customized with Arthur "made" stools!

Remember all those stockings? Well, the kids had great fun finding out what was in them. 

Sunday night we headed west to go to Aaron's church's Christmas program where they had two of the cutest angels around!  Anna did have a crown and sash but I caught her after she was already taking them off.

So, that leads up to this week and next, which are going to be really busy. We have some overnight company coming so we're cleaning up the house, finishing wrapping up gifts, etc.

Yesterday we had a cow get her leg stuck in a round bale feeder. Not sure how she pulled that one off. Anyway, Arthur got her leg out, and it doesn't seem to be hurt bad, but the cow won't stand up now. If you think of it, would you mind praying that it gets up? We sure would like to save this cow.

The weather has warmed up for a little bit, and so we're getting a little more snow. It's actually nice having it too cold to snow!

Have a wonderful Christmas this week, everyone! Remember to take time to celebrate the baby, our Savior, the one who left His home in Heaven, came to earth as a little baby. Lived, and died, and rose again for us!

Getting Ready for Christmas

I couldn't remember what I said about the Christmas craft show Priscilla and I did, but it went really good. We sold mainly things we sell at the maze with a Christmas twist to them.  

In an effort to downsize this Christmas, I bought everyone a stocking to fill instead of wrapping all the gifts.  The grandkids already love the stocking wall and with nametags on each stocking, they have fun seeing whose is whose. (Or is it who's is who's? :)

Isaac and Aimee cut me a real tree this year.  I love the smell. I love how "real" it looks! I had an extra string of lights so they went out in the courtyard that you can see through the door.

A few years back my dad made me this angel. It needs a new coat of paint, but I still love it and we enjoy hearing the angel playing her harp when the wind blows. We've had about six inches of snow since this was taken.

Miriam had two special little helpers this week helping to make Christmas cookies. It's like seeing Naomi when she was small all over again!

Arthur usually buys my groceries since he goes to Roseau every week for jail ministry. I told him to just get me a bunch of "stuff" to mix together. He did, and here's our Christmas mix. Fast and easy!

Meanwhile, Arthur has been really busy keeping the cows warm and the water from freezing up.  He sold a few calves and thankfully the price has gone up from a year ago.  The big bulk of the beef calves we'll sell in January.

The girls told me I had to do Christmas cards this year after skipping last year. I gave in, and today I've been addressing them and inserting the letter Priscilla wrote. She definitely has a way with words that I don't have, so I'm glad to turn that part over to her.

With the new year just around the corner, I've been thinking about the past year. It was much easier than last year, which was one of those, "I hope it is never that hard again" year. God has been good and faithful both last year, and this year. He always has been, and always will be, even if things don't always seem like it. With that said, I look forward to Christmas, and another year to see what God is going to do. Both in our family's lives, and in the nation, and world. It is an exciting time we are living in!  I joyfully look forward to the Lord's return!! Maybe this Christmas!!

Have a great week, Everyone! God loves you!!!