Xanga

Daniel & Mary Ann

Visiting Buckeyegirlie – Part 4

Sunday, December 13

We had been visiting for an hour before anyone noticed that the cat was sleeping under the Christmas tree.

Cerwin and Daniel enjoyed getting to know each other.

Mary Ann checking out a blog.

Reading an interesting story from someone’s entry.

Daniel enjoyed telling us about some of their interesting clocks.

I think we could have talked for a few more hours.

I had to stop and look at the village one more time before we left. It was beginning to get dark outside, making the lights in the village more noticable.

Crossing a bridge on the way home.

~~~

It was a wonderful afternoon. Thanks Daniel and Mary Ann for your wonderful hospitality.

~~~

A Savior has just been born in David’s town, a Savior who is Messiah and Master.

This is what you’re to look for: a baby wrapped in a blanket and lying in a manger.

Luke 2:8 (The Message)

Mary Ann’s Manger Collection

Visiting Buckeyegirlie – Part 3

Sunday, December 13

This is another entry that will take very few words, and is the neatest collection of manger scenes I have ever seen.  You will notice that a variety of countries are represented. 

And there were some that I didn’t photograph.

~~~

Tomorrow night a few more photos from our visit with Daniel and Mary Ann.

~~~

Happy Birthday

To Our Favorite Gloria

We Love You!

The Father loves the Son extravagantly. He turned everything over to him so he could give it away—a lavish distribution of gifts. That is why whoever accepts and trusts the Son gets in on everything, life complete and forever!

John 3:34-36 (The Message)

Daniel’s Village

Visiting Buckeyegirlie – Part 2

Sunday, December 13

This entry is not going to take many words.

Look closely at each photo to see what is going on in this interesting winter village.

\

I could have stood there a long time just looking at what was going on in each building and area of the village. 

~~~

Tomorrow night:  Buckeyegirlies manger collection

~~~

You could fall flat on your face as easily as anyone else. Forget about self-confidence; it’s useless.

Cultivate God-confidence.

1 Corinthians 10:12 (The Message)

Visiting Buckeyegirlie

…and seeing Daniel’s Village

Sunday, December 13

~~~

 Yesterday morning, when reading buckeyegirlie’s blog, inviting their friends to come and see Daniel’s Village, Cerwin and I decided this was the year to do it, and asked Mary Ann if Sunday afternoon worked for them.

We’ve talked about visiting them, and seeing his village for the past two years, but the timing wasn’t right. This year we had a free Sunday, and since Mary Ann had knee replacement surgery two weeks ago, I wanted to make sure she was doing okay. 

We began our two-and-a-half-hour road trip following church. It was raining when we left church and it was still raining when we arrived at their home in the neighboring state of Delaware. That was better than the icy roads we had when traveling to church earlier in the day.

 The Amish couple in an open carriage definitely needed an umbrella.

 We stopped for a quick lunch about forty-five minutes into our drive.

 Our trusty GPS unit took us across this interesting bridge…

 …and right to Mary Ann and Daniel’s house.

 We met Daniel and Mary Ann last winter when they invited us to a banquet, but this was the first time we went to their home, and had time to visit and get to know each other better.

We were honored that Mary Ann’s mother, Alene (sweetmama) right, and Aunt Freda (Alene’s sister) stopped in to see us. I hope I spelled their names correctly.

It was an afternoon to treasure. (Cerwin took this photo, and I think focused on the clock , but after a bit of work on PIcasa, it’s not too bad.)

~~~

I will show you some details of Daniel’s Village in tomorrow night’s entry.

~~~

His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness. His ruling authority will grow, and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness he brings.

Isaiah 9:6-7 (The Message)

A Mango and A Finch

…and a plate of cookies

Saturday, December 12

 You can tell it was a relaxing day for me when my main feature is a mango and a finch.

 After a leisurely first cup of coffee – no Curves on Saturday – the mango in my fruit basket looked tempting.

 There was only one mango, so I added a pear, and made two dishes – one for Cerwin and one for me – plus a toasted hard roll for each of us, with peanut butter.

It was a wonderful day of catching up on odds and ends on my laptop.

~~~

During the day, I…

…printed a photo someone wanted.

…photoshopped and saved pictures onto a DVD that my brother and his wife asked for the other week.

…updated a few financial reports that I keep in the computer.

…entered lots and lots of addresses into the TFC database. It’s nice to have wireless on a Saturday, because I can sit in our living room and access my TFC computer in the basement.

…watched a few Christmas movies. The best one was about the release and freedom that forgiveness brings.

 During one trip to the kitchen, I saw this pretty housefinch at the birdfeeder, and thought he looked pretty in the late morning sun.

Just as I was ready to post this, there was a knock on the door. It was our niece Chelsey with a plate full of Christmas cookies. 

Cerwin is making coffee!

~~~

That one movie still lingers in my mind.

 Why do we allow anger, jealously, and bitterness to rule our lives – and drain the life out of us?

Unforgiveness freezes us into a time when something hurtful happened, and keeps us from moving on with our life.

Forgiveness allows us to be truly alive while we are alive.