Wanna Build a Snowman?

I don't know what y'alls answer for that question is, but I don't want to!!!!   I could if I wanted to, but I don't want to.    You know how when you hear the weather news and you're thinking, "naw, that ain't gonna happen here", well, it happened here!!!!   hahaha    Yes, it did!     It just came a blizzard and it's still coming down as of 6:57 pm.     My youngest brother texted me a while ago and said, "Years from now people will be asking you if you remember the blizzard of 2016".     I texted him back and said, "I haven't survived it yet; people may be saying "the blizzard of 2016 took her out, remember that?"   hahahaha  

I did get out and walk around and took a few pictures this morning before noon.     It's always fun to do that.     Last year when we had one of our snowfalls, my winter boots had blow outs and I had to order a new pair and they got tied up in a snow bank somewhere before they finally made it to me.     I can report to y'all, they work really well!!!     I had fun in them today and took a few pictures. and wanted to share them with y'all.    Enjoy!

The snow on this rail is another 2-3 inches higher than it is there.   uggghhhh

This is in front of the garage door.   I was still on the deck and didn't know how bad it was.

 I was still on the deck here looking back between the garage and the house just to see the weight on the pine trees.

This is the partial fence that we have at the back of the house for just a bit of privacy.   It always makes for some fun pictures.

This is almost out to the road.    I didn't go all the way out.    It was really hard trudging thru the snow and I forgot my glasses too, so I was in a hurry to get back closer to the house.

This is looking down our driveway.   You can see all the pine branches broken off the neighbors pine trees.    It will take quite a bit of time for hubby to get all this cleaned up.    Thank you snow.   hahaha

This was just a little bit of a branch that had broken off and was about to be covered by snow.    I took a pic before it was completely covered.

This was another branch about to be hidden by the snow.

This is behind the garage looking at the fence area.   You can see the branches down  and more will be down before morning.

 This is really such a shame.    The last three years has really taken its toll on the neighbors pine trees.

This is another branch that has broken off.   There was 3 or 4 big ones that broke off so far, as well as as many smaller ones.

This is one of the holly trees on either end of the front of our house, taken from the back side of the tree.

This was just an iced over twig of a lilac bush.    I took a bunch of pictures close up, but it was with a new camera, and I'm not good with it yet, but this was one of the better ones.

This is some ice "tickles" hanging on the partial fence at the side of the house.    I call them "tickles" because they tickle me.   I love seeing them.   I don't enjoy the large ones that can be dangerous, but I do enjoy the smaller ones.    That's why I call them ice "tickles".   hahaha

 Just a few more ice "tickles"'

Another shot of the ice and snow covered lilac bush twigs.

Well, this is all the news that is the news from my neck of the woods.     I hope and pray that where ever y'all are tonight that you are warm and safe.    I am always reminded that while I may be safe and tucked away in the warmth of my home, that there are others that are not so fortunate.

Thinking about all the snow today got me to reminiscing about the days of yore!    hahaha      Makes me sound ancient, doesn't it.    It actually was quite a few years ago.    Where did the time go?   Oh well, the year I was the sophomore and my brother was a senior, it snowed a blizzard just before we was to go back to school from the Christmas break.     It was the perfect storm, so to speak, for snow. It was a snow that packed really well.    It was wet and heavy.   I got out and built a snowman that was as tall as I am.    It was really heavy for me to get it stacked, but I managed to do it all by myself.  I was so proud of my snowman!!!!!    He had everything that made him special.   A hat, a scarf, stick arms, a coal face and a carrot nose and coal for buttons down his belly.    He was quite the snowman.   I admired my snowman and watched him every day, for sooooo long!!!!     School was actually out for quite a bit of time.     But, the weather got better and we got back to school.     Every day the sun would shine and my snowman would refreeze at night.    No significant melting took place for weeks and weeks.    It finally turned into an ice cube snowman.    January ended, February came and went, March came and went and my snowman was still standing tall and strong.    April came and he started melting bit by bit.    He started getting skinny, but he was still holding his own.     One day my brother and I got off the school bus and he tossed his books to the ground and went running toward my snowman and done a kung-fu kick in the air and destroyed my snowman!!!!!    Boy was I mad!!!!!     I was so hot under the collar, I just couldn't believe he had done such a thing!!!     How could he!!!!!      I wanted to see just how long he would last, but nooooo, he had to destroy my snowman!!!!     Sounds kinda like I still hold a little grudge doesn't it.    hahaha    Well, I do, just a little.    hahaha     Not really.     I just thought about that after he texted today and I laughed about it.   So I thought I would share it with y'all.

I hope and pray that every one has a blessed, warm and safe night.    I know they are calling for really bad weather along eastern and north eastern area of the US.    Parts of the area are already without electricity.    I pray for safety for all of those people and for the people that will be out in this weather trying to fix what the ice and snow has torn down.    Take care every one.    

Stay safe Ladybug!!!    Sweetpea loves you and is sending warm thoughts your way and still counting the days!     Yay!!!!

Thanks for stopping in this evening y'all.    Just remember, God loves y'all and so do I!   hugs, Patty

Christmas and New Years is over, Now What?

WooHoo!!!!     Good morning, in the middle of January 2016!     I do hope that everyone had an awesome Christmas and that you kept the true meaning of Christmas in the forefront of all of your festivities.     I will tell y'all that I really tried to be ever mindful of the birthday of Christ.    I have got to where I try hard to not get wrapped up in all the secular hub bub and running and going and doing.    That has helped me a lot!!!!!     Don't get me wrong, I do things and try to stay connected with friends and family, but I don't have to be everywhere and do everything.    I try to choose the special things and the things that I know will help me stay focused on Christ.    I missed the Vesper Service at church on Christmas Eve and for that, I am really sad.    That is always such an awesome night, but I was unable to attend this year.    But I am still blown away by the Christmas Cantata that my little church sang.   The choir is less than 20 people strong, but you would think you was listening to a 100 strong choir.   They sing as if singing before the Lord, which in fact, is what they done!

My family got together at my Mom's Christmas and it was an awesome day!     One of my brothers did not make it, he was having Christmas with his family and that is certainly ok, but he and his wife were truly missed.   Had they been there, they certainly would have added to the joy and laughter.   There is always something going on, someone telling a story, or someone trying to reenact a particular event, and I'm telling ya, sometimes it gets down right hilarious!!!!    That is the joy of having come from a big family.     There is always new stories to tell each time we are together, and some of them are great story tellers and know how to get you involved so it makes you feel like you are right there in it.    And food!!!!!    Can we talk about the food for just a second?    Well, some of the best food in the world is always found at our family get togethers!    And none of us are what you would call "skin and bones" either.    Sometimes, I really wish the food wasn't as good as it is!   Seriously, I do.     On the other hand, I am thankful that we can all cook and know how to make food appealing to look at and taste good.  

My mom is the pie baker.     My hubby and I was talking on our drive home Christmas evening about my mom's pies.    He loves chocolate pie!!!!    That is his all time favorite pie.    He said that my mom's pies are the only pies he has ever eaten that had the same taste as the pies that his mom used to make.    Everyone that has ever eaten my mom's pies always rave about them.    My aunt and uncle still love my mom's chocolate pies.     So, back to the chocolate pies.     She didn't make any chocolate pies this Christmas!!!!     Oh NO she didn't!!!     Hubby went to the dessert table and was searching high and low, only to NOT find chocolate pie.    He did find coconut pie though!!!    That's what she made this year.    He said it was really good, considering it wasn't chocolate.    hahaha     Y'all know how I am about purple, right?     Well, that's how hubby is about chocolate pie!!!!     Yeah, right!    I know, it's a bit scary, isn't it?    hahaha    Oh well, he enjoyed the coconut pie and came home with a couple of pieces.    hahaha

We didn't do much on New Years, just stayed close to home and then went up to visit with my Mom for a little bit and enjoyed the day together.    We're not much on getting out and being a part of the crowd.   I'd rather be at home with hubby and just enjoy that time together.    

Look back at the title of today's post.     That is what I wanted to look at today.     What did we learned during this past Christmas season that we can remember all year long?   Lets look at Matthew 2: 1-10 for a minute.

Matthew 2:1  Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, Wise-men from the east came to Jerusalem, saying,   2 Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we saw his star in the east, and are come to worship him.   3 And when Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.    4 And gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ should be born.    5 And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judaea: for thus it is written through the prophet,   6 And thou Bethlehem, land of Judah, Art in no wise least among the princes of Judah: For out of thee shall come forth a governor, Who shall be shepherd of my people Israel.   7 Then Herod privily called the Wise-men, and learned of them exactly what time the star appeared.   8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, and said, Go and search out exactly concerning the young child; and when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him.   9 And they, having heard the king, went their way; and lo, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was.   10 And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy.

As we look at this scripture, we see that it was a star that led the wise men to Jesus.    This star appeared in the night sky.    They had studied scripture and had long awaited the appearance of this star.    This star led them to Christ, the long awaited King.    The only purpose of the star was to point people to Jesus.    When the wise men followed the star that stopped right over where Jesus was, they went in and worshiped the King, that was birthed in a tiny baby's body.    As I pointed out, these men had studied scripture of old and believed what they had read and then believed what God had allowed them to see!    We know the story of Herod, how he wanted to worship the babe, but in reality, he was a jealous, power hungry beast that only wanted to kill baby Jesus.    That is not necessarily what I want to focus on, but needed us to be aware of that part of the story at hand.    God's plan was carried out as He had planned.    The wise men seen Jesus and worshiped Him, believing what they had seen. We have two accounts that scripture backs up of shepherds and wise men encountering angels and a star to lead them to the Christ Child.     The Savior of the world was born, and people have been drawn to Him and have had their lives changed ever since that day.

What was the purpose of the star that the wise men seen?    Have you ever thought of that?     If you are fortunate enough to live in a part of the country where you can still see the night sky, you are very blessed.     In most of the areas around cities, there is enough city lights that light up the night, that the stars are not as bright as they are out under a night sky far far away from the city.    I remember nights sitting out under the blanket of stars on the hill where my grand parents lived when I was a younger.     It was as if you could reach and pluck a star from the sky.    Just as stars have a purpose, so do we.   

The star that led the wise men to Jesus done what God had created it to do.    Just like the star that guided those men to Jesus, like wise, you and I are to do the same.    We are to shine for Jesus in the darkness that is around us.    Darkness makes a star shine brighter.    No star ever shines for itself.    It shines for others to be able to see in the darkness.    Just like that particular star, during the time of Jesus' birth, we are to be shining to point others to Him also.    If you or I are shining, only to bring others to us, then our star will dim and quit shining.     But, if we are shining with the sole purpose of directing others to Jesus, then you will shine just like the stars in heaven.    That is what we have to decide.   Do we shine for self for a short period of time and then burn out, or do we shine brightly pointing others to Christ with every breath we take, putting Him in the forefront?    Let me say that again, if you are a born again believer in Christ Jesus, then you are a star, pointing others to Him!!!     Matthew 5:16  Let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.

Now what?    Point others to Christ!!!   Nothing more, nothing less, nothing else!!!!!    Over the next few short months, we will start looking toward the Cross.     The birth of Christ is what made the Cross experience possible, which in turn, makes it possible for us to be in right relationship with God, thru the shed blood of Christ.    Talk about a GIFT!!!!!     Let your light shine, be a shining star for someone to see Jesus, pass that GIFT on!!!!

As we progress thru the beginning of a new year, let us do so with joy and exuberance and the dedication of pointing others to Christ.    As we remember the days of 2015, let us do so with joy also.   I know it can be painful to do for some.     Every one of us have been toughed by sadness and grief this past year.    When we experience the loss of loved ones, whether it's family or friends, it can be hard getting thru the grief.     My church experienced significant loss thru the deaths of several members in 2015.  We are still grieving and will for a long time to come, I'm sure.     One of my precious friends just lost her mom during December.     I pray for her and her family as they go thru this transition period without their mother.    So, it was a tough time for her and her family in one sense, but also joyous in another sense.     

I too, am so sad to say, one of the best friends I ever had, went home to be with Jesus on Dec. 11th.     She was 53 years young, much too young for this to have happened.    We were what we called "soul" sisters.     She was Pearl Love and I am Pearl Joy.    We weren't afraid to say the hard things to each other.    I love to be around people that make me feel better about myself by pointing out who I am in Christ.    That's what we did for each other.    When we would be struggling with something, God would give us fresh insight on a scripture to share with each other.   Our relationship was based on who Jesus Christ is and how He alone, has changed us from the inside out.    We both wanted more of Christ and tried to be a star pointing each other and others to Him.    She would call me out on an unbecoming attitude and I in turn would do the same thing and felt nothing but love for each other for doing so, because I knew her heart and she knew mine.     We had prayed for a miracle for her and believed with all our hearts she would get it, and she did!!!!!     She got to spend this Christmas with our Lord and Savior!!!!!     Pearl Love, I am so thrilled you are not in pain any more!!!!!!     I was reading some of our conversations in texting and cracked up at all the "basil" jokes that you come up with for me one time.     I am so thankful to God for the time He blessed us with to be friends and sisters in Christ.    I know there are many other ladies that can say the same thing.    There are numerous lives, around the world, that you touched and changed through your relationship with Christ.   You are missed and forever will be.    I can see you dancing around the streets of gold now with your pink tutu.  That was the first image that I had in my head when I found out of your home going.     I said, "Thank you God that she is now at peace and pain free!"     Till we meet again, my dear friend!!!!!!

If you have someone in your life that you love and they are experiencing changes that just don't seem quite right.     They may just not feel up to par.    They may have different complaints of something just not feeling quite right, please INSIST on them going to the dr.    Take them, if necessary.     Go with them, if necessary!!!    Just don't take no for an answer!!!!     Their life may be in the balance.   Same goes for yourself.    If something doesn't feel quite right; if you notice changes in your body of any kind; if you just don't feel like yourself, go to the dr and find out what's going on.    Go to the second and third dr till you get to the bottom of it.   Find out what it is and deal with it.   Do not put your health off, please!    Put yourself on your "to do" list, as a gift of you, for the people you love and those who love you.

I hope and pray that each end every one of y'all have a Happy New Year and that you ring it in with Christ in your heart and that your resolution for the New Year will be to be a "star" of revival that points others to Christ!    Make plans to spend 2016 with Jesus Christ at forefront of all you do!!!!    Get revived!!!!    Grow deeper in your relationship with Christ!!!!     Revival starts within ones self, and then it can spread like wild fire.    Make 2016 the year of Revival!!!

I have a few craft projects that I want to share with y'all very soon, but I felt the need to get this blog post out, so that's why it's without a project.    God bless y'all as you go thru the days ahead.    I think winter has finally hit my area on the map and I must say that I'm not loving it!!!    Not at all!!!    But I am truly thankful to God for heat and I bet y'all are too.    So, we make the best of it and have lots of hot soup on cold days.    It may be cold outside but the Son keeps us warm on the inside!!!!    Take care of yourselves and check on anyone whom you know that may have needs during this cold spell; you could be the difference between life and death.

Ladybug, I'm counting down the days and I know you are too!!!   Love you and see you soon!   Sweetpea

Hope y'all have a wonderful day and remember that God loves you and so do I!!!    hugs, Patty