The Night After CHRISTmas

The guests all went home, the decorations are down and put away until next year, the cleaning is done. What a grand celebration of Jesus' birth it has been and will continue to be in our hearts everyday.

We are now packed and ready to take our "first" retirement road trip. We have the camper packed and ready to head to Redding, California to visit my brother and his family...neices, nephews and all their children, some from New York, some from Florida. We haven't spent a holiday with them in over twenty years and are very excited!

I will be posting on our "Luxury with Blessings and Fun" blog about our trip. You can join us there to keep up with where we are and what we are doing.

CHRISTmas Day Celebration

The Birth of Jesus ~ Matthew 1:18-25 ~ Luke 2:1-7

WOW, what a blessed CHRISTmas we had celebrating with about 30 family members. Some come from Texas, some from Washington State, who arrived on Monday. Many from different surrounding areas in Oregon arrived early Christmas morning.

The turkey went in the oven at 8:am, pork tender loin went in the smoker at 8:30. About 1:00 potatoes were cooked and mashed, gravy made, veggie warmed up and the table was set, ready to eat at 2:00.

We all gathered in a circle, joining hands for a prayer of thankfulness and blessing on our bountiful meal. We enjoyed our Christmas feast together, cleaned up, sang songs, laughed, played cards, Scrabble, visited and reminised about the good ol' days. Had a good ole' fashion time together with family.

Many of the guest left around 6:pm...hubby and brother watched the Portland Blazer/Denver Nuggets Game...Blazer's won.

Celebrate ~ Day 30

WOW, what a fantastic 30 day journey this has been!!

I will celebrate the new people I have met, the fun, connecting with friends and the learning experience.

I celebrate Susan's faithful efforts for keeping the 30 days going with much enthusiasm.

And I celebrate that I hung in there (even though I was late at doing some of my posts), doing my best to read, comment and keep up with the other bloggers who were involved.

I want to wish you all a very Merry CHRISTmas and a blessed and prosperous New Year!!

Journey and Discovery ~ Day 28 & 29

Journey ~ Where will I take my blog in coming months/years?

I pray that I can take my blog to higher heights personally and in business. I will work at it in a new light with all that I have learned during this 30 Days of Blogging. Focusing on relationships. Getting to know and trust others, meeting others, allowing them to look, listen and decide.

I will PRAY, BE unrealistic, think big, think out of the box, work from my passion, stick my neck out take a risk, get out of my comfort zone, be brave, be impulsive, take my time, take my rest, create, dream, have fun, help others to score, listen, admire, give compliments, be supportive, change, surprise myself, re-invent, give, think but not to deep, take action, live life to the max and ENJOY IT!

Discovery ~ Opportunity is never lost. It goes to those who want to accept and grab it. we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us.

I will use my time wisely. I will try hard to post often on my business blogs, Prosper and Be In Health and Luxury with Blessings and Fun as well as The Hand of God blog.

I want people to join, but I want them to LEARN first. You see, if they learn first of their own volition, they are: "SELLING THEMSELVES" When they do that, there is no pressure and it becomes their idea, which makes them serious, which means they stay longer and are more likely to succeed.

Investing in the lives of others is what we are truly all about.

Growth ~ Day 27

Things I have noticed in the last few weeks...How much fun blogging is. What wonderful people I have met and how much I have enjoyed learning more about...

What are you noticing as you reflect on your life: That I do have something good to offer others...your business: That i can mix pleasure with business, it isn't all about business...your relationships: I have met some wonderful people, I've learned about others and their desires and passions.

The seed must be planted and watered before growth can begin.

I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase...He who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. (1 Corinthians 3:6-8)

Seasons ~ Day 26

Live in each season as it passes; breathe the air, drink the drink, taste the fruit, and resign yourself to the influences of each. Let them be your only diet drink and botanical medicines. Henry David Thoreau (1817-1862) American naturalist, poet and philosopher.

What I like about the season I'm in right now that's important to me...

I love the change that usher out the old year and brings in the beginning of the new...

Though the Winter binds us in its icy grip, we have the bright promise of Springtime to look forward to.

Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow.

I Use To Know...Now I Know ~ Day 25

What I use to know, and what I now know about blogging.

I use to know...nothing about blogging, I thought is was a way to promote, of course, God first and our businesses.

Now I know...it is about meeting and sharing with people around the world, getting to know them, learning about them, and they about me, exposure, building a relationship. I have learned that it is people helping people.

I am blessed to have met so many wonderful people through blogging.

Ritual ~ Day 24

"Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you." (Matthew 6:33)

I get up each day and I have a daily calendar that I read before my devotional and prayer time. I don't always get my devotional time, but I do always read the calendar devotional. If I don't have the calendar because I am away from home, I always have a Daily Bread with me.

Let me start my work in faith, continue in obedience and finish with love.

If I put God's will and His righteousness first in my life, He will take care of everything else.

Make A Wish ~ Day 23

"Beloved, I wish above all things that you may prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers." (3 John 2 )

That I can be the example to others that they would serve the Lord and trust in Him.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on our own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths. (Proverbs 3:5-6)

I am willing to make the mistakes if someone else is willing to learn from them.

Stretch ~ Day 22

Oh me oh my, the wonderful relaxing of my whole body!

Stretching is a powerful part of any exercise program. Stretching increases flexibility and improves range of motion of your joints. Stretching even improves circulation and helps relieve stress.

Breathing is the essence of being. It is the only bodily function that we do both voluntarily and involuntarily. We can consciously use breathing to influence the involuntary (sympathetic nervous system) that regulates blood pressure, heart rate, circulation, digestion and many other bodily functions.
Breathing exercises can act as a bridge into those functions of the body of which we generally do not have conscious control.

Changes ~ Day 21

I am so much enjoying this journey of blogging…even though I get behind at times, I will take the time to catch up.

Changes I see in me as I post more often...I am making and taking the time to visit and comment on other’s blogs, truly enjoying what I read and what I am learning about them and their passions. God has gifted them all in their own special and unique ways so that others may learn from their wisdom, knowledge and life experiences.
In the same manner, other’s are reading and sharing mine.

Memories ~ Day 20

As I reflect back, I am remembering my Grandmother and the restaurant she owned and all the wonderful times our family gathered at her restaurant, enjoying each others presence, celebrating life, eating good foods. This connects to my life now because I am a very family orientated person and very thankful for people and life. I also enjoy cooking for family gatherings.

This little story so reminds me of my Grandmother.

Grandma’s Apron

The principal use of Grandma's apron was to protect the dress underneath, because she only had a few, it was easier to wash aprons than dresses and they used less material, but along with that, it served as a potholder for removing hot pans from the oven.

It was wonderful for drying children's tears, and on occasion was even used for cleaning out dirty ears.

From the chicken coop, the apron was used for carrying eggs, fussy chicks, and sometimes half-hatched eggs to be finished in the warming oven.

When company came, those aprons were ideal hiding places for shy kids.

And when the weather was cold, grandma wrapped it around her arms.

Those big old aprons wiped many a perspiring brow, bent over the hot wood stove.

Chips and kindling wood were brought into the kitchen in that apron.

From the garden, it carried all sorts of vegetables. After the peas had been shelled, it carried out the hulls.

In the fall, the apron was used to bring in apples that had fallen from the trees.

When unexpected company drove up the road, it was surprising how much furniture that old apron could dust in a matter of seconds.

When dinner was ready, Grandma walked out onto the porch, waved her apron, and the men knew it was time to come in from the fields to dinner.

It will be a long time before someone invents something that will replace that 'old-time apron' that served so many purposes.
It can be a good history lesson for those that have no idea how the apron played a part in
our lives.

REMEMBER:
Grandma used to set her hot baked apple pies on the window sill to cool. Her
Granddaughter’s set theirs on the window sill to thaw.

They would go crazy now trying to figure out how many germs were on that apron.

I don't think I ever caught anything from an apron. BUT LOVE!!

The picture is of my sister, her daughter and I. Our aprons say...Bunn's of Fun on them :-)

Do join us in this fun journey of 30 days of blogging

Take A Walk ~ Day 19

30 day blogging journey.

I took a drive to visit a girlfriend. It was such a beautiful day and I enjoyed walking around her house, enjoying the crisp chill in the air, the sun shining, the beautiful change in colors of the trees, listening to the water flowing in her pond and the flowers. The beauty of God’s creation and how the seasons change with such beauty all around.

Reflecting ~ Day 18

Reflecting back on my blogs...

Discovering ~ Day 3, going visiting. I am learning about others and their passions, connecting and reconnecting with others. I am enjoying this journey of 30 days of blogging.

Discovering ~ Day 17

I enjoyed reading all the blog. Heidi's was a jewel...

Heidi ~ Love your blog! Precious gems in it for sure. I will definitely be back to check out the links you provided.

Heidi has a beautiful way with words. Thank you Heidi for your precious gems.

Question ~ Day 16

I asked my husband, Larry why he likes taking the Biometics Products?
He said, I likes it because I knows that I'm getting the vitamins and minerals my body needs. What I take goes directly into my cells, instead of being wasted in digestion.

What are his favorite product to take?
The Bio Alert, Get~Go~N~Plus...I use to get so tired and by lunch time I could fall asleep standing up. And, when I'm out hunting I would run out of energy climbing the hills, walking through the brush and tracking the game. These products definitely keep me feeling great and full of energy all day long.

Join us in a drink to your health. Drink Biometics

December ~ The Month For peace

"On earth peace, good will toward all men." (Luke 2:14)

December brings a chilly gray looking sky. colors are muted, and cold weather seems here to stay. Winter solstice arrives toward the end of the month, with the official first day of winter. Even now, days are beginning to lengthen and we can gradually look forward to more day light.

Though one of the coldest months on our calendar, it is one of the warmest months in our hearts. For it is the month when Jesus was born. He came into the world poor, wrapped in swaddling clothes, His bed a manger. Joseph and Mary, His parents, were far from the comfort of their home the night of His birth, having journeyed to Bethlehem to be counted in a census. Turned away from the inn, they were sent to a stable. There, among common animals, He was born.

The world was changed for all time!

This is a story told many times, but never to grow old. It rings down through centeries, always new and inspiring. For Jesus came to bring peace and love to a weary world. His words and deeds are fresh in our hearts to this very day. The joy of His birth is echoed in the love we share with others.

Sometimes the message of His birth gets lost in commercial trappings of the holiday. It becomes a time of gifts and cards and parties. But we should always remember the real reason for Christmas.

Take time during the holiday festivities to stop and think of Jesus. When His Spirit of Peace becomes a part of our lives, each day will be Christmas, and each night will hold promise of joy in the morning.

So find a quiet corner and say a little prayer, a prayer of love and brotherhood for all men.

Usher the old year out by letting your faith shine like a beacon to herald the new year.

Decide right now things are going to be better for you and for your loved ones and that, with God's help, you will work hard to make it your best year ever!

Make Jesus the reason for the season.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you and yours.