Well, here we go...

...into the rush and fuss of the Christmas holiday season, and I'm plum tired of all the craziness!

I have, for a few years now, been growing weary of all the "fuss" that surrounds this highly commercialized, man-made celebration that supposedly was designed to honor Christ! HA! You can call me a "wet blanket" but I have honestly become quite disenchanted by the entire holiday season and all it's "trimmings". I just want to say, "Bah, Humbug"! (Nonsense!...as per dictionary.com)

In all honesty, I am skeptical, not only of the many practices and traditions that have come to symbolize Christmas in America, but of the very roots on which the holiday was created. The entire holiday is MAN-made (not God-ordained) and I fear that the paganistic roots upon which this holiday has been built have permeated through all aspects of it's celebration and festivities. Though Christians have tried to conjure the holiday as a Christian "holy-day", you don't have to look too hard to identify just what the holiday has become!

As one who strives to honor Christ in all things, I am rethinking my celebration of the coming holiday and Christmas season. I'm praying about just what God would have me participate in during this season and how I can best convey to the world (or those who see and know me) that I choose to honor Jesus EVERYDAY, not just during the season of Christmas! I'm suggesting that all of us be wise and seek God's direction and guidance (not our own desires or the prompting of the world) as we enter this holiday season.

I have recently read various articles about the origins of the Christmas holiday and the origins of many of the symbols and traditions of Christmas, and found this web link to be helpful in my understanding of Christmas.

(The link is contained in a web site called, The Refiner's Fire; a site designed by a network of Messianic Jewish Rabbis, teachers and followers) I urge each of you to do a bit of research and to keep an open mind and heart, as you seek God's will and ways.

Hi bloggers...

As you can see, I've been learning to create great mosaics on the Big Huge Labs (Home of Flickr Toys) website. It's SO FUN! Here is a mosaic collection of my adorable grandson, Tucker, his dad (my son, Tim) and Tucker's mother, Emily....and Grandma (me!).

Also are a few photos I took as I began my return trip to CT just before 8 a.m. on Friday morning. The air was quite brisk and the frost looked very lovely on the ground; it was sure a joy to stop and shoot a few photos of my beloved central PA!

My brief visit to PA went very well. I will do the trip again in a few short weeks when Christmas rolls around!

Well, the Thanksgiving season is upon us and I am spending a few short days in the heartland of Pennsylvania, visiting with family and friends.

I am always torn when I have some "free" time off work, struggling with:

1. My desire make the most of my 'free time' to stay at my home in CT, doing much needed tasks around the house, as well as enjoying R & R within the comfort of my own home and surroundings AND...


2. Wanting (and even NEEDING) to visit family and friends in PA and enjoying the peace and quiet and simple life back home in rural PA

As I prayed about this struggle that I faced, I realized that part of my desire to remain in CT was probably a bit more selfish than I wanted to admit. Granted, there are necessary tasks that I should attend to around my home, but much of what I struggled with in remaining in CT were self-indulgent desires to 'feed the flesh' in laziness or self-pampering. When I seriously compared each scenario of my impending vacation, I realized that the most self-LESS (and therefore GODLY-est) thing I could do would be to reconnect with family and loved ones, encourage family and friends (even strangers) in the faith and simply get my focus off SELF and onto OTHERS; those goals would be best served traveling to PA to spend Thanksgiving Day. My plan that I came up with for my current 6-day vacation was to spend the first 3.5 days in PA and the second 2.5 days in CT! Amazing how God really comes through when we seriously lay our dilemma or concerns before Him and allow HIM to guide and direct our path! "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6 Words of TRUTH!

All that said, I am enjoying day #2 of my vacation in PA. Included here are a few photos taken while traveling!

I praised God as I drove since it was my first occasion this winter to see SNOW! I was also granted SAFE travels and am very thankful for God's protection; traffic was VERY heavy even yesterday.











After 4.5 hours I arrived in my hometown of Beaver Springs, PA and I was able to spend some "dinner" time with my son, daughter-in-law and 6 month old grandson. (see photo of this HUGELY HANDSOME little guy!)

I am tickled to announce that my son and wife are expecting baby #2 and was excited to view an ultra-sound photo of my next grandchild!

This morning I enjoyed a late breakfast at my favorite (one of TWO) restaurants in town! While there, I spotted a local Amish farmer having a meal with another 'local'. I discretely snapped a photo. *Please excuse the poor quality, as I didn't want to stand in front of the Amish man and fool with focusing or flash, etc.!








God is GOOD and right now I am enjoying some quiet time at my sister's home, using her spare computer (forgot my lap top!). Next in my plan for the day is to go to the church where I grew up (and where my sister works) to spend a few hours playing the baby grand piano in the sanctuary. I recall that last Christmas vacation, I popped into that church to spend some time praying and was blessed to find this beautiful new piano! Playing this piano was a 'dream'! What's the expression....about the piano playing "like butter"? Well, I am SO looking forward to a bit of quiet time with the Lord today, worshipping Him AND enjoying this lovely instrument of praise!

I will pop in an give an update later during my vacation in PA. For right now, I am praising God for clarity and wisdom in my choice to visit PA and to be His instrument of service.

May you all seek His will for YOU!
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

"Thanks [be] to God for his indescribable gift!"

NKJV 2 Cor. 9:15

As the Thanksgiving holiday is approaching, I trust that each of us will put Christ FIRST and give HIM all of our thanksgiving and praise!

May God's angels surround you... to all who are traveling!

I received the following "10 Reminders" from a former church, Brookside Ministries, Shamokin Dam, PA, where I was a member a few years back. My current pastor in CT shared the same reminders just weeks ago as he encouraged us all to remember that NO MATTER what happens politically, financially or morally, in America or beyond; OUR future is in heaven, beyond all the cares of this world. As "His Beloved", a favorite blogger of mine put it, "Jesus is still on the throne where I'm headed."

10 Reminders in the Face of Uncertain or Difficult Times

1. The Bible will still have all the answers.

2. Prayer will still work.

3. The Holy Spirit will still move.

4. God will still inhabit the praises of His people.

5. There will still be God-anointed teaching and healing.

6. There will still be singing of praise to God.

7. God will still pour out blessings upon His people.

8. There will still be room at the Cross.

9. Jesus will still love you.

10. Jesus will still save the lost.

I'm just going to hold on tight and cling to Christ!