How not to reap the whirlwind.

We are fearfully and wonderfully made.

When we allow our children to be taught that they are a mere blob of tissue that evolved from primordial slime, we cannot expect them to value their life or any other life.

God values conception, life, and birth so much that Jesus came into the world conceived by the Holy Spirit, nurtured in Mary’s womb, and born the same way that countless other children have been born - except that He was fully God and fully human. Jesus values our lives so much that He gave His life to redeem them.

We need to teach our children to value life - both their own life and the lives of others. The longer we allow inconvenience to kill innocent lives through abortion, the longer we support films, music, or television that glorifies violence and murder, and the longer that we turn our eyes away from families when they cry for help, the worse things will get.

Gun control is not the answer for protecting our children’s lives. A person intent on harm will find another weapon if a gun is not available.

Change the heart, though, and you change the life.

We need to take a step in the right direction to change hearts. Today. Now. First, get on your knees and pray.  Ask God how you can model a lifestyle that values life. Then, ask how you can “train up” children to follow the Lord and see things the way the He sees them. We can change the world one heart at a time. As parents, grandparents, big brothers/sisters, foster parents, teachers, mentors - we can make a difference.

Lifting up prayers for our nation,

Kathy           

Train children in the right way,

and when old, they will not stray.

Proverbs 22:6



Can has Funtry Friday?

Can has nap?

Oh, yes... the watch dog sleepeth...

 

Can has little birdies in the chicken coop?

Um... not my first choice for you to chase sparrows in my chicken coop, Puff...

just sayin'...

 

Can has pretty ice sculpture?

Ooopsie... can has time to fix the leaky faucet?

 

Can has pink horse?

Hershey, did you make a trip to the horsie salon and I didn't know about it?

 

Can has pretty sunset?

Oh! I see! Hershey has been "dipped" in a beautiful sunset that turned him all pink.

 

 

Happy "can has" Funtry Friday!

Blessings,

Kathy



What about that Magi thing?

Magi. We see them in the Nativity at Christmas. Those three Wise Men from the East who followed The Star.

Say huh? 

Did you know the Bible doesn't say there were three wise men who came to worship Jesus. There were three gifts.  And, by the way, the wise men didn't visit the stable either. Fortunately Mary, Jesus, and Joseph were able to move to a house by the time the Magi arrived.

The Magi and their gifts - a treasury on Etsy

So what is that Magi thing all about? and what about their gifts?

Gold... a gift for a king. Frankincense... anointing and deity. Myrrh... suffering and death.

Are the Magi all about their traveling so far? about how many people there were and what kind of gifts they had? about following the star to a stable or a house?

What is so important about the Magi?

They bowed down and worshiped Jesus and then gave Him gifts.

This Christmas, take a little time and give Jesus a gift. Your time to call a friend in need, a donation to your local food bank, an Angel Tree gift, caroling at the VA, a World Vision gift... or? Where will you go to be His hands and feet this Christmas season?

Blessings,
Kathy

As they came into the house and saw the child with Mary his mother,

they bowed down and worshiped him.

They opened their treasure boxes

and gave him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

Matthew 2:11 NET

Remember... Pearl Harbor Day

My father was a WWII Veteran who served in the South Pacific on the USS Franks, a destroyer in the US Navy. 

He did not speak very often about his wartime experiences.  I do know that he enlisted in the Navy so that he could protect his widowed mother and his sister, and insure that the enemy who bombed Pearl Harbor would not attack their homeland. I know this because he shared that with me when I was in college.  Last year, my sister surprised me by framing this wonderful tribute to our father and his service during WWII.

Yes, we remember!

The portion of the original newspaper page that my father saved from December 8, 1941, is preserved in this frame.

Details of the Japanese attacks were printed in the newspaper, as well as the entire text of the message delivered to Congress by President Roosevelt asking for a Declaration of War.

There is a record included in this tribute to Dad, too. One that he recorded.

This is what Dad wrote on the label:

President Roosevelt's War

Message to Congress, Dec. 8, 1941

Dick Golter

12/7/42

 

This has been a wonderful way to remember an important part of my dad's life. I wanted to share this with you because today is Pearl Harbor Day.  I also want to thank those who have served and are serving to protect the freedoms that we have. Thank you, also, to the families who have waited, are waiting, and who have mourned the loss of a loved one. God bless you all.

 

Blessings,

Kathy





Living Creatively

Most of you know me as a watercolor artist, who plays around with ink and a few other mixed media "recipes". It's especially fun when I get to play "art" with my delightful grandchildren.

I have been playing with paint and drawing horses since I was a child. I have also been playing with dolls that long. My Nana used to make all kinds of stuffed toys and dolls and I think I never outgrew the love for them. When my daughter was young, I used to design, create, and sell all kinds of dolls. Of course, I also made some just for "playing", too!

Yep, I made all of those - and lots more. Several of those were made from patterns that I created. I really enjoyed designing doll patterns - especially the crocheted ones.

For a brief time, I even created a few porcelain dolls. Here is Titania from Midsummer Night's Dream.

I entered her in a competition and won a ribbon for her. Not the big blue one, but I was still very happy about winning a "runner up" award. It was my first (and only) doll competition.

It was lots of fun to bring this creation to "life".  That's what is especially nice about living creatively - there is a joy in taking simple raw materials and watching them become something wonderful. Like turning paper and paint into a beautiful painting, or wire and beads into stunning jewelry.

Or this pile of fabric into...?

Hmmmmm.... what shall we be creating here, I wonder?

Hope you are having a creative day, too!

Blessings,
Kathy

The real stuff.

December 2nd???

Make a list. Check it twice. And then check it again. Did I forget anyone? Did I forget anything?

Check the calendar. I have to be where? when? How many days to get that done?????

Answer the emails. Answer the emails again. Answer the... oh, forget it! Call...

Order this. Order that. Order that? or order this???

Town day. Another town day. A town day again. Another town day?!?!?!?

Alright, already, STOP!

Revise list: Put "Remember the real meaning of Christmas" at the top of it.

***ahhhhhh***
Priorities. I love how simple that makes the complex things of life.

December 2nd. Time to relax and enjoy the preparations to celebrate my Savior's birth!

Care to join me?
Blessings,
Kathy

And Mary said,

"My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior..."

Luke 1:46