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Morning Devotional...





And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. Hebrews 11:6


Redemption and Salvation

There has to be a personal application of these truths. Redemption has flowed down to mankind from the heart of God through His Son by the Spirit. But salvation, to be effective, must be appropriated and confessed. Redemption is an objective thing. It is something outside of us.

Redemption is something that took place on a cross, but salvation is something that takes place and becomes known inside of us! Salvation is redemption appropriated by faith. The three persons of the Godhead continue to call the lost to salvation.

In the Gospels, we read that Jesus ate and talked with sinners. He knew why He was there. He was not approving their wickedness. He was there because it was His nature to offer help and forgiveness and salvation. . . .

Redemption provided by Christ's sacrificial death for sinners is available to all. Faith appropriation makes it personally effective, resulting in the experience of salvation. God has opened His arms to us. It remains for us to come to Him.



Lord, thank You for redeeming me. Thank You for giving life to me. I come to You and I keep coming. Transform me, Lord!

From Devotions By Dr. Tozer

Merry Christmas everyone!

Hope everyone has a prosperous and Happy New Year.

Hi everyone.  It is still dark here and I have done something different this morning as am still in bed but have read all my email and all the postings on the three boards I write on each day using my iPad.  A lot of good postings since yesterday and I didn't see that anyone had a new illness, just good friendly chat.  It looks like weather problems are front and center in a lot of places.  We had flood warnings for many counties here in Georgia but don't remember hearing it rain during the night.  However there is a hundred percent chance for rain today and potential for some violent weather here in the south.  I think we will have our usual Sunday with church and eating out.  We didn't hear anything new regarding our dil.  Hope you all have a good Sunday.

Don, thanks for the new devotional thoughts for the week.  Dr. Tozer certainly writes clearly and gets the truth expressed in a meaningful way. 

John, glad to see you are safely home for the holidays.

Good morning, friends,

Well, we Bices must have been in a hurry to gather for Christmas - we're doing it today!

So, I'll be enjoying the love of friends and family today.

May God be with each of us, as we worship Him and His Son during this period.

Love to all,
Ruth Ann

Ruth Ann, since it's in honor of our Savior's birth I'm sure it's OK to celebrate today!   

Don, you do find devotionals to make us think!  And that's a good thing.  Thank you!

Thanks for the devotional Don do wish I would get down to your area sometime so we could sit and have a coffee and some conversation. The closest I get to you these days is Kernersville NC Sometimes we are laid over there for the night.
Well we have lots of snow here this morning. At the moment I cant see the neighbors house which is about 3 quarters of a mile away. Guess when this is over I'll be firing up the snow blower again to clear the driveway. Oh well at least we need to be thankful we still have power on and no freezing ran like they do in southwestern Ontario. Lots of power outage there and storm damage. Its suppose to clear tomorrow and stay that way for the later this week except for being colder. That's good as we need to travel to Toronto airport on the 24th to pick up friends flying home from Florida for Christmas. They are arriving at Toronto at 5pm and then we have the 5 hour trek north to get them to their place. so we are hoping for good travelling weather as there wont be much open along the way that night o the way up So better fill with gas early near Toronto so we will have enough gas to make the trip. Looking forward to this Christmas. Home early this year which reduces the rush of what I have experienced other years. Gives more time to reflect on the fact that Christ is the reason for the season. We as Christians have so much to be thankful for. We just need to deal with the greed that so often creeps in. We sometimes loose perspective on what is need and what is want. To often we see wants as needs. Be thankful for small blessings. Till next post. Have a blessed day everyone.

Our garage door was stuck again with freezing temps - not a good morning.  So, I just started making some spicy meatballs for this afternoon.  Called our neighbors a little ago and his wife had gone to church but he felt terrible and was just going to rest and did not want us to come over - he is very weak after chemo.  Don made biscuits and gravy and we will just drop it at the door when his wife returns.  Our oldest son & family return from El Salvador (his company's headquarters are treating them and wanted to meet his family).  We can't wait to hear the stories. 

Don:  Thank you for the well thought out devotions today.  Merry Christmas to you and your family. 

Hello everyone, We had an early Christmas with Keith's sons today. we had brunch then opened gifts. It was great to have them all at the table together as a family. I think this is the first time they have had a sit down meal since I have been here. It was so nice.

Hi everyone.  It is another dreary morning but I think the rain is over and we should see a little sun by afternoon.  Yesterday and during the night there was a lot of rain.  Today will not be my normal Monday as we are not having our men's luncheon today as we decided to take a week off.  So after the housekeepers leave I will go with Pat to get a prescription filled at Kaiser and we will eat lunch out and then stop at Aldi's for some groceries we need.  That will be plenty for today.  I will attend a meeting tonight.  Our DIL is having the feeding tube put into the part of the stomach that was banded off in the gastic bypass and it will be at least Wednesday before she gets out of the hospital.  So our plans for Christmas Day have firmed up and it will just be the three of us and later we will have Christmas with our son and dil when they are able to come over. 

Ruth Ann, it sounds like you will be able to enjoy a fairly quiet Christmas Day since your family celebration was yesterday. 

Jeanne, when there are not little ones involved it seems the actual day we observe Christmas in not that significant as long as we remember the reason for the season. 

John, hope you all avoid the ice and loss of power.  Certainly glad you have a snow blower and don't have to scoop the snow.  That is a really nice thing you are doing to pick up your friends at the airport as a 10 hour day sounds really long. 

Carol, have you had this problem of your garage door freezing shut before this year?  Your son and family will likely have some interesting stories and picture from El Salvador. 

Marilyn, it must have been a treat to have a sitdown meal for Keith's sons.  Isn't it a shame that families don't sit down at the table at meal time.  Glad you have a good time with Keith's sons.  When will you leave for California? 

The winners of the latest mini challenge - Christmas Red - are posted HERE.  Have a look at the great photos and leave a message for the folks to see.

Just home from doing a few last minute things for Christmas. Larry we didn't get any ice here in the north. Only snow and cold so we didn't loose our power up here. Suppose to warm up a bit the end of the week so that will give a bit of relief from all this cold. Glad to be home though till next year. don't have to endure the riggers of the Christmas rush on the highways. I think at times like this people check their brains at the door as they go out on the roads.

Larry we leave for California tomorrow, I am looking forward to seeing Gilbert and family again, it has been 6 months since iI was there the last time for Forest's 8th grade graduation.

Hi everyone on a beautiful, cold, crisp, sunny Christmas Eve day.  I went to Kroger's this morning around 8 am to beat the crowds for a couple of last minute items.  The store wasn't crowded but I was far from the only one wanting to get in an out early.  Today I need to get my Christmas email sent out.  I don't do Christmas cards and letters anymore.  I also have to get Pat's present wrapped and into the car.  The housekeepers put the packages in the truck of the car that we will be taking tomorrow.  So it will mainly put in the food and we can be on our way tomorrow morning.  I did get the car filled up as like to have a full tank when we go downtown.  Right now I do plan on attending a meeting this morning and other than writing on my message boards that will be plenty for today.  Our daughter-in-law did receive the three units of blood yesterday and went into surgery late yesterday afternoon to insert the feeding tube.  We think she will be in the hospital until at least Thursday.  Pat will be cooking ham, making a green bean casserole and a pumpkin pie along with a few other items to take with us tomorrow for our Christmas lunch. 

John, good to read you didn't have to deal with ice and do hope it warms up.  Glad you don't have to be on the roads until after the first of year and hope you, Judy and your family all have a wonderful Christmas.

Marilyn, glad you are going to be able to see Gilbert and family tomorrow and spend Christmas with them.  I bet the grandchildren will be excited to see you. 

I read this piece this morning and wanted to share it with you all.  It is fairly long but I found it worth my while and certainly fits the season.

            Missing Jesus

About a week before Christmas, our family bought a new nativity scene. When we unpacked it, we found two figures of the Baby Jesus.
"Someone must have packed this wrong," mother said, counting out the figures. "We have one Joseph, one Mary, three wise men, three shepherds, two lambs, a donkey, a cow, an angel and two babies. Oh, dear! I suppose some set down at the store is missing a Baby Jesus because we have two. You two run back down to
the store and tell the manager that we have an extra Jesus. Tell him to put a sign on the remaining boxes saying that if a set is missing a Baby Jesus, call 7126.
Put on your warm coats, it's freezing cold out there."
The manager of the store copied down mother's message and the next time they were in the store they saw the cardboard sign that read, "If you're missing Baby Jesus, call 7126."
All week long we waited for someone to call. Surely, we thought, someone was missing that important figurine. Each time the phone rang, mother would say, "'I'll bet that's about Jesus," but it never was.
Father tried to explain, "There are thousands of these scattered over the country and the figurine could be missing from a set in Florida or Texas or California. Those packing mistakes happen all the time."  He suggested we just put the extra Jesus back in the box and forget about it.
"Put Baby Jesus back in the box! What a terrible thing to do," we children said.
"Surely someone will call," mother said. "We'll just keep the two of them together in the manger until someone calls."
When no call had come by 5:00 on Christmas Eve, mother insisted that father just run down to the store to see if there were any sets left. "You can see them right through the window, over on the counter," she said. "If they are all gone, I'll know someone is bound to call tonight."
"Run down to the store?" father thundered. "It's 15 below zero out there!"
"Oh, Daddy, we'll go with you," Tommy and Mary began to put on their coats. Father gave a long sigh and headed for the front closet.
"I can't believe I'm doing this," he muttered.
Tommy and Mary ran ahead as father reluctantly walked out in the cold. Mary got to the store first and pressed her nose up to the store window. "They're all gone, Daddy," she shouted. "Every set must be sold."
"Hooray," Tommy said, "The mystery will now be solved tonight!"
Father heard the news still a half block away and immediately turned on his heel and headed back home.
When we got back into the house we noticed that mother was gone and so was the extra Baby Jesus figurine.
"Someone must have called and she went out to deliver the figurine," my father reasoned, pulling off his boots.
"You kids get ready for bed while I wrap mother's present."
Then the phone rang. Father yelled, "Answer the phone and tell 'em we found a home for Jesus." But it was mother calling with instructions for us to come to 205 Chestnut Street immediately, and bring three blankets, a box of cookies and some milk.
"Now what has she gotten us into?" my father groaned as we bundled up again. "205 Chestnut. Why, that's across town. Wrap that milk up good in the blankets or it will turn to ice before we get there. Why can't we all just get on with Christmas? It's probably 20 below out there now. And the wind is picking up. Of all the crazy things to do on a night like this."
When we got to the house at 205 Chestnut Street it was the darkest one on the block. Only one tiny light burned in the living room, and the moment we set foot on the porch steps, my mother opened the door and shouted, "They're here, oh thank God you got here, Ray! You kids take those blankets into the living room and wrap up the little ones on the couch. I'll take the milk and cookies."
"Would you mind telling me what is going on, Ethel?" my father asked. "We have just walked through below zero weather with the wind in our faces all the way."
"Never mind all that now," my mother interrupted. "There is no heat in this house and this young mother is so upset she doesn't know what to do. Her husband walked out on her and those poor little children will have a very bleak Christmas, so don't you complain. I told her you could fix that oil furnace in a jiffy."
My mother strode off to the kitchen to warm the milk while my brother and I wrapped up the five little children who were huddled together on the couch. The children's mother explained to my father that her husband had run off, taking bedding, clothing and almost every piece of furniture, but she had been doing all right until the furnace broke down. "I been doin' washin' and ironin' for people and cleanin' the five and dime," she said. "I saw your number every day there on those boxes on the counter.  When the furnace went out, that number kept goin' through my mind -- 7162, 7162. Said on the box that if a person was missin' Jesus, they should call you. That's how I knew you were good Christian people, willin' to help folks. I figured that maybe you would help me, too. So I stopped at the grocery store tonight and I called your missus. I'm not missin' Jesus, mister, because I sure love the Lord. But I am missin' heat. I have no money to fix that furnace."
"Okay, Okay," said father. "You've come to the right place. Now let's see. You've got a little oil burner over there in the dining room. Shouldn't be too hard to fix. Probably just a clogged flue. I'll look it over, see what it needs."
Mother came into the living room carrying a plate of cookies and warm milk. As she set the cups down on the coffee table, I noticed the figure of Baby Jesus lying in the center of the table. It was the only sign of Christmas in the house. The children stared wide-eyed with wonder at the plate of cookies my mother set before them.
Father finally got the oil burner working but said, "You need more oil. I'll make a few calls tonight and get some oil. Yes ma'am, you came to the right place," father grinned.
On the way home father did not complain about the cold weather and had barely set foot inside the door when he was on the phone. "Ed, hey, how are ya, Ed? Yes, Merry Christmas to you, too. Say Ed, we have kind of an unusual situation here, I know you've got that pick-up truck. Do you still have some oil in that barrel on your truck? You do?"
By this time the rest of the family were pulling clothes out of their closets and toys off of their shelves. It was long after our bedtime when we were wrapping gifts.
The pickup came. On it were chairs, three lamps, blankets and gifts. Even though it was 30 below, father let us ride along in the back of the truck.
No one ever did call about the missing figure in the nativity set, but as I grow older, I realize that it wasn't a packing mistake at all.
Jesus saves, that's what He does.

Author Unknown.

Larry:  Sweet story about missing Jesus. 

We will start getting ready to stay overnight with daughter and all the family should arrive late this afternoon.  Stopping by the auto dealership to check out papers to sign for our lost title on the car - lost in the mail. 

Red sky this morning. 

Merry Christmas to all.  We should be able to attend afternoon church with most of the children.  Most have to work until their regular times. 

Safe driving for all!

Hi, friends,

It was a wonderful Christmas celebration, with the youngest granddaughter praying such a sweet prayer. There was love to spare, and the two littlest great grandsons had a super good time.

Now, to find a recipe for pretzel salad and get it made. Friends have invited me to be with them tomorrow for their Christmas meal.

Y'all have a good day today.

Merry Christmas, everyone.

Ruth Ann

Merry Christmas Eve, everybody!  Have you missed me? We spent two days in Wichita watching Abby compete (in the evenings) in the Miss Teen Kansas USA pageant.  We were having a blizzard, which we almost beat to Wichita, but it stormed the whole time we were there.  Diane and Jeff know Wichita pretty well, so we all rode with them around the city.  There were six of our family there, in three separate cars!  Diane and Abby went early on Friday, as Abby had to be there in the afternoon and evening.  Mark drove there from his school near St. Louis, and Darrel, Jeff and I went on Saturday morning in our car. Oh--TMI!  Sorry.  Anyway, our girl did really well, came in as a semi-finalist and won a $48,000 scholarship!  It is to one certain university, so they will be checking that out, for sure.  We got home late yesterday evening.

We had a good time with them, did the rest of our shopping and just enjoyed being together.  I was disappointed that our youngest daughter and her boys didn't come, as she had said they would.  But I didn't let the hurt spoil my enjoyment of the time.  As Larry said, one cannot control the actions (nor reactions!) of another person, so we just have to accept what is and go on and live our lives.

John made it in fine on Friday night, and it was midnight or after when we got home with him.  He and Beth are enjoying being together again, and will be out here for supper with us tonight.  They requested chili, so Darrel is in the kitchen working his magic. 

Jeanne, for sure your weather is never boring!  It was very cold here, but now today is sweater weather again, very nice!

I have a few more gifts to wrap, then will sort them and load most in the car to take to Diane's tomorrow.  I will leave mine and Darrel's few here, and maybe John and Beth will want to open theirs tonight.  They will have more at Diane's and that way we won't have so much to haul.  I will be baking pies and sweet potatoes and whatever else for the meal, too, so don't need extra stuff to take along.

Marilyn, glad you had a nice time with Keith's kids, and hope the time with yours will be lovely, as well.  John, glad you are home for a few days, that makes it nice for all your family, especially Judy!

Pat, will you have company there in Guelph for Christmas?  Let me know your plans, I would like to call you!

I haven't been getting my email notifications ----  again.

Ruth Ann, sorry about the news on your foot, but so happy your sons are both doing so well!  Have a wonderful Christmas--oops, I see you did already!?!

I'd best be about helping ol' Santa!

At the Senior Center today, we sang Happy Birthday to Jesus!!  Nice!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR JESUS!!!  I LOVE YOU!

Hi everyone and Merry Christmas as we remember this is to celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Pat finished all the cooking for today except a quick ambrosia salad.  We have to put the food in the car and we can be on our way as the gifts are already in the truck.  We are looking forward to our day with Stacey and her friend.  Our son called last night and said his wife had been able to make a couple of rounds in the hallway of the hospital.  Hope you all have a wonderful day regardless of how you will be celebrating. 

Ruth Ann, nothing like little ones expressing their pure joy at Christmas to make one's heart really sign.  We got some photos this morning showing our great grandchildren opening their traditional packages of new pajama's on Christmas Eve and I am sure by now the other gifts under the tree have been unwrapped and it probably looks like a tornado hit.    Nice that friends have invited you for their Christmas meal today so you won't be alone. 

Janet, you know we always miss you when you are away.  Nice you didn't have to drive around Wichita in the bad weather.  How exciting that Abby won such a wonderful scholarship.  Hope that university is acceptable to her.  I know Beth is excited to have John there to send the holidays with her.

Jeanne, thanks for that appropriate graphic.   

Merry Christmas everyone! I pray everyone has a pleasant day as we reflect on what Christ has done for us!



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And a Very Merry Christmas to you... and you ... and YOU! 

I am on my own today, and most days, but I don't mind it at all.  I have been watching the Christmas movies on TV the last few days, and last night, stayed up to watch the Midnight Mass from Pope Frances.  I remember my mother making that her Christmas pleasure ... every year she had to watch the mass at midnight.

I also recall the several years that Tom, my husband and chef at a popular restaurant, would gather up all the Mexican kitchen helpers (Sous chef, dishwashers, etc.) and we would take them to Our Lady of Guadeloupe church for midnight mass, and then we would treat them all to a breakfast at an all night restaurant.  They were always so grateful.

Today I have already had a special breakfast and plan to get that pizza (that I've saved since anticipating it for Thanksgiving) in the oven for a continuing meal for the rest of the day!  I'll add an avocado and tomato salad.  Funny thing about that:  It calls for a large cucumber, 2 avocados, and 2 tomatoes, a little Balsamic vinegar, lemon juice and fresh ground pepper. I made it a week or so ago, and really enjoyed it, so decided to make it again.  When I got the ingredients out yesterday I noticed that, instead of  cucumber, I had picked up a zucchini when shopping!  Oh, well, I cubed that up anyway and it tastes pretty good! Definitely low carb just the same!   

I'm off to watch some more Christmas programs -- and maybe watch a DVD movie or so -- and listen to my favorite Christmas music.

Here's praying all y'all have a truly blessed day celebrating the birth of our Savior, Jesus!

Good Christmas evening greetings!

It was a good day, with texted greetings from family and friends, and then lunch with friends in a little town about 20 miles away. And, I praise God for safe travel home, for we didn't get through with our Christmas until past dark. That's a difficult time for me to drive. However, our Lord protected me from others and I was able to see well enough to stay safely within the lines.

Your dinner sounded marvelous, Jane. And, that snow sounds absolutely dreadful for y'all to have to deal with, Janet. I loved both the Christmas graphics. How wonderful it is to worship our Lord and to commemorate his birth at this time of the year.

Larry, so thankful your DIL is seeming to make improvement. And Janet, it's also really nice that John has come to visit with Beth again. I agree with them - I really like chili. In fact, that's often a meal I purchase from Wendy's fast food restaurant - their chili is yummy, and seems to be fairly low fat, too.

Much love to all who posted since I've been away and also to those who have been otherwise occupied. May our Lord really enrich your Christmas commemoration of His birth and may your new year bring love, hope, improving health, happiness, and most of all, a deeper, richer relationship with our Lord.

Ruth Ann

We are grateful for our Christmas Eve celebration with almost all of the family.  Youngest son and DIL had to be with one of their German Sheperds that went in for emergency back surgery.  He survived.  We had such a great afternoon and evening - did go to the early children's church service and some of our family had to come later.  All went well until the very last minute when one of the dogs nipped a grandson (teen) in the face.  ER said that it was superficial and they did give him antibiotics. He thinks nothing of it - we all felt such sick at that happening. 

Janet:  Congrats to Abby for winning that super wonderful scholarship!  Nice that John came for another visit. 

Jane:  Love the story about your husband and you treating the help to breakfast on Christmas!  What a wonderful memory for them. 

We decided we needed an extra day to get this house ready for our drive so it looks like we can go on Friday instead of tomorrow.  Weather looks fine for the next several days. 

Much to be thankful for as always. 

Hi everyone.  Another cold, crisp but sunny day here in Georgia.  Yesterday was a good day all around as our DIL was able to come home from the hospital.  We had a nice several hours with Stacey and her friend, Debbie, who she had invited to join us.  We had a very nice gift exchange and Christmas dinner.  When we got home Pat and I were both exhausted from the unloading the trunk full of presents and food at the apartments and then reloading the car and Pat helped get Stacey's things up to her apartment.  I just wasn't up to walking to her apartment. 

I came home and rested for a couple of hour, got up for a couple of hours, and then went to bed at 7 pm and didn't get up until after 8 am this morning.  It is an effort just to move around today as am short of breath and very tired so will be taking it easy today. 

Jane, it sounds like you kept yourself well occupied yesterday.  You gave yourself a Christmas gift by taking things easy and not over working. 

Ruth Ann, glad you could enjoy a dinner with friends yesterday and that you made it home safely.  I really like the chili from Wendy's as well as it isn't bland. 

Carol, is sounds like there was just too much excitement for the dog that nipped your grandson and sure glad it wasn't serious.  However, having to go to the ER on the holidays is certainly not pleasant.  Did you get your car title?

Larry you take it easy and rest up. These days can be so exhausting with all the preparations and running around. Judy and I had a quiet Christmas together and that was the first time in the history of us being together. It was kind of nice as we didn't have to be on the go all day long. This sat we travel to London Ontario to have our Christmas with our daughter.
Well woke up to more snow up here this morning but it is a lot milder. Of course with the mild also generally comes the snow. Oh well the joys of living in the north.
Hope everyone had a great day yesterday, and remember it is only 364 days to Christmas so avoid the rush and start your preparations early.
Later everyone  Have a blessed day

Ouch, John!  ONLY 364 days until Christmas?     Well, I, for one, will probably need that much time.

It is so nice to read of the ways all of you spent our Lord's birthday.  We drove over to Hugoton and spent the day, well, from about 11 on, with our daughter, son-in-law, three grandkids, one daughter-in-law, three great granddaughters, and Beth and John.  It was great!

The only dark spot is that Beth seems to be failing.  She can't seem to stay awake for very long at a time, we can barely understand what she says, and she gets choked so much, coughing until she turns purple.  Thinking about her kept me awake most of the night last night so I am very tired today.  But I have talked it over with our Lord, and once again have placed Beth into His loving hands.  Only He knows what her future holds.

The little girls were so much fun!  We enjoyed their delight and excitement over each gift, and loved watching little Jenna "refusing" to walk.  She is 16 months old, but not yet walking!  She scoots really fast, using one foot to propel herself.  She can stand up alone in the middle of the floor without anything to pull herself up on, but then won't go anywhere.  She's so funny and so cute.

Grandson Mark has only two weeks of school left near St. Louis.  He really surprised me by having baked a LOT of cookies and made candies, putting them into colorful tins and cookie boxes as his gifts for the family.  I knew he liked to cook, but hadn't thought about him doing that!  He even baked white chocolate cranberry cinnamon rolls for their breakfast, and gave me three to bring home.  Of course, I think Mark is a wonderful young man.  (He is 27 now.)

Darrel and I have been enjoying our new hot tub, now I guess I should see what I can do today.  I did promise Beth to come see her today, but I don't think there is anything else on my must-do list.  That's nice, since I'm so droopy today.

Larry, I pray you will feel much better tomorrow.  As you always tell us, we need to just take one day at a time and let God handle things.  We can't do it, anyway, and He's so much better at it! 

Jane, it sure is good to 'hear' from you today!

Pat, how are you doing?

Hi Everyone from Iced and Snowed in Guelph!!!

The roads are fine but the driveways?  Well, that's another question!

We went to my daughters up country about 2 hours drive for yesterday and didn't get home till about 3 am!!!  We had a lovely time though.

Janet, I'm saddened to read of Beth's condition.  My heart goes out to you and of course, our prayers on your behalf.  Please accept my virtual hugs!!!  They are big bear ones!  LOL

Pat, Guelph is worse than Corinth.  We were spared the icing that areas north of us are still experiencing, although we did get another couple inches of snow today.  Glad you enjoyed your day with your daughter, but 3:00 a.m. return home makes for a long day.

Janet, it sounds like you had a full day and mostly enjoyable.  The little ones are so much fun - I laughed about the 16 month who won't walk.  She's successful in traveling her own way, so why try something different?     I'm sorry to hear that you think Beth isn't doing well.  I hope you know she, and you, are in my prayers. 

John, I love your sense of humor.  364 days to Chrismas!   

An unexpected knock on my door this afternoon and there was one of the men from church with a beautiful poinsettia for me.  I had completely forgotten about the distribution of them to elderly and shut-ins.

Hey Judy!  I recognize that tree!  Wow!  Those were the days.  I loved those icicles.  They were so real looking.  And Mum and Dad saved them from year to year.  Well dare we drop any on the floor!!!