Almost Christmas

Well it's definitely that time of the year. this Sunday was our children's program at church for Christmas. I love to see and hear the young people. they did a great job!




Masterpiece

When they were little, they scribbled -
As for the colors, they didn't care
Their fists held tight around the crayons;
Circles and lines were everywhere

Through time, their talents surfaced
And true artists they have become...
Shapes and colors now have meaning,
It's not like when they were one

They have learned to stay within the lines;
To cut and paste and glue
Art of cheerios and macaroni -
A true masterpiece, who knew?

Time and effort glue each piece,
No reason, nor thought of waste
Cautiously, the work evolves;
Little fingers stuck with glitter paste

And for a moment, time stands still
Sweet child creating what we hold dear -
A pure and priceless work of art,
For which we know we will never part

© Stormy Lower


Thank you Lord for children.

Checking In

Miss a day, miss a week, miss a week and soon I haven't written in a month. Life has been good though. I'll catch up better soon. I hope :)

They had a lot of different Christmas trees at the local museum.

That is a few of them.

Have a wonderful week, Happy holidays, Merry Christmas

November 19

Today was my Dad's birthday. I was blessed with the most wonderful childhood I could ever hope for. He was the best a gentle but strong man of faith. He spent time with us , fishing, walks, rides to grandparent's farm, my first hot fudge sundae on a father , daughter date. He loved my mom faithfully and our little family. There's so much in my heart and memories . He is always with me though he is in Heaven.

I love you Daddy . Happy Birthday!

When do you feel like blogging and have you ever simply written a blog in hopes to simply get back into the groove of it? I have a wonderfully ordinary life which doesn't mean perfect by any stretch of the imagination but it may get a little monotonous to post the same kinds of things all the time. Anyways today the sun is shining bright but it is quite deceiving. The temperature is probably a good 20 degrees below what the average is for this time of year. I dressed in many layers and took the dog out again. On the way back in I saw all the snow and icy stuff on my car and dread having to clean it off to go anywhere. I just had some chicken noodle soup. Good food for a cold day. My tummy feels happy!

Baby it's cold outside!

Our First Snowfall This Season

I'm happy that i have my dog . We are great buddies but she is quiet well behaved on our walks. She seldom ever pulls on her leash. she gets so excited when she sees it because she knows we are off on an adventure. She thinks of it as a positive thing. This morning I woke up to the scenery of fresh fallen snow. I thought of it as a positive. Somehow the first snow falls are most exciting. If it's cold anyways I think snow is the beautifier to the trees which are getting increasingly bare. If I didn't have the dog I probably may have gone outside in the yard to take a few photos but I wouldn't have bundled up and took a long walk through the fields and woods. My kids are grown so I wouldn't get out to play in the snow much without my husky. I got a little cold but I enjoyed it mostly.

Simple Trust

Sometimes I have to remind myself that I don't need to have to try and be like anyone else. It is also true that there are times I need to step out of my comfortable space and reach out to someone who is in need or try new things but even then, I need to be myself. This is not to say that there isn't room for growth, there is plenty for that. Life has changes and there have been personal changes in me, but it's all been a process. I read things about introverts and extroverts and some articles and videos about introverts seem to favor who I am, but I really do not care to be labeled. I'd rather just be Cheryl. Yes, quiet for the most part comfortable enjoying the warmth and security of home and peaceful surroundings. I've often felt a little socially awkward, but I realize that is only because I think I have to be a certain way. I have people I love in spite of differences, and I know I am loved in return.  If I'm in a highly social situation surrounded by a lot of activities, my family itself is big and there are a lot of gatherings, but even then, I need to withdraw from time to time just to recharge. The sermon at church today was awesome. It was about Joshua and how the Lord God was sending him into new and unfamiliar places. I'm quite sure this can be a little disconcerting even to the extroverted personality type but to an introvert can you imagine? It's kind of like, "Cheryl I'm going to send you on a journey, but I can't exactly tell you what it will be like or what to expect. I know you love your quiet days and peaceful walking places, but I have a new place for you to walk because I have something really big in store for you. If you trust me and hold on to my promises you will be blessed. Do not be afraid." I would be like "Whoa! what is it and who is it that you are sending me to. You must know that I shy away from change at least sudden change. Can I have a year or so to slowly ease into this thing? It takes me a week just to pack for a vacation. Can I take all my familiar things with me?" Trust is such an awesome word when it comes to God. It is not knowing what will happen but to know that the One who is asking will provide everything that is needed for the journey of faith. It means just staying focused on my Heavenly Father and letting His Word guide me trusting that He will work all things together for good.

Joshua 1:9 "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

It's a new week. Who knows what is in store for me or you or any of those who God places in our path and who knows for sure if there will be a God given challenge to step out of what is the usual and walk somewhere unfamiliar? I pray I can be ready. My heart and soul have been spoken to today!

So often we do not really discover the amazing capabilities that God has placed inside of us until we are placed into a situation that requires trust. It is in these unfamiliar places that we grow.

Good Morning

My son is home for the weekend from college, the dog is sleeping on the rug and the sun is shining through the curtains. It's a cold day but it is a blessed day. we don't really have specific plans for the weekend except I do know we will probably work on the house and getting prepared for the holiday festivities. I wish you all a wonderful weekend.

Heavenly Father I thank you for this day and for the simple but wonderful things that prove in so many ways how blessed that I am. You have been there for me in the times of sunshine as well as distress and you have heard the questions I have asked without turning me away. You realize that situations in life can be hard to understand and although you haven't answered all my prayers the way I would have wished at times you have given me strength and grace to move forward . Thank You for the lessons learned and for holding my tears in Your bottle. Nothing is unnoticed by You.

Bless my family and bless my friends. I thank You for this new day and for the brightness of the SONshine of Your love.

Cheryl

I have so many reasons to rejoice!

Life is good

I guess this should be on my dog blog but she's part of my family. We take our daily walks and she loves me unconditionally , not that a snack doesn't help :-)

I'm just putting a little here and there and slowly easing back into blogging. Just light stuff for now. We'll see how it goes.

Hope everything is fine in your world!

Autumn and Thanksgiving

Oh glorious Autumn. It comes and goes too fast. There photos are from when everything still looked warm and magical. Now the trees are getting bare.

October gave a party;
The leaves by hundreds came,—
The Ashes, Oaks, and Maples,
And leaves of every name.
The sunshine spread a carpet,
And every thing was grand;
Miss Weather led the dancing;
Professor Wind, the band....
The sight was like a rainbow
New-fallen from the sky....
~George Cooper, "October’s Party"

Another couple weeks it will be Thanksgiving. Family will gather here. It's warm , a time of sharing , breaking bread together and simply enjoying each other. For some Thanksgiving is reaching out to the homeless and those who are need . I remember growing up my mom would always have an extra guest or 2 or more who didn't have a place to celebrate because they were away from family or whatever the situation. Some of the people who came to our little church were military and she would invite them. Thanksgiving is special to me because it has memories filled with love. Not only were the trees bare in upper Michigan in November but often we had snow for Thanksgiving. I'll never forget the smell of Mom's homemade rolls and the celery and onion sauteing in the pan and that turkey cooking.

The magical golds and reds of Autumn leaves may go away yet there is beauty all around us as family and friends draw near. I am so thankful for the love I have been blessed with.

Tahquamenon Falls

The photos are from Tahquamenon Falls in northern Michigan





One of the largest waterfalls east of the Mississippi, the Upper Falls has a drop of nearly 50 feet and is more than 200 feet across. Four miles downstream is the Lower Falls, a series of five smaller falls cascading around an island.

I love the water , ocean, lakes, streams and falls.

Dear friends,
These last 6 months since my daughter's engagement have been some of the fastest ever. She is my only girl. I also have 3 sons. I'm not saying having a daughter is better but I have to admit it's been a different feeling with her wedding. Everyone seems to think first of the bride being the center of attention and indeed it was like that. She was and is beautiful.

I have been so focused on wedding and busy with shower and helping them plan and do invitations and many other things that got a little or a lot stressful the last couple weeks that arriving to the blessed day and now being through with it that I am feeling calm but kind of tired in a different unexplainable way. things feel a little dull. I need a project but not one that huge for awhile.
I'm so happy for my daughter and son in law! They are a beautiful couple and so much in love!

More to follow .... I have a ton of photos. this is one the photographer did

May 16

Have a blessed weekend.
I love the picture with the father and baby. That photo is my grandfather holding my dad.

May 15

I'm sorry I didn't take too long to get into some sort of block about writing. I think it's just been busy and I am working on trying to get disciplined in other areas I have let slide. the wedding is in less than two months now . I can't believe it. There are all these invites and RSVPs to get out now.

I've been a bit in a rut I think. I went to the gym today after wasting my money for too long telling myself I'll just go tomorrow. Tomorrow kept coming and I wasn't going. I talked to my brother on the phone and he helped encourage me. Lord knows we all need encouragement. I haven't been eating that great or sleeping that well either. Maybe I am a little stressed. I try not to let it show. I am happy and I am excited about good things happening. I don't know what happens to me.

Tomorrow is May 16. That is the day my Dad passed away 2 years ago. It's been a rough time for Mom especially. She is so lonely. she also lost her mother and 2 sisters and a brother (whom she was very close to ) in the past 2 years. The winter in northern MI hasn't helped. i think there will still be ice on Lake Superior in July! It was bitter cold this year.

I like it when I get the blog going and visiting pages. I'll get there again. I've taken some steps forward so I'm hanging in there!

Enjoy your weekend everyone!