It's Back!

I love this song; and the beautiful video that goes along with it.

After last week's welcomed reprieve, from the snow and cold, winter has returned--here in Indiana.

With the early thaw causing the disappearance of all that dirty, depressing old snow, the cloud covered gray skies, have overflowed to leave a blanket of pristinely white snow, in its stead.

Frankly, it had me all a flutter with disappointment.  Winter!  Blech, It's Back!  My first taste of spring so quickly zapped!

So, to quiet my dissatisfied heart, I sat down and immersed myself in beautiful song.  Songs about winter, snow and the warmth of love.

To enjoy the unshrunk version of the video, click on this YouTube  link.  It will take you directly to the video, on YouTube's website. 

Cold Yet Warm!

The Labor Day weekend was fantastic!

A delightful mix of family togetherness, fun activities, delicious food and the beauty of God's creation!

Our camping weekend was filled with Autumn like weather.  A welcomed reprieve from the stagnant heat of the past several weeks.

Surrounded by crisp air, it felt so good to bask in the warmth and gentle glow of a campfire.  Which, by the way, was my favorite part of the weekend!

It felt so good to be, Cold Yet Warm!

However wrong it may feel to say THAT was my favorite part of the weekend, it was!

Honestly, I DO love my family MORE than a campfire; and I DID enjoy each and every moment we shared.

But, if I had to choose, my favorite "thing" about the weekend would have to be, the crisp air and the feel of the campfire's warmth.

Without a doubt, it was wonderful!

I took a short video to share with you all.

Sunshine, Finally!

After several weeks of dismal weather, snow and clouds, we finally had a day full of sunshine!! It felt like a long lost friend had come home for a visit. I didn't realize how much I missed the sun. I've heard the body needs the vitamin D it provides. Well, I should be good on vitamin D after today. I soaked up a whole lot of it.

I think it's truly amazing how sunshine can lift my spirits and put a pep in my step. It felt so good to feel its warmth on my shoulders.

I love the feeling of climbing into a warm car. You know, after the weather has been really cold and we have that first real sunny day. It's wonderful how it warms up the interior, while the temperature outside is still a bit chilly. Nothing feels better than to sink into the drivers seat of a sun warmed vehicle. It's one of my favorite feelings.

Everything outside looked so much more beautiful in the sunshine. It made everything look so pretty and sparkly. Our cat even enjoyed it. He stretched out in the middle of the living room floor soaking up a ray of sun that peaked through the window.

So, because I had such a fabulous day enjoying the suns energy! I thought I would share the song I've been singing all day.

I give you the uncomprable John Denver; and a beautiful slide show for his song "Sunshine On My Shoulders." The man definitely knew how to put into song the words, thoughts and feelings of love and nature!! One of my favorite artists.

Icicles Galore!

I think Icicles are neat. A result of heat escaping through the roof, sadly, but neat none the less!

The combination of recent snow accumulation on and heat lost through the roof, has caused the formation of these gigantic icicles hanging off our eavestroughs. In a couple places, they dare to touch the ground. But daring is as far as they will get, if my son has anything to do with it.

Yes, Zachary is his mother's son! I am an Icicle-Knocker-Downer from way back! I loved knocking the icicles off the eaves of my parents' house.

Zach loves it too. He watches the ice growth with much anticipation. Eagerly waiting to smash them to bits.

He'd like me to believe the only reason he takes it upon himself to knock them down, is to protect the family from impalement. While this is very noble and I do believe it plays a part, being an icicle murderer myself, I know it's really the shear pleasure of watching them fall and hearing them smash!

The eavestroughs were loaded down with icicles galore! I'd like to say 'No' icicles were harmed in the making of this post, but . . . that would be a lie!

Where's The Nuts?

I love wildlife! However, the neighborhood squirrels and I have a love/hate relationship. I love to watch them scamper about and chatter at me. I hate to watch them robbing my bird feeders and chewing up the cushions on my lawn furniture!

Squirrels can be little criminals, especially when it comes to bird feeders. So I purchased this nifty platform feeder in an effort to keep them away from my bird feeders and out of the bird seed. (Now if I could only come up with a way to stop them from chewing up my cushions!)

Wintertime is the perfect time to feed the squirrels. I usually try to lay out a nut buffet for the furry little convicts on a regular basis.

This particular squirrel stalked me while I was shoveling away the fresh blanket of snow dumped upon us the night before. I'm sure the sight of someone emerging from within made his tummy rumble so, that he just couldn't help himself.
He pursued me, pacing up and down the fence row impatiently! Could he speak he might have said, "Hey lady! Put down the shovel and get me some nuts!" I thought he was going to attack me really. Finally, he took on a posture so aggressive as if saying, "Where's the nuts!?," that the only thing left to do was put the shovel down and go inside in search of something to appease my stalker.

Once inside I found a partial container of Deluxe Mixed Nuts, leftover from my holiday Chex Mix marathon. Well, I thought, the holiday is over and the diet has started why not?
I placed a batch of nuts on the fence post for him and he noticed right away. He actually tried to bite me when I fed him a walnut from my hand! Little stinker, I don't need a case of rabies for the New Year thank you!

Nuts in place, squirrel stalker happy, I was finally able to finish my shoveling project!

Who Is The Reason?

Fair warning! My writing is going to seem more like ramblings. I can't seem to collect my thoughts and write them in a coherent way this afternoon. My humble apologies, as this may read a bit choppy.

That's me, over there on the left, in December 1975. Yep, at the ripe old age of 4 I went down to the Truck Salvage to tell Santa Claus what it was I wanted for Christmas! I can't tell ya what it was I asked for or even remember the day to save my life. But I love this picture just THE same.

I thought it only fitting to include a Christmas photo, since this post is all about Christmas. But this photo doesn't show the REAL Reason For The Season, does it?

From December 1975 to December 2009, a whole lot of years have passed by. Thirty-four to be exact and they went by entirely too fast! Take this year for instance, it's passing away swiftly. I can't believe the Christmas season is upon us already. Where has the year gone? Shoot, before I know it, we'll all be saying farewell to 2009 and ringing in the New Year of 2010!

What? 2010 already! Say it isn't so! It can't be! Lets not go there yet, I'm just not ready! Back on subject here, Christmas time, that is the REASON for this post.

Christmas is one of my favorite times of year. It's the time of year when everything seems so warm and fuzzy. Christmas music begins to be played, families are decorating Christmas trees and baking cookies, Christmas lights adorn our cities and towns, the sound of bells can be heard from the local Salvation Army bell ringers, Santa Claus has arrived to hear eager children whisper their wishes into his ear, snow is on its way and MOST IMPORTANTLY the Advent season begins. That preparation, anticipation and celebration of the coming of the Christ child, the Nativity, our Savior's birth. JESUS is, after all, the Reason For The Season.

Jesus, the Christ child, God's miraculous gift to us all. A Savior wrapped in swaddling clothes, laid in a manger, marked by a bright star as foretold. If you have never or again if you have already, I recommend seeing a live Nativity scene. There IS nothing more beautiful, more inspiring and humbling than seeing a live recreation of that night. As the song says, that silent and holy night when Christ was BORN.

Every Christmas season we remember that miraculous night, when God bestowed upon us His marvelous gift. We celebrate with lighted candles, decorated Christmas trees topped with a star, Christmas carols and hymns, and THE exchanging of gifts one to another. It is a time of year for peace on earth and good will towards man.

This season I am making an extra effort to keep Christmas what it is, CHRISTmas. I won't be saying 'Happy Holidays.' I will, however, be wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!

May you all be richly blessed and experience the peace and joy of Christmas like a CHILD.

Write down the bold/italic words from this post to find out what I think the real meaning of Christmas is.