Thanksgiving

This photo, taken by Mona, shows the closing hour of a day as a combine makes its last swipe down a field of grain. Harvest time; to me - thanksgiving time. I never think of one without the other.

This is a special weekend. Family and friends will get together. We can let pre-conceived expectations ruin our family times if we expect perfection. Some of you may find Selfish Sally, Snooty Sam, Mouthy Martha, Ritzy Rose, Angry Ann, or Greedy Greta at your family dinner. LOVE THEM. It is not your job to change them. Just relax and let them be who they are.

If you have compassion and forgiveness, for that is how love is shown, you will come to the end of your thanksgiving day with the same warm, gentle feeling the above picture invoked.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving and reap the harvest of real love.

Standing Guard

We can learn the promises of God, but we have to protect that seed from the enemy who will try to snatch it away. We have to keep it alive in our hearts by reminding ourselves of what God has done and is saying to us. Too easily the spiritual lessons we learn can be forgotten and life becomes business as usual. We become a hearer only and not a doer.

We will miss many blessings when we do not stand guard. (Photo by Mona.)

I Beleive Series part V

I have been with my husband this week and have not had pictures available to use. Then my sister sent this picture of her grandson. She was explaining how she never let her children do this, and now her grandchildren get away with all kinds of stuff. She has moved on to a new level of adventure!

I believe we can all change.

I believe there are no secrets to success. It is the result of preparation, hard work, and learning from failure.

I believe we should move on to new experiences and circumstances with a sense of adventure.

I believe fear and dread result in frustration and defeat.

I believe Prov. 23:7, "As a man thinks in His heart - so is he".

I Believe series part IV

My niece, who lives in Montana, took this from her office window last Friday. Now I feel cold. Winter seems to be coming kind of fast in the west.

As we continue this short journey, looking at some lessons learned, I will share three more thoughts for today.


I Believe... Two people can look at the exact same thing and see something totally differently.

I Believe... Credentials on the wall do not make you a decent human being.

I Believe... Maturity has more to do with what types of experiences you've had and what you've learned from them, and less to do with how many birthdays you've celebrated.

I Believe series part III

This is a memory from summer - a photo I did not use. The actual size of each peony is amazing. They usually end up on the ground because they are too heavy for the thin stalks, but I always enjoy that corner of the yard for a few weeks. I will share three thoughts for today:

I Believe... It isn't always enough to be forgiven by others; sometimes, you have to learn to forgive yourself.

I Believe... No matter how bad your heart is broken, the world doesn't stop for your grief.

I Believe... Our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become.

God can help us in those three areas. We are not left to work it out on our own.