A Common Sight

 Along Texas roadsides, particularly rural ones- the crosses marking a traffic death. Out in the country, miles from any town, and decorated so lovingly for Christmas- heartbreaking. The Birth  of Jesus, God's Gift of Eternal Peace, will be celebrated again shortly. And should be held in our hearts daily.

And while my faith is centered in Christianity I believe that God can come to man and the world in many ways and faiths. All true and ALL centered around Love for one another and this world! It is our hands , our actions that distort and twist that Love!

 

The Tree Comes Inside Today!!!

Its been resting on the back porch for a few days, enjoying the fantastically pleasant weather we've been having before coming in to go to work! In the "olden days" of our marriage getting a tree involved slowly cruising a country road ( yes back then there were country roads where the traffic wasnt going 70mph!) Spotting  the perfect candidate I would hop out, saw it down, stuff it in car and we'd head home ( to our 20 year old mobile home that is!) We were oblivious to cedar pollen then, not about to spend 15$ to buy a real tree, and under NO CIRCUMSTANCES would have considered an artificial one!

We still top the tree with the very same star-angel we placed on our first tree! We were blessed to lift our daughter up to place that star for so many years! Finally, she had to use a ladder,,,, I Dont need Your Help Daddy!  She will be here with us to celebrate Christmas, just hasn't been here to place that star! Ahhhh So glad she has her own life, that we're still a part of it, but.........

 Full Disclosure!  Still no artificial trees!!! Absolutely not! But Hallie wouldnt need a ladder now, Do you know how much an eight foot tree sells for???? Its insane what even a five foot one costs! We wont be cutting a cedar tree for inside, although we have way too many growing on our own land now, but theres nothing stopping us from taking the decorations out side! 

Turn up the Christmas Music! Try this song for the Santa Side

 https://youtu.be/z7geOOwny-M?si=xn9XJVts7_-fgkPv

This one for the True Heart of Christmas!
 https://youtu.be/B-7bHxQU8uc?si=0bkTbIkYPQUrM09d

 

Sorry you will have to cut and paste the links , they wouldnt insert to connect directly!

About this time 45 years ago!

 I was standing in a small room behind the altar at St Peters Lutheran Church of Gay Hill with my groomsmen. I had already checked my boots, and scraped off with my pocketknife, the red nail-polish HE on one sole and the LP on the other- meant to be revealed I'm sure, when I knelt for communion! I don't know to this day who managed to get ahold of my boots!

 I am fortunate to still have those boots, resoled so many times that the upper leather over my toes is paper thin! More importantly, while there were times when our marriage was tested thinner than those boots- today is a milestone both Renee' and I are incredibly proud of AND pleased with! 

The first image is Renee', two days ago with her advent nutcracker chef, starting the countdown to Christmas and preceding Christmas by three days our daughter Hallie's Gotcha Day! ( She comes home for Christmas at midnight that day, maybe the plane will be a few minutes early! In any case her wonderful mother and chef will have a celebratory pastry ready as soon as she's in our arms!) 

 

The second image is of my lovely bride the day after we got the little bit of furniture we owned moved into the house we built 38 years ago, that our daughter came into 21 years ago, and we still ramble around in!

 I ask you, how can a woman , counting the five years we dated and were engaged, spend 50 years of her life around me be more beautiful than ever AND still have a smile on her face?

Truly, it is by the Grace of God! 

Thank You Renee' for saying Yes, for putting up with me,and for putting in the incredible amount of work ( from both partners) it takes to keep a marriage alive and enjoyable for so long! And after our celebratory anniversary dinner at Golden Corral maybe you will be willing to start on year 46??