TODAY IS December 22, 2025
AROUND ME Last weekend we had a foot of snow. I am happy to report that it is all gone. However, I was awakened early Friday morning around 2:45 to horrific winds that sent metal flying through our backyard as well as our neighbor kiddos' trampoline from their back yard into a field between our houses. We lost power at a few minutes after 3:00 A.M. and it was restored a few minutes after 8:00 A.M. So thankful that everyone is safe.
I AM PONDERING how quickly this year of 2025 has passed by. I've met some goals I'd set at the beginning of it...and Resilience helped me to achieve some of them. Now I am thinking about next year.
AMONG MY FAVORITE THINGS
BOOKS I AM CURRENTLY READING The Dawn of Redeeming Grace by Sinclair Ferguson (an Advent devotional). In the Midst of Life by Jennifer Worth.
I AM THANKFUL FOR a successful laser eye surgery for Strong Heart and a successful eye surgery for my son-in-law with both occurring last week, just a day apart.
FROM THE KITCHEN I've made lots of cookies and also made some peanut butter fudge as well as some chocolate nut fudge...and caramel popcorn.
SOMETHING I REALLY ENJOY beautiful sunsets. Took this photo from our kitchen window one evening last week. The picture doesn't do it justice. It was such a beautiful array of pinks and purples. Please excuse the icicles. :)
SCRIPTURE FOR THE WEEK
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TO DO LIST FOR TODAY visiting my two brothers to deliver Christmas goodies.
"So teach us to number our days,
so that we may present to You a heart of wisdom"
Psalm 90:12
Good morning....that was as storm. You never know where those trampolines are going to fly off to. I am amazed with those icicles. They are so long. I always enjoy getting snow (rarely) but I'm always happy when it's gone. lol. your ornaments are all so neat. I am pondering the same thing about the year 2025.. Seems like yesterday that we were all talking about our word for the year. Now it's time for a new word. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas...
ReplyDeleteYes, it was, Friend! The length of the icicles is fun to watch as we have warming sessions, and they grow in length. :) Thank you for your kind words regarding the ornaments on our tree. The majority of them were gifts from my mom. She loved Christmas and whenever she would buy a new ornament for her tree, she bought two and gave me one. She's been with the Lord 8 years now. I've really missed her this Christmas season. Wishing you and Sam a wonderful Christmas filled with love and your precious family.
Deleteso glad the eye surgeries went well!! That wind was wild but ours wasn't as bad as yours. I am ready for Christmas! now we wait to see who is healthy to get together, may viruses going around here.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Karen. Both guys are doing well. Your Christmas time will be so much fun with the littles close by and I wish you and your sweet family a wonderful Christmas. There's a lot of virus stuff going on around here too...and whooping cough, of all things!
DeleteI enjoyed seeing your ornaments. Some look like things on my tree - I also have angels on mine that are similar.
ReplyDeleteWe still have snow on the ground but probably not for long as it's supposed to be in the 40's this week. We had high winds on Saturday night too.
Enjoy this week as we look ahead to the celebration of Christ's birth!
Thank you, Mari. The majority of the ornaments on our little tree are from my mom. When she would shop for ornaments, she always bought two and gave me one. I think all of the angels but two are also ones that she gave me. We've been having some warmer temperatures doing the days so far this week and still in the teens during the nights. I don't do wind well...it truly makes me ache. Don't know if you experience that too or not?
DeleteIt's been a good week so far...spent time yesterday (Monday) with one of my brothers and his family. Looking forward to Christmas Eve service at church!
So good to visit you! Glad that snow is gone. We had the same winds move through Missouri about a week ago. I love all your ornaments. Things look so homey. What a beautiful sunset! Hope you have a very Merry Christmas!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Monica. It's always a blessing to have you stop by. I miss your blog posts. May you and your family have a wonderful Christmas celebrating the birth of Jesus. xx
DeleteThat wind storm must have been so scary. I'm thankful you were not adversely affected. I'm glad also that the eye surgeries went well.
ReplyDeleteWe rarely ever have icicles here so when we do get them kids are thrilled.
Yes, well, I was about to go to the basement for shelter, but it died down a bit, and I fell back to sleep. The icicles are fun to watch as the weather gets warmer and they grow longer. :)
DeleteSuch a lovely post!! I loved seeing your Christmas tree decorations. I can tell they must be very special to you. I'm glad to hear that Strong Heart's laser surgery and your son-in-law's eye surgery went well. Your sunset photo out your window is breathtaking! It could be a great calendar photo for January! Merry Christmas, my friend!
ReplyDeleteThank you, my friend. Almost all of the ornaments were ones that my mom gave me. She had the same ones. The Nativity centered ones are ones I've been collecting the last few years and the Soli Deo Gloria one was made by a good friend of mine.
DeleteThank you for your kind words regarding the sunset picture and also about the guys eye surgeries.
Glad to hear that the eye surgies went well. I can't believe how fast this year flew by. Enjoy the festive season and your family Merry Christmas to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Bill. Merry Christmas to you and your wife as well.
DeleteGoodness those winds sound terrible, so thankful no-one was hurt.
ReplyDeletePleased to read that Strong Heart's laser surgery and your son-in-law's eye surgery went well.
Yes, sunsets can be wonderful and I do like the photographs you've shared.
Sending Merry Christmas Wishes to you.
All the best Jan
Thank you, Jan. I'm a pretty sound sleeper and when wind wakes me up it means it's really blowing strong.
DeleteThank you for your kind words regarding the eye surgeries. We are thankful.
Merry Christmas to you and your family. I hope you will get some time with your grandchildren over the holidays. xx
So nice to see your tree and decorations. Yes, that wind was awful!!!
ReplyDeleteHard to believe the year is coming to an end.
Thank you, Karen. Awful is definitely a good word for that wind last weekend.
DeleteJust think, in a few more days we will be embarking on a brand-new year filled with wonderful opportunities to share the love of Christ with others!
Trustworthy when no one is watching. Wow, you really got clobbered with snow and then the wind. We lost power Monday morning and I've been behind ever since then. :)
ReplyDeleteSo thankful for electricity. My eye was drawn to Soli Deo Gloria on your tree. May it be!
I loved that part of the quote! I was thankful that if we had to lose power that it was during the hours that it was because it didn't affect our usage...we were basically still asleep. I just needed to read my Bible by flashlight. :) Thank you for noticing that particular ornament, my friend. That was actually made by a dear friend of mine a few years ago. She did enough for everyone at church.
DeletePretty ornaments! Wow, that was some wind storm. I am happy the eye procedures went well!
ReplyDelete