snow = Life

Ok I know by now most of us, save the snowboarding enthusiasts, are feeling like there has been enough snow, and we are longing for the sweet springtime to appear.
It's coming. We know this. It will flutter...come and go a few times...then suddenly, everything will be green... the lillies of the valley, tulips and Daffodils , and new life will be abundant, and we'll sit outside and go to parks and all too soon, we'll be fanning ourselves, beneath the summer sun.
Our spiritual walk follows a similar pattern...long winters, brutal, harsh realities, beat us down, steal our comfort, bleakness where it seems we are in a whiteout...where is the end, the comfort, the promise?

It's coming. We know this. It will flutter, come and go a few times....and then He will return to us...the Lily of the Valley, will appear in all His Glory, to renew us , new beginnings, new life, new mercies, a new pattern slightly different from the last time...and finally we will be basking in the Glory of the Lord, fanning our faith under the presence of the SON....and receving His promise of Life once more.

Rules for civility #6

"Sleep not when others speak, sit not when others stand, speak not when you should hold your peace, walk not on when others stop"

Where to begin? Ok, so rude to fall asleep when someone is talking to you.

I knew that guys were suppose to stand when a lady entered the room (how many young men do you know that know this) but apparently, it's a respect thing toward anyone- So do you struggle when you are at a group event and a small group of people stand and applaud...but you don't think it was worthy of a standing "O" ...YET there is that point where more people stand and you feel, "hey, man I'd better stand or I might look...what? rude or disenchanted?
or worse, like I don't get it...
yikes, so you stand up!

If I could only learn one thing,I'd opt to keep quiet when I ought.
I would look so wise.
Pr 30:11 "A fool vents all his feelings, But a wise man holds them back."
I continue to work on this one...

Sorry George, sometimes I have to keep on walking when others stop.
For I have decided to follow JESUS!

also at certain times while at Home Depot :)

rules of civility #4

"In the presence of others sing not to yourself with a humming noise, nor drum with your fingers or feet" (George Washington's Rules for civility & Decent Behavior)

I bet ole George had an interesting story that went with this one...
I skipped 2 & 3 because they talked about touching or exposing body parts inappropriately....so just don't do that, ok.

Drumming fingers usually means boredom....I get it.
How does one drum with their feet????? Would that not be dancing while seated? I have been guilty of that, sorry.

Now about the humming...what are your thoughts?
We hum when we are happy. That's a good thing, isn't it?
or...we hum when we are up to somthing...(at least I do)
My Mom hums a bit when she is thinking somthing over...
and my late mother in law used to hum, right after she criticized me.
Makes you wonder, doesn't it?

Rules for Civility #1

1st
Every action done in company ought to be with some sign of respect
to those who are present.

From George Washington's Rules for Civility & Decent Behavior

George was pretty smart and respected. We can learn a few things fron him.
We all recognize, that if we are to survive as a free country, we must return to a time of civil discourse. Start here. Be mindful of how your actions or words will affect those around you. Prior to acting or speaking...and ask yourself, "will this offend?" & "Is that my intention?" " Does it encourage discussion or aggression?" "Who benefits from this?"
While it is necessary that we share ideas and arguments pro and con on issues in order to arrive at a workable solution, it does no one any good if we leave angry and convinced that we cannot communicate with one another on any level.

Do not be ignorant...

of the devil's devices...2 Cor 2:11
Excerpts from The Screwtape Letters, chapter 3)

"In civilised life domestic hatred usually expresses itself by saying things which would appear quite harmless on paper (the words are not offensive) but in such a voice, or at such a moment, that they are not far short of a blow in the face.

...see to it that each of these two fools has a sort of double standard. Your patient must demand that all his own utterances are to be taken at their face value and judged simply on the actual words, while at the same time judging all (other)utterances with the fullest and most oversensitive interpretation of the tone and the context and the suspected intention.

(they) must be encouraged to do the same to him. Hence from every quarrel they can both go away convinced, or very nearly convinced, that they are quite innocent. You know the kind of thing: "I simply ask her what time dinner will be and she flies into a temper."

Once this habit is well established you have the delightful situation of a human saying things with the express purpose of offending and yet having a grievance when offence is taken."

forewarned is forearmed.....

throw it out

Saw this on Foxnews this morning and bob and I decided we would...so OK we are not counting the things , but we each just grabbed a drawer and sorted it out, pitching the unimportant.

AHHHHHHHH I feel so good! We're gonna keep this going, and we will tackle the attic and the garage attic this year-For instance, I will be throwing out the little kitchen set we bought sarah when she was 2.
and...the christmas puppets- that were immense fun 5 years ago,
(Chris's impersonation of Lori in a poncho- priceless ) but have not been used since. so kids listen up....if you want this stuff come claim it now!


Also on my list scaling down the Christmas decor, I no longer have the stamina,room, or will to accomodate all of it. Goodbye clutter!

Christmas