Ice, Ice, Babies

We were out Friday for a snow day, even though we knew that our precipitation prediction landed squarely in the ice band. By 7:00, our town’s social media page was already drumming the dramatic beats of slippery roads and treacherous conditions – a doomsday snow day I don’t take for granted for one moment, particularly living on a pine tree farm. When these weak branches begin to bear the weight of ice, it’s only a matter of time before they snap and break across power lines, leaving us in the dark and cold. As I took our three schnoodle babies out at 6 a.m. for their first morning outing, they pondered only for a moment at the top of the porch before navigating a path straight over to the grass, descending like ducks in a row – avoiding the pavement.

They’re smarter than we give them credit for. Me? I would have boldly stepped down, slipped and fallen, thinking nothing about the danger lurking under the sparkles that appear to be grip-like for early morning feet finding their way. Lots of folks in Tik Tok videos apparently see the same footholds I perceive and go viral in times like these. I don’t want to be them.

We slipped back inside to the warmth after the boys took care of their business, and I turned on the gas logs and the heated sherpa throw (while power lasts) and steeped a cup of green tea with honey. No deadlines, no emails, no makeup or hurried pace. Just a book and a cozy chair by the fire…….next to the Christmas tree that is still up and may stay until February or March or even April in the relaxed ambition I feel in 2025.

My One Little Word for 2025 is enough. And I’m feeling that today. In fact, I’ll take a day like this more often.

speckled-ice walkways

out for their morning business

even dogs think twice

Childhood Church Communion

Even as the new pastor served communion for the first time in my childhood church where my father has served during two different times of his life, he invited two former pastors to join him in this significant event. We watched over 50 years of servanthood history offer communion together, and it was meaningful to see family and faith in such a beautiful image.



Photo by Viktoriia Nechytailo on Pexels.com

on Sunday we watched

First Baptist Church of YouTube

(my home childhood church)

as three pastors served

communion together in

decade history

past, present, future

threading connections through time

serving Heaven’s love

Action Planning Acrostic

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As the year begins, we

Consider all

That we want to accomplish:

Insurmountable

Obstacles

Never-ending

Projects

Loom large

As we stand back

Navigating a path

Negotiating the tasks ahead, asking:

Is it all that insurmountable, really?

Not when there is a structured plan to

Get the wheels turning…….

For the Sake of the Pig

Photo by Brett Sayles on Pexels.com

My husband’s work sent a Heavenly Ham to us, and with just the two of us and a ham heavier than a lab puppy, I wasn’t quite sure how to make it work before it spoiled. The life of the poor pig weighed heavily enough on my conscience that I set out to be a good steward of all the readying he did before giving his life for our sustenance. I dug up a bag of black eyed peas and carved the meat from the bone, mixing protein and fiber together. It’s in the crock pot today, and it will be ENOUGH to get us through winter Sunday dinners with cornbread.

Ham Haiku

we don’t eat much pork

but for the sake of the pig

we’ll have ham and beans

Merry Christmas!

Few things give me greater pleasure than walking into the woods to gather Christmas greenery to create our own holiday decorations. On Christmas Eve, my husband and I took a bag and some pruning shears to snip some of nature’s finest fragrant (and free) gifts. As we light the candles to remember our mothers at Christmas dinner today, we celebrate the simple beauty of family, of friends, and of love that transcends this life.

May you find, in all the merriment of the day, true peace in the real reason for the season – the eternal life we have because of Jesus Christ. And the assurance that we will again be joined with those no longer here around our tables in person. That’s the most precious gift of all.