CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS for 2014

Time really flies and it's been many months since I've been here on the blogspot.  This farmgirl has been working on keeping the faith, keeping her eyes on the Lord, keeping her thoughts focused on things of the Lord and keeping on keeping on.  2014 has been a year of learning a LOT about WHO God is and how wonderful He is.  A year to learn more about the importance of family, friends, taking care of yourself and trusting.   December 2013 was a hard month to navigate through.  December 2014 is a month that is brighter, and one in which I'm able to look ahead and see that God is good and will bring us through ALL of our struggles.  This December I turned 66 and am a "bonafide Medicare card carrying senior citizen".  On the 28th my hubby and I will celebrate our 46th wedding anniversary and what a ride that has been.  On the 31st our daughter, Robin and her hubby, Jim will celebrate their 10th wedding anniversary and we are praising God for their relationship.

I'm constantly reminded of how the attitude of gratitude will make or break my day, my week and my life.  I'm truly grateful for what the Lord has brought me through this year.  I'm looking forward to 2015 being better, healthier and more focused on the things of the Lord, and my family relationships to be closer than ever!

I share with you some photos of the Christmas "cheer" I have around my house this year.  However, make no mistake, with all the fun and cute festive stuff, this farmgirl and her family are celebrating:

 JESUS, WHO IS THE ONE AND ONLY REASON FOR THE SEASON! 
WHAT LOVE! WHAT PEACE!
THANK YOU FOR THE GIFT OF OUR SAVIOUR!!

THOUGHTS TO PONDER

This is a very timely reminder.  

"If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant; if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome."
by Annie Bradstreet

I'm reminded daily and moment by moment that God is in control and loves us with love we don't really comprehend.

SNOW FINALLY COMES TO SOUTHWEST COLORADO!

While much of the country has been pounded, hammered and inundated with mountains of snow, frigid temperatures and folks are getting tired of it, we, in Southwest Colorado have been basking in our beautiful Colorado sunshine with barely a flake since early December.

We did have lots of rain in the fall, then just a bit of snow in early December . . . and then it got REALLY, REALLY cold.  It was a challenge to keep warm and our pellet stove was very busy gobbling up pellets to try to keep up.  By Christmas it had warmed up some but we still had no further snow.  January was dry, sunny and a bit warmer then usual and then we just watched our ground turn brown, bare and dry with DUSTY roads!

February comes and with it brings the blessing of snow.  Not tons and tons of it, but we now have hope and we're just praying that it makes major snow deposits in our mountains.   Last summer was a hot, dry, drought summer and we struggled to keep things irrigated.  We've all be praying this summer could be different.  Our major lakes and reservoirs are frighteningly low!

Today, we woke up to another fresh snowfall of about 4 inches with promise of more today.  For the third day in a row I've managed a "snow trudge" walk of three miles to enjoy the sweet, white stuff and give my legs a good workout.  You know that trudging through 5 or more inches of snow can be really good for your legs!  

Thank you, Lord, for the snow!!!

GRACE . . . UNDER FIRE

2 Corinthians 12:9 says "My Grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may dwell in me".
It is through this time of unexpected learning and growing that I am realizing, on a more daily, even moment by moment basis, how true this is.

It is certainly a different place for me to be and I'm just thankful for my loving, supportive, encouraging husband and for my daughter, who is also my best friend, and her patience, love, friendship and stick-to-it hanging in there with me true farmgirl grit !

I truly want to be more gracious, compassionate, caring and sweet smelling than ever!  I also want to be walking closer to Him, so close that, when I can't see His Hand I can "feel" His Heart!  His Grace IS sufficient!  THANK YOU LORD!!!

BLINDSIDED . . . and SIDELINED

2013 was a year of lots of change, but by the end of the year I learned the facts about how I had been blindsided by progressive, gradual health changes.  I didn't realize what was happening along the way, I just knew I didn't understand anything about it.
In many ways, it has also sidelined me and my usual lifestyle and so I find myself learning to make some changes and trying to understand what I need to do to get through this in the best way possible and come out victorious and back to where I'd like to be. 
There is beauty, light and hope all around but it is sometimes hindered by the rocky path and stumbles and sometimes obscured by the shadows, clouds and cold. But I know it is and will be only by the grace of God!  His Grace is sufficient!