Owl Collection

I love owls. I loved them even before this current 'owl craze' started. They're such unique creatures...and their piercing eyes...

I love how they have such personalities too. I have a little owl collection.

My daughter bought me this owl for Christmas this year. She went ahead and gave it to me.

Just a little glimpse at a candle I purchased last year and just started burning. It's an Air Wick silhouette candle. It lights up and changes colors as it burns. I really love it.

I went to church this morning, then rode up to my mom's house where she had made a chicken casserole, mashed potatoes, beans and tea. I'm making a light supper now and will read a little tonight.

Thought for the day:

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched - they must be felt with the heart. -Helen Keller

Christmas Tree Ornaments and Library Books

For the past 2 years, we've had a white Christmas tree with pre-lit lights. It's pretty. I put a lot of pink-ish ornaments on it. Here are a few of my ornaments:

Rudolph and Clarice are watching over the presents under the tree.

I went to the library this week. I have so many books at my house that I haven't read yet, so I really don't need to go to the library, but alas, it's one of my favorite places. I love to read. Here is the bag I use to carry my library books in.

And here are some of the books I've checked out recently.

I'm currently reading these 2 books.

Reading helps me to "escape". I've read over 100 books thus far this year and I still have a few weeks to go. I really don't understand people who say that don't like to read. I can understand not having the time to, but not liking to read....? Haha.

My daughter purchased these "bedroom boots" at Hot Topic (her favorite store) recently for 1/2 off. She loves Ariel. I think they're really cute.

Well, I have a lot to do today around the house. Hopefully, I can muster up the energy to get it all done.

An interesting quote I came across today:

Beware the barrenness of a busy life. -Socrates

Sadness and Depression

I've always been a "wallflower". Ever since I was a little girl, I've been referred to as timid, shy, withdrawn, introverted.....I remember at the age of 4, one Sunday after the church service was over, I was the last person left in my Sunday School classroom. I recall becoming so riddled with panic and anxiety that I nearly made myself sick crying. The teacher stood out in the hall with me as I waited for my mother to come and pick me up. Growing up was painful as a "wallflower". Society makes it painful because children are labeled and are made to think that there is something wrong with not standing out in the crowd. There simply isn't anything wrong with wanting to stand on the sidelines and be an observer. One can learn an awful lot keeping his mouth shut and his eyes and ears open. Some of the most creative people are wallflowers. Sadly, wallflowers also have a tendency toward depression. It is lonely sometimes and the stigma is painful. I went through some pretty rough patches of depression growing up. These last few years I have suffered from severe depression, which is why I've been absent from blogging.

I'm thankful I'm a Christian, though many times, I've felt abandoned by Him over the last few years. I know I have many prayer warriors who have covered me (and continue to cover me) with their prayers. Sometimes, when one is sad and depressed, it's hard to even conjure up the energy to pray. I'm trusting that He will take care of me...He has thus far, after all.

Blogging Again...

Wow, has it been 3 years since my last post?! Honestly, it's been rough going (and this is quite the understatement) since I last posted. I simply haven't had the inclination or the energy. I want to continue now as I do recall how it gave me some sense of accomplishment and happiness.

I now have 3 grandchildren and, along with my own children, they're the loves of my life. Of course, my husband is a given there. :)

Here's a puzzle I completed not too long ago:

I used to do so many jigsaw puzzles, but lately, I've been in quite the slump. I've still got quite a few waiting for me once I can get back into the 'jigsaw swing'.

Here is my grandson on his 2nd birthday this year:

I wish they lived closer to me. But their daddy is in the military, so no such luck. My granddaughter is getting to be a big girl too:

Our new grandson was born in April this year. His name is Christian:

Here he is with big brother, Caleb.

My daughter, Lord willing, will be graduating from high school in 2015. She has a part-time job now and I'm so proud of her. Here she is with one of her nieces. They found a turtle while we out for a walk one sunny day.

Well, it's the middle of the night. I'm tired, but can't seem to sleep. Worry has led to an insomnia-laden life. My doctor has prescribed multiple sleeping pills. Some work and others don't. I've built up such a tolerance, it's hard to find one the works. Of course, they're controlled substances, so the doctor is unwilling to keep me on them for too long. So the sleepless cycle goes on. I'm sure, over time, all will settle down and that much-needed sleep will return.

A random parting message for now:

Just a brief post on this late Monday night...I am looking forward to the upcoming long Christmas weekend. It's difficult to concentrate on my work when I have so much on the to-do list in my head.

Here is a picture of the display at the front of our church. There is represented here the 3 gifts from the magi to Jesus - gold, frankinscence and myrrh. As our pastor explained, the 3 wise men didn't reach Jesus probably until he was a toddler. Also, we assume there were only 3 because of the 3 gifts mentioned, but there could've been more.

I love reading the story of the birth of Jesus.



Here is my younger sister, holding up the "dirty santa" gift she made - a "hillbilly back scratcher". Ha! Humor is a good thing. :)

Blessings,
Lorrie

The Happy Christmas Season

It's the most wonderful time of the year....well, I do love this season. Everyone seems to be a little more jolly, a little more giving, a little more kind. I like to ponder on that first Christmas day so long ago. I've read that Jesus was likely born in the autumn instead of the winter. No matter though...Christmas serves as the day we commemorate His birth. I was dismayed to read this week an ugly discussion on the wall of one of my Facebook friends surrounding the pagan origins of Christmas (particularly the Christmas tree) and how Christians ought not to celebrate on this day. Here are my thoughts. One of my favorite parts of the story of the birth of my Savior in Luke 2 was when the angels appeared to the shepherds keeping watch over their flocks by night. Scripture tells us that the angels told the shepherds to not be afraid because they were bringing them "good tidings of great joy which shall be to all people". Move on to Luke 2:13-14:

And suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of heavenly hosts praising God and saying: Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

This sounds like a celebration to me! Because of the love of the Father for His creation, He provided a way for eternal salvation for fallen mankind. He gave us the ultimate gift in His only Son, Jesus Christ. This is cause for a celebration, even now!

As for the Christmas tree, I see it as nothing but a tree with pretty ornaments and twinkle lights. For the life of me, I don't understand why some people feel the need to judge their brothers and sisters in Christ over such inconsequential and harmless customs.

Yes indeed - Christmas has become overly commercialized. I, too, am guilty of getting caught up in the gift-giving and spending more money than I should. But I love this wonderful time of the year. It makes my heart feel lighter. It serves as a reminder of God's love for me. And even though it's not the real birthday of Jesus, and Jesus did not intruct us to celebrate His day of birth, I rejoice because it is the day He was born to save me. Like the angels and heavenly hosts who jubilantly proclaimed His birth 2 millennia ago, I also celebrate.

My daughter, my nephew and I went to the "Living Christmas Tree" at a nearby church. It's called this because it's constructed in such a way that the church choir sits in the tree. It has thousands of lights and is spectacular to see.

A part of the production was a play, which included Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus (pictured above). The baby was real. :)

Here is a replica of the three wisemen on display in the church lobby.

A few of my Christmas cards...

I have a few Christmas-themed books to read in my spare time.

Here are 4 mini puzzles I worked this week. Aren't the kitties cute?

Lastly, I made this hamburger hashbrown casserole for supper one day this week. It gets rave reviews from both my husband and my daughter, so it must be okay. Ha!

Christmas Thought:

I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year. ~Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Blessings,

Lorrie

Visit to Tennessee

We just got back from the pretty state of Tennessee. We got to visit with our son and his family. I brought them their Christmas gifts as they will be bombarded when they come home for Christmas by other family members (particularly Kaylee).

The night before leaving VA, my daughter and I ate dinner at a nearby Italian restaurant. I ate a calzone...it was huge (and very good).

Kaylee got this cute dollhouse as an early Christmas gift from her parents. I would've loved this when I was little. And yes, I even sat down and played with it for a bit.

Here is Kaylee opening up the Minnie Mouse "pillow pet" we bought her. She loves Mickey Mouse and his friends, especially Minnie.

Son is wore out after work. Poor guy.

Here is the ridiculously big hamburger my son got at Shoney's in Nashville. Too much of a good thing?

The nearly always happy Kaylee...She is such a good-tempered child.

We visited the Ryman Auditorium in Nashville. Here are some of the beautiful stained-glass windows inside.

It almost has a church-like feel inside.

Here we are in front of the Ryman.

On the way home, we stopped by the home of President Andrew Jackson, The Hermitage. I absolutely loved this house. It was so cozy inside.

In stark contrast, here is the tiny slave cabin on the property.

Inside the slave's cabin at The Hermitage. I realize it was another era, and hindsight is 20/20, but I have a hard time wrapping my mind around how highly-intelligent men and women of that time could possibly be able to justify slave ownership.

Gravesite of Andrew Jackson and his family at The Hermitage. He had a most interesting life, including being orphaned by age 14, killing another man in a dual, and himself having a bullet lodged in his chest for more than 30 years. He and his wife, Rachel, had no biological children of their own, but adopted one child and they had many foster children.

Here is a beautiful carriage Jackson purchased. It's amazing how far we've come in such a short time.

In the museum at The Hermitage.

This was behind the house. I assume it was the dinner bell.

Here is my daughter with one of the house guides, dressed in period clothes.

I thoroughly enjoyed our visit to The Hermitage. I only wish it had not been so rainy and overcast while we were there.

Remembering those soldiers who perished and survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, 70 years ago today.

In His Love and Always In His Care,

Lorrie