Memories and Traditions/ Music and Songs/ Friendship and Food/ Glory and Praise

"For unto us a child is born, a son is given.."

Unto to us a child is born. That's what the Word says. Usually when a baby is born one says, "Sue and Matt had a baby girl" The child was born to them.. But this special baby was born to us, not just Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, the wise men or the house of Israel. He was born to us, and we needed him. No rule book could give us what we needed and no behavioral modification course could control our issues.

We needed this child whose birth we now celebrate this Friday.

We needed a savior. And God sent his son.

So we glory in His glory in our lives this season.





Friendship and food, so closely connected. Lots of parties and lots of wonderful delicious food. A new game introduced, Mexican Train Game. I highly recommend this group, family game. So much fun!

Eight lovely guys, almost nine but one had to work, and three girls for breakfast Sunday morning. Strata and homemade applesauce and the introduction, to those not in the immediate family, of fresh Swedish limpa toasted with mounds of butter. Yum! They all loved it and Ben is going back to his Swedish Grandmother to ask about this new breakfast treat.

We've seen wonderful friends and family this month and, and long for the time when we will not be so far apart for extended periods of time.




Decorating a gym for a wedding. A transformation of trees, lights and candles. Two young people in love and so anxious to start their lives together. So much fun to see their excitment and anticipation of a new life together, forever.





Celebrations all through the month. A house decorated in anticipation of happy events, friendships celebrated and traditions continued. A home reaching out to embrace family and friends in memories and love, commitment and joy.





Shopping in new cities this year. At first disappointment that New York City was not an option this year since the whole city is appointed in it's finery for Christmas and I love every bit of it. But we got to visit a new city this Christmas and we were quite impressed with their version of a city decked out for the holidays. Lovely lights everywhere and at the end of the square a regal church showing us the real reason for the season.






And a tree. Not our usual huge tree, right to our 12 foot ceilings, but a nice tree. Elizabeth called it our see-through tree. But it's ours. This tree decked out in lights and glass bulbs, smelling of the forest. Clean and fragrant. Beautiful. And packages gathering at its base. Gifts, not quite gold and myrrh but tangible expressions of love for family and friends. A tree is appropriate. It foretells of another tree, not lovely and gracious but vicious, hard and bloody yet necessary to bring what we need. Freedom and belonging. A reconnection to our royal heritage, bought by a Father and Son who loved us so. Sonship, victory, hope, and a new life.

Thank you, Father, for this child born unto us and continuing to reach down through the ages to transform lives and bring grace and peace to all men.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas

My favorite time of the year. Christmas!

And it seems like we are getting ready for it earlier and earlier.

My grandparents put the Christmas tree up on Christmas Eve and everyone was surprised the next morning.

Now we are putting our Christmas tree up at the beginning of December.

Times change.

Thanksgiving was quickly swept away on Friday and bins were brought down and Christmas decorations were put up. Some in their old familiar spots while others received new places. The window candles were in place before Thanksgiving to welcome the family back from their present locations. But now loads of candles and miniature white lights peaked out of every room. We Scandinavians love light in all forms. I guess from our nearly three months of almost total darkness. And for me, it reminds me, Jesus is the Light of the World!

My Study Club came on Tuesday and I wanted them to enjoy all the Victorian decorations that the old Italianate has come to wear beautifully.





The wonderful smell of pine greets those who enter in the back way. The swag on the banister will have to wait a couple of more days. I do want it to last until December 25th. But candles and oil lamps give the evenings a wonderful glow. A welcoming to come in out of the cold. And yes, we have snow and it looks so pretty. The first collection. However, winter lasts a long time here in the North Country so I try to remember this feeling of wonder as the flakes fall. Spring has to fight to get her season here.




A wreath on the new garden shed. I think next year lights will adorn the beautiful edifice. The herbs are still growing nicely inside. We had fresh oregano, parsley and rosemary tonight.





Looking forward to a wonderful season of family, friends and neighbors in the house this season. Luncheons to host and concerts to attend. Gifts to be purchased and if possible a trip to New York City to see the city all decked out in its finery.

The church is decorated. The holiday orchestra has started and Christmas carols are being sung. A wedding is anticipated and two sons will be home for the holidays.

And on Thursday, a concert- The Vienna Boys Choir. Yes, all the way up here in remote Northern New York.

I Had A Dream

I had a dream a couple of weeks ago.

I was walking along somewhere by myself.

As I was walking down this path, I came across Christian Skoglund and began to speak with him. It seemed to me that we were in some sort of forest and he was sitting on a stump. We were having a wonderful conversation when I finally realized that he was not dead. It dawned on me....

I started jumping up and down, laughing and crying and shouting, "You are not dead! You are not dead! You're here."

He looked at me and laughed and said, "Oh course, I'm not dead!".

And then I woke up.

I was startled. It was so real.

I've been thinking about this dream for some time now.

Wondering.

Death is never natural, even for those like my folks who died in their eighties and lived wonderful, love filled lives. I sometimes feel that I have lost the words, mom and dad, forever, and at those times I can hardly bear it. But it was never meant to be like that. Those left behind, experiencing such excruciating pain and loss. And for those who die young, no, we can not explain that at all. Taken in the prime of their lives.... but we just know it is not right. And we are left wondering why, and what now to do with a life void of that person.


Perhaps we are too focused on this present life. Could that be? This the reality that we know. Here. Now. Flesh and blood. Twenty-four hours.

For me especially, I know the joy of planning and organizing. Having a list and getting through it and feeling so good about goals achieved. A calender filled with events, good ones, that include friends and neighbors, family and community.

We, or should I say I, am not cognizant enough of the fact that life lies endlessly before us in the kingdom of God. We are so attached to this life, what we see and feel, what we try to accomplish, our goals and aspirations for ourselves and our children. Our lives are here and now and we are not anticipating the banquet that is being prepared for us. This is our life, in the here and now, and we are busy arranging it.

For all of us, young and old, this is just the beginning of our lives. We will keep on living and learning, working on things we love, and experiencing real beauty and joy. We have a lot to look forward to. A vast world to explore, people to meet and loved ones to reconnect with. Glory is going to be revealed in us. That's a promise. We are going to a place that perfectly fits us. Fits our gifts, fits our talents, our loves, our personality traits and quirks, our pleasures and our hopes.

And it will be wonderful.

"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it does not appear what we shall be, but we know, when he shall appear, we shall be like him, and we shall see him as he is." I John 2.

Different

Another year has past.

Last year we were all together on an island. Just our family. Together. With thoughts and tears, comfort and hope, rememberances and sighs.

This year everyone, a different place; Kentucky, South Carolina, New York City, Hawaii, Canton.

We talk on the phone, remember times. This is a day, an anniversary. It is really just a day like all the rest have been since. But it is the anniversary of the beginning of days.

And again we wonder why.

Again

I stood in front of the television.  And I knew.

Another base.  Another tragedy.

Feelings of tension, fear, hopeful faith, tears, agony, hearts broken, trips taken to Texas, calls to family and friends, plans and preparations that you don't want to make.

And lives changed forever.

Wives and parents.  Siblings, cousins and friends.  Their lives changed forever because you can never go back to the past moments and memories that you want to become permanent in this new reality.

There will always be a hole, a gap which can not be filled.

And it was certainly senseless.

I cried for the families of Fort Hood. 

We experienced that two years ago almost to the day that this tragedy occurred.  We know what is happening on the base to the families that were involved.  If there is one thing that the Army does right it is honoring their dead.  But they can't bring them back which is what we want them to do.

So I pray.

God send them people who know you. Let this be their revelation; "God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all."

A Step Forward

No, the conservative did not win in the special election. We came close, less than four thousand votes between the two candidates. But for this next year, the 23rd district will be represented by a Democrat.

We are still instructed to pray for Mr. Owen. And I hope that we take that responsibility seriously. Just because Mr. Hoffman did not win  does not negate our responsibility to pray for those in authority over us.

I grew up in a family who was always interested in politics. They were knowledgeable about the issues and passionate about their concerns involving government. They read newspapers and listened to the then limited newscast on the 6:00pm news program. And they had common sense back in the days when they remembered what it was like to go through the great depression. We had lively conversations around the dinner table and I vividly remember sitting at my grandmother's long dinning room table, many times, listening intently to my grandparents, aunts and uncles discuss politics. Sometimes heatedly. Even when our Norwegian relatives came for visits they participated in various discussions on elections and the direction of a particular administration.

I think we have awakened to the fact that we have to be involved in the life of our country. That the responsibility for the direction that our country is up to us, both to pray and to be actively involved. I'm sure there are many people that the Lord is calling into the political sphere. And I don't think we should be afraid to enter in. "Politics is dirty, it's nasty, they play hardball, you can't get anywhere by being nice and doing right." Says who? I love proverb 24:10, If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small.

I was really intrigued that this man, Mr. Hoffman, who is nothing to look at and is certainly not charismatic engaged the entire nation. We were engaged with him before Sarah Palin and Dick Armey endorsed him. We didn't need the RNC to validate our thoughts about this candidate. His candidacy was already rolling along in the North Country before the big wigs came here to lend their support.

I knew that the opposition was really nervous about Mr. Hoffman's unbelievable success when they started running ruthless smear commercials during the last week of the campaign. The term "radical right" was thrown around in every commercial. What is so radical about fiscal responsibility, not killing unborn babies and believing in traditional marriage between a man and a woman? I'm encouraged that he did not retaliate.

I thought his speech last night was encouraging so I'm including it here for those that continue to read my blog.

" America has changed, and you have helped. Although we did not succeed in winning this election, we have succeeded in making sure political parties and special interests no longer take the people for granted. I believe we have sent a powerful message and laid the groundwork for future conservative campaigns.

I congratulate Bill Owens on a hard won victory. In our tradition of free elections our country continues. And although Bill Owens has won, I believe America is turning the page to a new dawn.

The idea of freedom, sound fiscal management and citizen government have sprung back into our consciousness. Our foundling fathers would have been proud of New York 23. It was here that our principles, those that have been the foundation of our nation, came back to life with a vengeance. And it was here that the people rose up against the political bosses who tried to impose their will. It was here that people reached out to control their own destinies again.

Despite the election results, I am optimistic for our future, because now I know that I am not alone in wanting to repair our great nation. Throughout this campaign I have been inspired by the outpouring of support and the intensity of that support.

I've met many different people in this campaign, from many walks of life and many professions; each with a different personal story to share. Yet we are all united in the belief that by participating in democracy, we could inspire change.

I urge that no one feel defeated, for this was only one of many elections. We came close, we put our agenda in front of the nation and the nation took notice. The worse thing we could do now, is not continue forward. Next year there are other elections and other candidates who have drawn inspiration from our efforts.

I would like to thank all of you who placed your faith in me, who worked tirelessly and shared your enthusiasm with those around you. You are patriots, you have stood up for your country and I'm honored to stand among you."

Doug Hoffman

The 23rd District

This little known area of the Empire State will have the eyes of the nation fixed on it tomorrow.

John McHugh, our former congressman, was tapped for the Secretary of the Army by President Obama. And that caused a vacancy in the Congress and the reason for this special election in the 23rd district.

It seems that perhaps our notion of the way we do government maybe changing and it may be starting in the most obscure area of the country, here in upstate New York. We seem to be saying we do not want so much government involvement in our lives. And we are certainly not happy with the spending our government is currently involved in and the deficits that it has run up.

Doug Hoffman is not much to look at and he doesn't speak with ease. He is not a natural politician; not polished, not smooth, not charismatic. He's a businessman, a CPA, who owns his own company. He knows fiscal responsibility. He came from humble beginnings. He was raised by a single parent in Saranac Lake. He has been in the military. He believes that marriage is between a man and a woman and is against abortion. He is simple and straightforward. And he has engaged the people of the north country. In just three short weeks this obscure man has become known all over the nation and by all the poll analyasis he is in the lead.

I'm glad to see that more and more people are getting interested in politics. It's important. We are instructed to pray for our leaders so that they would have wisdom and we could lead quiet and peacable lives.

I'm praying that God would have his way in these elections, and that people would come out and vote which is our civic responsibility.

We'll see. We'll see. This time tomorrow night we should know.