"We Get By With A Little Help From Our Friends"

Or a lot of help!

My family and friends have been just wonderful this week! Calls, notes, visits, cards, dinners, trips to the orthopedic surgeon and a much needed visit to the Carina's, a wonderful young lady serving as Innkeeper this week, and a big package filled with yoga pants and valentine pj's from my girl in Atlanta!!

And it culminated in a call from two dear friends wanting to come over and play games with us, and keep us company on Friday night! So much fun!



We decided to play Scrabble. Rob and I needing to get our brain waves going, after not being able to bring up a word that we knew from 6th grade! The finger covering some of the board is hiding a word that I put on. I had certain letters and asked if that particular selection was a word. Colin looked it up and assured us it was a word. Unbeknowns to the rest of us, it was a very offensive word, and he suggested that we cover it before we took the picture. I still don't know the definition!



And Colin, who had never played SCRABBLE before, trounced us all!

And then it was on to speed Scrabble. Ann suggested we all play with one hand, so has not to have an unfair advantage over me. But I've been practicing all week doing things one handed, so I think the advantage was mine.

Then the three of them trooped over to 44 to set up for today's breakfast.

I think it's more than getting by......

WE'RE BORED

NOT ME!!
I'm never bored. I have enough projects, ideas, books to read, notes to write, people to visit and places to go to keep me busy for years to come1

But the other 11 beings that share the space are completely bored.

You see we have had inches of ice recently, and layers of snow the last few weeks and it is seriously impeding activity around here.

We have forbidden Otis to play ball fearing that he might fall on the ice and break his hip. The only speed he knows is all out, full speed ahead and I want to return him to Jon in the spring in one piece. So he definitely has cabin fever!


Meanwhile, the "ladies" of the barn are refusing to go outside in their yard. At first the 8 inches of snow probably would have buried them, and when I opened the door they all just backed away. None of that cold, white stuff was going to touch their skinny, bare feet and legs! Then the -20 degrees demanded that we close all doors and windows and turn the heat lamp on. Now they look at the sheer ice outside their door and have decided that they probably could not get enough traction needed to hop up the 18 inches to their door.

They're bored. Chickens are naturally inquisitive, but very skittish. The only interesting thing these days is to watch Otis' shadow as he walks back and forth across the outside barn door waiting for me to come out. I had grown large sunflowers this summer hopping to hang them from the ceiling of the coop to keep them occupied this winter, but silly me, I left them laying in the barn and in 2 days time the mice, squirrels and chipmunks devoured them. Live and learn!




These are the 4 new "girls". The white ones are just standard leghorns. While the brown ones are Ameracunas. One is laying the most beautiful blue eggs.
They haven't been named yet so I thought we might have some fun and name them now. For those who still follow this blog you know that the original 6 all are named after my Norwegian relatives. I've researched the family tree for more names which include:
Turid
Bente
Else
Solveig
Gun
Grete
Marit
Trude
Frida
Any suggestions welcome.

Although I an not bored, I have been sidelined. After navigating the ice successfully for over a week, I slipped and fell on Friday, fracturing my left wrist. I asked for a small cast in the ER but thet gave me a LARGE cast in the OR. My request was definately not granted. My friends have brought me flowers and dinners, and Rob has constructed this contraption to hold my arm up 90 degrees, night and day. I have taken my two arms and hands for granted for too long. One needs two hands for almost everything, including washing ones hands.

But I'm blessed. I get to have my hand and arm back in six weeks.

And as one of my friends reminded me....... it could have been my HIP!!!

Diamonds in the Trees

This was our street as I was leaving home to go to church.

Winter finally has arrived, initiating us into the season by dumping 6 inches of snow after coating the trees with ice. It's like a winter wonderland here.

But driving home from church, on a back road lined with twenty huge hundred year old maple trees, I was treated to a spectaular show of glittering diamonds in the trees. The sun was out, the skies were clear, only a few wispy clouds on the horizon and the vista was sparkling. As the light fell on the thousands of branches the effect was breathtaking. I was entering a tunnel encrusted with sparkling jewels; diamonds. And around the edges were willows whose long thin branches were ribbons of silver, just waiting to be woven into some fine tapestry.

This past year as been the most difficult of my life. But driving home yesterday was a wonderful reminder of God's beauty and love. His creativity and joy in His creation. And His constant abiding love and faithfulness to me.

Fireworks...New Years Eve 2011

I've seen fireworks before.

But nothing like this.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MI4TTcbOK3g

We were in Dubai for Christmas and New Years. Jon is working there this year at the Meydan stables and race track. The royal family's stable of thoroughbreds for racing.

His apartment is right across the street from the Burj Khalifa, currently the tallest building in the world, and also the sight of the worlds 2nd best fireworks for New Years Eve. I understand Sydney, Australia has #1.

We decided to walk over to the park and find a spot to enjoy the evening. So glad we got the car in it's parking spot early, the highways became one big parking lot and people were pouring in from every street. New Years Eve seems like more of a family event in Dubai. As we got situated in our spot we were surrounded by groups of families, multigenerational, including infants and older grandparents.

Our information said the fireworks would start at 11:00pm but that obviously was wrong. We were kept entertained though by the fountain shows every 15 minutes. Dancing streams of water in perfect harmony with the wonderful variety of music that was broadcast.

But at midnight everything stopped, darkened and then exploded.

And as I watched, I felt like crying. It was strange. As the fireworks exploded from the top downward, and off from the sides and around the ground, and the music rang in my ears and the water fountain danced with joy; scriptures started exploding in my spirit.

And I sensed God's very real presence in that country so far from anything that was familiar, at a very secular event.

Zephaniah 3:17, a scripture that I had been meditating on, became living and real. "The Lord thy God in the midst of you is mighty, he will save, he will rejoice over you with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over you with singing". The music combined with the flashes of light and booming sounds overwhelmed me with a consciousness of how much God loves us and rejoices over us.

Scriptures from Revelation flooded into my mind......"out of his throne prodeeded lightnings and thunderings and voices", "worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength and honor and glory and blessing. Blessing and honor and glory and power, be unto him that sits upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever".

The fireworks in Dubai were just man's awesome show of power, engineering, inspiration and creativity. I don't think you can hear the music that was being played on utube, but it was beautiful. And this is just what man can do. We get a little glimpse of God in His power. He gave us just a little, after all we are made in His image, but it shows us how majestic He is. How powerful, mighty, awesome, holy and strong He is. He is over all!

And He gave that all up so He could save us. So He could redeem us.

It's incomprehensible.

To God be the glory.

Traditons/New Adventures

Christmas Eve.

Christmas is my favorite time of the year.

I love to decorate the house with all my wonderful decorations collected over the years. Snowmen, angels, trees of all shapes, sizes, and material.

And lights. My favorite. Candles in all the windows, twinkle lights on all the plate rails in the dining room and among the fresh greens which fill all the rooms. Light to remind us of The Light which shone in the darkness.

We will have a different Christmas Eve this year.

Our tradition is to eat an early dinner and get dressed in our Sunday best and head off to our Candlelight service at church. We've been doing this for 25 years (except one) and I'm going to miss our "family" with whom we celebrate this wonderful night. The church is dimly lite and candles are passed out to all. We sing lovely Christmas carols and hymns, selected children read from the Old and New Testament, telling us of the old familar story. The beginning of our redemption. We have special music performed by a select choir (Ethan, Rob and myself have been a part of for years), a reflective message about the reason we are celebrating, and the lighting of the candles in a dark church singing Silent Night. Then quiet hugs and love to all and a return home.

At home we gather in the living room, pass out hot chocolate and Christmas cookies, enjoy the Christmas Tree, and open one gift. Then off to bed, so Mom can put stockings on the couch, filled with love and a letter to each, refecting on the pervious year and casting vision for the next.

This year it will be different.

We will be in the desert. Jesus spent a lot of time in the desert; praying, fighting spiritual battles, walking through from city to city to heal, help and love.

I'm looking forward to our trip to the desert. The message will still be true and relevant and personal.

Jesus came to this earth as a baby......for me.

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given" Isaiah 9:6

Merry Christmas to all who still read my blog. And I pray that Jesus is the Light in your life.

In Defence Of Winter

Absolutely breathtaking this morning.

Winter.....and snow. And a clear bright sky with the glow of the morning sun.


It's beautiful. Even the chicken pen is draped beautifully with a soft white blanket, gently cascading over the netting and wire fence.

The snow fell softly, quietly last night. No mighty winds, so it lays serenely, nestled into the branches and as a dress among the spruces.


This morning I see remnants of Rob's footprints as he went back and forth from the Inn, feeding the chickens, creating a path for our guests. The snow is not so thick that I can't see the remaining Brussels sprouts in the garden, or the forgotten cabbages, destined for the chicken coop. And the garlic is still visible, sprouting way too early. Go back to sleep my precious fall planted commodity. You are supposed to be gaining strength quietly under ground. Many more months will pass before you should show yourselves.

This year we seemed to ease into winter. And sometimes it's best in small doses initially. We never know how long this year's winter will last. And I think it is wise that we just don't jump into -30 degrees. We have to do that gradually, with some experience. Winter in the North Country takes up over 1/4 of our lives. We do have four seasons but winter feels like it takes up the biggest part of the year.

But the first snow is lovely this year. Actually, beautiful. It turns the landscape monochromatic. A concept we embrace at Lintengard. And seems to turn the landscape into a memory of itself....just painted white, with touches of brown and green as accents.

But growth takes place in the winter. Just as growth takes place in our personal lives when we allow tough situations, personal failures, and tragedies to stretch us and mold us into what God has for us. The seemingly cold and barrenness of winter makes it feel like nothing is happening. But life goes on, under the ground. The foundation is being built and strengthened and fed. Winter is a quiet time. A time to reflect and anticipate. (I'm already thinking about all the brightly colored catalogs I will be receiving after the new year...prompting me to experiment with different seeds and veggies).

Winter is a time to drown out the chaos of summer and fall, and to hang onto what is true. If we allow it to, it reminds us of who we are and if we are really reflective, it compels us to realize what could be our full potential and embrace our divinely ordained gifts and graces. It's a time for excitement about possibilities and adventures. And a time to receive. God is good.

Winter

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving has come and gone! How could that be?

And we hardly had time to really give thanks and express our gratitude to God for our manifold blessings. We're already onto Christmas.

I wish we would change the date for Thanksgiving and move it to October, like the Canadians. It would give us more time to reflect and celebrate this wonderful holiday.

I am so blessed to live in this country. Really, I could have been born anywhere. I own a business, raise a flock of chickens, have plenty of food,(some of which I raised in my backyard garden), shelter and warm clothes for the winter. I was raised by wonderful parents who loved me and my sisters unconditionally. They taught me respect for authority and a love of family and God. We belong to a wonderful church community where we share our joys and sorrows. I have four wonderful children who are the light of my life (although they live too far away). Our neighborhood gives us wonderful friendships where we have parties out on our front lawns. And the North Country is a gorgeous place to live, all four seasons.

God has been good to us.

This is one of our Thanksgiving traditions. The Turkey Bowl. Every year Ethan organizes a tackle football game in the morning. This year one of the players is missing from the picture. Christian was stabbed in the face with a cleat while tackling Greg and had to go to the office for 9 stitches. Nose to lip! And turkey is his favorite meal.


Aunt June, 84, made it up from New Hampshire and Grandma and Uncle Don came over for our Thanksgiving feast: turkey, dressing, gravy, cranberry relish, homegrown mashed potatoes, broccoli casserole and butternut squash and apple casserole. Later it was pecan and apple pie. And of course whipped cream.



And now it is December 2. Our anniversary.

Wow!! We've been married 39 years! I've been married way longer than I was single.

And I am so thankful to be married to this wonderful man. He loves the Lord and me more than anything in the world. He is kind and considerate and thoughtful. He is honest and honorable, traits that are somehow missing in many these days. So many people around the community come up to me and tell me how great Rob is and they are so thankful for the care he has given them. I received a card from our neighbor the other day thanking Rob for the care for her husband. "John aways felt secure with your care. You took such an interest in his well being, and we are so grateful for that." And he has a folder in the office full of like cards. I'm proud of him and his skill. He is so generous, especially with our children, but whenever there is a need he is there with support. He can do anything.....carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, painting, wallpapering, antiquing furniture, car repairs, etc. He's quirky in a very endearing way and we have lots of stories that make us laugh when we remember some of his antics!
He's the smartest person I know, but I beat him in Scrabble the other day!

Yup! Married 39 years. But today is more than just our anniversary. It is more than just the present. It's a time for stuff.... a time to fit our soul for heaven, to love each other, to hear what God wants us to do today, to enjoy his creation, (even the impending winter with it's sounds of silently falling snow), it's a time for not just polishing the outside, but developing the inside.

Seeing beauty in everyday life.