Grateful Heart and Helping Hands

New post! Yes, it has been 12 days since my last one. Or, as my man mentioned, I should give all his money back. OK, money back? But, point taken, here I am. Tomorrow it is December. We have snow-lots of it-- and the world has an ethereal quality, where the skeleton trees have a generous coating of soft whiteness, bulking the bare branches with a downy layer for winter. The roads are atrocious, our driveway nearly impassable. But we drive for the weather and are used to taking a run at our slippery uphill all the way driveway. December is also a month of memories. Good ones, such as a wedding that took place in 1983. That makes it 28 years! Other notable ones would be the birthdays of some important people- my son and my grandson. I have a couple nieces and a nephew in there, too, along with friends' children, friends' anniversaries, wonderful things like that. Traditions that are built and lived out, passed from one generation to another, around Christmas, Advent, music, Chr...

Sunshine, super-cold, sledding, skiing, snowmen, sugar, sipping Monday! The house is quiet and all tidied up from the fun we have been having together. The 12 year old is out playing, the Lover is out looking for peace and a quiet and maybe a good hair cut and the daughters are enjoying lunch out with a friend. Spending time on the phone with my far-away friend this morning, sipping Gingerbread coffee and talking about yummy recipes has put me into a delicious mood. We will have missionaries over for dinner tonight to share Ham and Scalloped Potatoes with maple glazed Winter Vegetables. Would you like me to start sharing recipes on this site? Let me know! Gratitude overflows- Canadian back bacon to celebrate the holidays The 3 Wise men's journey and our response Watching and waiting Snowplay Gingerbread syrup for morning coffee Long distance phone plans The mountain view, so spectacular and inspiring German choral music, sent with love Stollen to share Daughters around...

Sitting here at a borrowed computer, I think about my lonely laptop, suffering from a virus. As  momma, I am the one who nurses those viruses that enter my home, give hot tea and comfort to those who need it. I have learned to make a mean chicken soup- which is both good for the body and the spirit. But this virus is insidious, one I seem to be helpless to do anything about. It has me thinking about influences, ones I seem helpless against. When my kids were little, we did what we could to keep them protected and safe, both physically and spiritually. We taught them well, surrounded them with friends and family who loved Jesus the very same way we did. We lived so wide open! When God led us into full time ministry, we had not yet completed our family- and what a ride that has been! I think back on times when we had no money, but open hearts, ready to give from what we still did have. Our cupboards were never empty, our home was always warm. Our friends were welcome at all times. S...

I have wanted to blog for some time. In this last year, I had that opportunity given to me through an illness! Who knew I would be 'kick-started' in such a way! But, one year later, I realize I have become a bit addicted to it! I do like to write- and I follow some blogs too! So, here is the first attempt :) My choice of name? Well, I have been impressed in this last while that gratitude is the word I need to build deep within my soul. I practice this as an attitude by keeping a gratitude journal, to be updated at least weekly. The Helping Hands part comes from my passion for new life- primarily that of women who are pregnant! I am a doula and childbirth educator. In the future, I would like to create a Christian prenatal class or write a book on how well we are designed to do this very womanly thing. My husband has encouraged me in this work, this calling. For now, I will keep this first post fairly short and wait for comments to see where it leads me.