Another snow...

December 27, 2009 and Another Snow!

Snowing pretty steady today and looks like one of those "marshmellow" snows...where the snow looks like clumps of marshmellow on everything!

Didn't really need anymore snow....or rain...or moisture of any kind really!

Definitely makes it a challenge to get out and feed the animals and check on their well being.

You certainly understand the mentality behind a bear hibernating! Just makes either stir-crazy or lethargic.

I remember a particularly heavy snow in the winter of 1978...I believe that's the correct year...Christmas '77 - New Year's '78. We had so much snow we could only take hay to the cattle with a snowmobile pulling a car hood! CRAZY!

We were so stir crazy, my mom, dad, sister and I walked to the neighbors just to see somebody else for a day or two. I think we sang crazy songs on the way down to the driveway. That was pre-internet, pre-cell phone, pre-texting days! How did we survive??? haha

Hoping we can make it to the family's for a late Christmas today, but not taking anything for granted. Safety and safe animals are a big priority when we still don't have all the corn out.

Hoping for a more productive, less challenging 2010!

ENRICHMENT & CHRISTMAS

I read this quote this week and really, really like it

"The Litmus Test: If you are truly enriching someone's life, they will typically miss you in their past. They think their lives would have been even better if they had met you earlier." Rajesh Setty.

Isn't it true? How many times have we often thought, "Gosh, I wish I'd known them when I was younger. We would have done some major damage!" I know I do. I often appreciate perspective someone has given me over the years on subjects and I think I wish I'd known them and their wisdom earlier. I'm ever so grateful to have them in my life now, but feel like I with the ride had started earlier.

At Christmas, I often think of those who have enriched my life and those I hope to have enriched.

I have friends from so many areas of the country, so many ages, backgrounds, perspectives. What a rich tapestry my friends have woven for me. What interesting perspective I've gained from them.

Perhaps the world is a little safer because I didn't meet some of these friends earlier. We may have caused havoc....but..it is fun just to think about it!

To all our friends and family who have so enriched our lives and given us perspective and support, we love you . I hope we've given just a small amount back of all that you have given us.

Merry Christmas and love in Christ!

These are some of the purple coneflowers (echinacea) growing in my flower garden at home. Nothing extra special, but I'd like to think I'm kind of like them. First of all they are native to the prairies. They are very colorful and tall. (I think I fit that also) They are a very useful flower and spread a lot of seeds for regrowth the following year.
They are low maintenance, but in mass are absolutely gorgeous!

Purple coneflowers inspired those who established Western Illinois University to select purple and gold as our school colors! Cool, eh?

Storm rolling in...

There is something very awe-inspiring of seeing a midwest thunderstorm rolling in. This one came in last night and left us with some rain and cooler temps.

The interesting part was just sitting and listening to the thunder roll through the area. There is no doubt the power of the thunderstorm.

I sometimes believe it is God's voice saying, "Be silent and know that I am God."

Some people find them very disturbing...I find them somewhat comforting. There are no lights of the city, no sounds of vehicles to disturb your ears, nothing but just the pure sound of nature.

It lets you know the power of God.