One of my favorite trees is the Japanese Maple.  We have 4 of them in our yard.  When they are trimmed up properly, they are beautiful with their long and far reaching branches… ….but when I don’t get around to trimming them….their branches become heavy….and they droop….and they don’t look right….….and if the trimming is …

Continue reading ‘’ »

In 1838, Abraham Lincoln delivered an address before the Young Men’s Lyceum in Springfield, Illinois…”The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions”.  In his speech he argued that Liberty in America could not exist without a reverence for laws… Let every American, every lover of liberty, every well wisher to his posterity, swear by the blood of …

Continue reading ‘’ »

There are soooo many things to love about Christmas…the baking…the decorating…the music…the gift giving… Truly…the gift giving is a very special part of Christmas. I have found there to be a treasure trove of Joy in it, and I have tried hard to instill in my children that Joy of gift giving. There really is …

Continue reading ‘’ »

Are there places in your heart that look dead?  Are there places in your life that look Hopeless? We are entering into the Christmas Season…the season where Jesus is born so that Hope can spring anew in the hearts of those who are weary. This Christmas Season Hope can grow in the dead areas of your …

Continue reading ‘’ »

It is Thanksgiving week…and while shopping this past weekend, I heard people referring to Thanksgiving as “turkey day”…have you heard people calling it that where you live? As much as I love the turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberries, and stuffing that dresses our table on this holiday…it isn’t the turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberries, and stuffing that make this …

Continue reading ‘’ »

“It’s your fault…no, it’s your fault…it’s his fault…no it’s his/her fault…” These are words that are spoken everyday in our home…and I am sure they are spoken everyday in your homes as well. These words may not always be spoken out loud…sometimes they are whispered…sometimes they are only thoughts. The words spoken may not sound …

Continue reading ‘’ »

Proverbs 23:7…For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he.   Words matter….they do!! I tell this to my kids all the time…“use kind words”…”ask nicely”…”say that respectfully”… The words you speak to others can tear them down…or build them up… The words you speak to others can hurt them…or help them… Did you …

Continue reading ‘’ »