the Cure

Years ago I learned that Celebrative Lift-Your-Voice-and-Hands-in-the-Air Praise was the antidote for a heavy heart. But I forgot.

After church last Sunday, the Scottish Friends made their way to the lake for a Prop burger. 20 strong! As we joined our hearts with our hands, Dave MacMoffatt offered thanks. I peeked! Around the pregnant-with-promise circle were my girls with their husbands and my friends that have struggled this year.

There was Nancy telling her near-death story. Christy, Peter and their children were there. In a couple of days, they would be at Christy's mother's funeral ~ the third HomeGoing they have grieved in six months. Al Pal is serving his own father who recently learned of cancer. Al serves his dad in prayer and deed. My own heart has been heavy for a few weeks - months - and I'm not sure why. Just heavy and marginally sad. Then there was Dave - leading us - who two months ago, called in tears. "I love my wife and she is fighting for her life." Paraphrase but Dori was in trouble. On this Sunday, Dori was sitting next to her husband.
"All is well" bubbled up. Looking at each of those precious families, I realized that "All is Well." We're still here. And those who have gone ahead, we'll see you later.

I remembered: ThanksGiving is the antidote for a heavy heart. Lift your hands in worship in 2010. Tis the Cure.

A good place to start:
Make a playlist on uTunes. Mine is ~ "Great is the Lord" by Annie Herring, "Great is Your Glory" by Vicky Beeching, "Nothing but the Blood" by Matt Redman, "Highly Exalted" & "All is Well" by my favorite Irish musician, Robin Mark, and Il Divo's "Amazing Grace" with Scottish pipes! Savor. Relish. Play it again and again and again. Until the Truth seaps into the soul like a wine stain on fabric.

my beautiful girls

more Christmas photos

Christmas 2009

LumberJack Girls ~ In an effort to empathize with Danielle who had no clothing, we all dressed up as purposeful lumberjacks. D's suitcase is lost in ChicaGo and has not made its way to FarGo. And now we are squarely in the middle of a blasting blizzard. When the Bad Girl arrives at our doorstep, we can open D's gifts and she can slip into something more comfortable.

Aaron's first haircut: Scary! But no worries, A-Train's ear was in tact after the dust settled. No Van Gogh moments.

Danielle and Aaron's gift from Nathaniel and Joy: "Fargo Theatre" Handpainted by our very own family artist.

GEE (Gabriel and Elissa) are safely tucked at E's family in Gregory. We miss them!

Cherish the Holy Days

Corinne's Christmas Quilt

before

Anybody hurt in this wreck?

After

Oh happy day!

The Domestics save the day & the tree

I spent Saturday 'decorating.' Have mercy!

The first tree - before - is pretty close to the one I did until one of our favorite Domestics stepped in to save the tree. Thank Goodness!
Now the kids won't scoff and cast Christmas aspersions on the mom. Not in keeping with the happy occasion.

Which of the Domestic Friends salvaged the tree? Christy McKinney, Michele MacHendricks, Corinney or KimO, CheriO MacMatthews? Vote for your favorite Diva Decorator.

best of the ClimateGate 'toons

Quotes of the week

"We will have conquered race in America when race becomes irrelevant, even boring."
Claude Sandroff, American Thinker

http://www.americanthinker.com/2009/12/look_whos_clubbing_tiger_woods.html
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"Nobody believes a weather prediction 12 hours ahead. Now we're asked to believe a prediction that goes 100 years into the future? And make financial investments based on that prediction? Has everyone lost their minds?"
Writer/physician Michael Crichton
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Its times like this that George Orwell had in mind when he wrote: "In a time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act."

ThanksGiving 2009

Gabe is in charge of the bird. Morgan joined him in actually slaying the thing. Why else would they be brandishing swords?
Elissa fixes the traditional fresh green beans with dried and fresh tomatoes splashed with red vino. The cornbread stuffing is also E's speciality while Gabe makes a mean yukon gold garlic mashed potatoe. The gravy topped it off!

What did I contribute? Pecan pie with choc chips and coconut plus a spinache quiche for brunch. My job ~ "Tell me what to do and I'll do it!" I love to take orders from the Family Chefs!

The weather was fall festive. Heck, here we are at the lake!

It's not every Thanksgiving that allows for 35 miles of biking around the lake and all around town. Far and away better than our unseasonably chilly October when Cheri and Dani0 were here. But then again, maybe no one was praying for a magical dust of snow. You know who you are ~ come out with your snow-streaked hands up, cm!!!

After a day of not so good food topped off with fireplace s'mores, Morgan was sick as a dog. (No offense to Ellie or Zero) The next morning the Bright Light declared, "Care, I'm going to eat healthy nourishing foods from now on!" Lesson learned :)

We knew Morgan would love the GrandDogs - Ellie and Zero - but real tears were shed when it was time to head home. Don't ask if Morgan has popped a tear on other occasions of departure. Only E & Z evoked the morose sorrow.

I always squeeze a tear when the kids head back to Spearfish and Gillette. When the dogs leave, I throw a party!!!! (just kidding Noy!)

And no, that freaked-face Santa is not in my front window. We're downtown at the Christmas Parade.