Good Intentions

of taking down the Christmas decor on New Year's Day .. but oh, I'm still enjoying the tree lights, door wreath, and instrumental (flute, violin, harp) music.  Why all the fuss to get it put away so soon after Christmas .. not going to happen .. I'm waiting until Friday when hubby can help.  It will be more enjoyable working together .. memories to share as we take the ornaments off the tree together .. not so much a dreaded solo chore. 

Besides .. this will give us a chance to start a new/old tradition .. that of celebrating the Epiphany .. arrival the the Three Wise Men to visit the Christ child .. 12th day of Christmas.  

Savoring in Him,

A New Year

There's nothing like a fresh new calendar on my wall or desk .. one that holds lots of hope and promise stored within its pages .. yet to be written.  May God bless each of you this coming year as you bless Him in actions, words and deeds.  Not in 'good works' to get something back from Him .. but as an act of faith and desire to serve the Living God Almighty.

What good is it, my brothers and sisters, if someone claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save them?  Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food.  If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it?  In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

  But someone will say, “You have faith; I have deeds.”

   Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds.

 James 2:14-18

After The Storm

after the storm .. our front yard

Had a wild snow storm roll through yesterday .. in the midst the kids decided to blaze a sledding trail in the front yard.  Today was picture perfect .. with a cherry on top :) 

Waiting to ring in the new year tomorrow night at home.  It's cold .. and the best place is inside by the stove.  Christmas has come and gone .. and it's almost time to put the decorations away for another year.  Today was spent getting up early to make homemade cinnamon rolls to enjoy with friends, sledding, taking care of car maintenance, and fixing a nice pot roast dinner for my family.   Nothing profound .. simple everyday life .. ebb and flow stuff.  Still resting up from last summer's garden and enjoying the produce put away for winter.  My life speaks volumes of 'homebody' .. and that suits me just fine. 

I hope to get back to blogging more regularly once the new year rolls around.  Been hit or miss of late with Christmas and company.  Enjoy New Year's Eve .. be safe.

sledding .. oh what fun

Hugs,

Christmas Week

... finds the Mac home making preparation for the coming celebration of the remembrance of Christ's birth.  Often times this gets lost in the secular world .. but as Christians .. it is foremost in our home.  I've done some baking, more decorating, and cleaning.  We will have a houseful this weekend.  Our oldest daughter and her family will be staying overnight on Christmas Eve.  Christmas day will find 12 people at our dinner table including family and friends. 

Today the weather was in the low 40F's .. clear skies .. this tempted me to do a load of laundry to hang outside ... just because :)  too bad it all got washed yesterday .. it may be quite a long time before another spring day happens this winter.

Nathan is home from school this week.  He continues to amaze me with the progress he's making.  currently he is working on bathing skills AND learning how to cope when other people laugh out loud (LOL).  This has been a tight rope walk until now.  I can honestly say that life is more typical in our home with his new self control capabilities .. can I get a big AMEN!?

Cookies have been baked.  Most of the grocery and gift shopping is done.  Mr. Mac has been the gift wrapper extraordinaire again.  It's nice to have someone help with the extra work Christmas brings. 

Chocolate Brownie Drop Cookies

Have a blessed day.

A Quiet Independence Day Planned

For Mrs. Mac.  Mr. Mac will be taking our company and kids to a minor league baseball game complete with a fireworks show for the Fourth of July celebration.  I get a  nice relaxing day (almost) alone with Nathan and the dawg.  They don't 'do' fireworks ... and I need a nice loooong rest after this weeks activities.

His Sheep Know His Voice

“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

1 Corinthians 1:18 (NIV)

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one can snatch them out of my hand.

John 10:27-28 (NIV)

copyright free image from here

Christmas At the Macs

This year has come to a close and just about slipped into one of the many photo albums stored down in the basement. Here are a few impromptu pics taken on Christmas and at a local fire station charity breakfast with Santa, soon to be added as well.

Mr. Mac was able to get the day off work and the entire clan was home for Christmas. We had a nice breakfast ... mid day snacks ... and a sit down dinner with all the trimmings. Nathan made an appearance for the gift exchange .. then withdrew to the safety of his room. He wasn't too cooperative about getting in the family pictures ... hence the misc. pics of him from the fire station. Ann's birthday dinner pics that include her beau, Greg, on a break from his fireman duties ... she's now a 'un-teen' ... hip, hip, horray! (sigh of relief;)

Have a memory filled last week of the year as we wait for a brand new one filled with many possibilities.

Thank you Jesus for giving us reason to hope and celebrate!

Christmas Menu Traditions

Traditionally for breakfast we have:

Homemade Cinnamon Rolls
Breakfast Sausage
Ambrosia
Orange Juice
Coffee

I never serve lunch because we eat our dinner early

This year's dinner menu:

Locally Raised & Smoked Ham
Local Natural Turkey
Cranberry Relish
Sean's Potatoes*
Steamed Broccoli
Green Dinner Salad with Homemade Basalmic Vinegar Dressing
Home Baked Dinner Rolls
Sparkling Apple Cider
Birthday Cake**
Coffee

*Sean's Potatoes: This is Sean Patrick's favorite side dish his Grandmother Betty would make for family get-togethers. When he was stationed in the Army for eight years away from home, it was comforting to have a family meal with his favorite dish. In our family, this dish is known only as 'Sean's Potatoes'.

8-10 medium potatoes, boil with skins on until barely tender
2 cups sour cream
2 cups grated sharp cheddar cheese, plus additional for topping
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup chopped green onions
salt and pepper

Chill the boiled potatoes in refrigerator, peel and shred (grate). In a small saucepan, melt butter and cheese. Mix in sour cream. Together in a large bowl, gently mix the shredded potatoes, cheese mix, green onions, and salt and pepper (to taste). Pour into a 9x13 in. pan. Top with grated cheese. Bake 45 minutes at 350F

** In honor of remembering Christ's birth, we are having a birthday cake for dessert.

Minimizing Christmas Stress

This Christmas season I've baked, perhaps, one or two batches of cookies. We no longer feel the need to go overboard in the baking area. It's too easy to grab a cookie on the long way around to the kitchen ;) ... out in sight .. on the mind. Years past I would bake beautifully decorated cookies. Pack gift tins for each of my older children's teachers ... they were in Jr. and Sr. high so multiply 7x3 and that adds up to a lot of cookie tins. It would take a week to properly clean the kitchen floor from all of the spilled flour and ingredients. Hubby's motto .. Keep It Simple Sweetheart ... has become a way to survive the holy days ... and reflect on the simplicity of Christ's Mass.

Relax This Thanksgiving

Take a tip from our Canadian friends, they too celebrate Thanksgiving, albeit a month earlier than in the U.S.A. I had the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving in Canada last month. I must say, they are way more relaxed about the holiday than the lower 48 states. To grocery shop the day before was a breeze .. no different than any other day. No long lines, shortages of cranberries, road rage in the car lot over a parking space. A simple meal of ham, veggies, potatoes, cranberry sauce made for a tasty meal. I think we Americans over emphasize the non significant ... and ignore the significant reason for most celebrations. This year in keeping with my new found 'freedom' from slaving away in the kitchen, I'm going to simplify my Thanksgiving menu. We still will have turkey, mashed potatoes/gravy, sweet potatoes, one green veggie, and cranberry sauce. Gone will be bread stuffing, salad, rolls, three desserts, and tons of munchies before dinner. Keep it simple sweetheart is my hubby's motto. Pumpkin pie is being provided by Elizabeth, mashed potatoes are being prepared by Ann. And EVERYONE will help clean up the kitchen ... or no listening to the football game on the radio ;) (yes, radio ... we have no TV service) (yes, on purpose;)

Veterans Day

My sincere thanks to all United States military veterans. Some of you have been overlooked, forgotten by your government, and misunderstood when home from war. But the majority of your fellow American's support and thank you for keeping our nation safe at home and abroad.

The Old Country

Tracing me roots (not those silver ones ;). 'Tis been a long time coming that I find me paternal family in the old country of Ireland. And 'tis not as though I haven't been a trying for years! So just by off chance I googled the 'Cummins family of Ireland', and what do ye think popped up on me screen? I'll be switched ... there was me connection that eluded me for years. Me great grandfather's family of Inch, Ireland. In full view were the names of me long dead/lost relatives. Pictures of the town parish churches and articles about the potato famine that scattered our kin around the globe. Pictures of me kin too. So if ye were thinking I was just a foolin' ye about being a wee bit Irish ... you can lay that fool idea to rest ;).

A Wish for a Friend

Wishing you a rainbow
For sunlight after showers—
Miles and miles of Irish smiles
For golden happy hours—
Shamrocks at your doorway
For luck and laughter too,
And a host of friends that never ends
Each day your whole life through!

January 1, 2009

Ring in the New Year with a sense of humor ... a grateful heart for being alive ... an outlook full of possibilities of the days to come. Whatever is just beyond tomorrow, may you accept the unknown path in front of you and make good choices and decisions. Give God your best and let Him carry you the rest of the way. (old optimistic proverb that I just made up ... but it does have some validity;)

Call It A Night

This is New Year's Eve afternoon. I have about zero energy. Do I plan on staying up late tonight? Probably not. I just can't shake off my tiredness. I've even switched allergy meds which has helped a bit. Tiredness and hives are not a nice mix of ailments. But it's better than other maladies so I won't complain.

Tonight we have been invited to a neighbor's home a few doors down. Just Mr. Mac, Nathan, Ann & myself. No big party ... and we'll probably leave by nine PM. They have become good neighbor friends of late and have taken an interest in Nathan. So it's nice to be invited somewhere that he will feel welcomed.

This will be an interesting new year. So much uncertainty. And yet, there is certainty for people of faith in Christ. Be a sharer of your faith to those that have lost hope.

Happy New Year

... "Walking In A Winter Wonderland" ...

... Old Frosty the Snowman paid us a visit (finally) yesterday. The Mr. and I got up early and used our new snow blower on the driveway. It works so much faster and better than having to use our four wheeler and plow. Just watch out if you're on my naughty list ... cuz the jet of snow this new blower throws has pretty accurate aim ... just ask the Mr :) OK, so I got a little carried away! The weather is that arctic blast (Miss Terry sent) from Canada. We're not supposed to be much above zero degrees by tomorrow. The dawg will be so happy she can live in the basement for a few days. She stood outside at my French door in the dining room with a pitiful look on her face all morning. Mr. Mac just headed off to Santa's workshop for a little charity gig at the airport. He was dressed as a keystone cop and had an important flight to catch with some needy children up to the North Pole. Will hopefully post a picture tomorrow. Have a toasty warm weekend inside by the fire. Hugs.

Political Correctness Gone Mad

As seen in my local op-ed pages this past Sunday:

PC: 'Turkey Day' a bone in the Gullet ... "On Nov. 27 our nation will look back on its history, look around the table and celebrate Thanksgiving. But not the folks at the bank in the Prairie Shopping Center. Their billboard substitutes the words "Turkey Day" for this national holiday. I called and asked why. The answer: Using the word "Thanksgiving" might be offensive to someone. Their preference is to substitute the commonly consumed main dish for the name of the holiday. What's next, Happy Boxed Chocolates Day for Valentine's Day? Happy Fruitcake Day for that other holiday "PC" people shudder to mention? If you think "Happy Turkey Day" is more of an insult than "Thanksgiving," please let all food-naming-substituting businesses in town know that North Idahoans are still in favor of gratitude on November 27." by: A.H. CDA Press 11/23/08 Coeur d'Alene

WWII Letter to H.K. in honor of Veteran's Day

3-3-45

United States Navy

My Darling Daughter H.K.,

Haven't had a letter from you for quite a while, so better get busy and see what's the matter with you. I got the one you sent me with the pictures in it ... and I think they are swell. How did your skirt fit and did you like it? Tried to get one that had the anklets and bracelets to go with it but couldn't find one. Why don't you sit down and write me a nice long letter about how you are coming along in school and about your dancing school. It's so hot here it's hard to write without sweating all over the stationary. Grandma C wrote that she sent you a picture. I had one taken with a friend of mine so will send it to you. It isn't so good, but maybe you can make out who it is. Tell mother I will write her too. I won't be able to write as often from now on, at least for a while. The other fellow in the picture is our quarter master and lives in New York. I showed him the pictures of you and he thinks you are some kid. How's Betty and Aunt Junie and Art? Tell mother I had a nice long letter from Uncle Earl not long ago and Lynn had been sick but is better again now. Haven't a lot of time to write now, but will write you again as soon as I can.

Love to you and all,

Daddy

(Letter written by my maternal grandfather to my mother when she was nine years. Grandpa was serving our country during WWII in the South Pacific on the LST 1000)

Shhh, Grandma's Baby Is Sleeping

Last night was my oldest daughter's final class of dental school. She's been burning her candle from both ends for quite a long time now. I've tried to help out with 'free granny daycare' (a luxury I somehow escaped years ago). Her schedule has included opening at a local eatery (leaving home at 4:30 AM) ... coming home after her shift ... taking a nap ... studying and homework ... and off to night school. Somewhere in there she took care of baby and her husband. To reward her for her efforts, I offered to take the baby for the night (not that I don't see him enough ;) ... so she could have a 'date' with her husband. Of late the baby is very fussy when they take him to a restaurant. Gone are the days of this quiet little fellow content to look at his toes from the comfort of his infant carrier. My home is not too baby friendly ... two stairways and no fenced backyard. So I'm closing for now to take a reprieve as he slumbers for the night. I hope your fourth was celebrated with great food, friends, legal fireworks, and appreciation for the country we call home.

Oh What Fun .....

The Mac family celebrated Christmas with all the children at home this year. We have counted our blessings and are very thankful for each and every one. Mrs. Mac sure could use a long winter's night of sleep ... but will keep on keeping on until everyone is back to school and work in the next few weeks.










Photos: Mr. Mac and Patrick raising the new flags. Ann and Nathan wooshing on the new sleds.
Patrick and Nathan after sledding. Baby Jake's first sledding adventure.

A Family Christmas Outing

Most Sundays of late I've been a shut-in so to speak; not able to get to church. However ... not able to get to church is not the same as not being part of God's church family. It is just a season for the moment ... until circumstances change. I look forward to having my husband living at home permanently in a few more months. We have both sacrificed our togetherness for the time being to start a new chapter in our lives. A move that has been done in planned stages and transitions ... carefully laid out and blessed by God. So until he returns home permanently, to be my helpmate once again, I must rest in God's grace being content with our current situation (being the caretaker of our special needs son, Nathan). Nathan has issues that place a great burden on me in regards to getting to church. Having Down syndrome and some autistic traits I am unable to just head off to church on Sunday morning with him. Most churches do not have accommodations for such children. Big church is too bright and loud. Sunday school is too overstimulating and he needs a one to one aide just to keep an eye on him. A quiet room with books and a Bible story movie, two or three other children and a teacher is about as much as he can take. I have faith that God has plans and hubby and I can once again be in church fellowship that hopefully includes our son. Tonight I was reading the paper and saw that two local churches are having drive through nativities this weekend. Now this is something we can participate in as a family and bring Nathan along too. He will feel quite secure observing from the back seat of our truck. We've been reading the Christmas story about the birth of Christ to him from a simple little Golden Book. I'm sure he will make the connection as we drive through the church's parking lot and see Mary and Joseph ... the baby Jesus ... the manger scene ... and the live animals. Simple truth that Nathan can understand ... simple truth that a great percentage of people pass up.