Southeast Iowan Iceland!

We have ice! Lots of ICE! The ice is so heavy on the cedars and pines that they're nearly dragging the ground. The wind is picking up. I sure hope it doesn't break my trees! I must say, it is beautiful from inside the warm and cozy house.

Born to Die....That I Might Live

Perhaps you are not familiar with the Christmas song "Ring the Bells". It is a fairly new one, compared to those old standards, but I really like the words:

Ring the bells, ring the bells,
Let the whole world know
Christ was born in Bethlehem
Many years ago.

Born to die that man might live,
Came to earth new life to give,
Born of Mary, born so low,
Many years ago.

God the Father gave His Son,
Gave His own beloved One
To this wicked, sinful earth
To bring mankind His love, new birth:

Ring the bells, ring the bells,
Let the whole world know
Christ the Savior lives today
As He did so long ago!

--- Harry Bollback (1958)

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life" (John 3:16)

That is the ultimate gift! Eternal life! Certainly we enjoy giving Christmas gifts, but let us not, in the hustle and bustle of the holiday festivities, forget the incomparable gift God has given to us!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas!

Everywhere you go! We drove home from church this morning in a blinding snow, but it wasn't cold enough to stick. It was pretty though! We had a wonderful Thanksgiving Day at Gariann's home. The food was plentiful, and delicious! I think everyone got plenty, and had a great time as well. The guys had a lot of fun shooting pool, and a bunch of us played Tripoley.









After two meals, and playing games, it was time to go home. Zach came home with us, but Wyatt chose to go home with Mommy and Daddy. Kathy was planning to go early in the morning for those door buster shopping specials, so Tyler brought Wyatt over Friday morning when he woke up.
The boys helped re-arrange furniture, dig the decorations out of the attic and carry them down, set up and decorate the tree and then put all the storage boxes back in the attic. After that, we played the old "original" Monopoly until I went broke, and Zach had accumulated nearly ten thousand dollars. It was a fun day, and the house is decorated for Christmas. Our tree is absolutely beautiful...if I do say so myself.
And of course, Bambi is wearing his Christmas "outfit", as is Daddy Deer. The boys enjoy making them festive for the holidays.













However, as we enter into the "holiday season" let us not forget the most important things: