So long 2015...

2015 is almost over. It was a great year for my family. Tim and I were able to travel to Hilton Head, SC where we enjoyed watching plenty of tennis.



Asbury University Men's Tennis Team made nationals again this year, so after graduation we drove to Mobile to watch them compete. By graduation, I mean Scott graduated from Asbury University with a degree in accounting.



Bill and Amanda have run a lot of races. This summer Bill and Scott ran the Tough Mudder with two friends.



During the summer I discovered I was a finalist in the Genesis Writing Contest sponsored by ACFW. I didn't win, but I got to see some great friends in Dallas at the yearly ACFW conference.



This year our sweet Brooke started kindergarten!

Scott, Tim, and I went to New York City and got to watch a few days of the US Open. What a thrill! I'd go back to the city anytime, and we loved the US Open.



My daughter-in-law, Amanda, started a blog on coping with infertility. She tackles the heartbreaking issues of infertility in a sensitive way and she has moved me to tears more than once.
http://amandahopeforthefuture.blogspot.com/

Speaking of blogs, Scott and a friend also started a blog focusing on young adults facing life and how to handle money. http://unmarkedtrailhead.wordpress.com/

These are only a few of the blessings we've enjoyed this year. My word to focus on for 2015 was hope, and this was definitely a year of hope and dreams. Speaking of hopes and dreams, Scott proposed to his girlfriend, Kellianne Crouse. She will be a wonderful addition to our family, and we all feel blessed she said yes.

Christmas in the Bluegrass State

As I've traveled down Harrodsburg Road, I spotted a horse wreath on a farmer's fence. Sunday after church Tim pulled of the road and took pictures for me. I love these wreaths so much, I wanted to share them with you.

The family had more than one wreath on their fences. I'm not very creative, and I can't imagine how much time it took to make these, but I'm impressed.





Isiah 9:6 KJV

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

Merry Christmas!

Special Christmas Decorations

Do you have a favorite decoration you like to set up or put on the tree? Today I want to share a few Christmas decorations from my friends.

Janet Ferguson, one of my amazing critique partners shared this with me. Janet said, "I never buy Christmas items for myself. I don't have matching holiday decor that would please a decorator. Most of my ornaments and other Christmas miscellaneous have been gifts. My mother loved to buy each of us an ornament every year. Friends have given me various platters, candles, etc. over over the years. And ever since I moved into my neighborhood, some twenty plus years ago, the ladies have had an ornament swap. I've participated in swaps with other groups, as well, like at my church. I think my neighborhood one is my favorite because I realize many people don't know their neighbors these days. I was lucky in that before we located there, some nice ladies organized a neighborhood bunko. I really don't care about playing the game, but once a month I get to see my neighbors, and at Christmas, we play the dirty Santa ornament swap game. I received these two birds this year through a bit of strategic stealing, but all in good fun. The mercury glass fowl will join my mismatched collection of ornaments and fun memories."


Another one of my amazing critique partners is Misty Beller who writes historical romances. She shared this ornament, and it just made me smile.

Misty said, "My grandparents brought this ornament back from California for me when I was a girl. It's more eclectic than my usual traditional style, but it captures two of my loves. The girl is dressed like a cowgirl, which is much the way I dressed during most of my childhood. Hanging from her arms are musical instruments, which I have always loved. So much so that I was a music major my first year in college."







LeAnne Bristow is another of my amazing critique partners. She shared her nativity set that her daughters gave her when they were little. They saved their money and surprised her with this set. She said she'd always wanted one, and it's now her favorite decoration.

Christmas Decorations

I appreciate antiques, and I appreciate family antiques even more. This year I inherited three decorations Grandmother Lutz made.

The first ornament is a cross, the symbol of Jesus.

This pretty ornament has a strip of felt along the edge and is decorated with sequins. I imagine angels playing beautiful instruments like this in heaven.









The last of my three instruments is a butterfly which is a symbol of transformation.

Thanks for allowing me to share a little Christmas with you. Merry Christmas.

December Births

In December we all celebrate the birth of Jesus.

In addition to celebrating Christmas, I'm blessed to celebrate the births of Bill, Brooke, and Allie this month.




No matter when your loved ones were born, I hope you find time to celebrate with them this month.

Merry Christmas!

Christmas in Kentucky

Some years it snows in Kentucky at Christmas, and some years it's warm. No matter what the weather, you can see and feel the spirit of Christmas.

My house is almost completely decorated, and I had a little help from Brooke and Allie setting up one of my nativity scenes. Brooke has always loved this toy nativity set, and she enjoyed putting it together for me with a little help from Bill and Scott.



Meanwhile Allie is much too busy to slow down.



In the end, when Brooke finished, we were all excited.

Merry Christmas!

Inside an Old Barn

I've shared before my fascination with barns. I grew up going into two of my Granddaddy Hubbard's barns, and I've been in a few others over the years.

Recently I was allowed to go into a barn that appeared to be falling down.

An old house on the property dated back to the late 1700s, and I wonder if this barn did too.

Part of the wood structure was not smooth boards but logs with the limbs trimmed off.

Whoever built this barn meant for it to last. It seems to be a catchall right now, but I wonder if a little bit of hard work would restore it to be functional. There is beauty in this old barn just like there is beauty in older adults. Let's take time to remember those who started out before us and look for the beauty in everybody.

Flag of the Week

There's a little street in Wilmore where I love to walk. This week's flag flies proudly on a house that always tugs at me. I'm not sure exactly why, but I love this house.

I hope people who walk by my house feel a welcoming draw.

In Matthew 11:28, Jesus says, "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest."

I don't know the people who own this house. What I do know is this. "But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord." Joshua 24:15

If you walk by my house, please know you'll be welcomed. In Jesus' name we'll give you food or a drink and a seat to rest in. Thanks for stopping by my blog today.

Happy Thanksgiving

GIVE THANKS TO THE LORD, FOR HIS FAITHFUL LOVE ENDURES FOREVER. 2 Chronicles 20:21

Flag of the Week for Thanksgiving Week 2015

From North Carolina to New York City to Kentucky to Los Angeles we're blessed to have the freedom to fly our flag. I'm thankful to the soldiers now protecting us and to the veterans who protected us in the past. Thank you!








HAPPY THANKSGIVING!