Day 147.  It actually rained today.  Not a lot, but it was rain.  It has been months since we have seen drop of rain.  The river is dry, the lakes are dry, and I heard some ranchers this morning talking about their wells going dry.  It seems we may be headed to another dust bowl, or perhaps becoming a desert.  We will pray for more rain, enough rain to replenish this thirsty land.  I guess I'm looking for something to ease the sorrow of this day.  Today, Friday 12/14/12, a man walked into an elementary school in Connecticut and killed 26 people.  Twenty of them were children.  As more of the story comes out, it only gets worse.  I can not imagine the hurt that those parents and families are going through tonight.  If this country ever needed another spiritual outpouring, it is now.  Lord send the rain, or better yet, come quickly.


Day 146.  I was thinking about this blog the other day and realized that if I didn't have any pictures of myself then I wouldn't see how I have changed in a year.  I don't really like taking my own picture but I do want to know how this year has changed me.  So here I am, and every once in a while I will add another.  I went to get my hair cut a few days ago and the girl commented on how much gray I was getting.  I guess that is one way I will be changing this year.  This is my week to write the ministers article for the newspaper.  I found that it was easier to do than usual.  I wrote it like I write on this blog except it was quite a bit longer.  I didn't try to be all scholarly and religious, I just wrote what I was thinking.  So, that is another way I seem to be changing, and it's only been five months.  What else will this year bring.

Day 145.  I can't seem to be completely still when I take pictures, so, I decided to use that to my advantage.  I purposely slow down the shutter and move the lens in different patterns just to see what I get.  What may seem like a botched picture is actually done on purpose, and turns out pretty cool.  The problem is picking which one to post.  Now, I have to get caught up on posting, I'm a few days behind.  This is for Wednesday, 12/12/12.  There is a lot of hype over the date, but really it is just another day.

Day 144.  I know, this isn't a Christmas picture.  It isn't even a current picture.  It was taken in February at a men's retreat.  We had a blast.  I was reminded of the trip a couple of times in the last few days.  I don't know if I will get to go this year.  The guys that went with me won't be able to go.  It may just be a couple of us going, but if I can get a couple to go then we will.  Back to Christmas, this is shaping up to be such a busy week.  Can someone tell me why school teachers give out so much home work right before Christmas break?  Don't they plan for this?  They know it's coming up, and yet, there are two projects and two essays due.  And, they were just handed out a few days ago.  When you put that on top of the band concerts and choir concerts the kids don't have time to breathe much less attend after school activities.  I think they could have been working on some of this a month ago instead of watching movies in class.  Just my opinion.  I don't think class time should be used for movies any way.  That's my rant for the day.  By the way, the cheese cake on Monday night was awesome.  Again, my opinion.  But hey, it's my blog.

Day143.  More lights.  What can I say, it's Christmas.  When Christmas is over I won't have lights to take pictures of so I am taking advantage of them now.  Life is like that.  We take advantage of what is before us.  If I know what is coming up, then I plan on how to take advantage of that.  Like new years or valentines day.  How about the end of the world?  I haven't started hoarding supplies or built a special shelter.  But, I have made arrangements for what I consider to be the end.  When this age is over, and it will be someday, all of the hoarding and prepping won't save you.  Only one thing can save you on that day.  And that is faith in Jesus Christ.  There is never a bad time to turn to Christ, but what a special time this would be.  As we celebrate His birth, we also celebrate our birth in Him.  Christ is no myth.  Santa Clause is the myth, the legend.  Jesus is the truth, the way, and the life. 

Day 142.  It's raining light.  Not really, but it was snowing earlier.  Well, it was blowing a little snow though the area.    I'm psyching myself up for cold weather.  I used to tolerate the cold better than I do now.  Some people tell me it is because I'm getting older, but that's not it.  I just like warmer weather and I am not ready to give it up this year.  But, I do like the lights.  How many lights can you put on a single Christmas tree?  Several years ago I worked at a Sears store in the Christmas shoppe.  I got the task of decorating the trees that were on display.  We would wrap 15 to 16 strings of lights on each tree, and then put all the ornaments on.  We had a list of everything that went on a tree and we had to make sure it would all go on.  It never failed that there would be people who would buy the trees already decorated.  I couldn't believe how much they were willing to spend.  For years after that I would have to decorate my tree the same way.  Now we have a pre lit tree and I let the kids put most of the ornaments on.  I like this way better.  I have so many cool memories of Christmases past, I'm sure every one does, and it is fun to remember them.  And, it is just as fun making new ones.

Day 141.  I made this today.  It's for a Christmas party Monday night.  I just hope I can stay out of it until then.  It is  a chocolate truffle covered New York style cheesecake.  Just in case some one doesn't like cheesecake we will have another dessert.  There will also be chocolate truffles to eat as well.  Stacy gets to do the dinner, I just did the dessert.  I did it today so it will be nice and chilled, plus there won't be much of a chance to get it done after today.  I'll let you know Monday night how it tastes.