For Everything There is a Season

Long before the first flakes

started their long fall from the heavens

snow... the feel, the smell, the texture of the air

feeling the falling barometer,

the shift in the weather

Falling lightly at first, while I stood ,mesmerized,

watching their dance downward

Accumulating white, flake by flake on the ground,

a film of white, cell by cell

cleaning the world in white
-Raymond A. Foss

-photos taken at Klondike, Iowa

The time has come to put away the old and take out the new.

The time has come to say goodbye to warm weather, lazy days and fallen leaves.

The time has come to be thankful for the harvest and be thankful for the change in season, the change that allows a slower pace and a brand new outlook on the world.

The time has come to observe the beauty of new fallen snow, "cleaning the world in white".

The time has come to take out the tree and the baubles and sparkles, to crank out the carols, take out the blankets and the hot chocolate, and enjoy a closer time, indoors, near the home fires, in anticipation of birth of the Christ child. For everything, there is a season.............

and a season for every activity under heaven:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3

* update- Not sure how, but the poet himself has found my blog! His is the first comment to this post! You can see much more of his poetry at his site: http://raymondafoss.blogspot.com/. Mr. Foss, I enjoyed just tapping the surface of your talent. I will visit again. Thank you for your work.

Giving Thanks

Thankful for family-
Thankful for health-
Thankful for a safe harvest-
Thankful that we are not in want-
Thankful for my job and students-
Thankful for my friends-
Thankful for my church-
Thankful that my life is so full-
Thankful for time to unwind, regroup and rest-

Thankful for puppies???

Thankful for all of you who stop by to check on me-
As you can see, I have so much to be thankful for, I am well, my life is full and I am blessed!

"O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods." Psalm 95:1

Everything In Its Time

-Impressionistic view

Sometimes I wonder what lies ahead
How long 'til my hunger is fed.

-for Kensey

They say it's hard to make it in this part of town.
So many people on this merry go round.
Some folks try astrology, some turn to crystal balls
to find an answer to get them through it all.
-for Mama

I just fall on my knees and I try to pray.
In the silence I can hear Him say,

-for Jill

"The river runs and the river hides
Out to the ocean and under the sky

I promise you, the answer will come.

-for Al and Jill

Hold on to patience and watch for the sign

Everything in its time"

I often feel like I'm two steps behind

Somebody must have moved the finish line

-for Daddy

There are a thousand reasons
Why I should give up

But I'm stubborn in the things I believe
The river runs and the river hides
Out to the ocean and under the sky

-after Monet

"I promise you, the answer will come."

Hold on to patience and watch for the sign
'cause maybe there's another plan

One I still can't see
A little surprise, like Your love in my life.

-for Diane and Vincent

Funny how time changes how we see

The river runs and the river hides
Out to the ocean and under the sky

I promise you, the answer will come

Hold on to patience and watch for the sign
Everything in its time


Everything in its time.

Check out this link to hear the song for today on You Tube.
You will be blessed!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fw-h8AQanJw
-lyrics by Corrinne May

-photos taken by me in Lyon County, Ia.


-Acrylic painting by me! "Beyond the Sunset"

"Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles-

It empties today of its strength"

Thanking God for the harvest- all in HIS time.

It's About Love

We thought of you with love today,
but this is nothing new.
We thought of you yesterday
and the days before that too.
We think of you in silence
and often speak your name.
All we have now are memories,
and a picture in a frame.
It broke our hearts to lose you,
but you didn't go alone.
A part of us went with you,
the day God took you home.

Happy Birthday Mom

This family shot shows 7 of the 9 children of Iver and Elvina. Kristy had to work at Walmart, so couldn't come when most of us could be together, but we enjoyed seeing her some over the weekend. Tom lives in South Carolina, so we were missing him too!

We gathered together Sunday to pay another tribute to this amazing Mom of ours. Sunday would have been her birthday. Susie came home to be with us. We placed red flowers on the altar. I think Dad was the one who loved red so much.

We worshiped, we remembered, we laughed, we cried, we prayed, we cared, we missed, we shared, we held each other up, and we sang, we ate, we welcomed more of this family together...time and distance does not matter...we are family.

We wondered why we still grieve and miss...time does not matter....the missing does not go away. Rev Ron said, "It's ok to grieve. It's ok to cry. It's about love"

I sang...."Life is hard. The world is cold. We're barely young and then we're old. But every falling tear is always understood. Life is hard, but God is good. He never said that this journey would be easy. He only said that we would never be alone....and when the last bit of thread begins to come unraveled, don't give up, He'll walk beside you on your journey home".

We had a "sisters" party.

As promised, we laughed, we cried, we shared, we cared, we missed, we held each other up, we remembered, we gave gifts, we stayed together through the night.....a slumber party....age doesn't matter...time and distance does not matter...we are sisters. We have had "sisters" parties for many many years. Part of missing mom is that she became one of the "sisters" too, sharing everything right along with us, so these parties are fewer and farther between AND a very important link is missing.....but her presence is very significant at the same time!


We "exercised" at 2 am. We shared, passing the feather boa for our "15 minutes of fame" and made a pajama run downtown, just like the kids do!

Brother Pat

Always has to be food involved with a gathering!

Mike and Peggy

Marissa has grown since Susie was home!

The boys are no longer the babies Susie met once!

Braylyn and I played dress up during one of our few quiet times at the farm.

We burned what is left of our old grove Sunday night.....an ending to a busy weekend.
Goodbye Susie. It was so great seeing you. Remember.....it's about love. Have a safe flight, keep in touch and remember your humble roots in a little tiny house in a little tiny town...humble beginnings, but overflowing with love........it's about love.