Merry Christmas!

 

Merry Christmas!

 

May your day be Sweetly Blessed by

Tidings of Good News...

 

A Babe is Born Today

A Savior sent in Love

A Gift, A Treasure of the most Precious Kind...

 

May He be the Present you unWrap all year long!

 

All My Love,

     Jane

Winter Wonderland

Winter has arrived in Texas!

 

A cold rain pouring from leaden skies heralded the change...

 

We watched it from windows warm turn into icicles before our eyes!

 

 

 

And then drifting snow...

 

A winter wonderland here on the farm!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Autumn bows to winter's frozen beauty with barely a whisper...

 

 

Ready to fire up the woodstove and start the chili to simmering!

 

May you and your loved ones find ways to snuggle close, share the warmth and be safe should you find yourself in the line of this bitter artic blast...

 

Love Always, Jane

Choosing Grace over Grief this Day...

Some anniversaries are for celebrating... Some anniversaries are for grieving...

Today was a bit of both.

It's been 2 years since mom slipped away from us in the early morning mist

2 years without her smile, without her laugh, without her warmth. Voices have cracked in the remembering, tears have spilled heedless and hearts have ached all over again. Something about an anniversary of such grief brings back the memories sharp and deep.

But it also brings back moments of sweet, and that is why we can choose to celebrate today as well. We can choose to write Grace over the Grief and be grateful for the Gift that she was. She poured herself into our lives, becoming friend and champion, a giver of hugs and love, leaving lasting joy in her wake. We can grieve her passing, but move forward to celebrate the eternal impact she has had on each one of us.

Mom, you are so very, very missed... We love you always and forever, Jane

Thanksgiving Blessings

Praying your Thanksgiving Journey is covered in Grace...

 

May you find moments of joy and love no matter where the road takes you.

 

Love Always, Jane

 

 

Living Life...on the Exotic Side!

Just back from a glorious few days with the Birthday Girl!

Daughter Katie turned "20-something" and asked for the sweetest gift... a road trip with her mama.  How could I not oblige?!  Especially when she told me the destination...

The Exotic Zoo Ranch Resort in Johnson City, Texas!

 

 

We stayed in a rustic cabin in the middle of our very own zoo!  Surrounded by wallaby, zebu, antelope and bison... we took a walk on the wild side!

 

 

A friendly Good Morning right outside our cabin door...

 

 

 

 

And then there was our zoo-fari trip around the compound!

 

 

We waited for an excited group of pre-schoolers to disembark the trolley before heading out on our adventure and to our blissful amazement, we had the safari trolley all to ourselves.

 

 

 

Lydia was our knowledgeable guide and she gave us the royal treatment, stopping often so we could get pictures and hand-feed the wild beasts...

 

There were camels...

 

 

 

 

And adorable, fuzzy, Scottish Highland cattle...

 

 

And curious Zebra...

 

 

And one very hungry ostrich...

 

 

 

And then we topped a hill and came upon the amazing Bison...

 

 

Gentle Giant...He ate right from our hands...

 

 

A Road Trip worthy of Birthday Memories!
We won't soon forget the adventure, the handsome beasts, or the charming accommodations.

 

But the Memory that holds top honor would be the time spent with a Beautiful Daughter, Reconnecting and Enjoying the Gift of Slowing Down Together...

 

There was laughing, and sharing, and shopping, and celebrating. 

 

Memories of Love tucked deep down in this Mama's Heart...

 

Happy Birthday, Katie!

Love you to pieces :-)

 

Cold Fronts, And Sheets and Tiny, Tiny Tree Frogs...

Cold fronts a-moving in... time to pull out the sweaters and scarfs!  Oh, and light up the woodstove.  Love this crisp fall weather.  But not the freezing temps so much...

My to-do list just got a mile longer.  Winterize the pipes.  Heat lamps for the chicks.  Haul hay for the goats.  Top off water tanks.  Pick the last of the tomatoes and green peppers (yes, we still have the garden growing, the glories of a Texas Fall!) 

And just as I caught myself running ragged, I remembered all the pretty plants on the back deck...

Maybe, just maybe we could cover them with sheets and pray for a "mild" freeze?  Not quite ready yet to lose the beauty, the sweet fragrance as we walk by...

And I rush in to get the sheets, rummaging thru drawers to find as many as I can, then rushing back out, linens billowing all around...

...and in the rushing to protect and cover up, I almost missed him...

 

 

Sweet, little tree frog.

 

Blending in, keeping still, but for the frantic beating heart.

My billowing sheets must have scared him silly.

Hung on to the dried oak leaf he did, surely praying I would pass him by...

 

 

 

 

But then I stilled my rushing, bent the knee and nodded, eye to eye...

 

Sometimes we just need to slow down and smile thanks for the offering.

 

Praying for the warmth of family and friends to hold you close this chilly night

and for these moments to still, just slow down and bring peace to each heart...

 

In Grace, Always, Jane

Welcome Fall...

 

 

"Autumn, the Year's last,

Loveliest Smile."

 

                              ~ William Cullen Bryant