For Monday, December 23rd, 2024

 

ON THE BRIGHT SIDE

MONDAY, DECEMBER 23RD, 2024

The moments of our lives may be bright with possibility, dark with fear or sadness, or even plain everyday gray, but God's glory never fades.  May God's glory shine into the exciting lights, upsetting darks,  and boring grays of your every day.

Slightly adapted from one of my morning devotionals

In TEXAS

 Sunrise:    7;24  am

   Sunset:   5:39   

pm

Life is a special    

occasion!

Hallmark!

Today is Roots Day which is the perfect time to celebrate your roots.  Many people  take their family history for granted, and never take time to learn about the stuggles and triumphs of their ancestors and the history of their family name. 

It is our genealogy that makes us who we are today, so take time to sit down with your older relatives and talk to them about the past.   You may hear some funny stories and learn a few things about your family that you never knew before.

Celebrate today and create a family tree!  Enjoy! 

If cannot see the bright side,

 polish the dull side 

THOUGHT  FOR TODAY

To understand  and reconnect with our stories , the stories of the ancestors, is to build our identities. 

Frank Delany

I know a lot about my family history, thanks to the many talks my parents had around the dining room table. They would often talk about hard it was growing up in the great depression.  My mom told about how poor they were and often only had beans for dinner.  She said they never got Christmas gifts, if they were lucky, they would find a piece of fruit and some nuts in their stockings.  She also told of her family moving to Ohio from West Virginia so they could get a job.  She moved too and met my dad then decided to stay here.  When times got better her mom and dad moved back to the farm they had in West Virginia.  At one time my great grandfather was a wealthy man and gave each of his son’s a farm to run.  Their original farm had burnt down but they were able to get another one not far away and that is the farm I always got to visit when I was a child.  

My dad told stories of the neighborhood he grew up in.  It was a hodgepodge of many different nationalities and the church he went to undertook the job of teaching them english so they could converse together.  He also told us about how they would dig a hole in the ground to store vegetables during the winter.  They’d fill the hole with hay and then put the vegetables in and cover it all with dirt.  They’d have to dig it up again in order to get their vegetables to eat.  They didn’t have refrigeration to keep things in .  So this worked instead.  

Many of the families worked at the steel mills by the lake and moved there for easy accessibility.  

I could have listened to their stories for hours, but I learned after they were gone, I should have ask more questions.  There are a lot of unanswered questions we have today.  

I grew up during the 50’s and 60’s which was a much more prosperous time.  We weren’t rich, but always had enough of what we needed.

I try to pass as many stories as I can to my children so that they’ll know where their roots are.  If any of them have questions they only have to ask.  

A couple of years ago DDIL#1 gave me a membership to ancestry. My DNA verified most of what I already knew.  I love that they give me more information too.  

It’s another lovely day here in Texas.  The sun is shinning and it will be in the 70’s which is perfect ! 

I hope you all have a RELAXING Sunday!

COUNTING MY GIFTS

Counting at least 3 things every day that I'm thankful for.  There is truly is always something to be thankful for.

12,981. for my family tree that made me who I am today.

12,982. for bright sunny days

12,983. for lot of stories to share

Enter into His courts with thanksgiving — and in His presence is fullness of Joy!

PRAYER FOR OUR TROOPS

Please pray for God's protection of

our troops and HIS wisdom for their

commanders.

 

Almighty and eternal God,

Protect our military

as they discharge their duties

with the shield of your strength,

may the power of your love

enable them to return home in safety

that with all who love them

they may ever praise you for your loving care.

AND bless our Police Officers, Firefighters and EMT’s.

We ask this through Christ our Lord.

Amen

GOD BLESS YOU ALL!

ADVICE FOR TODAY

Our history begins before we are born.  We represent the hereditary influences of our race, and our ancestors virtually live in us.

James Nasmyth

a smile,a word of cheer, 

A bit of love from someone dear…

Love,

ma