O THE JOYS OF CHRISTMAS

 Tuesday, December 16, 2013

A Hope and Prayer to You and Yours:  Merry Christmas

At our place snow is slowly getting deeper in the yard.  A few times the temperature has gone underground.  The Kids oogle longingly at their gifts.

Your beautiful cards are piling up faster than I can answer them. We think of each of you more often than there are days in a month, and the years keep rushing by.

Our Kids are all healthy and well.  We praise the Lord!  Carlene still teaches orchestra in Iowa and has joined an orchestra that performs once most months of the year.  Nathaniel is on the down hill slide toward completing Seminary.  Jeremy continues directing choirs in Kentucky.  Lydia and Gabriel are filling the Italian and German night skies with the sounds of music.  Gaia and Carys practice their math tables in three languages.

Joanna still translates many things heard, for those who cannot hear.  Tarah keeps in touch from across the Wisconsin border.  Elizza, Sebastian and Leo are learning as fast as they can.  They always outrun me from the porch to the park.  Winter has slowed us up a little.

If it were possible, I'd love to go from house to house of family and friends:  making hot buttered cornbread or shortbread apple pies, sipping coffee or tea and chatting the hours away.  Prayer meetings for the awful needs of our sick, tired world would be a plus.

Keep well and safe.

Go about doing good.

And may the God of peace  and everlasting lovingkindness

Keep you close thhrough all the coming year.

Love and Prayers,

Carlton Easley

BE YE THANKFUL

November 28, 2013,  Thanks Giving Day Was Just Great

 Carlene had come.  Joanna and the Kids, Elizza, Sebastian and Leo, were there with me .  Mrozek's, of long standing came, only their girls didn't, but Johanna and Fred.  Susan and her son, John, were our new guests.  For my part, it was a great day of fellowship and thankfulness.  Joanna and Carlene put out a great meal:  Turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans, corn, Lilly's fabulous cranberry salad, Johanna's delicious - leafy green salad.  Joanna and Carlene brought out the pumpkin and pecan pies!!!  Mrozek's provided the sparkling cider.  One great round of applause to you all, a hearty thanks to the attending folks and hearts overflowing in gratitude to the great Almighty God for His blessings of health, protection and bountiful provision over all the years.

The shortest Psalm 117:1-2 declares:  "Praise the Lord, all nations; Laud Him, all peoples!
                                                           For His lovingkindness is great toward us,
                                                           And the truth of the Lord is everlasting.
                                                           Praise the Lord!"

Now We're in Kentucky for the Christmas Holidays:  We Left Friday after School 12-20-2013

Jeremy invited us all to come.  Carlene drove over and we rode down with her.  Nathaniel made the eight hour trip up from Mississippi.  Sunday morning Nathaniel and I attended the first service at UMC with Jeremy.  He'd asked Carlene to play violin with another lady and a lady on cello.  The choir was at the top of their game.  Alan has played that organ 27 years and as usual, was superlative.  The solos and duet added to the beauty.  Jeremy is an excellent conductor.  Pastor Paige gave a stirring message about God who came as a Baby.  The second service was the same, but with many more people and we had brought the boys along for that one.  Elizza was ill.  Joanna stayed with her.   The sanctuary was beautifully decorated.

We had a remarkable lunch.  Pastor Keith's family were gone.  Jeremy invited him to come.  Later we opened presents with Nathaniel because he's leaving before Christmas.  We played several table games until bedtime.  Leftovers kept showing up from time to time.

It's Monday morning. Nathaniel has gone.  Jeremy went to the Church for his usual responsibilities.  Joanna and Elizza did some early shopping.  Joanna and Leo have now gone to the Church for his piano lesson.  Sebastian is hoping for a borrowed cello so he can have his lesson.  I am so grateful for Jeremy's lap top so I can send out this wee report. 

God bless and keep you all.  Our deacon called early Sunday morning to say because of the eight inch snow fall, there would be no Church services at the Red Brick Church where we normally attend.  He was unaware that we had gone south and escaped the big snow fall.  All too soon we will need to repeat the trip.  But this time going north into the snow again.

The ones we're missing at this time of year are Tarah still farther north and Lydia, Gabriel, Gaia and Carys in their home across the sea.