Thriving in Spite of a Christmas Birthday

 Yesterday was my 68th birthday.  Yes, it wasn't pleasant growing up with my birthday on Christmas.  The combined birthday/Christmas gifts that saved my parents and grandparents time and money weren't noticed when I was really little but I figured it out when I turned 10.  Then the birthday presents wrapped in Christmas paper really hurt.

  Eight years ago my husband, Robert, put an end to all of that.  He gave me a refurbished baby grand piano.  It was 98 years old at that time. That makes it 106 years old and you should hear it rumble!  Maybe I'll video myself playing it sometime and share it here!  

  We had a wonderful time together yesterday.  We feasted and played games.  Then I opened my birthday presents and I'm still smiling.  

  My daughter-in-law made me some cards on her printer to send out to others.  They are so lovely.  She also gave me some Vitamin C lotion that "Really works" on removing wrinkles.  As my mother would say, "Time will tell."  LOL

   A client/ friend had given me some birthday presents when we were both in Bismarck last week.  There was a lovely tote that says "Be Still and Know."  Indeed, for God says that we can know Him if we will be still before Him.  How wonderful to think that God wants to be known by us!

  The most amazing gift from Connie was a wooden box hand crafted by a man her husband learned was with him in Vietnam during that war.  It has a secret key and it slides open to reveal a hidden compartment.  We discussed what could go in there and my daughter-in-law had a wonderful idea.  I'm going to put prayer requests inside so it will be a prayer box.  If anyone wants to check out this incredible craftsmanship, you can go to Carver Dan.

  My son tuned my piano yesterday as his love gift.  Now it sounds oh so good!!!  YAYYYYY!

  My daughter's family gave me my birthday presents when we were at her house last weekend.  Cora and Michael gave me some pretty dishtowels; a new piano (with lyrics) hymn book; the Amplified Bible in LARGE PRINT; and (my favorite birthday gift) a calendar with our family pictures of 2025.  That way all next year I can remember all of the wonderful times with family this year!!! 

  My granddaughter gave me a beautiful mug that she paid EIGHT DOLLARS for.  She told me herself.  :)  It has one of my favorite scriptures on it:  Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean NOT on your own understanding!"  Proverbs 3:5  It is so special to know my grandchildren are growing up knowing that God wants to bless them with a wonderful life if they put their trust in Him!

  My son Jacob gave me a copper bracelet that I had put on my birthday wishlist.  My neighbor and dear friend, Luci, was doing research and found that copper helps MS patients so I'm going to give it a try.

  I'm not sure why I was supposed to tell you about my birthday presents.  It seems rather juvenile but I do what the Holy Spirit tells me to do.  May it bless someone out there. 

  To me, my greatest blessings are the family that God helped Robert and I to nurture!  There are 15 of us with another baby on the way next July.  Then, too, my son Jacob has found an amazing gal.  We're all hoping he'll propose to her soon.  ;)

  It's interesting that I can tell you all things that I can't tell those closest to me.  You ought to send me a bill for the therapy you send my way by listening to all of my cares and concerns!  Also, I can feel your prayers often and I hope you can feel the prayers I send your way!  True, I don't know your personal needs but I often pray for my readers in the countries I hear need prayer in the news.

  We're getting ready for our New Year's Eve party.  For several decades we have offered those who don't want to consume any alcohol a place to go as the year ends.  We're having our party in the shop this year so will have LOTS more room for friends to gather.  Want to come?

  There hasn't been a bathroom in that building as there was no water there until recently.  This Summer we had a septic system put in and we got the water hooked up.  These past few weeks Robert and our sons have been working on putting up sheetrock; installing lights; and today they're mudding the cracks.  I offered to help paint, when the mud is dry, so hopefully it will look good enough for guests by next Wednesday.  

  That's about all for now except that I saw a weasel on our back steps yesterday.  He was white as could be with a black tip on his tail and a black nose.  We haven't decided if we're going to trap him or welcome him to the neighborhood as they eat rodents.  I'll let you know later what we decide.

  I should probably go and make lunch but I sure do like writing.  Can you tell?  The hard part is picking a title for each post.  Did you know that there are whole articles written about how to pick a catchy title for your blog?  

  Well, in case I don't have time to write again, I'll close with HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

  Thanks for listening,

  Dawn

PS.  Luci sent me a bunch of birthday greetings yesterday.  I'll share my favorite one.

  

How's your Climb Going?

 

Encounter God’s Heart…

Ascending the Mountains

Let go! As you climb from desert to mountaintop, from the place of your undoing to the place of victory and refreshing breezes, let it all go. With each step you take, leave behind the pain. Forsake the right to be angry. Refuse the self-pity. You’re becoming stronger. You’re beginning to remember who you are. You weren’t created to remain in the desert. Seasons change, and it’s important to recognize when they do. If you shut your eyes and grit your teeth thinking things will never be different, you’ll miss the beautiful journey to the mountaintops. Open your eyes. Look where he’s led you. Your suffering has made you beautiful because you tucked yourself securely in his love. You are standing in the place of victory, so let your shouts of celebration be heard!   Father, don’t let me get stuck in a mindset of hopelessness or discouragement. Don’t allow me to wallow in the murky waters of defeat. Lead me to the mountains of joy and refreshing as we walk through the archways of trust. Here in your love, I’m becoming stronger, realizing you’ve never left my side.

WINTER IS HERE!!

 Hi everyone,

  It's  officially Winter here now although we've already had 4 snowstorms.  lol  They say we have more snow already than we had all last Winter.  It's going to be a White Christmas for sure.

  We stopped "Keeping Christmas" many years ago for many reasons.  The materialism is enough to make one gag.  I've heard many times that lots of people put charges on their credit cards that it takes 2 to 3 MONTHS to pay back.  UGGG  Another way I've heard it said is that people go in debt to buy things for people that they don't even want.  SIGH!  WHY?

  Another thing that's wrong about Christmas is that isn't even when Christ was born.  This year Robert and I did attend our grandchildren's church program because it was all about Christ's birth.  The oldest was sweet Mary.  The second child a beautiful angel and the third the cutest sheep you have ever seen.  The baby even was dressed in an angel costume.  It's enough to melt a Grandma's heart but that is NOT when Jesus was born.

  However, that is when I was born.  I had to come on Christmas--UGG!!! When I get to Heaven, I'm going to ask God why He had me born on Christmas day.  Anyway, that's an old sadness that includes getting the same gift for my birthday AND Christmas that my brother got just for his birthday in July.  That year I figured out what a rip off Christmas birthdays are.  Sigh again but that's another story.

  That is not to say I don't love snowmen.  I should show you my new tablecloth when I get it put on.  I LOVE SNOWMEN.  How many of you have ever created a snowman?  There's nothing so much fun as building a snowman with your children OR making snow angels.  

  This year my grandsons taught me how to make snow cones.  All you need is 4 bowls (3 for the grandsons and 1 for the grandma); snow; and maple syrup.  You fill the bowls with fresh snow.  Then pour maple syrup over it and stir well.  IT'S A WONDERFUL TREAT!!!

  Here's a poem about Winter my pastor's wife just shared.  I do so love poetry!

  Here's another gift I have for my reader friends.  I just found this treasure this morning.  I love how the family thinks of each other more than themselves and then EVERYONE IS HAPPY!!!  Families are everything special when God is at the heart of them.  I pray that you all experience love like this but, if not, you can know that God LOVES you!!  May that warm your heart in the midst of cold weather.

  Until next time,

  Dawn

The 2025 harvest is DONE!!! YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY

 Hi everyone,

  I'm sorry for the delay but Robert and I got to go see our daughter and her precious family last weekend.  I said to him, when I realized that 3 days had passed by, that it seems like time stands still on the few days we get to be with them.  

  Then, the day after we got home we had to finish the harvesting as MORE snow was on it's way.  I praise the Lord and thank you for your prayers as we DID get it done that day!  We needed a friend's help, and some innovative truck driving but we GOT IT DONE!  YAYYY!

  Robert was one of the truck drivers.  He was supposed to be the only truck driver as he had taken the first half of the field to the yard by himself but now there was snow and the snow was melting with the nice weather.  The first load that Andrew dumped on the truck broke through the ice/snow and Robert was stuck.

  He told me this story at suppertime.  That load he was able to rock the semi back and forth until he got out.  The second time it happened, he had to be pulled out by Andrew with the tractor and cart.  After that, it was decided that the semis had to be loaded out on the road.  This took more time for the cart to get there so everything was looking pretty bleak.

  That's when Jacob called his buddy Errol who drove the second truck.  Then things proceeded more swiftly and we finished right before sunset. PRAISE THE LORD!!

  Errol is an amazing young man who has helped us with many harvests.  This year, though, he got a full time job and hasn't been able to help at all. Being we were desperate for help, Errol's boss said he could take the afternoon off to drive truck for us so we could finish harvesting our corn. 

 It is highly unlikely that we would have gotten finished that day without Errol's help and the next day there was more snow!  This year so far we've had more snow than all of last Winter!  It looks like it's going to be a white Christmas and a very long Winter.

  Anyway, we got our harvesting done.  I took a video when I was riding in the combine with my son.  I'll see if I can figure out how to share it here.  I hope this works.  If not, you can check it out here:  https://www.facebook.com/reel/1141095547847376

  We were talking about how wonderful our combine it.  The cart has tracks so that the weight can be distributed.  Then the cart doesn't sink in even when a full combine hopper is dumped on it quickly.  The combine, though, has tall thin tires so that it can go between the rows and not drive down the crop.  This helps it float on top of the snow so away we went.  Only once did I feel the combine slip when we were turning around at the end of a row.

  So we got it done and we are oh so happy.  Thanks a million for your prayers and may God bless you for them!  

  I still have to make bread yet today so I'd best sign off for now.  Keep warm everybody.

  Dawn

We REALLY need your prayers today!

 

Please pray for Robert, Andrew, and Jacob today.

They need to go to Bismarck and pick up a UHaul trailer. Then go to Mandan and move out everything that is left in my mother-in-law's apartment.

Then they need to bring the load of furniture here (75 miles); empty the trailer; and take it back to Bismarck (60 miles) and come back home.

They'd have until 10:30 tomorrow morning to return the trailer but it's supposed to be icy tomorrow again so it needs to be returned today.

It's nearly impossible on good roads to get all of that done and we have no idea what the roads are like today because we just had an ice storm 2 days ago.

Still, prayer moves obstacles out of our way! I'd have gone along but my legs are too weak to help carry things to the trailer.....

May God bless each one of you who keeps our family in your prayers! My mother-in-law seems to be settling into nursing home life pretty well. It's quite a shock to leave her apartment of 15 years but she needs more care now. Her adjusting well, and having made a friend already, is the good news!

Love and prayers to all of you praying friends around the world.

Dawn

Our Inheritances

 When my father died in 2014, and my mother dead for 5 years at that point, I got my inheritance.  When all was said and done, I got a little over a million dollars from my parents who lived frugally all their lives.

  I'm trying to be nice here but Robert's dad drank and gambled away his inheritance and that of his brothers.  Recently we moved his mom to the nursing home which will take every last penny, except what we need to bury her, and Robert's inheritance will be next to nothing.

  We've been busy cleaning out my mother-in-law's apartment.  We're getting the table and chairs for the break room in the shop.  I'm getting a few kitchen things that I don't have already.  My daughters will get the rest. Andrew is taking the couch and Jacob the bedroom set and that will be that. There will be NO INHERITANCE for my husband who gave his first 30 years of his life to keep their farm running.  

  My heart aches for my husband and his brothers.  It's not fair but that's how it is.  It makes me glad that I was able to share my inheritance with my husband.  He used it well to build up our farm and buy the grain cleaning business we've grown over the past 10 years.  I got a brand new beautiful modular home and I am happy to see our family farm growing--no thanks to my husband's parents.

  We're not bitter.  We've worked hard and the Lord opened the doors for us to buy our own farm in 2003.  We've been here 22 years and we are so glad that God gave us a second chance at farming!  HE GAVE US THIS FARM!  God did that!  

  I guess what I'm trying to say is that God takes care of His own children.  Even when someone has lousy parents, who steal their inheritances, God helps His children to thrive!!  

  God has taken us two and turned us into a family of 15.  All of us live on farms!!  All of our grandchildren are being taught to love and serve our loving Heavenly Father through home schooling!  We are blessed way more than we can imagine for living frugally and working hard!  

  As I was thinking about this, I decided to share Robert's and my all time favorite movie--THE INHERITANCE.   Have you seen it?  Love is the greatest inheritance of all--God's love and human love!  Somehow the Lord has blessed us with the greatest blessing--His salvation--and His earthly riches.

  Now I'm not saying that our inheritance is anything like Edith's--I can even say ours is better.  We don't live in a mansion, just a modular home without a garage, but it is filled with love.  Also, Robert and I have the added satisfaction of knowing that our children WILL receive a sizeable inheritance when we're both walking the streets of gold!

   We've sacrificed a lot to buy this farm but our children worked alongside of us all the way.  They learned our work ethic.  They learned our dependence on the Almighty when the crops were failing or a child was lost to a miscarriage.  They learned that love is what matters more than anything else in this world!

  As you watch THE INHERITANCE, you are bound to notice Henry's love for Edith and her love for him in return.  No it's not a romantic love but a true love of mutual respect and honor. That's all I dare say but I hope you will take this evening and watch one of the best movies ever made.  Remember, love is the greatest inheritance of them all!

  God bless you all,

  Dawn

What have you done for YOU today?

 Hello everyone,

  We had a different kind of Thanksgiving this year.  Cora and family weren't able to get away from the dairy so they weren't here.  Then Jacob was with his girlfriends, Sharon, down in SD.  However, we were able to have Robert's Mom join us as we got her moved to the nursing home nearby.  

  THAT WAS A STRESSFUL DAY!  I mean the day that we moved her out of her apartment and into the nursing home.  

  The day before that Robert went to the apartment where his brother and wife had come to from Fargo.  Then they packed up the few chairs she could take and whatever decorations she wanted and, of course, all of her clothing and personal care items.

  Robert had brought the Uhaul trailer here that night and then we took it to Napoleon.  Ron and Bev spent the last night that Marly had in her home of 15 years.  Then they drove the 70 miles to Napoleon and we all met in the chapel at Wentz Living Center.

  All morning we spent helping Marly through the admittance process.  Then they showed us her room.  The nursing home fed us a very delicious meal and we were encouraged that the food would be delicious for our Mom.

  After that we spent the afternoon unpacking all of Marly's belongings.  There was much discussion about where to put the boxed flag that was draped over her husband's coffin as he was a veteran of the Korean War.  There were other items that needed to be squeezed into such a small space.  The 2 horses that her children had played with.  Her vintage farina jar that had belonged to her mother.  The wooden cat that had looked over her family gatherings for 6 or 7 decades.  

  Finally it was all unpacked and Ron and Bev left for her apartment to spend the night.  They were taking the guest bedroom set they had slept in many times while visiting his mom.  Marly seemed desperate not to be alone so Robert and I stayed and had her first supper with my husband's 91 year old mother.  Did I say that the food is delicious.

  So Marly has lived in her new home almost 2 weeks.  She is doing so well!  She plays Bingo every day and they have exercise time.  Marly loves to do puzzles and so do others who live there.  My mother-in-law told me that she walked by a puzzle and saw where a piece went so she put it in. It seemed nice to her to be doing puzzles with others who enjoy doing that!

  The other night at supper my husband said "I saw Mom today."  He had to go to the bank so he drove to the nursing home; walked in; visited his mother for 15 minutes; and walked out.  THIS IS SO GOOD!  Where she lived before, even when we were in Bismarck, her apartment was the wrong direction for us to stop and see her on our way home.  

  So it's a good move and we are thankful to have her closer to us!!  On Marly's birthday, which was a few days before Thanksgiving, Robert brought her here for the day.  She wasn't alone and Andrew's family got to give her hugs too.  Marie had even made her a cake so we celebrated my mother-in-law turning 91 together!  I am so very happy that she can be in our lives now!

  Marly likes to walk so she has been exploring the facility every day.  Once, she said, she got lost but kept going until she found her wing.  Of course, a staff member could have helped her but that staunch German in her kept her searching until she was home.  I am so proud of her!!!

  This post is in honor of the wonderful staff who now looks after my mother-in-law and all caretakers!  I think I'll see if I can find a poem about those who care for the elderly.  I'll be right back.

  Yes I found some but I like this one the best.  Although my mother-in-law does not have dementia, she is very forgetful.  She had forgotten that I was there helping her get settled in her room on her admittance day. That's all right, Robert knew that I was by his side helping on the hardest day of HIS life. 

  May the Lord bless all who care for those who cannot care for themselves any longer!  I am also writing to honor my daughters who both care for their 4 children.  Cora and Marie are home school mothers and, having home schooled my 3 children, I know how much balancing that takes.  

  I cannot leave it there, though, as how could my daughters home school if they didn't have super hard-working husbands who work tirelessly to meet the financial needs of their families?  Then Michael and Andrew come home and are "DADDY" to their little ones. 

  As I have said many times, parenting is the most difficult job anyone could undertake!  Fortunately, God has laid this huge responsibility on two people--a man and his wife.  WHAT A GREAT GOD WE SERVE!!

  Lastly I want to honor my dear husband, Robert, who sustained me all of those years of balancing the needs of the household with educating my children in a Godly home.  Robert is my greatest hero and the BEST dad AND grandpa I have ever known!  His support while I was in the thick of managing our household; caring for the animals; gardening and food preservation; plus home schooling is why I survived shingles on the brain in 2006.  To Robert, my caretaker while I recovered the following 2 years, I love you sweetie!!!!  May God  bless you for all you do for our family!

  To all caretakers everywhere, God sees your sacrifices for others!  Remember to take a little time for YOU every day so you don't fall apart like I did!  For me, it's playing my piano.  Even if it's just my piano drills and 1 song, I am so much happier after I play.  It's my happy time.  I hope you will celebrate you every day because YOU MATTER!!

  Until next time,

  Dawn

Guiding Light

When shadows loom and the path ahead seems unclear, a caregiver’s presence brings warmth and direction. This poem captures the essence of being a beacon during trying times.

In the dark, you are the flame,

Guiding, glowing, always the same.

Through the storm, and calm’s delight,

You shine ever so bright, our guiding light.

 

Moments heavy, moments light,

You chase away the darkest night.

With patience vast and love so deep,

You awaken dreams from their sleep.

 

Though the journey is often long,

Your love is an endless song.

Guiding, guarding, taking flight,

Our beacon, our eternal guiding light.