Boxing Day

Don’t you sometimes wish that we had the tradition of Boxing Day here in the States? Our London kids have another entire day of celebrating ahead of them again today. Meanwhile, here everything seems to have come to an abrupt end when we woke up this morning. Dennis and I had a very quiet Christmas here yesterday. I baked a ham and we had mashed potatoes and green bean casserole with it. We spent a few hours with Mom at the assisted living, and other than that we binge watched Christmas movies in between talking to all of our kids. It was a wonderful day, remembering the birth of our Savior, Jesus.

I saw the photo below on Facebook and I fell in love with it. I’ve always wanted to live in a log cabin and this room just looks so cozy and comfortable. Not to mention I love snowman. ☃️

I did start crocheting a baby blanket on Christmas Eve for a young couple in our church who are expecting a baby girl soon. I almost have it finished.

I think a lot of of you may feel the same way I do with this meme. I spent several hours on Christmas Eve morning while Dennis was volunteering at the mission, to tidy my yarn wall. I rolled a lot of half skeins of yarn into balls and put them into baskets and it looks much neater. Of course, now I’ve made room for more full skeins of yarn so I may need to do some shopping! 🤣😂🤣

That’s about it. I just took Zoey outside and for the third straight day we have cloudy skies and fog. I’m sure Santa had to use Rudolph on Christmas Eve just to find his way around here. Dennis has gone to the grocery store and then I imagine we’ll go see Mom. A very quiet day. Miss Piper was supposed to come over and spend the day today and overnight, but Mandy isn’t feeling well and Piper think she’s getting it too. Hopefully next week before she goes back to school, she can spend a few days with us.

I hope you’re able to take the time to relax and enjoy the slow days between Christmas and New Year’s.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

Tell me the story of Jesus

by Fanny J. Crosby

1. Tell me the story of Jesus,
   Write on my heart every word;
   Tell me the story most precious,
   Sweetest that ever was heard.
   Tell how the angels in chorus,
   Sang as they welcomed His birth,
   “Glory to God in the highest!
   Peace and good tidings to earth.”
   • Refrain:
     Tell me the story of Jesus,
     Write on my heart every word;
     Tell me the story most precious,
     Sweetest that ever was heard.
2. Fasting alone in the desert,
   Tell of the days that are past,
   How for our sins He was tempted,
   Yet was triumphant at last.
   Tell of the years of His labor,
   Tell of the sorrow He bore;
   He was despised and afflicted,
   Homeless, rejected and poor.
3. Tell of the cross where they nailed Him,
   Writhing in anguish and pain;
   Tell of the grave where they laid Him,
   Tell how He liveth again.
   Love in that story so tender,
   Clearer than ever I see;
   Stay, let me weep while you whisper,
   “Love paid the ransom for me.”
4. Tell how He’s gone back to heaven,
   Up to the right hand of God:
   How He is there interceding
   While on this earth we must trod.
   Tell of the sweet Holy Spirit
   He has poured out from above;
   Tell how He’s coming in glory
   For all the saints of His love.

Merry Christmas!

Wishing you all a very Blessed Christmas Day. I hope the day is all that you wish it to be.

Much love and blessings, 

Betsy

Beware! Christmas overload!

Merry Sunday before Christmas you all! I hope you're ready for some Christmas overload. We haven't done a lot this week but I do have a few phtotos. I'm feeling much better, but still a scratchy voice and bit of a cough. Whatever this is doesn't want to go away.

Dennis and I decided to go out and look at lights on Friday night armed with cups of hot chocolate. This is a neighborhood just a few blocks from us. The first three photos are of ONE house! I don't think they could have squeezed another blow-up character in there with a pry bar. The fourth photo was the house next door to it. Zoey didn't know what to make of all of these.

I did like the blue octopus with lights that spun around inside and the shark on the right. Baby Shark, Doo, Doo, Doo, Doo, Did-ooot. If you're a grandparent, you know. Ha! 

At least a few remembered the reason why we're celebrating. Jesus came to earth on that night so long ago.

But there were MANY like this and I did enjoy seeing the overblown displays....

although this is much more my taste. I always like the white lights or white and blue, or white and red. Simple. We used to put lights on our house in Spokane and I do miss that, although we have a string of white lights on our balcony railing.

And always remember:

I had a few finishes this week. A pair of socks for the Christmas basket for next year. Made with a K2, P2 cuff and a  K6, P2 ribbing for the leg and continued down the top of the foot. It was Kroy Patons FX, but I don't remember the colorway.

And I can finally show you the ornaments I make every year for the kids and grandkids because everyone has received and opened theirs so they could put them on their trees. 

I also knitted two hats for the Open Door Mission but Dennis already took them and donated them. It was really cold earlier in the week but it's 52F now! Crazy Nebraska weather. Just wait a minute, it'll change!

Piper was over last weekend for a visit and put together this gingerbread kit I had. I have never done a kit before and now know that you need to get some extra candies than what is in the kit for better decorating.
She still did a great job and I enjoyed watching her. She also volunteered to vacuum our stairs going down to the garage and cleaned out my car and vacuumed it. What a sweetheart. She knows I have a hard time cleaning the stairs and always does it for me. I love that girl.

And here she is modeling her latest sweater that I finished this week. It's the Pure Comfort Cardigan. Her favorite pattern for a sweater and the yarn is Hobby Lobby's I Love This Yarn in the Ivory Tweed Colorway. They took this photo just before leaving for church this morning. Isn't she beautiful in her new glasses? She can see SO much better. Yep, I love this young lady. I was going to say little girl, but she's not so little anymore.

This is at the front of our church behind the baptistry window. I love how they decorated it for the season. Always with the manger front and center, because without the occupant of that manger, there would be no celebration at all.

And just because I like our corner of the world too, here's a photo last night from my chair that I knit in. See lamby in Zoey's bed? That's her favorite snuggle partner, after Dennis and I of course.

I hope you all have a wonderful holiday. Celebrating His birthday, even if we don't know the exact day. I pray that you will feel Him with you in each and everything you do through the next few weeks.

I'm a bit early with this meme, but the sentiment remains the same. No matter the day, Jesus is with us  every minute of every day, if we only ask Him into our lives.

Blessings and Love and Merry Christmas!

Betsy

O HOLY NIGHT!

John S. Dwight and Adolphe Adam

The Holy One to be born will be called the Son of God. Luke 1: 35.

1 O holy night! the stars are brightly shining;
It is the night of the dear Savior’s birth.
Long lay the world in sin and error pining,
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope- the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn!
Fall on your knees! O hear the angel voices!
O night divine, O night when Christ was born!
O night, O holy night, O night divine!

2 Led by the light of faith serenely beaming,

With glowing hearts by His cradle we stand.

So led by light of a star sweetly gleaming,
Here came the Wise Men from Orient land.
The King of kings lay thus in lowly manger,
In all our trials born to be our Friend.
He knows our need— to our weakness is no stranger.
Behold your King, before Him lowly bend!
Behold your King, before Him low bend!

3 Truly He taught us to love one another;
His law is love and His gospel is peace.
Chains shall He break, for the slave is our brother,
And in His name all oppression shall cease.
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we;
Let all within us praise His holy name.
Christ is the Lord! O praise His name forever!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!
His pow’r and glory evermore proclaim!

Time is flying along.

Happy 11 days before Christmas! Isn't this a beautiful church? It's a Lutheran Church that we've always called "State Line Lutheran" that sits right on the border of Kansas and Nebraska about 20 miles south of Beatrice, Nebraska where my Grandparents lived most of my life. Probably over 1/2 of the people buried at the cemetery behind the little country church are my relatives in some way or another. When Alex was here before Thanksgiving he wanted to go to the cemetery as he has always been very interested in geneology and has traced my great-great grandfather to somewhere in Germany. Gosh, it was a cold and blustery day when we were there.

This is my Grandpa and Grandma Saathoff who imigrated from Germany when they were teenagers.

And my Uncle Ernie & Aunt Joyce, my Dad's only brother.  Their twin boys, Ricky and Jay, are buried right next to them.

There are dozens of Saathoff headstones there along with Hoefling, which was my Grandma's maiden name. Also Gerdes and several others. It's interesting to see all of the names you've heard all of your life there on marble and concrete and realize that most are your ancestors. I'm glad that Alex is taking such an interest in our history.

The next place we stopped was the Homestead National Monument in Beatrice. There is a beautiful museum there and a re-creation of one of the original homesteaders home. We saw a video telling the story in an impartial way of the way the land transferred from the Native Americans, to the government, to the homesteaders. It was really very sad, how we treated those here before us.

This is one of the original cabins that was rebuilt. Twelve family members lived in this tiny cabin. It was about 12 x 18 feet big with a sleeping loft for the kids. Look at Baby J. She had a great time running around the area, but it was SO cold and windy.

The inside. Stairs going to the sleeping loft.

The other side. We had a wonderful time learning more about the history of our area. 

Here's our Christmas tree. With me having this plague of a sinus infection, I just haven't felt up to decorating much. This was our little tree in the camper the year we lived in it and I just love the tree. It stays decorated and all I do is lay it in the box that Jenny made for it when she decorated the tree for us. Except for missing our special tree ornaments, I'm really liking the small tree in the window. I took all of our gifts to Mandy & Brads at Thanksgiving so they're under their tree now. Dennis has our lights strung along the balcony that looks so pretty at night.

This was in my advent stocking from Miss Piper and Mandy the other day. I love these kinds of decorations. Simple and the galvanized metals. Anything little red truck which is on a kitchen towel that was in my calendar one day. And snowmen. Anything snowman.

Just a little reminder for us all...

A photo I saw on facebook. It didn't have anyone to name for credit, but isn't it beautiful? A little red truck.

I've been working on Pipers sweater pretty consistently since I've been home sick. After 11 days, my voice is finally coming back but I still can't sing at all. That saddens me because I love Christmas caroling. My favorite time of year to sing joyous songs to the Lord of His coming to earth and all I have coming out is a squeak! Oh well. He knows my heart. So all I have left is half of the shawl collar and the pockets on the sweater. I have used an entire skein of yarn for half of the collar! It takes days just to knit it but I'm still enjoying the process.

Last night we had a dinner party at Curt and Barb's with two other couples. They fixed a nice dinner for the eight of us and we all dressed up in our finery. We ate on china and real silver that belonged to her Mom. Afterwards we played a Christmas questions game that was lots of fun. While we were there it began with freezing rain.  Luckily we only live about 2 blocks from them so although we slipped and slid those two blocks, it wasn't very far. We're still in a winter weather advisory today and my Jane Austin tea was cancelled today. Everything is closed this morning and we're enjoying a quiet morning at home.  

Take care and I hope all is well with you and your family. We're cozy in our condo and still have power so I plan to knit today in front of the fireplace and watch Christmas movies. What about you?

Blessings and love,

Betsy

On Dec. 25, 1863, Longfellow wrote from his Cambridge home, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day,” addressing the horrors of the American Civil War. However, when it was put to music several years later, the two stanzas that speak to the war were dropped. Of peace on earth, good will to men.”

I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day 

by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

The following are the original words of Longfellow's poem:

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play, 
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom 
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South, 
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
"There is no peace on earth," I said; 
"For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; 
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men."

A Great Week

Happy Tuesday my friends.  We had a wonderful week with our kids. We spent every day with them at Brad and Mandy's house.  Alex and family stayed there because they have so much more room and a floor to themselves. Plus, I don't think Piper and Baby J would have it any other way. They were joined at the hip all week and I love it!

They left for home on Saturday afternoon and arrived late morning, (for us), on Sunday. We crammed everything we could into those four days and, of course, I managed to get sick. Tuesday I lost my voice and I still don't have it back. Negative for covid, so I think it's probably a sinus infection as I still have a very sore throat and find it hard to eat or drink anything. If I'm not better by tomorrow I promised Dennis I would go to the walk-in clinic as my doctor doesn't have any appointments open. No one else seems to have gotten it and for that I'm very grateful.

The sweaters I made both fit "Baby J". Here is the hooded one. The sleeves are a little long, but it will give her room to grow. She also took three of Piper's outgrown sweaters home. She needed these sweaters as it was pretty cold while they were here.

We had snow flurries and she was fascinated as they rarely have snow where she lives in London. Look at that sweet little girl. Sure wish I could show her face, but I truly understand the reasoning of why I can't. For my newer readers, my dear daughter-in-law's job is such that she and Baby J's photos need to be offline for security. They are both gorgeous and I would love to share, but it's not meant to be. And guess what? We have a new little grandchild on the way in June or July! Baby J will have a new little brother or sister. Needless to say, Grandpa and I are very excited over this huge news.

My sister, Melanie, is called "the baby whisperer" by all who know her. She rocks NICU babies two evenings a week when she gets off work at her full-time job. She rocks every. single. baby who is born at church. There isn't aperson under 35 years old at church that she hasn't changed their diaper if they were there as babies! She worked her magic on Baby J on Thanksgiving. I think if you took her babies away she wouldn't survive. I sure love this sister of mine and I'm grateful that we live close together again and get to make up for lost years apart.

On Thanksgiving Eve, Alex, DIL and Piper made dinner for us out of one of Piper's cookbooks. It was delicious. Piper and "T" made appetizers, salad, green beans and desserts while Alex took care of the main dish. He is a great cook and loves to experiement with spices and new ingredients.

I was able to finish two blankets over the past couple of weeks. I crocheted in the evenings when we came home after full days with the kids. I used Bernat Baby in pink and white for both blankets.

They are similar but a bit different.

I also began an "Every Which-Way Filet" crochet baby blanket in blue. These will all be donated to the Open Door Mission.

Last night I started Piper's sweater using Hobby Lobby's "I Love This Yarn" in the Ivory Tweed Colorway. It is again the "Pure Comfort Cardigan" that she loves. She is getting to the age that she picks the pattern and yarn for almost everything I make her. She is almost a teenager! Twelve! When did that even happen?
She was so good with "Baby J" this week. She helped her with her meals. Helped her change clothes and just generally was the BEST babysitter ever! I just wish I could show you the photos and videos we took. The took of them performed a Taylor Swift Era's tour concert for us one night and it was fabulous.

Piper and I exchange advent calendars every year. I knitted 50 baby socks and made them into advent calendar's for each of us. I have so much fun filling hers every year. This was my day 1 gift. Yesterday and today I recieved chocolates. It's so much fun to check every day.

We had a couple of other adventures while the kids were here but this post is long enough. I'll share those next time. Thank you for forgiving me for not checking blogs last week while I enjoyed our family time. I think I'm caught up now. We missed Jamie's family, but this time of year isn't good traveling weather to/from Montana.

Take care and I'll be back soon.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

COME, THOU LONG EXPECTED JESUS

John Wesley

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

A Bit of Everything

Another week has gone by and I’m not sure where it went! Doesn’t the time seem to be flying these days? I did manage to get all of the Christmas presents wrapped on Friday. I would wrap a few and then sit in my recliner for 20 minutes or so, then wrap again. It took me all day, but I got everything done. Sunday after church, I ensconced myself in my recliner and proceeded to spend nine hours addressing and signing Christmas cards. I think I am officially finished preparing for Christmas. It’s a good thing, because Alex and family will be here next Monday and we will celebrate our Christmas with them the day after Thanksgiving.  Although it makes me have everything ready fairly early, I like it this way because then I can enjoy December. I love every minute, from the Christmas songs to church services and Bible readings. I try to focus my thoughts on the real reason we’re celebrating the holiday. By doing this and getting all the busyness taken care of earlier in the year, it’s easier to be calm in spirit. 

Last Friday Dennis and I took mom out to lunch at Village Inn. She loves their biscuits and gravy. Afterwards, I took her to get her haircut. She loved it. It’s a real treat to have someone else wash your hair for you isn’t it? Although, we did pay for the excursion over the weekend. Whenever we take her out of her familiar surroundings, the next few days she’s very confused. We had lots of phone calls and lots of emergency trips to her apartment to reassure her that everything was fine and she was right where she was supposed to be. 

My orchid is getting ready to bloom again I think it was late last spring when the last bloom fell off this one and my other orchid plant completely died. This one however, still showed signs of life so I kept watering it and put it in a sunny window with diffused lighting. It must have liked it, because it’s doing pretty well. I expect the buds to open in the next few days.

The other night we had a fairly chilly evening. We had had the balcony door open all day and then all of the sudden it turned very cool. I think the condo was down to about 62° so we decided to turn the fireplace on for a little while. It was so cozy. Unfortunately, I cut off Zoey’s face. 😯

I finished Baby J’s cardigan yesterday. Can you see the huge mistake I made? I forgot a button hole. I’m so irritated with myself, but I wasn’t about to rip out half of the sweater when I didn’t have much time to re-knit it. I’m consoling myself with the thought that a two year old doesn’t stand still long enough for people to notice buttonholes! 🤣 At least I hope that’s the case. See my toes peeping out of the bottom? I should have edited those out, but I just saw them! Yes, I go barefoot all year long inside.

I started this blanket yesterday afternoon and it’s coming along fairly quickly. The pattern is the Baby Shower Blanket by The Crochet Crowd and it’s free on Ravelry. The yarn is big twist from Joannes in the color ivory. I have been making it for a lady at the over 55 building where we used to live. She’s expecting her 10th great grandchild! Daisy is a war bride from World War II. Her husband met her in France where she was part of the resistance. She asked me if I could make a blanket for the baby, and said she didn’t think she would be finding out if it was a boy or a girl until after it was born so wanted me to make a plain color. Well today she told me that they informed her yesterday that it’s a girl! I gave her the choice of this one or I could make her a pink blanket. She prefers a pink one. I may keep this one for myself in case we have a baby at church or I may donate it to the Mission. I haven’t decided yet. 

I think I told you a while back that I was thinking of trying English Paper Piecing or EPP as it’s called. I have gotten this far in getting organized, but I’ve had so many projects going on that I haven’t had a chance to do anymore. See my one hexie there in the box? I still have a sweater to knit for Piper and the other baby blanket to make so I guess this will be put on hold for a while again.

That’s about it. My sister found a 22 pound turkey for me last week while she was out shopping. It’s not quite as big as I would have liked, but will have to do. I paid her back for it so now I think I’m pretty much set for Thanksgiving, except for produce. We will probably pick that up Tuesday or Wednesday. I can’t believe it’s time for Thanksgiving, even though I know it’s late this year. And then the next Sunday is December already! Craziness! I haven’t even gotten used to writing 2024 and now I’m going to have to switch to 2025. Does anyone else have a hard time dealing with that?

I hope you’ve all had a wonderful week so far. Take care of yourselves in the midst of all of the world’s uncertainty. Remember, there is someone who you can always turn to and is ready to listen and be there for you. His name is Jesus, and all you need to do is ask Him. He’s waiting just for you. 💜

Blessings and love,

Betsy

This Is My Fathers World

1 This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world;
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

2 This is my Father’s world;
the birds their carols raise;
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their Maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world;
he shines in all that’s fair.
In the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.

3 This is my Father’s world;
oh, let me not forget
that, though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the Ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world;
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King, let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad.

Rainy days, but not Monday.

Hello my friend. It’s a rainy, rainy day here in Nebraska. Around bedtime last night we started having thunderstorms that went on through most of the night. It was a gentle rolling thunder, not the loud claps. And it was a gentle rain all night long. I absolutely love these kinds of storms. it has continued to rain throughout the morning, but no more thunder. Although I appreciate the thunder, Zoey doesn’t. She spent the night cowering under the headboard of our bed. She’s terrified of it. 

I just returned home from our ladies Bible study. I’m doing the BSF study, (Bible Study Fellowship parentheses), again this year. We are studying the book of Revelation and my goodness, I feel like we’re living in those days right now.

I did finish Baby J’s sweater that she requested. I don’t think it turned out too bad. Although the photo shows the colors a bit washed out, they are really pink, lavender and gray. That’s what she wanted and that’s what she got! It was a fun knit using JoAnn’s big twist yarn. It’s a very soft yarn that washes and dries very well which I think is important for a toddler. The pattern is the wonderful wallaby pattern.

I have now begun a cardigan for her that is taking a long, long time. The needles are sized two and three and it’s sport weight yarn. I have another 10 cm to go on the body before doing the ribbing and then I’ll need to knit the sleeves. I think this will be nice for her to wear with her school uniform. The pattern is by drops design and it is the Little Bee Cardigan, which is free online. There are directions to embroider a bee onto the yolk of the sweater, but I won’t be doing that.

Photo of the front page of the pattern. Just look at that baby’s face! 😂 I wouldn’t want to get in an argument with this little one. It looks like they have a mind of their own!

And because I don’t have much other news, here’s a blast from the past! That’s Kyleigh on the left, me, Piper and Caleb. Kyleigh is now in her second year of college in Bozeman, Montana. You all know Piper, and Caleb is a senior in high school. Where does the time go? How I would love to get these days back. And being that skinny again would be nice too!

I hope the week is going well for all of you. I think our summer like, fall weather is finally gone. I guess it couldn’t last forever could it? I was trying to find a 20+ pound turkey for Thanksgiving, and after visiting several stores I was having no luck. My sister was able to find one that was 22 pounds so I asked her to pick it up for me. I’ve gradually been buying the fixings for Thanksgiving dinner that could be bought in advance. These prices are enough to strangle anyone aren’t they? 

I cannot wait to see our kids in about two weeks. We’re planning a trip to the Kansas/Nebraska state line to visit where most of my family on my Dad’s side is buried. Alex is very much into the genealogy and he’s asked us to go visit the cemetery that is right on the state line. I’m hoping for good weather and no snow because it’s out in the middle of the open plain where the winds will truly get you.  We also would like to go to the zoo while they’re here. That’s become a family tradition. 

Take care everyone and remember how much Jesus loves all of us. He bled and died to buy our pardon so we can someday live in Heaven with Him.

Blessings and love,

Betsy

I’ve Got A Mansion 

I'm satisfied with just a cottage below

A little silver and a little gold

But in that city where the ransomed will shine

I want a gold one that's silver lined

I've got a mansion just over the hilltop

In that bright land where we'll never grow old

And some day yonder we will never more wander

But walk on streets that are purest gold

Don't think me poor or deserted or lonely

I'm not discouraged I'm heaven bound

I'm but a pilgrim in search of the city

I want a mansion, a harp and a crown

I've got a mansion just over the hilltop
In that bright land where we'll never grow old
And some day yonder we will never more wander
But walk on streets that are purest gold