I am not in this world alone. I’m a descendant of those who came before me, and I am part of the story of the future. Live your story.

The air I breathe is the air you breathe. We share this wonderful, wild, wily world. May we share it in peace and harmony. May we give to the earth what it needs to keep our air clean, fresh, and healthy. May we take the fresh air and continue living this beautifully breathtaking life.

Clouds in the sky with the sun shining bright

a cloudy sky, looks like they are moving toward or away from us – tree in lower right corner

Cloud with a little sun behind to make it pink

Pink sky with small clouds

VERY cloudy sky with sun behind

I am eternally grateful that I was raised on a small farm. I also regret not having at least attempted to follow in my father’s footsteps. It’s a life that has much to teach, much love to give, energy in hard work, and joy to behold.

As un-vacationy as full-time farming may be, the benefits far outweigh any the detriments. I am so very blessed that my brother and nephew are talented farmers. So glad the land is still loved, and all farm lives here are fully cared for with kindness and heart.

Small Farmers = The Past & Future of America’s Food

Gray Barn, three stories

Feather on the ground with some grass on the edge

A garden in the foreground iwth trees and barns in the background

A field with a sided wagon for hay sitting in the distance.

Cows behind a fence with trees and grasses

A wheat storage bin with autumn vines around the door.

Deer hooves in garden dirt.

Music is often comforting. Sometimes the sounds, sometimes the words, and sometimes who is singing. As for words, the third verse of “Away in a Manger” moves my heart every time.

Clearly this isn’t true, but it makes for a good humor now and then. This was in a restaurant in Paw Paw, Michigan.

These festive kitties.

The night is a time to rest, recover, and rejuvenate. Although I tend to be a night owl, I am always grateful for the moment I put my head on the pillow and close my eyes. Every time, I pray to wake refreshed for a new day.

A friend’s daughter use to put herself to bed from a very young age. She knew when she was done, and she would give us hugs and kisses, and go to bed. I might not be so wise as that little lady, but when I do give in to sleep, it is bliss.

A few times a year I spend a weekend scrapbooking with my fellow scrapbooking peeps. We scrapbook, talk, laugh, eat, sleep, read, and watch movies. I am grateful to these women who share a passion of preserving our memories on paper. Most are also women of faith. Most have pets. All are good of heart and brave of soul.

Christmas is not just a date or an event. It is a feeling. I have a joyous and warm feeling when I even just hear the word. Others probably have painful memories, so it jars them. Others may be torn between various memories. Others still may have no emotion toward it.

Even after the deaths of my father, niece, and other loved ones, it still held warmth, hope, and goodness. I may not have celebrated with as much gusto, or perhaps too much gusto hoping for the full feelings to come back and outweigh the grief.

It is not the memory of gifts or parties. It is the memory of family gathering around the dinner table and tree, the jokes and laughter, the singing of Silent Night at the end of the Christmas Eve service to candlelight, the movies and music, the twinkle lights and decorations, the time away from work and school without using vacation or sick time.

May Christmas yet to come bring you good things, such as peace, hope, joy, or comfort. At the least, a momentary distraction from grief, pain, or heartache. Come, there is room at the table for everyone.

A year or two ago, I attended ERACCE training. It’s getting to know who we are in society, what racism is, how to work to create a better world, and the importance of being an anti-racism activist. Caucus is where we gather once-a-month to work on ourselves and then take that out into the world.

I missed caucus tonight because I had to work late. I missed it. This time is only once-a-month, and as heart wrenching as it is, it is also heart lifting. We must work to change the attitudes and the laws. Do you know that as recent as four years ago Toyota was caught charging people of color higher rates? Single-digit years ago. But marriage allowed between the races? That’s only a few decades old. We can do better.

How is this possible? It’s possible in every industry. Our schools, our justice system, our healthcare, and the list goes on. We have come far, but not far enough. We continue to make rules to suppress people. It’s not acceptable human behavior.

One day, may we just be people. Let’s appreciate and honor our diversity; not punish one another for our differences. Without our differences, we would be a lesser world. The color of our skin – all people’s skin – is to be celebrated and treasured that God thought to make us a human rainbow.

This is the work Christ asked us to do: Love one another. Walk humbly. Love mercy. Love each other. In the Christian faith, Christ was the first ant-racism activist, and it’s His steps I choose to attempt to follow. Come and join us, the way is hard, but the reward is invaluable to your fellow men and women.