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     Everyone loves puppies, kittens, and babies. But they grow into dogs, cats, and adults. And as such often they are hard to love. This time of year the events surrounding the baby Jesus is on the minds of many. But the baby Jesus grew up a long time ago.  Jesus became a man, and many found him hard to love. 

     He came to His own people and they rejected Him. In His home town they sought to throw him over a cliff. Religious leaders sought to trap Him in His words; failing that they sought to kill Him. His teachings were considered hard, and many followers left. Some of His teachings that were considered hard are:

 

• You will die in sins unless you believe that He is God.

 

• If you reject the Son, you'll be rejected by the Father.

 

• One must come to the Father through Him.

 

• To be His disciple, one must take up his cross and follow Him.

 

• Disciples must love Him more than family.

 

• To love Him is to keep His commandments.

 

• One is to believe and be baptized to be saved, or be condemned.

 

 

Today Jesus Is Adored and Ignored

 

Some relish the fact that He came

but ignore reason He came.

 

Some adore the baby Jesus (Christ-child)

but not the man (Christ-lord).

 

Some enjoy visions of a baby in a manger,

but not a king in heaven.

 

Some participate in the activities of Christmas,

but not in the actions of a Christian.

 

Some clamor for the spirit of Christmas,

but not the spirit of Christ.

 

Some pay lip service to Him,

but reject His rule, His commandments, His Way.

 

REPRINTED FROM: Thursday's Thought:  A Mid-Week Inspirational Message -- (c) 2003-2009 Ron Adams.

One of the best parts of being in Ohio is that we have reconnected with Ben's (huge) clan of family. I've known them for over 14 years, but from a distance. I was a bit slow on getting all the names right and the spouses and the kids. When I saw one kid I'd known as a little kid (now late teens) I did not recognize him to everyone's amusement.

How could I not know Hunter?

The clan has been together in the same area of Ohio forever. The 14 years Bens been with me in Californa never really took him out of the family loop. Now that he's back here, it's almost like he never left. I have to say I love being part of the "clan".

Today Ben's aunt Bobbie (Barb) had everyone to her home in Mansfield for "pigs in a blanket." (pork and ground beef balls with rice wrapped in cabbage in a soup of tomato and spices and sauerkraut. Thick chunks of bread and butter  and mashed potatoes finished the meal. All served straight from the kitchen to whoever showed up, whenever they showed up. The pot had been cooking for over 10 hours - started the day before and then reheated today so the flavors blended and mellowed. It was so unbelievably good and satisfying. We all ate wherever we could find a spot  while the tv played one of many football games. Ben helped this cousins set up his mom's new speaker system to go with her new tv. Ben and his cousin Lonnie worked together on the project - joking and teasing each other. Honestly they are as different as night and day, but underneath the "types" the connection - the family tie - is obvious. Ben- his tight black jeans, pink and black sneakers, red and black flannel topped with a black biker jacket, tatted and pierced, blue hair, goofy humor - in the snow, Ben makes snow men. In the snow, Lonnie waits for hours with a gun or bow for his prey to pass close enough for a clean kill. Lonnie with his home full of stuffed and mounted animals, deer watch his tv from behind his chair - the black bear comes out of the wall behind the tv. The turkeys and peasants are flattened into wall hangings. Lonnie - in his camo pants and loose muddy boots - hair trimmed short  - buff  - while Ben is a computer whiz who does art for a living. Lonnie works at a correctional facility. He is big and tough. I'm sure on one messes with Lonnie. Different. Wildly different. And yet I've watched them getting closer with each gathering.

Ben's family accepts each other 100%, Can't say they accept everyone - or every type - but once someone is in the family "clan" everyone has their back.

Every time we are with Ben's family - I feel - like I am a part of something.
It's wonderful to feel this much love - from them all and for them all.
 
And Ben.

Another year gone and a new one has begun.... Looking back, 2009 was not a year that I would want to re-live.... Quilt wise, I didn't accomplish much at all. I couldn't seem to crawl out a super creative funk.... I did have a few short lived bursts of creativity, but only a fraction of past years.

My main goal for 2010 is to spend more time creating my art and quilting. I have realized that I need that creative time for my mental as well as physical health. I plan to get back to keeping up with the Fast Friday Fabric Challenges again, and participate more in other groups on and offline. I will try to not over-think what I am working on, and embrace the diversity of my creations instead of worrying about focusing on a certain direction. I enjoy working with my sunprints, flower photos, rocks and stone walls, and more. I have tried to put it all together into a more cohesive body of work. Maybe if I just let whatever wants to come out at the time happen, I may find that there is a thread that connects things.

While spending the time I did with my grandmother, I scanned some old photos she had. This photo jumped out at me.... I have been taking more and more photos of old houses, barns and other abandoned and deteriorating structures. I tend to wonder what some of these would have looked like when they were occupied and taken care of. I added beautiful flower gardens around the photo of the run down house on the road I live on for "Water Road House", and also used that house as inspiration for "My Dream House".  This photo of my great aunt shows what I have been imagining... The somewhat wild, full garden of blooms around the house and garage.  I also have memories of a great grandmother working in her gardens when I was young. These memories, photos, and my love of gardening seem to be merging into some of my latest works

What's your New Year's resolution for 2010?

1. Sony DSC-HX1 or Sony Alpha 330

2. Pre-degree in law of UiTM

3. Sony Ericsson K770i

4. Having more intelligent mind than before

5. Earns a lot of money so I can buy all these stuffs

6. Many more~~~ XD