Dark Winter? Only If You're A Giver-Upper.

 "I will have a militantly warm and loving Thanksgiving. My family traditions trump your ugly advice. I will feel the warm glow of this time of year. I will share my love and time with friends and family."   --- Mario Murillo (the remainder of his quote from above photo).

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Don't know how these past 8 covid months, these what's-wrong-with-people? months have affected you, but around Hobbit Cottage? We've felt rather Thornton Wilder-ish. You know, like this (but without the good-bye's)--

“Let's really look at one another!...It goes so fast. We don't have time to look at one another. I didn't realize. So all that was going on and we never noticed... Wait! One more look... Good-bye, Grover's Corners....Mama and Papa. Good-bye to clocks ticking....and Mama's sunflowers. And food and coffee. And new ironed dresses and hot baths....and sleeping and waking up. Oh, earth,you are too wonderful for anybody to realize you. Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it--every,every minute? "  ---From the play, Our Town

We've burrowed deeper into appreciation of each other, our home, our town and our God. There's waves of a dark chaos out there? Well, here at our house, all is well. All that Emily noticed, above, plus so much more.

Tiny white and red lights in our windows.

A cat upon our laps.

Birds at the feeders.

Visits from Naomi.

Hot lunches at noon. Soup, casseroles, stacked tacos, chili.

Enough good books to read over a lifetime.

Neighbors who wave and pause to chat.

Candle light in the fireplace.

Favorite movies and tv shows.

Lamps lit on dark, windy nights.

A river down the street.

Music. Tom's working from home. A whole Internet world.

Warm clothes, blankets.

And so much more---

God's richly blessed us all; you, me and millions of others, but do we each realize that?

Like, near every year's end I create a list of improvements we've made both to our home and our lives. And upon sitting down to make this year's list--I confess--my thought was, "Considering this insane 2020, probably this year's list will be much shorter."

Big mistake, Debra! The list stretched longer. 

I'd forgotten that hard times can yank out our best actions, words, kind deeds. The deep-down miracles God's worked into us through our trials, errors and obedience and His remarkable patience. 

Actions, words, which rise, then flow outward toward others, shining with hope and a surprising strength.

Anyway. 

Around Youtube and elsewhere I've heard chatter about an upcoming dark winter. And well, no. Just no. Here at Hobbit Cottage we won't be partaking of that and hopefully you won't, either.

We've all had far too many months to prepare for winter! Mentally, emotionally, spiritually, physically, we've had to rise up higher and live upon a different plain than normal. And oh, what millions overcame and learned!

To carry deep gratitude for all we have.

To concentrate upon what's still ours, rather than what we've lost.

To hold onto our creativity and sense of wonder.

To hug the truth of God's word. 

To push away lies, even when huge crowds shout them.

To believe without doubting, stand without fainting. 

 

For months we've become far too strong to just silently sink into a supposed dark winter now.

If you've read here long you know I aim for a higher life plain. And this upcoming winter? I'll focus upon this, instead--

 "The Lord will make you the head (leader) and not the tail (follower); and you will be above only, and you will not be beneath, if you listen and pay attention to the commandments of the Lord your God, which I am commanding you today, to observe them carefully."   --- Deuteronomy 28:13

And may I catch many glimpses of you frolicking in all that gleaming godly light, as well, bright winter's day after bright winter's day.

                       God helps us to rise above the clouds of winter!

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"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly."   --- John 10:10

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." ---John 8:12

Don't let anyone take away your God-given rights, or ok, at least without a fight!

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Speaking of light... Here's a wonderful video where Homestead Tessie tells us all about oil lamps for the home. They add not only light, but warmth, as well.

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Oh, and I really enjoyed touring this tiny house. The surrounding deck would make it feel so much larger, especially if you lived in a place with tons of lovely weather.

"For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15