I was greeted by the curious cattle as I trod  past their lot.  Frigid temperatures filled the air and spread over the landscape.

Off in the far distance on a rise in our land stood a deer.  Her profile captivated my attention.  What a treat to see her against the backdrop of snow.  By the time I reached my mailbox, she bounded off across the road and on to our neighbor’s field.

As I returned to the farmhouse a little song rang in my head.  I wrote a few words that I think are cheerful as we enter the wintry season filled with cold, snow, drifts, arctic air, etc.

These lyrics I go with a tune I used to sing to my young children.  The tune belongs to the song, “Hello, My Baby.”

“Hello, November”

Hello, November,

How I remember

Summertime’s radiant glow;

Temp’ratures warm and fun,

Working out in the sun.

Now it’s a story of winter’s glory

Blanketing earth with snow.

Oh-oh-oh, sub-zero

Weather, here we go!

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Oh, Lord, bring out the sun

For your children today.

Oh, Lord, bring out the sun

To show them the way.

Brighten every shadow,

Calm every fear.

Oh, Lord, bring out the sun.

Let them know You are here.

This little prayer/melody still applies today.

• Yesterday a deluge flattened our hay.
• This morning before dawn, lightning and thunder preceded more rainfall. These heavy and persistent rains prevent farmers from harvesting their crops.
•  Besides that, the fields are muddy, slippery and can be easily torn up under the farmer’s machinery.  It is a critical time for farming.

Farmers are considered the providers of the world’s food.  As the tempest leaves hardship in its wake, we see how little we control and how much we need to depend on the Lord’s provision.  It is true that He gives us our “daily bread.”

Now, you may not be a farmer.  The sun may not affect your job as much as it does ours. But you may have another tempest that threatens your well-being. Maybe this little prayer/melody will help you if you look at it this way. Crave not only a celestial creation, the sun, but, rather, the Life-giving Son, Jesus.

Oh, Lord, bring out the Son

For your children today.

Oh, Lord, bring out the Son

To show them the way.

Brighten every shadow,

Calm every fear.

Oh, Lord, bring out the Son.

Let them know You are here.

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I see the reflection of myself.

For better or worse,

My image shines through you.

Your success at learning;

Your talent in music, art, and books;

Your compassion for others;

These are qualities I admire in you.

Your energy to meet a challenge,

Spurs you on.  If you fail,

Your persistent spirit and courage

Make me proud of you.

But another image shines through you.

Our Heavenly Father created you.

He chose to put us together.

Forever you will be my daughter.

He created us both to share the special

Relationship of mother and daughter.

He gave us to each other to enhance

Our lives and the lives of others.

Search for God,

Order your life after His plan,

Yield to Him as His instrument

Reach out this needy world.

Walk daily with Christ.

Feed on His Word.

Spend time in prayer.

Live in obedience to Him.

Then you will not only be a reflection

Of your mother and dad,

But you will be a living reflection of Jesus

Shining through you.

Go for the goal, daughter.

Reflect Him with all of your life.

When you do,

You will honor me.

Today I witnessed your last battle.
Could you sense me standing near?
Did you hear my voice sing “Amazing Grace”
Or recite for you “The Lord’s Prayer”?

Did you hear my tender, “I love you,”
As I held and kissed your hand?
I longed for you to feel me near
When you left for that better land.

Despite your lengthy sojourn here,
It ended way too soon.
Silently your sweet soul slipped away
To rest in your heavenly home.

In your ninety-sixth year,
Jesus took you by the hand,
Destined for total victory
To the place He prepared for you.

At last your deaf ears heard sweetness;
Birds singing with angel choirs.
Your painful feet leaped for joy
When He led you through heaven’s doors.

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Following the storm, several weeks after the clean up period, Farmer’s wife was busily pushing the lawn mower trying to keep the grass clipped short.  The sunlight highlighted something especially beautiful in the space where the fallen cedar had been. “Oh, Lord, How fun! These are little lilacs,” she squealed with delight.  “I had no idea you were here, little plants.” The perfect young plants measured nearly three feet tall. “You are just the right size for transplanting,” she added.

Farmer did not have to think long about which spot was best for growing. It was on the side of a hill in the full sun. Farmer’s son saw to it that the five lilac sprouts were quickly moved out to their new homes. Today their future is as bright as the sun. These plants will have the chance to carry on the mission that Lilac’s Creator had given her many years before.

Lilac’s excitement was contagious when the friends in the windbreak realized how their Creator made the whole situation work out for good. “Lilac,” chided Woody. “Don’t you feel silly that you fretted so?

“Yes, I do,” she admitted. “I wasted all the time worrying when I could have enjoyed the peace of trusting our wise and wonderful Creator. He moved a tree, gave Farmer’s wife the eyes to see the youngsters, and used Farmer and his son to work out the fulfillment of my children’s destinies. God, our Creator, is truly faithful.”

I Peter 4:19 (RSV) “Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will do right and entrust their souls to a faithful Creator.”

Roman’s 8:28 (KJV) “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose.”

You may not be a lilac,

You may not be a tree,

But your Heavenly Creator

Made you for eternity.

Do not trade fret and worry

For peace in trusting Him.

Great is His reputation,

Let your heart trust only Him.

He brings peace in sadness,

Security midst fear and doubt.

Your future is His concern,

He will surely work it out.

photo credit:Wenda Grabau
photo credit:Wenda Grabau

Cheer the soul;

Announcing their arrival

From winter homes.

Warming sunshine

Spurs melting snow;

Commissioning rivulets to

Fill waterways.

Shrinking snow drifts

Expose remnants

Of grass long hidden –

For months frozen.

A company of robins

Busily forages

Their “birdy” smorgasbord.

Our hearts sing,

“Hail to thee,

Heralds of spring.

Warmly to our home,

We welcome thee.”

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Gray canopy overhead,

Donned with winter jacket and gloves,

Cheeks and chin nipped by cold,

Off I go to mail a card or letter.

The frozen-shut, tin mailbox door

Loosens as I bang on its latch.

Warm greetings rest inside.

The stiffened flag raises with effort.

Kitty rubs at my ankles,

Stretches her forelegs,

Curls her claws into my jeans,

Pleading to climb up on my shoulder.

Fog hovers over the landscape.

Frost trims the evergreens.

Delicate icy crystals hug

The remains of summer’s last weeds.

Silent cows’ eyes follow my steps.

On my way to the house, I stop in my tracks

Listening to December’s chilling silence,

As winter’s grip tightens on the countryside.

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Before Baking

The "Frosted-Look" After Baking

As hints of winter settle on the landscape

And Jackie Frost blows icy bursts of air,

My eyes light on a box of old recipes

Which hold for me an heirloom treasure there.

Grandma’s Anise Cookes fresh-baked from her home,

A sweet-smelling treat from her mother’s heart

Handed down to her in Christmas tradition

For children yet to come – a baker’s art.

From memories I behold good times far away;

Grandma’s Christmas – a decorated scene.

Packages all wrapped with tender, loving care.

Tables dressed in bright red and in green.

Grandma thanked God her kids gathered home.

I felt her hug, her kiss; she held my hand.

I’ll remember her at Christmas any time anywhere

When for my fam’ly I bake bread and…

Grandma’s Anise Cookies fresh-baked from my home;

A sweet-smelling treat from her mother’s heart

Handed down to me in Christmas tradition

For children yet to come – a baker’s art.

photo credit:Wenda Grabau
photo credit:Wenda Grabau

For more information on Anise cookies, see “Making Anise Cookies.”

Christmas is just ’round the corner,

Folks send news of good cheer;

Items marked down thirty percent,

Sales you must pay for all year.

Children’s hearts full of excitement,

Shoppers hunt for just the right toy.

Is this shopping fuss the answer

To contentment, peace and joy?

Truly unique Christmas giving

Came to earth when God sent us His Son,

Revealing His plan of salvation

Freely offered to everyone.

Believing Jesus’ redemption,

The price He paid for our sins,

His Word assures our adoption

Where fullness of life begins.

Christmas is just ’round the corner,

A time we all can afford.

Through His death and resurrection

We can know Jesus as Lord.

All Christmas gifts must be  purchased.

Jesus bought a present for you –

A new life just for the asking,

And a home in Heaven, too.

Joy is not wrapped up in  presents;

Doll, trinkets, high-tech, or clothes.

Find your fullment in Jesus.

Each need and desire He knows.

Turn your life over to Jesus.

He will not turn you away.

Give Him your heart’s true devotion.

Do not wait, do it today.

Yes, Christmas is ’round the corner.

It could be the best one yet.

When your life, too, turns the corner,

A choice you will not regret.

For Christmas giving see the Christmas greeting cards available in our catalog.

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Its blistered paint reminded me that it needs some tender loving care.

Mild temperatures called out and lured me to stroll around this old farm.

I noticed the sights and sounds today that I have so long neglected.

Horizon to horizon stretched a canopy of varied shades of gray.

Naked tree branches no longer break the howling winds that swirl through.

Stately trees and windmill tower creak in the wake of its gusty train.

Green still blankets the earth ’til winter’s snowflakes come.

I ambled down the hill to the calf shed to greet the new calf herd.

With tummies full, they declined to visit.

Golden black cat eyes peered at me with distrust.

But our gentle cat, Baby, jumped up on the gate.  She drew close and purred.

In the garden, stood amber asparagus ornamented with orange beads.

A dozen stubborn apples clung tightly to the bare apple trees.

One plant remains in the garden, a cauliflower tucked in curled leaves.

It is firm, white and still growing inspite of the frost and chill.

Song birds have fled for their winter homes.

Hardy sparrows break the silence with their chatter.

Over the brisk blowing breezes, rumbles “our work horse,” the tractor.

Fall work remains in abundance for the faithful farmer to do.

Before my walk ends, to the sidewalk I go.

By the porch stands one last chrysanthemum.

Though injured by frost, it continues to show

Bright white blossoms I have waited for all year.

Today’s stroll ends as I open the door

To the cozy farmhouse which has housed so many.

It’s warmth caresses; baking bread invites

And welcomes me home once more.

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