God is so good ...

 "God is so good to give us new days and 

New Years since he knows we need 

so many time to start over. "

Lacy Sturm 

Friendship Friday

 "They say true friends go long periods of time without speaking and never question the friendship." Can the opposite be true? When you see friends every week, do you take the friendship for granted?  

I do not take this friendship for granted. It is a blessing to enjoy this decade long friendship. Each week, I see  Carolyn   in exercise class and in Bible Study Fellowship class.. 

Last year, Carolyn recommended that I join Bible  Recap. It is a chronological Bible App.  This program will take you on  a year-long journey of reading  through the entire Bible. 

 I think, it can be life-changing. Next Monday is January 1, 2024 what a  great way to begin the New Year to begin reading through the entire Bible. Go for it. 

Carolyn is on the left. Cynthia is on the right.

Monday Musings... Merry Christmas

 "Jesus came during the darkest hour, bringing hope and light. Even in times of apparent silence, God is not absent. God is at work. God is not done yet.

This is our hope. 

He is our Hope. 

And we cling to this Hope. 

Even as we celebrate the birth of Christ, we acknowledge the tension of an ever broken world. 

There are so many people - near and far- that are experiencing pain and suffering. Two things can be true at the same time. We are overwhelmed and we are resolute because we cling to hope. 

We are overwhelmed by the 13 million children in the US that experienced hunger this past year, by the ongoing war in Ukraine, by the terrorist attacks that killed about 1200 innocent Israeli civilians and 139 hostages that remain in captivity. We are overwhelmed by the subsequent devastation in Gaza which has taken the lives of over 20, 000 Palestinians - including more than 8,000 children created in the image of God. We are overwhelmed by the enormous suffering  around the world that don't provoke posters, chants, marches, and boycotts. We are heartbroken by the pain and suffering in Sudan, Afghanistan, Yemen, Democratic Republic of Congo, Syria, Somalia, Myanmar, Haiti, and so many more..."

Eugene Cho

Bacon, eggs and coffee

When did hotels begin offering breakfast for their guests?  This is what I  discovered on line,

 "In the 1800s and early 1900s it was common for hotels to offer complimentary meals for breakfast, lunch and dinner."  This fact makes me want to research where were these hotels.

More recently, it was Hampton Inn chain that began to offer breakfast in the mid 1980's.  This morning, this is what the Marriott offered for breakfast. 

 

... wisdom and knowledge of God

 "Oh, the depth of the riches of the 

wisdom and knowledge of 

God! 

How unsearchable his judgments,

and his path beyond tracing 

out!

Who has known the mind of the 

Lord?

Or who has been his 

counselor?

Who has ever given to God

that God should repay him.

For from him and through him and

to him are all things.

To him be glory forever! 

Amen. 

Romans 11: 33-36

Friendship Friday ...

 " A friend is one

of the best things

 you can be 

and the

greatest thing 

you can have."

Sarah Valdez

Tasty Tuesday ... Christmas Cookies

Cookies, cakes, and Christmas Fudge 

"The smell of cookies baking is the aroma of Christmas."

Before Christmas, my mother would bake her traditional fruit cake and fudge for family and friends. Offering baked goods as Christmas gifts was a family tradition. 

 Last week, the Aqua Fitness class shared homemade cookies. 

The luncheon and cookie exchange was delightful.

We also left with all the recipes from the cookies. 

 

Monday Musings ...

 "This season of Advent is a time of hopeful expectation. The word "Advent" finds it roots in the Latin word meaning "coming' or "arrival." 

Advent

 " The celebration of Advent is possible only to those who are troubled in soul, who know themselves to be poor and imperfect and who look forward to something greater to come." 

Dietrich Bonhoeffer