Dining in the Snow

Aww Mondays

My post Christmas break is over and I am back on the ‘puter. The next couple of months the focus around town will be high school basketball and since I like photographing high school sports you’re going to get to see a few of the local teams in action. Here is a few images from last week’s boys game. The home team dominated the visitors from start to finish.

Monday’s Music Moves Me

This week the theme at 4M is free choice. Several months before Christmas I assembled a new stereo system from components I found in flea markets and on FaceBook Marketplace. I must say, I am quite proud of myself for putting this system together at bargain basement prices. I have an Onkyo reciever and 6-disc CD player, a nice Victrola turntable, and a great pair of Bose 301series 5 speakers. It is not a high-end audiophile set up, but it certainly meets my needs and fills the home office (spare bedroom) with sound.

Since there has been a resurgence in the popularity of vinyl records, a local store has opened that sells new and vintage vinyls. I am sure that ninety percent of the inventory comes from auctions and estate sales. The prices range from $3.99-$15.99 for the vintage recordings to $24.99-$49.99 for remastered classic albums. So, since this is a free choice week, I’ll share a couple of selections from my recent purchases.

Have a blessed week.

Straight out of the camera.

Final edit.

Today is the day!!! Today we celebrate the birth of the Savior of the world. Scripture (Acts 4:12) teaches us, “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” The Long awaited Messiah has arrived!

May the gift of Christmas that is Christ the Lord live in your heart and may your heart be filled with the blessings of Christmas past and present. Wishing you and yours the merriest Christmas ever and a new year filled with joy and hope.

It’s Christmas Eve. Have you ever wondered just how little note the world took of the birth of the Savior on that night in Bethlehem? When man first stepped on the moon the whole world was watching, yet when God Himself stepped out of heaven and visited this earth, very few people realized what had happened and many who were aware the the fulfillment of prophecy chose to ignore the truth in their midst.

Seven hundred years before His birth, the prophet Isaiah told us how the Savior would enter this world. Isaiah says, “Therefore the Lord Himself will give you a sign: Behold a virgin shall conceive and bear a Son and shall call His name Immanuel.” Isaiah further describes the event like this, “For unto us a Child is born, unto us a Son is given; and the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

Today, much of the world takes little note of the importance of Christmas. They have the knowledge of the birth of Christ in their heads but they don’t have the Savior living in their hearts. We have to turn head knowledge into trust and faith. We must place our lives in the hands of the only one who can forgive us of sin and make this life something that will glorify His name. God does not promise an easy life, but He promises to be in our lives every minute of every day. I am ever thankful that my life was changed by a baby boy. Merry Christmas to one and all.

I am ever thankful that my life was changed by a baby boy. Have a blessed Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

The annual baking began Sunday afternoon with our daughter and youngest grand daughter joining Nana in the kitchen. By the time you read this the middle grand daughter will be home for the holiday and additional baking will take place. It was decided the Christmas meal will include a smoked pork loin, so I guess I’m the next one up in the cooking challenge.

Much of their efforts were boxed up and sent to friends and relatives in the area.

Did you know the following about the manger that Jesus was laid in. Of course mangers are animal feeding troughs but in ancient Israel they were made of stone – not what you would see in a modern day nativity scene. Not comfortable, but great for protection. That’s why those who were experts in this matter, the priests, would put their newborn lambs in them for protection. But not just any lamb, the unblemished perfect lambs that were used in the sacrifice for sins. And Bethlehem, where Jesus was born was FAMOUS for their UNBLEMISHED LAMBS used for the sacrifice. These lambs had to be perfect so they would wrap them tightly in cloth and lie them in the manger to keep them safe. This is exactly why the only time mangers are mentioned in Jesus’ birth story it is being told to shepherds. In Luke 2 it says “This will be a sign for you, you will find a baby wrapped in cloth and lying in a manger.” The shepherds would have understood this powerful parallel! THEY KNEW what the cloth and the manger meant! This baby would be THE PERFECT LAMB OF GOD! The Messiah who would sacrifice His life for the sins of the whole world. He wasn’t just a baby wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger, He was GOD: perfect, sinless and holy, humbling Himself to become the perfect sacrifice to reconcile us back to Himself!! THAT my friend, that Perfect Lamb, is WHY we celebrate Christmas!!