My sweet niece, Tara, and her equally sweet husband, Will, have bought a house waaay out in the woods. Well, not really, but it seems that way to us who have lived right next to someone else all our lives. They are on a road that includes much land that his family owns, and hunts on. There is his grandmother’s old house that they have turned into a hunting club, and a creek that runs through it all. Several of his cousins and friends and wives live there and they all enjoy doing things together. So we are very happy for them, and know they will enjoy being near their family and friends. The house is set back off the road, and has a beautiful porch running all around it.

Will, is the one I give a hard time to about hunting. I really can’t stand the thought of it. But, I realize that not everyone feels the way I do. And, I have come to learn that Will has a sweet gentleness about him. So, I think he is very at ease with hunting and hunts very responsibly. I trust that his heart will do what is right. He even gave me a book for Christmas titled, THE POLITICALLY CORRECT GUIDE TO HUNTING. I haven’t read it yet, but he says it will explain to me why hunters are doing their part to keep the wildlife population healthy.

And, it’s not really called Bush Mountain, but Pop started calling it that, and so forever more it will be called that by our family. It just feels right. Last night, it rained and stormed terribly here and I couldn’t sleep…so I wrote them a song:

BUSH MOUNTAIN (to the tune of She’ll Be Comin’ ‘Round the Mountain)

Oh! They’re moving to Bush Mountain…Yes, Indeed!
Oh! They’re moving to Bush Mountain…Yes, Indeed!
That young couple, Will and his bride
They say they don’t want to hide
They’re just moving to Bush Mountain…Yes, Indeed!

Oh! they’re moving to Bush Mountain…Yes, Indeed!
Oh!……
They unloaded all their boxes
Alerted all the foxes
That they’re moving to Bush Mountain…Yes Indeed!

Oh! They’re moving to Bush Mountain…Yes Indeed!
Oh!…….
They’ll be snug and warm and cozy
If the snakes don’t get their toesies
And they’re moving……

Oh! they’re moving to Bush Mountain…Yes, Indeed!
Oh!……
There will be wild life on the outside
And wild life on the inside 🙂
Cause they’re moving…

Oh! they’re moving to Bush Mountain…Yes, Indeed!
Oh!…..
They’ll make sweet memories together
No matter what the weather
Cause they’re moving..

Oh! they’re moving to Bush Mountain…Yes, Indeed!
Oh!…..
I hope that we can visit…
Will we need a hunting permit?
When you’re living…

Oh! they’re moving to Bush Mountain,,,Yes, Indeed!
Oh!….
For our visit, just set the date
And, NO deer meat on MY plate
When you’re living……

Oh! they’re moving to Bush Mountain…Yes, Indeed!
Oh!…..
Now, the Hunting Club’s excited
And all the wives delighted
That they’re moving to Bush Mountain,,,Yes, Indeed!

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“All kidding aside, we wish you health, happiness and only good times in your new home. May all the memories you share be full of peace and joy and laughter.
And may God abundantly pour His blessings on your life together.”

The Owens’ Family

This is a post about my sister. Friends, I’ve had my eyes opened. She showed her true colors yesterday. Here’s the evidence:

Just look at her trying to be all angelic….HUH!

Can you believe this? She had this tied to my present! Sad, sad, sad…..

Here I am opening her gift to me…when I had just given her the same thing minutes before! She’s always copying me!

Here she is trying to act like she’s a cook. She did not bake this pie!

Here she is trying to tickle me to death.

I’ve presented my case…don’t you agree with me?

Wonders never cease! My BIL, Tommy, called me this morning. He got a metal detector for Christmas, and I asked him to help me look for my wayward earring. He said he was on the way over to my house to help me look. So, I went into the sunroom to wait for him. There…RIGHT THERE…lying in the middle of the floor, was my earring!! I’m not lying…it was lying in the middle of my floor. Where did it come from? And where had it been? I have swept that floor several times since I lost it. Everyone uses the sunroom door to enter and exit our house…so that particular path has been walked on many, many times since I lost the earring. It has not been on that floor…before this morning. I am amazed. awed and perplexed!

I know several of you said you would pray for me to find it…and I did, too. I think Kat even said she was looking for a Christmas miracle. Well, it happened! It’s back where it rightly belongs….not in my ear yet, cause the clasp is broken…
but in my possession.

I have done a lot of thinking about losing that earring, and about what my
“treasure” really is. We spent a while talking about that yesterday at my mom’s. After we opened presents, all 15 of us, it looked like a department store had moved in….a messy one at that. Our family loves giving gifts. We enjoy shopping for one another and looking for just the right surprise. But, as we looked at this abundance yesterday, it was just too much! Mom said she thought we ought to all cut back next year, so as to give more to the needy around the world. We all give to our Christmas offering at church, and help with needs as we see them…but, we can do more. And as a family, we made the commitment yesterday to change our buying habits next year, and find a way to give more to those who are in need. God has blessed our family tremendously, and we will be giving the majority of our Christmas gifts next year to others who need it much more than us.

And, my earring shows up this morning. Pop has always said, “You can not out give God.” I thank Him for sending my lost earring home. Was it lost because I had been taking my blessings for granted? Did He need to get my attention? Was He pleased with what He heard from our hearts yesterday as we gathered together? I think He was. And I think He chose today to return my earring to show me just how pleased.
Whether I am correct about that or not, I am newly reminded of my blessings, of the abundance God has chosen to share with our family, and what my treasure really consists of. God is good! And I am grateful…and awed and amazed.

“For God so loved the world, that He gave His only Son, so that whoever believes in HIM will not perish, but have eternal life.” John 3:16

AMEN