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Lord God, Heavenly Father, Thank You!

Thank you for providing richness in your Spirit, for abiding in my life. Thank you for providing all I need. You have provided for my rest, my sustenance, my peace, by warmth.

Living in the land of snow and ice you have provided protection.

Thank you for the ability to move around, by my healthy legs and feet, by my vehicle, by the help of others.

Thank you for all I get to see every day, the beauty, the colors, the wonders of your creation, the faces of those I love.

Thank you for my eyes, my ears, my senses, my heart and all the other things that sustain my life.

I pray that you would keep me healthy and free from disease. Thank you that I have options for the things that have made me ill. Thank you for removing the cancer from my body. I pray that cancer would not come back, and if I do have it in my body still, that you would heal me.

I pray for my family, Lord. I think of my parents and how they are aging. Please be near them as they deal with their weakening bodies.

I pray for my children and my grandchildren. I trust you to keep them safe. I trust you to help them and guide them. I trust your Holy Spirit to convict them of sin and anything that needs to change in their spiritual lives. Teach them gently, Lord. Give wisdom and love. Let them experience your love and the love of those around them.

Help them be servants in their relationships. Help them to live purposeful and effective lives. Make them who you want them to be.

I pray for those who minister to me. I pray for my pastor, my leaders, my employers. I pray for them to be kind and fair, to be helpful and understanding. Thank you for putting them in my life.

I thank you for the seasons, the changes, the beauty of December and celebrating Christmas.

I thank you for all you have taught me, and help me to do what is right, to understand what is truth and what is a lie. Teach me your ways, Lord. Help me to obey your commands. I want to show my love for you, so I want to know and obey, follow your commands.

Lord, there is so much more to know about you. Please reveal yourself to me in your word and in my friendships. Thank you for the wise counsel of dear friends who I trust. Keep them in your Word, and give them the wisdom and knowledge they need to advise me.

Lord, help me to be humble. Forgive my pride.

Help me to bring my sin to you every day. Help me to look at you and strive to please you every moment.

I pray these things in Jesus’ Precious Name!

Amen.

PS; Come soon, come quickly, Lord. MARANATHA!

It is that time of year when we formulate plans for upcoming change. Resolutions, beginnings, goals, ideas.

I do it every year, and although I seldom feel I achieved much at any time, I do see progress. Therefore I conclude that setting goals is important, even if they are not attained.

I have notebooks of goals and lists. It is probably a form of mental illness. For me, it grounds. I am keeping my ideas in my brain, in the back of my day’s schedule, even on the calendar to some extent.

Today I return to the classroom. Only a half day, perfect for a re-entry.

It has been an interesting six weeks since surgery, twelve weeks since we found my tumor. Today the restrictions are lifted for my post-op regimen. I can lift more than 15 lbs, but I need to ease into it.

I can swim, which I plan to do tomorrow. I have been anticipating getting back in the pool at the Y this entire time.

The extra weight I gained from lack of exercise should disappear, right?

Four of my five kids got their life guard certification. Three worked as guards at area YMCA’s. I must swim, and I have swam all through my adult life, extra pounds or not! One of my sons said to me, “Mom, don’t worry about how you look. I’ve seen it all!”

As a woman in her 60’s I should not care, anyway, right? I am there for my health. I see all of my older peers being faithful to exercise, too. I will brave the stigma of being out-of-shape and join them tomorrow!

We celebrated our family Christmas this past weekend. It was marvelous. We were all together. We ate our traditional Christmas repast: Swedish Smorgasbord. We sang and read Christmas songs and passages. We gave gifts, thoughtful, homemade, sweetness. We laughed and hugged, held babies and remembered. We watched the delight of children opening new toys.

I think it was perfect.

I have determined to do a study on the commands of Christ this upcoming year. I want 2026 to be my year for practicing His commands, understanding them, obeying. I gifted each of my children with a study on His commands in hopes that they will join me in this pursuit. We actually did this study years ago as a home-school, and I think it was one of the most memorable and effective Bible studies we did. I think my “students” even remember all of the commands in the curriculum. (I’ve tested them surreptitiously).

I need a review. I plan to study a different command each week. This curriculum has 49, so it should take most of 2026. I’m starting this week, though. Christmas is already celebrated and I am one to strike while there’s a will to start!

Head start on 2026!

Matthew 4:17 says “From that time Jesus began to preach, and he said,”Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” ”

This command is “Repent.”

What an interesting study for this week!

My first thought about obeying this command is to just look at Jesus instead of looking at the world. I look for His beauty, His goodness, His mercy, His grace. I see His forgiveness for my sin. I am turning toward Him.

This is repentance, for me, today.

Of course there will be other thoughts, but I need something easy to begin with.

I will look at Jesus today.

When you look at Jesus you are looking at the pure and wonderful.

The dirt just doesn’t attract.

It’s supposed to snow today. Lots of snow is predicted. It is one of those days I love being by the fire, writing or reading!

But I really need to get back to work. I am thankful. I am blessed.

Next week will be a week of medical things, another scan to see if cancer is gone, another post op examination. It will be busy. I am praying for good reports.

This week is a gift. Looking at Jesus. Understanding Repentance. Snow. Thankfulness.

Come, Lord Jesus!

MARANATHA!

I’ve always been an advocate of celebration! I love the memories that decor evokes. I like the freshness of unpacking a box of decorations or seasonal decor after a year.

It is a hassle, but it marks time, and I firmly believe that God ordains festivals and holy days to mark time, to remember.

As a musician, I love the music of the seasons. I love the contemplative performances of Christmas time. We are so privileged to have world-class ensembles based in the Twin Cities. It is practically criminal to miss a concert!

I hope to go and hear “The Singers” this Sunday. I wanted to get to the National Lutheran Choir performance, but I can’t do everything.

Along with that I am committed to playing and singing worship services several times at my own church. I am happy to help out.

A huge snag happened this past Thanksgiving weekend.

Cherie and I drove up to Lake Superior for the night. We like to “greet” the lake at least once a year. Snow was on the ground but we were able to visit the Split Rock Lighthouse (most photographed lighthouse in Minnesota) and visit the Northern Waters Smokehaus for their amazing smoked salmon. We drove down Minnesota point, and shopped briefly at some of our favorite shops. Our trip went splendidly, even with snowy roads.

Upon return home we found Corwyn breathing hard. Ed had been watching her, but had wisely waited for us to return. It was a holiday weekend and only emergency pet vets were open.

We took her to the pet hospital. She has pneumonia. She stayed overnight one night, on oxygen and IV antibiotics.

We were able to bring her home yesterday, but I must say—-she and I are both in recovery now! Limited activity, medications, (for me natural/ home chemo) and QUIET.

As we drove toward the hospital my mind and heart, and my voice, were all crying out to God for mercy and grace. I was praying for His will to be done. I was placing the problem in His hands. I was trusting Him to walk the path before us.

I asked all of my friends to PRAY!

That is what a Christian does. We completely rely on God!

As a single woman I hate making big decisions on my own the most. My friend who also lost her husband commiserated with me on this. We feel so responsible for each and every thing we decide. We lost our “united front” as a couple, two brains are better than one status…

That is so hard when it comes to big things. Big decisions.

It is the worst.

So, I walk forward trusting that God is directing my steps and my path. I trust Him to close doors that need closing, open doors (windows), paths that need opening. I trustingly walk through them. I am casting the responsibility onto Him.

HE is in charge.

Yet in this world of material orientation His voice isn’t audible to me. He speaks, but only through my knowledge of Scripture and the character He shows me. I must trust what I have learned about Him and His teaching, His commands, to step forward.

It takes incredible faith. And I don’t even have a mustard-seed sized faith. I look at the hills and mountains in my life and they still seem to be fixed.

But where else do I go?

Looking back I have seen God in everything, even in my failings. I have trusted Him.

And I am grateful.

We just came through Thanksgiving, and my heart was full of gratitude. I know Jesus is returning for us soon. The season proclaims “LAST DAYS!” We just need to hold out a bit longer.

God is restoring relationships. God is providing. God is healing. God is good, gracious, merciful, and a wonder to me.

I am truly thankful.

The only reason He is waiting is so that more dear people can come to the truth of salvation in Christ alone. God is merciful.

Keep praying. Keep thanking. Keep trusting.

Celebrate that Jesus came 2,000 years ago as a baby. I am.

I am going to the piano right now to play a couple of carols. Christmas is HERE!

Love,

MARANATHA!

I have been thinking about something I’ve always said when talking about plans. I can’t help myself. It’s ingrained in me to say it.

I tack on a little phrase after my statement regarding future plans: “Lord willing.”

If you have the same habit, you are my tribe.

We do not know what the future holds, but we know WHO holds the future.

Corgi has dabbled in so many things in life. Six decades will do that for someone. I look back at my childhood, my college years, my missionary days, my military days, my home-schooling days, my teaching days (in public schools), my losses and illnesses.

My illnesses. The illnesses of those I love. The deaths.

I don’t know what tomorrow holds, but I know WHO holds tomorrow.

I will see healing, Lord willing.

I will see reconciliation, Lord willing.

I will continue to be of use in this world, Lord willing.

Knowing that the God who shaped the stars is actually shaping my own little life is awe striking.

That He forgives me my lack of faith, my failing, my shortcoming, is remarkable.

That He loves me is beyond my comprehension.

Why would He love me?

Why would He care about me and my future?

My favorite verse in the Bible is a common favorite verse. Jeremiah 29:11, For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper, and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future.

This verse is for Israel, but we can claim it for ourselves. We have been grafted in. It is a promise that is precious and sustaining.

Yes, the Lord IS willing to prosper us and not to harm us.

Life on earth is fraught with trouble, but the Lord’s will is to prosper us. We have the hope of eternal life, nailed down by Christ’s death on the cross.

Faith, belief, trust, hope. We are His, and HE IS MINE.

For this I am thankful.

Remember that old song?

My music was limited to bus rides and church back in those days. Of course I played/practiced my instruments diligently. Very often an old song will come to mind as I piece together the thoughts I’m supposed to be having.

I’m well. I got to go to church yesterday and in the afternoon I had coffee with a very good friend. A very good day.

I am healing. I still get twinges of pain, but I think I feel really good overall. I’m still attempting to limit myself with lifting more than 15 lbs. It’s hard. That is the hardest thing for me. There are always things to be lifted around the house.

I am so grateful for the help I received this past week from two different church families. My yard work was done, and I got a load of wood for the fireplace. I’m so blessed.

Two special ladies prayed for me at church. I am always so moved when someone just says “Let me pray with you!”

It is healing.

When trouble comes I look for the supernatural signs that God is still in the picture.

I know He is, but I just need that extra reassurance to boost my resolve and my faith.

Yes, I am weak. If only I had faith the size of a mustard seed.

God is so gracious. He gave me a marvelous sign. As you know I am not earning any income right now. Living on savings….

(Thankful for medical insurance!)

But I had committed to paying my tithe every month. I was going to just pay that fixed amount out of my savings this month.

A friend that I haven’t kept up with enough over the years sent me an encouraging card with a check for the EXACT amount of my monthly tithe. I’m going to write to her and tell her that she is the biggest ENCOURAGER !! What a splendid, supernatural act! God used her to encourage me in the most wonderful way! My tithe is covered!

All of my needs ARE COVERED!

God WILL provide all your needs! I haven’t had to tap into social security nor retirement yet. God is SO GOOD.

I do hope to get back to subbing in January, maybe in mid December, even. Back in the saddle.

I just wanted to share this lovely gift from God.

Come soon, Lord Jesus! MARANATHA!

Here is a brief summary of what Corgi has been going through these past two months.

Yesterday was the 12th of November. On the 12th of September I had severe pain in my abdomen.

I had a tumor.

The tumor was benign, removed on October 28th. Also removed were ALL unnecessary organs in that part of my body.

In one of those organs I had thyroid cancer. Only 13mm of it, but still, cancer.

Yesterday I visited an endocrinologist. My thyroid is actually working, according to blood work. I used to be on levothyroxin for hypothyroid syndrome. I weaned myself off that medication several years ago.

The type of diagnosis that I have currently is extremely rare.

I will have my thyroid screened tomorrow, to see if there are nodules on it. If so, there will be discussion about the next step. Actually the specialists are in discussion right now, anyway. Rare cases require discussion.

I have been blessed, and I am thankful for:

Timely treatment appointments

A dear friend who has literally walked me through this, she’s got the notebook and she’s asking the questions!

Wonderful and supportive, praying friends and family who encourage me

I feel GREAT after the tumor is out of me (It was 13cm, so I was feeling it!)

All malignant cells were removed from my abdomen

I was happy with the specialist who saw me yesterday

I really liked the surgeon and the provider who treated me

I can drive (a bit) again

I am in a six week recovery period, but I still feel somewhat productive

God is providing, (but I get anxious with all these bills and no income)

I hope to be back substitute teaching a LOT in January

I am blessed with a beautiful autumn, the regular company of my two youngest children

The anticipation of holding my grandson, born in September, more

Did you see the northern lights? We did.

Thanks for praying for me! I don’t know what the future holds, but I know WHO holds the future.

MARANATHA!!!

Another pathological report came through yesterday. I should have held off on the reports about the first one until the complete picture came through.

My surgery went great. Everything was cleanly removed.

The tumor was benign, but it contained thyroid tissue, which was an anomaly. There was thyroid cancer in one of the ovaries. (So Far).

This is unusual, and I will need to see an endocrinologist. The outlook is positive. I will know more after my post-op appointment, but there are still some big unanswered questions.

Life continues peacefully here at Corgi Hollows. I love having Ed working from here more often. Cherie is in and out.

My calligraphy class is the epitome of quiet healing.

If life could be this peaceful all the time it would be a joy, but I might get tired of the perpetual quiet.

For now it is perfect.

As I field another “crisis” in my life I am constantly wondering at the level of faith I have in my heart and spirit.

Spiritual discipline, the daily Bible reading and prayer, are my bread and water. The emotions are all over, worry and gratefulness spike and recede. I must turn to truths from Scripture to field the highs and lows.

God will take care of me.

That is the truth, and I will cling to it.

MARANATHA!

Colossians 3:8-9

But now ye also put off all of these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication from out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds.

A post has been brewing in my mind these past weeks, the title above.

Judging people is something we all do in our minds and hearts. It’s what we do.

Judge not lest ye be judged. Jesus warns us that we need to check out our own standards before looking at others.

Lately I’ve seen some mean-spirited judgment among our fellow Christian brotherhood. Whether or not they are RIGHT is beside the point. People make mistakes. It is not our place to shout out judgment to the winds of our current society and its forms of communication.

Whether or not something is provocative is in the eye of the beholder. Gray areas are gray areas. I believe this pertains to people who are going through crisis more. Grief and trauma really mess up normalcy.

God is a God of grace and mercy. He is the supreme judge and He WILL judge. We are accountable to Him, and thankfully He is forgiving, even when we mess up in our trauma or profound grief.

Public figures have, of course, a higher standard to meet, but they are sinners and weak, compromised and trodden down as we all are.

Grace is certainly not a license to sin. I’m sad to see so many stoop to the lows of foul language. I want to shout,”Cut it out!”

I am sad to see people drop judgment on those that are suffering already. Cut it out!

I want to see people acting righteously and uprightly 100 percent of the time, but I know we are all sinners. We all mess up.

Keep your judgment to yourself. I need to cut it out….

I know that I messed up in my trauma and grief, without any intention of doing so. Sometimes it just happened. It may have looked bad to someone watching. It was completely random! I remember at least one specific situation. I still regret it, but it was completely random. I am thankful that I was the one who had the regrets and no one else seemed to witness my failure. I would have been judged.

It’s between me and the Lord. He knows the whole situation, all the angles, all the intent.

May we all be willing to discern right from wrong, watch for a fitting time to teach, refrain from public judgment, and forgive.

The Holy Spirit is a gentle teacher. He is far more gentle than most of us.

May Jesus come soon and save us from ourselves, save us from the judgment of those around us.

MARANATHA!

I had very successful surgery on Tuesday. A large tumor was removed from my abdomen with robotic laparoscopy.

Having had major surgery to remove my gall bladder over 30 years ago I can honestly say that there are major improvements in the medical field!

My recovery is nowhere near as difficult as it was then, despite the comprehensive total hysterectomy and tumor extraction being far more significant.

The big danger is to feel too able, and not give the prescribed six week recovery its due.

I am not symptomless: I feel dizzy, a bit nauseated, some pain, etc… Overall, I am doing just fine. Eating, walking, and general activity is just fine. I am not supposed to lift things, and I have been very sleepy. I should be relatively still. Quiet.

So I sleep.

I am grateful. God is good! It is so nice to have that mass out of me! I was uncomfortable and anxious. That’s over.

The pathology report is still to come. The tumor is not usually the type that is malignant, but the polyps the surgeon found might be suspect.

I admit that despite being overall GRATEFUL, I have struggled with feelings of anxiety and the blues. That’s sort of normal for me, and I assume that with all the stuff going on I am naturally a bit down.

I have really missed my husband during this time of sickness. He was always my “right hand” during medical stuff in the past. It was hard without him.

Ed did his best, and that was wonderful.

Ed and Cherie are both helping me now, so I am really blessed to have them. They are my team!

Anyway, I am still a bit foggy in my brain, (anesthesia!) and I am “lying low”—quietly—-for the near future.

I am probably sleeping if you try to get a hold of me and I don’t respond!

Thank you for praying!

The fish are locked under a thin sheet of ice in the urn this morning. I had assumed that there would be no frost for the time being, but it froze last night.

The new furnace is humming a coziness, but I still like to sit by my gas fire in the morning. These golden days before snow are fleeting, but they are some of the best of the year. I looked out at the hay fields this morning and they were glowing with white frost, lines of silver between the reds of trees and hedges of green.

It’s art.

Today Cherie (who does not have class on Fridays) and I will attempt to restore the library. I can’t lift after my surgery, for six weeks, so this weekend must be productive. I can’t lift much now, because of my growing cyst, but I can do some.

Order is important to productivity.

Having a clear surface to work is vital to the mind.

I love stuff, so my house is rather cluttered. Books are everywhere. Art supplies and yarn, sewing stuff, pet paraphernalia, all take up space.

Musical instruments and toys, games and puzzles, leftovers from decades of homeschooling; these things are hard for me to part with.

But I must be ruthless. Downsizing is normal at my age.

I have a collection of housekeeping books. They are fun to read, especially the one from the 1940’s. Oh how we have progressed! Still, principles of home management are pretty much the same.

Keep things clean and control clutter! Pay your bills in an orderly system. Watch your budget. These simple rules will order your entire life!

As a believer I add the disciplines of a faith walk: read your Bible and pray every morning. Go to church.

I repeat: GO TO CHURCH.

After Covid we all got into habits that go against Christ’s teaching. For some of us it seemed okay to tune in to the ubiquitous online services.

I’m not knocking these! It is a joy to watch a favorite preacher who lives in Hawaii, or California, or Ohio–and an old person or a sick person can feed on excellent spiritual teaching. Still, there is something missing when you don’t show up in person at church.

God commands it for a reason. We need to show up, to care for each other, to commune together.

A friend called to chat yesterday. She remarked that she sees a trend among young folk these days—staying single.

What an interesting trend. I see it too. Some say they are “called” to singleness, and the Apostle Paul would be approving. Some are waiting for the perfect person. Some are caught in their busy careers and their life choices for travel and entertainment.

Some are satisfied with a virtual life.

In a world of 8 billion people it really IS hard to find ONE that is right. The choices are statistically myriad, but the reality is that we are all pretty selfish beings and finding a special person to share life with is difficult.

There will never be a perfect person.

Virtual living ….I’m sorry, but there seems to be something demonic about it. I will just say it.

Career and amusements: one day your body will give out and you will be alone and helpless. You may plan for this, but the emptiness of having no family may be real.

I have had this on my mind as I’ve been medically sidelined from work these days. I need to get my health back so I can WORK!

I’m thinking that young people just don’t think long-term.

Get married! Have kids! Be a responsible citizen! Work hard!

Love someone, even if they don’t deserve it.

I told my friend that I felt sad for people who haven’t experienced one of life’s most wonderful relationships; marriage. It’s like they haven’t fully experienced life itself.

In a traditional world men pursued women as life partners. It’s hard to get out of that mold. Women tend to be passive in initiating relationships. There are always exceptions.

A word to men: you need to pursue, even if we are living in the 21st century. We women are still genetically programmed like Eve, (Adam’s significant other). Get off your computer and ask someone out!

I know several gorgeous young women who are single and fine. Very fine. Find them!

Girls, stop looking for that perfect guy. Marry that nerd. He’s not abusive, he makes a living, and he will probably be a good dad.

Start a family and serve God. Be faithful, to God and to each other.

A chord of three strands is not easily broken.

Brian and I had that printed on our wedding hand-out. Death broke that band for me, but I do not have any regrets for having had it for 30 years. I am grateful to God for my marriage.

I pray that you would find that bond too. It’s a very good thing.

God saw it was good.

MARANATHA!