The snow was falling fast and furious for most of the day Sunday.  I have to admit it was beautiful and there were times as snow fell that I had not seen such huge flakes.  A few hours later our power went out and we took a drive into town to find a kerosene heater.  We found out that everything was sold out so we went home and found blankets. We went to bed and read a book by the light of an oil lamp.

Today we spent most of the day with our friends Joe, Lia and Matthew in town.  They had power.  It was nice to visit and keep warm.  We later went home.  Nate and I sat on the couch reading with a few blankets tucked around us.  Our coats were still on. The house was cold.  I eventually fell asleep leaning on his shoulder.  He woke me up and said, "Listen."  I heard the sound of the heat pump running. "Oh, Yay!" We finally had our power back.  A few minutes later I drove to camp to feed horses.  I had to bump around in the barn because camp's power had not come on yet.  Forgot the flashlight.  When are I going to learn to always be prepared?  :)

I am learning  bit by bit.  Aren't we all in a lot of things?  Lately I've been learning how to convert mp3's to wav.  Some music places want certain formats for music.  It took awhile, but watching utube taught me how to do it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BOfUWY2X3Lk   I got so excited learning it, I formated all my music to wav.

The exciting thing is that I put one of my original songs on cdbaby this past week.  It took awhile to make the artwork.  I had fun in paint.  I was skyping Shalisha and, using the share button, she watched me make the picture.  We made the picture together.  It was enjoyable.

I went to cdbaby and uploaded the artwork and song, "I Know a Lumberjack"  It is now available for digital download.  Hey.  At least it's "out there" instead of sitting around.  Hopefully music teachers will find it and want to use it in their classes.  The kids love to sing it.  Check it out at: http://cdbaby.com/cd/marybethbrace13
It's something new.  
Now on to another project.
 

Things have been clicking right along here at the Brace home.  The kids are off again to their own endeavors and it is quiet here...except for Julietti (Yetti for short)  barking once in awhile.  Sometimes her sister Muna comes to visit.  Muna is much more of a barker than Yetti.  Muna's owner, Kimmie, is now living in the area permanently.  We are glad when she brings over Muna...to play with Yetti.  We put them in the closed in yard out back.  They rustle and tustle for a good long time. It's fun to watch them.  It's part of our entertainment. 

When they are tied out on the runs they bark back and forth to each other and to every sound imaginable.  One time a Blue Heron was driving them crazy.  The Heron didn't care a bit. We looked through our gun scope (It's just the scope.  It's on our window sill. We use it often to check out the movements on the mountain or hill as they call it here in KY) and saw that Blue Heron just resting on the bank on the far side of the creek. 

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I've been very busy "clicking along" on a knitting project.  My niece Amber had her baby.  I looked through my supply of yarns and chose to do a sweater and pants set.  It's almost finished and will be out in the mail this week.  I have a few buttons to put on the sweater.  Some string elastic also needs to be threaded through the waistband of the little pants.  It took time, but I'm happy to say the knitting is complete.  

I used the garter stitch for the whole outfit.  It's a straight knit on every row.  I chose the garter stitch because my pearls are extremely tight.  I have to practice making my pearls loose.  They are much tighter than my knits.  A stockinette piece (knit one row, pearl one row) that I've completed in the past looks ripply because of my inconsistent tension.  So...it's a garter stitch for me...easy and with consistent tension.  

I've come to the conclusion that my knit and crochet pieces are for gifts only.  To sell a piece would put me in a financial hole.  Think about it:  Just a small crochet item like a hat will need a skein of yarn.  That will cost from 2.50 - 8:00  a skein or more depending on quality and type of yarn.  How long does it take to make a hat?  An hour?  It takes me about two hours for a simple knit hat. If I sold the hat for $10.00, I would probably end up with $2/hour for my time.  In my opinion and in my case, I can do other things that are more profitable.

I take time to knit and crochet. I think. I pray. It's what I do while riding in the car or waiting in an office.  Now days you get lots of looks when you knit or crochet in public.  I kind of feel sad for people who don't know how.  I see people of all ages sitting in a waiting room glued to a TV or staring (at me) and twiddling their thumbs.  I often wonder if it's a stress related reason that they are seeing the doctor.  (I'm going to see the dentist. It's a huge office with ma For me knitting is a stress reliever and a satisfying past time.  It may take a little time and patience to learn, but it's well worth the effort.  

It was great to have all of the family home in early January. Ethan came home for his birthday. Of course we had to get a picture.  We took a bunch, but it's hard to get a good picture of my family.  (Look at the end of this just see my choices.) I chose the above, but it needed some attention.  My glasses have a shine, the picture behind Shalisha had an annoying glare and the wrinkles in Ethan's shirt are distracting.  

We have adobe photoshop elements 7 on our computer.  It's been there for over a year waiting to be used and since our prayer supporters are asking for a new picture, I decided to try to touch it up.  I had some time today because of bad weather and no school. Nate has always told me that the way you learn on the computer is to play and figure it out.  There is a cancel button, an undo button or a go back arrow, and a "save as" button so you don't ruin your original picture.  The work I did was in no way perfect, but at first glance or to the untrained eye it will pass.  Maybe it will be an encouragement to others that want to give photo shop a try.  

The buttons I used on photo shop were the cloning tool, the crop, auto enhance, and the spot healing brush tool.  It isn't perfect but I like it much better than the original...and our family is happy not to have to pose for another half hour trying to get the perfect shot...Our family?  Haha.  It wouldn't happen.  We would be very frustrated with each other.  

Just a few more hours and 2011 will be a memory.  I've actually been going over the last year's events during the whole month December.  You know how it is...what good things and bad things happened and what improvements can be made in the new year. 

I usually write goals in the last pages of my journal, but there are too many white pages left and it will continue to be used into 2012, so as I sang and played piano with Shiloh this afternoon, I came across a song that will help me evaluate the past year.  Shiloh didn't know the hymn and so we plunked it through slowly thinking of the words.  

My wonderful Lord

I have found a deep peace that I never had known,
and a joy this world could not afford,
Since I yielded control of my body and soul
To my wonderful, wonderful Lord.

I've known Jesus for a long time. :)   I accepted Him into my life when I was young, and I just know that He is my strength and shield and help in my life.  I was also thinking of all the children who had come to know Him this past year.  Oh so many.  I pray that they will keep learning of Him and continue to grow spiritually.  I also witnessed some adults come to know Jesus as their personal Savior too, and that makes me excited...especially to see their faithfulness in attending church and desiring to grow.

I desire that my life shall be ordered by Thee,
That my will be in perfect accord
With Thine own sovereign will,
Thy desire to fulfill,
My wonderful, wonderful Lord.

As I  look back over the year there have been times when I struggled with my will - when I would prefer the air conditioning as opposed to the  heat of summer.  It gets me sometimes as I work with the horses.  I seek out shade.  Taking  the campers around camp on trails that are out of the sun help tremendously.  Those are the times when God answers my prayers with simple breezes that refresh.  There are other times, too, through the year that I fight with what is not important and then keeping the right focus on God, family, and ministry.  It is the stuff that gets in the way.  Even today I am boxing up a "stuff" thing and sending out on so I can more focus on what is important.

All the talents I have I have laid at Thy feet.  
Thy approval shall be my reward;
Be my store great or small,
I surrender it all
To my wonderful, wonderful Lord

What talents I have, please use them, Lord, for your glory.  I will do my best to get  better at talents You have put on my heart and in my life to give praise to YOU.  In an artist's prayer it says, "...I offer myself to you as an instrument, and I open myself to your creativity in my life.  Help me to create as an act of worship to You, my Creator."  This past year I have struggled with whether or not to keep pursuing a particular talent, but now I do lay it at Your feet that You will use it as You see fit.  I will enjoy the journey and love to practice and continue learning.

Thou art fairer to me that the fairest of earth,
Thou omnipotent, life giving Word;
O Thou Ancient of Days, Thou art worthy all praise
My wonderful, wonderful Lord.

As this year closes and a new one proceeds, I cling to the One who is in control.  I can walk confidently and boldly each day knowing that He will guide my footsteps.  Yeah for the new year!

Good verses  from Proverbs 3 for the new year:

21.My son, let them not depart from your eyes - 
Keep sound wisdom and descretion;

22.So they will be life to your soul
and grace to your neck.

23.Then you will walk safely in your way, 
and your foot will not stumble.















 .  

It's a quiet evening.  The family  is lounging around.  The girls are giggling about something down the hall.  We gave a call to Ethan who is in Michigan and talked to him awhile.  It's hard when all the family isn't with us.  He said he had a nice Christmas and has spent time with Grandma and relatives that came by.  

All of sudden Shalisha runs through the front room.  Now we know what the giggling is all about.  Nate had picked about some red footie pajamas with a drop seat for her for Christmas.  She was trying them on.  She says they are the best and will wear them often.  Love family!  

Hope your Christmas is special...and take time to read the Christmas story from Matthew chapter 1 and Luke 2.  Take time to remember the special gift that God gave to us.  

As I look at the things around me that are decorating our halls this Christmas, I see symbols everywhere:
The Presents - of the greatest gift that God gave to us...Jesus.
The Wreath - the circle of the wreath reminds me that God's love never ceases.
The Angel Table Runner - reminds me of the angels who give good news and help in the story of Jesus.  Telling virgin Mary she is going to have baby Jesus, telling Joseph it's okay too take Mary as his wife, telling the shepherds of Jesus' birth and to go to the stable, telling Joseph to flee with Mary and child  to Egypt, and telling Joseph when to come back.
The candy cane - of the shepherds who listened to the angels and went to see the child
The candle - that Jesus is the light of the world and guides our way through life and to heaven.
The  holly - reminds us of the crown that was placed on Jesus and the berries remind us of the blood that He shed.
The Christmas Tree- The evergreen tree that always stays green reminds us of hope.  Having hope in Jesus...that He will be with us each day and will be coming again is a wonderful thing.  

Now  it is time to leave this place.  I have been asked if I could please make some cookies, so I am off to the kitchen.  

Merry Christmas!

It's mid afternoon and Nate is still not home from the board meeting at camp.  I can only assume there are very important things being discussed and we need to pray for their wise and good decisions. 

Things have changed a bit since Nate left this morning.  There is now a 16 x 60 foot trailer in our side yard.  I've spent all morning supervising (if you can call it that) the move.  I kept in prayer for this transport company's safety and smooth transport of this heavy building on wheels.  They had a flat on the way to our house, but all is well and safe and sound. I helped haul some cement blocks and made sure the trim was handled carefully...and the copper wire was safely tucked away.  I also stopped traffic and talked to the people in their cars as the trailer was being backed into our driveway. I must have walked a half mile up the road slowing down cars so they wouldn't slam into the waiting car line up.  Oh. I paid the haulers too.  Whew.  Glad that is accomplished.  Now we must find some land to put this trailer on.  We've been looking for a long, long time.  We must continue to be diligent in looking and most importantly waiting on the Lord for the right place.  

There is still some clean up at the original site and I must decide if I want to go clean it up myself or wait for Nate.  Hmmm.  Maybe using the pick-up truck (which Nate has at camp) would be a better choice than the back of the van.  

So I am here at home working on my to-do list and waiting.  Yes there is much to do.  I love to write a few "to do" things in my journal everyday.  I can look back and see what has been accomplished and checked off.  Finished.  Unfortunately there are things that never really get finished...like laundry and dishes and feeding the horses, etc. It's on-going and sometimes hard when not feeling well (like having the sore throat that I am battling right now) or when something happens to cut into the daily routine. (Like a trailer being moved), but God gives the strength and the joy of the day.  To know that He is walking with me makes anything in life exciting - even the little "to do lists" of life....and even when they don't get done. God knows and He loves me.  I can think of all the things that He has accomplished for me...for us.

"Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures."  I Cor. 15:3

What a wonderful thing to dwell on.  It is the part in life that matters the most. 

  

I've set my timer for fifteen minutes and will write something on this blog.  It's been a good Thanksgiving and hope everyone reading this had a blessed one too. We had our neighbor Darlene over...and Simeon's girlfriend Kimmie S. so it was a full table, but we did miss Ethan being with us.  He spent time with his girlfriend Stacey and her family.  

We just arrived home a few hours ago. The girls and I had been in Lexington shopping.  It's nice to be able to spend the night at Shalisha's apartment and not take the whole trip in one day.  The girls will go back to college on Sunday so pray for good travels for them.  

There is a verse that came to mind today.  It's a simple verse and one probably well known: 

 "What can we say to these things?  If God be for us, who can be against us?"  Romans 8:31

No matter what comes our way we can trust that God will be there with us.  When we know Him as our Savior, our best friend, our counselor, our guide, we are blessed.  

...We have our share of little troubles and frustrations too.  We must call them little in the scheme of things.  They are things we work through with God's help.  

...the timer just went off.  Time to go hang out with the family and enjoy a piece of pumpkin pie.  

Anyone interested in making a wreath?  The 59 ladies at Ladies Craft Night at Camp Nathanael had a wonderful evening, each making their own wreath.  You will need a foam project board, Various size bowls for tracing rings, knife, pencil/pen, material/fabric,(you don't need much. 1/2 yard of three different, but matching patterns.), cookie cutters, glue gun, ribbon.  Buttons and bells are optional.

#1.  We used a pie pan, a tupperware bowl and a cup to make the rings.  (The ladies did not do this...was prepared ahead of time as were the rings blocks of material, and strips of cloth.).

#2.  We cut out the rings using a sharp knife.  Some committee members used a utility knife.  For one project foam board, we could make 20 project peices.  Six 9 1/2 inch rings, six 6 inch rings, and eight 3 1/2 inch circles.  Sizes vary depending on your measuring pans/bowls/cups/

#3. We bought various patterns of Christmas material and applied sticky foam. You can get it in the craft section.  It's a peal and stick foam.

#4. We cut out the blocks of  sticky foam and material.  Do you see the assortment of cookie cutters? We then placed the cookie cutters on the foam, traced, and cut out. Some material had designs perfect for the wreath.  We put that particular piece of material on a sticky sheet and cut that out individually.  (see gingerbread wreath below)


#5. We cut 2' strips of coordinating material (we used an old white sheet) to wrap around rings for background and for covering rough edges of foam ring.

#6. Use glue gun to affix cut outs to wreath.  (Doesn't take much glue...just a dab or two.)

#7 Add decorations if desired.  Suggestions - buttons, bells, ribbon...

#8  Don't forget to cut a thick piece of ribbon on back for hanging.  Make sure  it's centered.  

Happy crafting.  I think I'm going to go buy  a project board and make a few for Christmas presents.  Happy creating.

Any questions, feel free to contact me.

Below are some examples of our work:

It's a quiet Thursday night.  We were going to visit some friends, but that got cancelled.  So what have I been doing?  Writing.  
I've signed up for Nanowritmo-National Novel Write Month.  I was on the site just a few minutes ago.  I read that over 100,000 people were on the site at that time.  There must be a lot of people working on a novel.  

Yes, I'm working on a novel.  I'm not going to tell you what it's about.  I'm just going to say I've been working at it on and off for over ten years!  It's time to finish the last few chapters and pull it all together.  I thought nanowritmo would give me the push I needed to complete it. 

How did I get interested in a novel?  It was part of an assignment for a writing course with Children's Writing Institute that I had once taken.  Loved the course and finished everything they asked, just kept working bit by bit on a super long story.  I'm finding it interesting that time and experience with horses and slices of life ease into the pages.

My own little pep talk-.  :)  Write, write, and enjoy the quiet time.

Some character traits points that I've taught recently also come to mind and push me on:

Creativity:
I will use my talents for good.                                          (Hopefully for good!)
I will use principles to solve problems.                          (How to write a Novel books sit on the bedside stand.)
I will look for ways to be a person of character.           (Initiative, self control, diligence)
I will see things from more that one perspective.         (When I feel like I'm spinning my wheels)
I will learn all I can.                                                           (This makes life fun and interesting.)

Losing a horse isn't easy if you work with horses all the time. You get to know them. You hear their whinny when you arrive at the barn. Some horses come to the gate and wait expectantly for what ever you are willing to give. As you look over the herd of horses and gaze at the back of the group, even those horses who are at the bottom of the herd dynamics are looking at you and waiting their turn for attention. Losing even one of them has an impact if you have a soft heart.

We have 12 horse at this time and because of the work we do with horses...a riding program at a camp...some horses must move on because they just don't fit in with the group of horses that give quiet safe rides to the public. We do give horses time to adjust to the herd. We do take time to train, but even then some horses don't settle down to do the job required. They have to go. It's very hard. How will the new owner treat them? Will they be abused? Will the horse be sold over and over again?

I think back through the years. I wander back in my mind and remember horses with fondness. My first horse, now gone, was a palomino named Goldie. Goldie was my 4-H project. We worked for hours every week in the ring. The time at the Gladwin County Fair each year was special. We spent the week at the 4-H horse barn with the rest of the 4-H group and their horses. Goldie looked her best. Her sweet mild temperament was awarded by many folks stopping by her stall and admiring. I was so proud of her. Those were good years and special memories. After the fair was was over. Days at home were spent on long trail rides. Sometimes we rode for miles to visit friends and spend the night. Sometimes our group of friends would go on horse camping trips. Goldie went too. She was an all around horse. Our family and extended families loved her. The nieces and nephews had many rides on Goldie. I have a picture of her with four little kids lined up on her bare back. (It was the time before helmets were advised.) Goldie was my perfect horse. I wish I had her again. She would be perfect for the campers coming to ride.

Goldie is gone now. She would be about 38 years old now if she were living. I remember at the time she started tripping a lot. I couldn't let the relatives ride her anymore because it was dangerous for them and hard on her. As in many parts of life the end came gradually and each day I had to face and deal with my emotions of loss. It was hard, but through those hard times I became stronger and maybe a bit more business minded when it came to owning a horse. I realized that there is always an end to things. If your willing, the end can be replaced with something good. In this case, a different horse.

Good memories of Goldie are fixed in my mind. These memories help to replace her loss and my hurt. Pictures help. When my children get out the photo album, I have wonderful stories and experiences to share with them.

What has helped the most with my loss? Working with other horses. I chuckle to think that now I have so many horses to care for! It's still hard when horses leave the stable, but like my experience with Goldie, I concentrate on the good memories. I've done my best to improve the horses sent my way. I'd rather work hard with a horse to keep it, then I don't have to deal with the pain of loss.