Friday Funny - So True

For all you of you kids at heart out there.

Evolution of Someone I Love

Betty had a great idea.  We're collecting old pictures of her family up until the time that Betty's mother died when Betty was 20 years old.  I'll put them into a photo book and we we'll give copies to everyone for a late Christmas present.

I thought I would share some pictures of Betty to show the evolution of the person I love the most.

And I guess she was destined to be a horse person all her life.

Headin' Home

We're on a plane from Nashville, Tennessee To Houston and then another to Albuquerque.  We've had a good time, but it will be good to be home.

And one of the first things we'll do is go see War Horse!  Hot dog!

The Smells of Christmas

When you mention the smells of Christmas, I suspect most people will think of Christmas trees, roaring fires, turkey cooking, pies cooling, tamales (a New Mexico Christmas tradition).  The smells at the first Christmas would have been very different.

2,000 plus years ago a tired Mary and Joseph were still amazed at the birth of their new son Jesus.  We've seen pictures and nativity scenes portraying this event for many years.  But, until I recently heard someone on the radio, I haven't thought about the smell of that first Christmas.

Years ago when we were visiting Betty's stepmother and sister in Tennessee they took us to a special show.  It was called Cheval Theatre.  It was a Cirque de Soleil (sp?) show, but done on horse back.  It was great.

When you entered the show, you were routed through their circular, portable stables so you could see all the different breeds they used in the show.  When we walked into the stables we were immediately struck by the smells - hay, horse, manure and urine.  Nita and Margie both said 'ewwww,' but Betty and I both loved the smells.  This was before we owned our horses, but we were deeply into riding.  So, the smell was familiar and comforting to us.

When Mary was waiting to deliver Jesus she would have encountered the same smells - hay, animal, manure and urine - the first smells the baby Jesus would have experienced - the smells of Christmas.  I wonder if they were comforted by those smells?

We hope you had a blessed and safe Christmas.

O Come Emmanuel

Christmas is the celebration of the coming Messiah - the Savior of the world.  He came, not as a king or conquering warrior, but as a child - born in a lowly manger.  And his coming was announced not to kings or presidents or the wealthy - his coming was announced to lowly shepherds.

As you celebrate this day with gifts for your loved ones, we pray that you will remember the greatest gift of all - the baby Jesus born this day.

The Real Meaning of Christmas

Betty and I hope everyone has a blessed Christmas with family and loved ones.  There's no better way to explain the real meaning of Christmas than the classic "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

It Is A Silent Night

It's Christmas Eve.  On this silent night, Joseph and Mary settled into a lowly stable - probably a grotto carved into a large rock or hill - not the stables we know today.  In the midst of this dark night, Mary gave birth to our Savior Jesus.

We have friends who are here in New Mexico who are Indian - Navajo and Apache - and I love the Indian languages.  Meditate on this special, silent night as you listen to Silent Night sung in Arapaho.

A Clydesdale Christmas

I'm not a big beer drinker - maybe once a month or so when it's hot and I've been working outside.  However, I love the Budweiser Christmas commercials - especially when they include the Clydesdales.

Here are a few I remember well and enjoyed.  Too bad I don't care for Bud.

Christmas Horses

Even if you're not a horse person, you will probably enjoy this video of horses in the snow accompanied by a Christmas carol.

A White Christmas

One of my favorite Christmas movies is "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas."  It portrays a lot of good things about friendship, loyalty and sacrifice.  Here's another video to help  you get into the Christmas mood.

Sunday Reflection - Seeking Joy

This is supposed to be the season of Joy.  We see the word 'Joy' in a lot of places.  We sing 'Joy to the World.'  We're supposed to be joyful - full of joy.

But what is joy?  C. S. Lewis says "joy is the serious business of heaven."  Serious?  Doesn't sound too joyful to me.

I've written before that happiness is based on our circumstances.  If everything is going well, we tend to be happy.  If things are not going well, we tend to be less happy.

The Bible often associates joy with things that don't seem that great, that happy.

James 1:2 (NIV)

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds,

Hebrews 12:2 (NIV)

...fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Hebrews 10:34 (NIV)

You suffered along with those in prison and joyfully accepted the confiscation of your property, because you knew that you yourselves had better and lasting possessions. 

1 Thessalonians 1:6 (NIV)

You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit...

Sure looks to me that joy is something different than happiness because the circumstances mentioned in the above scriptures don't appear too appealing to me.

C. S. Lewis gives a hint to the meaning of joy in this quote:

If I discover within myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.

In his book, "Surprised by Joy," Lewis describes his coming to faith.  He described a feeling, a sense of longing that  I could relate to.  When I was a little kid, my father worked long hours.  He would often be gone when I woke up and would not return home until late.  As a little kid, I didn't understand my feelings.  I missed my father.  In adult terms I longed for his presence.  Nothing in my little world could be a substitute for my father's presence.

This longing, this desire for something outside of the realm of our senses is what Lewis defined as joy.  As Christians, we long for our heavenly home.  We long for the reality of being in the presence of our heavenly father.  We long to walk and talk with Jesus.  This longing is joy.

When we describe Christmas as the season of joy, we sense that it is a season of longing for that which is not yet here.  The kingdom that is here, but not yet fully come.

Joy to the world, the Lord has come - and will come again.  Let us long for, desire his return.

Have a joy-filled, longing for, Christmas.

My Favourite Time of Year

Here's a nice video by the Florrin Street band to help you get into the Christmas mood.

The Christmas Gift

They say that every little girl wants a pony for Christmas.  Maybe it's true.  This young girl seems to have gotten a really nice mare for Christmas.

Enjoy.

Christmas and Children

We often hear that Christmas is for children - and there's some truth to that.  One of my favorite Christmas songs is "Mary Did You Know?"  It's a haunting song about wondering if Mary truly understand the incredible gift she carried in her womb.

Enjoy the song and ponder the haunting pictures of these children.

Monday Video - Need A Thrill?

Even as a kid, I've never been that crazy about roller coasters.  However, if you're one who likes that kind of thrill, then plan your next vacation to Austria to ride this single-pipe alpine coaster - with no brakes.

Enjoy.

One Thousand and Counting

I just happened to notice that we were coming up on blog post number one thousand for Dan and Betty's Place - and this it.

It's hard for us to believe that we could find that many things to talk about.  It's also hard for us to imagine that there are people who have been willing to read some of these posts.  Other than ourselves, we doubt seriously that there is anyone else foolish enough to have read all one thousand.

Some people may say that those of us who write a blog about our lives are self-focused and there may be some truth to that.  However, we like to think it's a good way to share our lives with those who might be interested.  In any case it's a whole lot more satisfying than trying to share your life in 140 characters or less (e.g., Facebook).

So, we'll keep on keeping on for awhile.  If we're blessed with enough life from God, we might make another  thousand.  Um, that may be a scary thought.

Here's to all our blogging friends for what we have learned from you and the inspiration you have been through your words and pictures.  If we have given you a laugh, an inspiration, some encouragement or just a way to waste a few moments of your time, then the calluses on our typing fingers are worth it.

Warmest regards,

Dan & Betty

PS.  The bill above is a fake.

Leah and Her Nana

There is nothing that can match the love between a mother and her child on this earth.  Coming in a close second is the love between a grandmother and her grandchild. 

Yesterday, Leah woke up with a slight fever so Betty and I (mostly Betty) watched her while Wade Daniel and Marie could go to work.  Juliet went to her normal day care.

It was wonderful for me to watch how much Leah loves her Nana and how much Betty loves Leah.

Horses and Snow

Snow itself can be pretty, but put a moving horse in the snow scene and you've got something special.  If you're not already in the Christmas mood, maybe this will help.

Enjoy.

An Early Colorado Christmas

We're driving up to Fort Collins, Colorado today to spend a long weekend with our kids and grandkids and celebrate an early Christmas with them.

We return next Tuesday evening, December 13, and have one day, Wednesday, to wash clothes and pack again.  The next day, Thursday, December 15, we fly to Nashville and we won't return until Wednesday, December 28.  We'll drive up to Ohio to spend an early Christmas with our other son and daughter-in-law.  Then we'll drive down to Kentucky to spend three days with my sister and brother-in-law.  Finally, we'll get back to Franklin, Tennessee to spend Christmas with with Betty's stepmother.  Her older sister will be there, plus her younger brother and his family.

I won't have a wifi connection during the trip to the mid-West so I won't be able to do any posts during that time.  I hope to get some posts up and scheduled while we're gone so I hope you'll keep checking occasionally.

In any case, Betty and I wish everyone a blessed Christmas.

Dan

Luke 2:8-13 (NIV)

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Moonrise Over The Sandia Mountains

Late in the afternoon on Monday, I went out to fill up our bird feeders so the birds would have plenty of seed the next day.  I realized the moon was rising over the snow-covered Sandia Mountains and I thought it might make a decent picture.

Corrales Snow

We had another significant snow storm come in Sunday night into most of Monday.  So, we have another three plus inches.  It’s a good thing that Betty and I didn’t have anything scheduled to take us out so we have just hunkered down with a fire going.

Here’s a short video of our snow.

Monday Video - Maisie Meets Baby Sloth Temba

In case you haven't had your daily dose of cute, check out this video of when Maisie, a howler monkey, meets a new baby sloth named Temba at a zoo in Panama.

Enjoy.

Sunday Reflection - Don't Make God Mad

My daily Bible study is fairly simple.  I read through the Bible from Genesis to Revelation - not all in one day, of course.  When I finish Revelation, I start back at the beginning and start reading again in Genesis.  I don't know how many times I've read through the Bible, but it's interesting to see how much new I see each time I go through it.

I read two chapters a day regardless of how long or short the chapters are.  It's fairly basic, but that method works for me.

I'm currently in the middle of Ezekiel.  It and Lamentations that comes before it can be pretty depressing.  The general theme of both is that Israel and Judah have screwed up and God is going to lower the boom on them.  Actually, his wrath is pretty severe.  Some are going into exile, some will die from famine or disease and some will die by the sword.  He uses other kingdoms, especially Babylon as his instruments of punishment.

So, what did Israel and Judah do that got God so ticked off?

Very simple - they turned away from him and worshipped other gods.  The worst for me is some worshipped the god Baal and even sacrificed their children in fire to him.

I worry for our nation that we may possibly incur God's wrath and ultimately his judgment.  We worship the gods of abortion, euthanasia, power, money, sex, fame, celebrity and on and on.  God made it pretty clear that we should have no other god before him.

God loves us so much that gave us the gift of the forgiveness for our sins through the final sacrifice of his son Jesus - but, like most gifts, it has to be received.  It can also be rejected.  God has made it pretty clear what the future holds for those who reject the gift of his son and turn to other gods.

God is love - but God is still holy.

But, even in the midst of his anger, God loves his children:

Ezekiel 11:19 -- I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. 

Christmas Dinner and First Snow

We had our first significant snow last night. 

Betty and I went to our favorite Corrales restaurant, the Indigo Crow, for a Christmas dinner.  It's a cozy little adobe restaurant and they had a roaring pinon fire going which gave a great smell to the whole restaurant.  We had the special, a surf and turf with a filet and grilled shrimp accompanied by mashed potatoes and asparagus.  We finished off the dinner with a chocolate tort.  It was all delicious.

What made it even better is we enjoyed the dinner with a gift certificate from our Colorado kids - Wade Daniel, Marie, Juliet, Leah and Kona.  Thanks guys.

As we were coming home, the snow started.  It turned out the snow was not as significant as they forecasted. We got only about an inch when they were predicting up to three inches.  But, it's always fun to have that first snow.

Question for Horse Folks

We have a question for you horse folks who read this blog and would greatly appreciate your opinions.

Currently, we're using a Tucker Toklat saddle pad with a fleece lining similar to this one:

It's a good pad and fits us and the horses well.  The only problem is that with a combination of sweat, dirt and hair (in the spring) we have to use a saddle blanket to keep them clean.  It's easier (for us at least) to clean a saddle blanket than to clean a saddle pad.

We would like to eliminate the saddle blanket and we're considering switching to a felt pad similar to this one:

Is it reasonable to think that we can use the felt pad without a blanket?  We know we'll need to clean it and wonder how easy/difficult felt pads are to clean.

If you have any thoughts and/or experience you can share we will greatly appreciate them.

Thanks,

Dan & Betty