- Meet me at the fence -

                 I HATE NEW YEARS EVE

  

This post may upset some but hear me out please.

I have never ever liked New Year's Eve. This is due to the fact that I am not finished with the present year. Time flies by so quickly. You blink and well another year is gone. Plus, the fact it ages me another year. I am simply not ready for that. Along with age comes the creeping in of gray hair to verify, yep, you're getting older.

Anyway, there is only one New Year's Eve that I can state was memorable. I had flown into Memphis to meet up with a friend and colleague from the Saudi Hospital where we worked. She had arranged for a dinner theater, then dancing and ushering in the New Year. After working up another appetite dancing this huge place put on a scrumptious breakfast buffet. Now that was the one time I can say I enjoyed New Year's Eve. 

One reason I hate the new year coming in is the fact that I have become accepting of the daily situations this year has thrown my way - go with the flow so to speak. Some bad some good, but for the most part settled in. 

Some days as the holidays from Halloween to Christmas have catapulted us towards the end of another calendar year, I have wanted to stick my leg out into the universe to slow down the rotation of the earth.  Whoa !  Wait !

I want to have longer days to enjoy loved ones more - to laugh more - to cry more - to experience more of God's amazing creation and be content with that - to learn more. I am just not ready to say goodbye to this year. 

I am not a pessimistic person but with this time of year yeah, I am.

My prayer for each of you is that you would be blessed in good times and bad time, knowing we have an awesome God that loves us so much that He gave us His son Jesus as our atonement. No matter what comes about each day, we have a creator that wants us to trust Him.

My prayer for each of you these new 365 days is that you will love more, find contentment more often in the little things, have a Joy that only God can give you as you traipse this new year that is barreling at us with unknown events.

God Bless

                     WINTER SOLSTICE

 Hush......be still.... and linger in the beautiful quiet solitude as creation descends into its wintery rest.

Snow carefully blanketing, tucking all creation into a much-needed restorative rest.

Enjoy the Winter Season as it is meant to be. A reflective time away from the cacophony of man's busyness,

A season God totally intended for His creation's good - rest. Reading an article a few weeks back brought insight to this old mind of mine. The Winter Season is supposed to be a "forced season of rest." Mankind needs rest. 

There is nothing better to usher in this special season than with the birthday of our Lord Saviour Jesus.

A new life only Jesus can give to those that will surrender to Him, repenting of our sins. Only then can we find that rest like the Winter Season depicts.

I love this time of year - the absolute aloneness - not only with my thoughts and ponderings - but with God and His creation.

                                 Shhhh - can you hear the creation song as it waits patiently for its new birth in the Spring.

A few years back I began calling our Christmas Tree the Birthday Tree - after all isn't this Jesus's birthday?

                          HAPPY BIRTHDAY JESUS 

                      MY  HOOSIER  HOME 

When I moved back to Peru and purchased my father's home from my stepmother, I meticulously set aside the Abstract on this property for a later date of research.

That research began this year and have I been pleasantly surprised by the history of this property, Miami County, and Peru.

The land was granted to Miami Chief John B. Richardville from the United States Government in 1826 as you can see by the last 3 photos. You will also notice his wife's name Pe-Me-Se-Quah. At the bottom, you will see the signature of John Quincy Adams, March 3, 1828.

There was another Miami Chief Indian Godfrey that received land here in Peru also. In fact, the entire area was owned by these two chieftains.

I had to chuckle at one point when reading the spec on the property size, it was noted from the middle of the Wabash River to the Eel River which is north of Peru.

I have always believed this house to be older than the original thought of 1897 which I have found to be true. I have found the date 1880 thus far. 

Now the interesting part as I perused the Abstract was the name Weaver kept popping up.  Hmmm....I thought....I know of the Weavers here in Peru, and one is the Peruvian Hoosier Artist Robert E. Weaver. Well, was I shocked to see the name Benton Orlando Weaver purchased this home in 1891 from a Shanabarger.  Turns out Benton O. Weaver is the grandfather to Robert E. Weaver the artist. Benton opened the grocery store next door, Golden Rule which was a grocery store until 1950.  

My father bought this property for investment in 1958 when I was just 5 years old.

In our store, you can still see the original wood shelves lining one wall. 

Of course, when moving in we did extensive remodeling inside and out, using a team from Rochester. We also removed the radiators (which I regret) to have central air. But much of the house bones are still the same.

In my photo above are the two original tethering posts. My sister Jo and I would straddle these with our skinny legs and try to get the semi-drivers to honk when passing by.

Memories and I can't help but think about memories made in this home by other generations as I climb the inside stairs, touching the well-worn wood patina of the hand railing.

So I guess you could say our home is a type of "historical" home as for a Hoosier. 

I remember when the art teacher, Wayne Taylor, at Peru High School acquired some of Robert Weaver's paintings for the school. That was a big event back then and I had no idea dad's home was once his home.

So...this is my Hoosier Home. :)

Blessings

                             MY BOOK

FATHER: My Story: Wolf/Green, Susan E.: 9798840881149: Amazon.com: Books

My life song pointing to God was always there in my life, no matter what the abuse I endured.