When I first pondered this year’s theme of “Bright Spots”, I thought to myself there are so many, how could I choose just one?  
 
Choose…hmmm….I am not going to choose just one bright spot, but give thanks that in Christ I get to choose to see the bright spots every day.   These past few months have helped me appreciate the choice I have each morning to wake up and accept the love and grace that the Lord has to offer no matter what is happening in the world.  
 
And armed with that love and grace, I can choose to make and see as many bright spots as I want. With some struggle and practice, I learned to welcome obstacles and changes brought on by the pandemic as a challenge, a learning experience, a way to get creative.   
 
So often it is asked “Why does God let bad things happen?” The answer is not why he allows bad things, the answer is that he gives us the love and grace to endure the bad things. May you continue to live in God’s grace and love during these difficult times.
“This is my commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.”
John 15:12
 
Michelle Thal

​I am an impatient person who hates to be slowed down. Enter the pandemic. I can no longer be involved in my volunteer job, in outings with friends, in in-person church activities. Add to that the fact that I am not by nature very technologically adept. Zoom is a source of frustration for me.
My family, probably to keep us all sane, helped me to spend the end of November, December, and the first half of January at my son Mike’s home in Celebration, FL. I got to experience a Florida winter with its temperatures in the 40’s to mid 60’s so I spent much of my time outdoors. Suddenly I had time for long walks at an easy pace rather than my usual hurried workout on a treadmill before running off to whatever I had planned for that particular day.
What an eye opener that time was!  I found my “special” place just 3 blocks from my son’s home and walked there nearly every day. At the very end of the street was a large pond surrounded by a walkway and sitting bench on one side and a long row of live oak trees hanging heavy with Spanish moss on the other side. Peaceful and beautiful! I sat on the bench and discovered white shore birds using their curved bills to locate tender tidbits. A black anhinga on a tree limb in the middle of the pond spread its wings to dry. If I watched carefully, I could spot just the nose of a gator lounging in the water. On one occasion I nearly stepped on a family of ducks tucked under a pondside tree. Suddenly I became aware of the wonders that were all around me. A pond, such a simple thing. Why had I never noticed before?
I spent much of my time also sitting on a swing on the front porch. The young couple next door has an adorable three-year-old called RJ. He has a favorite rubber dinosaur he loves to make roar and swish its long tail. RJ runs back and forth from one end of the porch to the other waving his rubber pet and roaring loudly. Suddenly I was fascinated with the wonder of a three-year-old at play. He was so completely absorbed, energy driven, and joyous in his pretend dinosaur world that I became absorbed in watching him, something I doubt I would have taken time for had I been able to shop, go out for dinner, or maybe enjoy the nearby Disney parks. Why had I never noticed the wonder of a three-year-old before?
This was the winter of acorns in Florida. One could not walk on the sidewalk without stepping on them, and with acorns one finds squirrels, lots of squirrels. There is a magnolia tree just off my son’s front porch, a perfect place for squirrels to play and to nibble on acorns. If I sat quietly a squirrel or two would frequently sit on one of the lower tree branches and chatter at me or I could watch two squirrels chasing each other from trunk to branches and from one tree to the next, squirrels at play. Suddenly I found myself laughing at their antics. Such fun!  Why had I never noticed before?  Why did it take a pandemic for me to notice a lovely pond, a precious child at play, an acorn-eating squirrel?
 
 Favorite Bible verse:  Romans 15:13 
“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”
 
Nancy Reinert

No longer walking to campus every day, I needed something to get me out of the house and moving. I began running and exploring my neighborhood, discovering the collection of streets and houses I had lived in for over a year was filled with people and life. Bicyclists, dog-walkers, kids playing, five pride flags, a chicken coop, and “Happy Easter” chalk messages filled my route.
 
Moving across town brought trails through state game lands with snowy fields, soaring birds, and the occasional deer. God’s creation and our participation unfolded when I stepped outside. Ironically, being on the run has helped me slow down and appreciate my surroundings and community. 
 
Running has also become a common interest with my sisters. Rachel taught me the practice of touching base with loved ones while travelling, while Lauren passed on tips she’s learned from marathons (mostly the power of The Greatest Showman soundtrack).
​
An especially bright spot was our turkey trot, sharing a three-way phone call while running in the woods of State College, PA; the suburbs of St. Louis, MO; and a warmer treadmill in Fargo, ND. Hopefully 2021 will bring us around a single table for Thanksgiving, but until then I delight in the great cloud of witnesses as we run with perseverance the race set before us. 
 
“The voice said to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” 
Acts 10:15
 
Kevin Honz

​No longer walking to campus every day, I needed something to get me out of the house and moving. I began running and exploring my neighborhood, discovering the collection of streets and houses I had lived in for over a year was filled with people and life. Bicyclists, dog-walkers, kids playing, five pride flags, a chicken coop, and “Happy Easter” chalk messages filled my route.
 
Moving across town brought trails through state game lands with snowy fields, soaring birds, and the occasional deer. God’s creation and our participation unfolded when I stepped outside. Ironically, being on the run has helped me slow down and appreciate my surroundings and community. 
 
Running has also become a common interest with my sisters. Rachel taught me the practice of touching base with loved ones while travelling, while Lauren passed on tips she’s learned from marathons (mostly the power of The Greatest Showman soundtrack).
 
An especially bright spot was our turkey trot, sharing a three-way phone call while running in the woods of State College, PA; the suburbs of St. Louis, MO; and a warmer treadmill in Fargo, ND. Hopefully 2021 will bring us around a single table for Thanksgiving, but until then I delight in the great cloud of witnesses as we run with perseverance the race set before us. 
 
“The voice said to him again, a second time, “What God has made clean, you must not call profane.” 
Acts 10:15
 
Kevin Honz
 

​It was our 40th wedding anniversary in May 2020. For my parents’ 40th, my siblings and I planned a celebration that included their wedding party, people traveling to the house, preparing a smorgasbord-type spread (nothing close to my mother’s Norwegian spread) and 40 people came.
 
Would have been nice to have that in May, but not in 2020. My wife, Sally, was sad that we could not even have our sons’ families in for a gathering and celebration.
Well, we were resigned to having a quiet day, flipping through our wedding albums, and reminiscing about those great memories from 40 years ago. We were on the deck when we got a call from our youngest son, living in Maryland, saying that we needed to go to the front porch. We went through the house and discovered our other three sons and their families beeping car horns and making all kinds of noise. Grandchildren were hanging out of vehicle windows yelling for us.
They planned a ‘drive-by’ which included parking and talking with us from a distance. Among the nice presents they deposited in our yard for us to retrieve was a set of four pictures. Each picture was of one of the families standing in front of or in their home holding a sign saying, “Happy”, “40th”, “Anniversary”, “!!!”. Nothing could have been brighter for us during this otherwise trying time. Our family made sure our 40th anniversary was a special day!
 
“But when you are invited, go and sit down at the lowest place, so that when your host comes, he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher’; then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at the table with you.  For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
Luke 14:10-11
 
Tom Horn

​“Speak out for those who cannot speak, for the rights of all the destitute. Speak out, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy.” Proverbs 31:8-9
 
When I first heard the theme of this year’s devotional, I wasn’t sure that I would have anything to contribute. The past year has been one of the most difficult for so many people, for so many reasons. The list of hardships felt like it was ever-growing, while the list of bright spots was quickly diminishing. As I reflect, the spot that shines brightest is the growth of advocacy that has spread across our country. Folks are beginning to acknowledge the injustices that historically marginalized people continue to face and the cry for equity rings from sea to shining sea. 
 
Jesus calls the Holy Spirit “the Advocate” who was sent to remind us of Jesus’s teachings, especially the command to love each other as He has loved us. But how can we love folks that we may not even like? Pastor Delmer Chilton writes, “Jesus calls us to ‘agape,’ self-sacrificial love. This is love that has to do with how we act toward one another, not how we feel about each other.” It is through this mindset shift that we find the glimmer of hope that might allow us to begin our journey of advocacy. Now is the time for us to speak out and defend the rights of the poor and needy. No matter where you stand within the realm of politics, the time has come for us to become political as we care for the well-being of society.
 
The hope that is peeking through the darkness of inequality and oppression is the brightest spot that I can find. May God guide us through the difficult journey of boldly raising our voices for righteousness while continuing to rise to God’s call of self-sacrificial love toward others.
 
Prayer:
God of reconciliation, as our nation begins the healing process, guide us toward your calling of agape love. Help us to speak out for justice while simultaneously building bridges. Remind us that every person is created in your image, a child of God. Open the hearts of our siblings in Christ to hear the calling of just mercy and righteousness. In Jesus’s name we pray,
Amen.
 
Sarah Rodgers

​We are grateful for the bright spots of spending time outside together as a family. A few highlights include:
Walks:
We’ve taken countless walks in our Boalsburg neighborhood. We often stop to talk to neighbors relaxing on their porches or working in their yards - and always smile to those we pass - wishing them well with glad hearts.
Maeve has been writing letters to her friends and invites us to walk to the post office with her to mail the notes. There is always anticipation to get a letter in return, reminding me of the days that I used to write letters to my friends to stay connected before email, texting and Facebook.
We’ve ventured beyond our Boalsburg borders, as well - enjoying our favorite local places to explore, including Millbrook Marsh, Rhoneymeade, Mt. Nittany, Spring Creek Park, Oak Hall, Rothrock State Park, Colyer Lake, Greenwood Furnace and Black Moshannon. During our walks we appreciate the fresh air, the vibrancy of the native plants, the sound of birds and babbling brooks - and most of all - the feeling of gratitude for being outside together, enjoying the beauty of nature and God’s creation.
 Father/Son Time
Declan and Jim have taken to the links for a different kind of golf - using discs (frisbees) instead of balls and clubs. They play the local courses on a regular basis - including Harvest Fields, Circleville and Bernal Road Park. They’ve even played on the Penn State Erie campus and South Hills Park in Lebanon, PA. They’ve bonded with each other, invited friends and neighbors to join them in the fun - and even have made some new friends along the way.
 Visits with Nana
Jim’s mom, Norma, is a resident of Juniper Village—and luckily enough, has a room on the first floor at The Inn with a big picture window overlooking the back of the property. Juniper closed its doors to visitors in mid-March and since then we have been able to stop by regularly for window visits. We are thankful she is healthy and safe and will be SO HAPPY when we can finally hug her. Her positive attitude and faith have certainly been a major bright spot.
 
“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice; let the sea roar, and all that fills it; let the field exult, and everything in it. Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy.”                                                Psalm 96:11-12
 
The Flanagan Family

I think the bright spot for us has been seeing and participating in all of the creative ways that members of our family, social circle, and community have found to provide support.
 
This has included preparing and exchanging food and supplies, like soup, diapers, and hand sanitizer; arranging for elaborately socially distanced play dates; carrying trampolines down the street to make it a bit more fun for the neighbors' kids to stay at home; helping a neighbor construct a swimming pool made out of pallets; having friends decorate our yard to celebrate our birthdays; seeing our nine-year-old offer a constant source of companionship for our four-year-old. 
 
“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.”                                                                                                                                                1 Peter 4:10 
 
Rebecca Arnold Desmarais

In recent years, we have not experienced any pandemic like the coronavirus, which affected not just our country, but the whole world. The last eleven to twelve months have been indeed a negative or sad situation for all of us. Some people lost their lives, some lost their jobs, some suffered because of a reduction in their income and many businesses experienced a downward trend.
One commentator pointed out that at times like this, God may seem far away, and it is not unusual for us to feel alone and to doubt God’s care for us. But God is never insensitive to our sufferings. Because God is almighty and gracious, we must hold on to Him. This is something we should never forget during this pandemic. He is kind enough to cause some bright spots to happen in our lives during these difficult days.
One bright spot which happened during this pandemic in our life is the increase in connection and fellowship with loved ones here and abroad. During the days before this pandemic, Emeline and I kept in touch with our children via phone; but we saw them in person only a few times each year. When Covid hit, we had to cancel our plans to travel and meet in person, which many of you experienced as well. We started to use FaceTime to ‘see’ them on a more regular basis. We started connecting with extended family and friends almost every week via Zoom.
We have also been blessed to keep in touch with our church small group members via Zoom, enjoying fellowship together and studying God’s word. And, we have been blessed with listening to our church worship service every Sunday from the comfort and safety of our home. Though mostly virtual, it has truly been a bright spot in our lives, having the ability to connect even more with our family and friends.
Let us not forget that God will always be with us and will guide us during these times. He is in control of everything that happens in this world. I encourage you to look for those bright spots given by our gracious Father each and every day.
 
“It is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not fail you or forsake you. Do not fear or be dismayed.”                                                                                                                                Deuteronomy 31:8
 
Jeya Chandra

​“I know what it is to have little, and I know what it is to have plenty. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being well-fed and of going hungry, of having plenty and of being in need.”
 Philippians 4:12
 
I know our assignment is to highlight a bright spot about Covid. While my spot isn’t shiny bright, it highlights a lesson that I have learned during this pandemic period.
I have been a member of SCORE for about 9 years. SCORE is a Federally supported group of volunteers, who have previous business experience, that help people start entrepreneurial efforts or fix business that have run into some business difficulty. The first 8 years of this “job” was actually quite easy and a great deal of retirement “fun”. The bulk of my previous career prepared me to do this task and all I really had to do is share my life experiences. Helping people build business is fun.
Covid has changed all of that. Building businesses is fun but clearing the wreckage of a failed business is devastating. All that I knew about bankruptcy prior to the virus is that bankruptcy was a legal way to recover from a business downfall. I knew about the condition from a corporate point of view. I never really saw the effects of business failure at the human level.
Covid brought a new reality!  As I write this, I have had 5 clients that are working through the bankruptcy process. Their businesses and families are in shambles. I never experienced the real reality of true economic devastation. I have seen real people (my clients) wonder how to pay the bills that are arriving daily, how to buy food, how to maintain rental housing where the renters are no longer paying rent, lose houses because they secured business loans based on the equity in their family homes, and closing once viable business that will never reopen. These are real people that in February 2020 operated businesses that provided for their families and by October 2020 are with no means to support themselves or their family.
I never experience that kind of devastation. But while I see the gloom of it from my perspective, I have the means to move on. But for these people, life hurts badly. The reality is that failure can be real, and it can hurt. Think of those around you that are feeling this hurt. They are most likely not the “rich” business people as you have tagged them. They are real people whose only choice is to start all over again.
“Lord strengthen these people to have the energy to start all over again!”
Robert E. Griffin

When we look back at this past year, much of it was filled with uncertainty, stress, and a lot of change. Through all of this, our family has found many “bright spots” to focus on. One example is the deeper sense of compassion that we developed.

Compassion means recognizing another’s suffering and then taking action to help. When masks became necessary to stop the spread of the virus, we focused on the inherent compassion of the act. We talked about how the masks weren’t to protect us from other people, but instead to protect other people from us. We talked about doing our part to protect vulnerable members of our family, friends, and community from getting sick. We talked about the hard-working medical professionals and how wearing our masks could help ease their burden. The simple act of putting on a mask became a simple act of compassion.
 
Likewise, digital “visits” have become a regular part of our lives and represent another simple act of compassion. While necessitated by social distancing, online chats have provided a “bright spot” for friends and family that have become isolated during the pandemic. Our kids are more than happy to bounce around on a computer screen, show and tell everything they can get their hands on, and share more details about the daily happenings of our household than most people would care to hear about.
 
So, while we continue to navigate through some bleak times, we certainly value the opportunities for showing and receiving compassionate to and from others.
 
“In all this I have given you an example that by such work we must support the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, for he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”                  Acts 20:35

The Coup family

“Our steps are made firm by the Lord, when he delights in our way; though we stumble we shall not fall headlong, for the Lord holds us by the hand.”                                                                              Psalm 37: 23-24
 
I like to walk. During this past year, however, I have walked more than usual. It has become my pandemic bright spot and it has taught me a lesson about how to get through unusual and often difficult times.
Early last March, I decided to be more intentional about walking in our Park Forest neighborhood. I made a commitment to walk at least 45 minutes to an hour every day, rain or shine. It is not always easy to start. I often think of other things I would rather do, but I put on my sneakers and begin-one step at a time. Before I know it, an hour has passed, and I realize my walk has given me many bright spots. Perhaps it is saying hello to a neighbor, seeing a deer grazing quietly in someone’s yard, or marveling at a young girl on roller skates walking her dog. Perhaps it is admiring the three hens pecking for bugs and seeds at the corner of Douglas and North Oak. One day, also on North Oak, I came across a group of 8 to 10 bird watchers trying to catch a glimpse of a feathered friend normally found in the Arctic. What a joy I became a part of!
During my daily walks, I also pray using the mnemonic Adoration, Confession, Thanks, and Supplication. I pray for family, friends, the church, and our country. Sometimes, after that, I consider my plans for the day or week. I may even come upon a solution for a problem in my life. And all that happened because I bit the bullet and decided to walk.  
Each walk I take begins because I decide to take that first step and every step after that. Shouldn’t that also be our approach to this somewhat endless pandemic?  Take one day at a time and look for the bright spots in those days. Before we know it, weeks and months will have passed, and light can be seen at the end of the tunnel.
Dear Lord, thank you for guiding our steps and helping us when we stumble. Thank you for holding us by the hand through this pandemic and always. Amen
 
Lois Lynn

​This Bright Spot is sure to bring a smile to your face!
 
At Christmastime, we always display our Christmas cards so we can see them, and they become part of the holiday decorations. I tape them to a door in the living room and I enjoy seeing the colorful cards sent from family and friends living across the country.
 
Our four-year-old granddaughter, Amelia, spent some time looking at the Christmas cards. First, she pointed out all the photo cards with the families that she knew – her cousins, aunts, uncles, and her own family photo card. We talked about many of the people who sent us the Christmas cards.
 
Then Amelia said to me, “And you got a card from God.”
 
“Really?” I said, “Which one?”
 
I looked them over, pointed to a card with a church on it, and said, “Do you mean this one?”
 
“No”, she said. “The one next to it.”
 
Looking at the card she indicated, I saw that it was a picture of the Nativity – simply Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus.
 
Indeed, God’s gift for all of us!
 
“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him may not perish but may have eternal life.”                                                                                                                          John 3:16
 

Sally Horn

I wanted to share with you a story about a little store called, “Scraps & Skeins”. Many of you are familiar with this local creative reuse shop – but I don’t want to talk about our six-year history, the textiles we’ve saved from the landfill or the success storied of our employees as they struggle with mental health. I want to talk about March 2020. Like many others, we had to shut down our store due to COVID. In addition to everything else, shuttering our shop sent several of our employees home to one-bedroom apartments.  
 
When we were able to open, led by our intrepid Store Manager, Dottie, we cleaned; we developed new procedures for donations, number of customers, volunteers and employees in the store; we made signs and marked the floor; we reduced our hours. The ride wasn’t smooth, but in September Dottie announced our sales were double over the previous year. That is certainly good news, but how are we, as a team?
Last Saturday, as I entered the store to start my shift, there were 6 customers outside, waiting their turn, masks at the ready, and six feet apart. As I made my way to the front, explaining I wasn’t cutting in line and thanking them for waiting, the woman at the back of the line said, “Thank you for keeping us safe.” Later, the Store Manager shared an email from one of our employees who was recovering from the virus. The note was happy, upbeat and thankful for the loving care our team (her tribe) had provided through calls, notes, food and other drop-offs that kept her spirits up.
To me this bright spot, even in the toughest of times, is the power and resilience of people working together with teamwork, a shared goal, friendship and selfless love.
“I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”                                                                Philippians 4:13

Lynn Rogers

2020 brought our family a kitten named Mo. In any other year, we would have said "no" to another animal, but in a year full of "no's", we had to say yes, and we are so grateful that we did.
 
A quick outdoor visit to some family led us to a kitten hiding under a deck, dirty and sick. After so many tearful "pleases", we knew we couldn't abandon her or else she would probably die. We are grateful to the veterinarian who rushed us in to examine her and give her free medication to treat her pink eye, fleas, and upper respiratory infection. After a few doses, she was a lively, energetic kitten and has cemented herself as a member of our family.
 
She plays, cuddles, and makes us smile every day. I know that God sent her to us as our "bright spot" of 2020. 
 
“Let all that you do be done in love.”
1 Corinthians 16:14
 
The Ollendyke family

“Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”                                                                                       Philippians 4: 6-7
Despite much about the past year that has been sad, frightening, disappointing or frustrating, I have had many bright spots. The obvious one has been that my family and I have been healthy, but beyond that has been the chance to spend more time with our adult daughter. My mother died when I was 45 and my dad a couple years later. My children were at ages then that much of my focus as a full-time working mother was on them. Sadly, that didn’t leave me as much time as I would have liked to spend with my parents who lived a 2+ hour drive away. In the years since their deaths, I often find myself thinking about them and the many, many conversations I wish I had taken time to have with them.
Now that our daughter, who turns 30 in a few months, has been living with us while working remotely, I am so thankful for the time we have to spend together as adults. I doubt she thinks about it much now, but I hope that in the future she will treasure the extra time, conversations and interactions she has been having with her dad and me. I try to pass along “nuggets” of family traditions, stories about relatives who she either didn’t know or doesn’t remember well, etc. Knowing that she will have memories of us from the time spent together over this past year is truly a bright spot for me.

Dear God,
Despite these troubling times, you continuously break into our lives, bringing peace and hope. Please help us to look for and recognize your presence. Help us always to live each day to its fullest and not take time with family and friends for granted. Amen
 
Carla Rossi

The Wedding was a joyous event. The couple did not let the virus get in the way of their love for each other. They were going to be sure their family and friends could witness their vows of love.
 
The groom and his family have been family friends for more than 20 years. The wedding was planned for August and was subject to state restrictions on the size of gatherings. In addition to the usual emotions of planning a wedding was that the groom’s father had been diagnosed with an aggressive brain tumor, which meant that he had only months left to live.
Coordinating with Pastor Schul and the church, the families of the couple could be in the sanctuary to witness the ceremony in person. A Zoom link was set up so that all of us friends could be watching the ceremony from home. My sons, Paul and Peter, set up the Zoom call and the cameras in the sanctuary for the virtual viewers.
We decided to watch the Zoom broadcast “tailgate style” in the church parking lot. We all dressed up as though we would have been inside the church. My son, John, put a 42” TV screen in the back of his car for viewing. We sat in lawn chairs and held umbrellas due to the light showers. There were several other tailgating groups in the parking lot. After the ceremony, the bride and groom came out on the porch for a “wave” and were met with applause from the tailgaters.
There were the usual tears you see at a wedding, but what choked everybody up and made the tears roll was seeing the groom’s father on the screen watching from his hospital bed at Hershey. The nurses had instructions as to how to set him up with a computer and access the Zoom call so he could watch the wedding. He got to see his son get married to a wonderful young lady. He passed away about two months later.
We will forever remember that day as each year passes by. Even in the trying times we have had, something warms the heart to tears, happy ones.
 
“My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance;”                                                                  James 1:2-3
 
 Tom Horn

​One bright spot for me in these months has been our deck. Before the pandemic, we only used the deck once in a while for the occasional summer meal outside. It was always there, off the kitchen but unnoticed much of the time. This past year, I have come to truly enjoy this outside living space.
 
The deck overlooks the slope of our back yard and the wooded hill beyond. Through the woods, you can see the valley and the mountains in the distance. I’ve enjoyed taking my work out to the deck many, many times this past year. I could work in fresh, clean breezes. Birds chirped and sung from the trees. The sun was warm, and the umbrella offered just the right amount of shade. My husband and daughter would join me at lunchtime. The dogs often came out looking for chipmunks and deer in the yard below, or to nap under the table. I was part of countless Zoom meetings there. I chatted with my mom on the phone, filling her in on the birds and my day. The umbrella kept me dry in a summer shower once while I talked with a colleague who now lives many states away. One afternoon, I hosted a friend and her family for a socially-distanced lunch when they travelled through the area.
 
Every evening possible, my family ate dinner on the deck. Once the meal was over, we talked and enjoyed the view while the sun worked its way to the horizon. As darkness fell, we could watch the moths surround the lights or leave them off as the stars and moon come out. In warm months, we had an extra room for working, eating, and relaxing. The deck was always there, but this year gave us an opportunity to really make it part of our home.
 
For now, it is too cold to work or eat a meal on our deck. Sometimes I go out for a little while with the dogs to look out at the woods or at the stars. They still love to watch for animals in the yard. Soon spring will come, and I will again have the chance to feel the breezes while I work and share meals with my family in the evening sunshine. Being “stuck” in the house helped me discover my own little outside room that was there all the time.
 
“O Lord, you have searched me and known me.
 You know when I sit down and when I rise up;
    you discern my thoughts from far away.
You search out my path and my lying down,
    and are acquainted with all my ways.
Even before a word is on my tongue,
    O Lord, you know it completely.
You hem me in, behind and before,
    and lay your hand upon me.”   Psalm 139:1-5
 
Alicia Anderson

​“Rise up, O Lord! Do not let mortals prevail;
    let the nations be judged before you.
Put them in fear, O Lord;
    let the nations know that they are only human.”
Psalm 9:19-20
 
In times of frustration and inability to cope with all the many new tech devices and rules set by groups and government, it sometimes feels like a long, deep pit of doom; however, out of all this are some delightful occurrences.
 
Oliver -
A special package arrived at our home, just a few days before Christmas, for our grandchildren, Emelee and Mollie. (We all live under the same roof.) The package, a cute lovable 8-week-old white lab puppy. He was ready to share his love and the girls were excited sharing their love with Oliver. In these few weeks Oliver has learned to sit, with hand signs, play ball with his uncle Jake (a 9-year-old white lab), be partly house broken, and wag his happy tail all the time.
 
Grand Babies –
Had several grand babies born. Of these, three girls were given the middle name of Josephine. (That’s Jo’s middle name.) Long live the name.
 
God’s love is everywhere in this house, and the country needs to share its love with people.
 
Frank Bortz