Last Sunset of 2015

Christmas Day Hike

Christmas Day was beautiful, breezy and cool.  After a hearty breakfast, we went on a hike.  We dropped down into the canyon nearest the house and walked up the creek toward the mountain.  We turned and made a big circle that took us about two hours.  Just right on Christmas Day!

Merry Christmas

From the ranch to wherever you are... we wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas Crafts

Madilyn, Colter Lee, and Traven came over to make Christmas crafts with us.  They made a hand print wreath on canvas, a wood slice ornament, and leather crafting on leather boot and hat ornaments.  They had a bag full of crafts to take home.  Papa and I had fun!

Polishing Up the Good

Over the past several years, I have received a daily devotion via email.  

Some speak to me more than others.  During this holiday week, this one is 

particularly relevant as we spend time or talk with our family.

“Love …. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, 

it keeps no record of wrongs.” 1 Corinthians 13:5

In the busy day-to-day of life it is challenging to keep precious relationships nurtured. It’s important to be intentional in cultivating the relationships we treasure 

so that they do not erode like sand slipping down the hillside.

God gives us amazing advice about what selfless love can look like. 

1 Corinthians 13:5 holds a beautiful nugget for us: “love keeps no record of wrongs.”

Every family finds irritations in one another. None of us are perfect. Yet how we decide, ahead of time, to respond to those irritations will make a world of difference in our families.

We can resent the irritations and eventually the person; we can count them and point them out and nag about them. Or we can choose to polish up the good things we see and hear and put our focus there. We can ask God for growth in patience and 

gentleness in both our family members and in ourselves.

Thankfulness is heart changing. Choose early to nurture a love that “keeps no record of wrongs” 

but finds the good and stores up a “record of rights” in your heart toward one another.

God, Thank you that You promise to grant me the patience and gentleness that I need day to day. Please help me to look with eyes that see the good and respond with love that polishes up the good in my loved ones. When something needs to be addressed, please help me to address it without a spontaneous outburst and with the attitude of building up our relationship.  Today I ask You to help me choose to focus on the “record of rights” rather than on the things that irritate me. Please help this to be my norm long before irritations have a chance to build a wall in my heart. Thank you for Your unconditional love to me. Please supply me with Your perspective and a thankful heart today. Amen.

http://thelife.com/dailydevotions/record-of-rights

Our Christmas Tree

We have been slow to get a Christmas tree this year.  We had several discussions about the size of tree.  Yesterday Papa and I went up the mountain and walked about until we found "the one."  Papa brought it home in the back of the ranger.  We put it in a pot full of rocks and wrapped the pot with red cloth.  We have one ornament on our tree... a bird on its nest.  We are keeping it simple this year!

Antelope Sighting

As I returned to the ranch on Friday, from a short trip into town for supplies, I saw about two dozen antelope.  A treat to see!

Winter Wildlife

I was in Willcox yesterday and drove around a bit, looking for sandhill cranes.  They arrived several weeks late this year, as their northern homes have had warmer than normal temperatures.  I saw two groups of cranes in the sky, but they were too far away to photograph well.  There were lots of northern ducks on the Willcox Playa and it was a clear day, 

so the mountain reflections were beautiful in the water. 

Twelve Days of Christmas

Over the past few years, I have put together boxes filled with 12 bags for our grandchildren to open each day before Christmas.  The bags have crafts, books, and activities and a reminder that Lulu and Papa wish them a Merry Christmas.  This year's Twelve Days of Christmas:

Tree garland

 

Bring the ends of paper strips or ribbon together to form a circle and secure with tape. Insert another strip of ribbon or paper strip through the first circle and tape the ends together. Continue until the chain reaches desired length.  Hang the garland on your Christmas tree.

Your Own Wrapping Paper

Use paint to design your own wrapping paper.  Be sure to wear a paint smock over your clothes 
when you paint.  When your paper is dry, use yarn to tie up your gifts.

Yarn Stars and Balls

 

Wrap yarn around the wooden star or ball, over and over until its covered.  When finished, 
hang on your Christmas tree.

Beaded Snowflakes

Twist three pipe cleaners together in the middle.  Make a pretty design with beads.  Twist the ends around the last bead.  Add a yarn loop to hang your beaded ornament on your tree.

Ribbon with Beads Trees 

Thread the ribbon with beads onto the pipe cleaner, alternating the ribbon and a bead. Top with two beads. Tie a yarn loop on top of the pipe cleaner.  Bend the pipe cleaner down over the yarn and slip a bead just over the sharp end of the pipe cleaner.  Hang your Ribbon with Beads Tree on your tree! 

Twig Stars

  

Papa cut these twigs on Winchester Ranch.  Tie them into stars and hang your 
Winchester Ranch Stars on your Christmas tree.

Reindeer Cookies

 

Make a batch of sugar cookies.  Use pretzels and M and Ms to turn your cookies into reindeer.  

Find a good place for your Ranch Camp Magnet!  Lulu and Papa had fun with you at Ranch Camp!  Drink something special from your Ranch Camp cup.  You are special too!

Find a good place for your family pillow.  Can you find your hand print?  Settle back on your new pillow and read your new Ranch Camp book with Mom and Dad after dinner.  

Have fun coloring Christmas pages!  Use your colored pages to wrap a gift.  

Have a Family Christmas Party!  Set the table with Christmas napkins and plates.  Help Mom make cookies or cupcakes for dessert.  Sing Christmas carols!  Read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

ps.  Many of these ideas are from Pinterest.  The creativity in the finished products will come from our eight little ones.

Christmas Decor

We haven't been eager to decorate for Christmas this year.  After returning from our trip in early December, it has taken us a couple of weeks to get back into our routines and to get things back in order, ie. new shoes on the horses, bills paid...  Friends gave us a holiday gift bag that included a banner.  Thus far, hanging the banner has been the extent of our Christmas decorating.