HAPPY WOODCHUCK DAY & SUPER BOWL WEEKEND!
In my neck of the woods, we call a ground hog a woodchuck. I wonder how much wood could a woodchuck – especially if he lives in Minnesota? Quite a bit, I imagine, especially if he wants to keep the home fires burning.
When a day is set aside for this notable little critter, it makes me wonder how it all got started. I love checking out the historical reason for things. However, when you live up north, it doesn’t take a brain surgeon to figure out that we’re going to have six more weeks of winter no matter if that fur ball sees his shadow or not.
To add to the excitement, it seems half of the population of America is focusing on my home state this weekend, because of the Super Bowl. The temperatures are expected to plummet well below zero – giving the tourists a true taste of what it’s like to live on the Tundra. Frozen noses and fingers will be abundant. Still, they will come, because we have built it. There will be no hard feelings that the home team isn’t playing this Sunday. Really! Our economy is going to sky rocket over the next few days. Money will drop like manna from heaven. Why on earth would we feel bad?
When you place your weather predictions in the hands of rodent, you can expect disastrous results, but when you live in one of the coldest parts of the country, you can still enjoy life. We have snow castles, ice sculptures, craft breweries, great musicians and entertainment, warm clothes, cheese curds, Lutefisk and everything you need to survive the tortures of winter.
No this is not a post from the Minnesota Office of Tourism.
Posted in ground hog day, Super Bowl, Uncategorized
Tagged Groud hog day, humor, minnesota, Super Bowl, Winter
19 Comments
I PREFER THE SHORCUT
The story of “Alice in Wonderland” has undergone a lot of scrutiny over the years. Some say it was written by one who was under the influence or just plain crazy. Others look for metaphorical genius within the words of the outlandish characters. I’ve grown to love this story of a young girl going through the pangs of growing up – feeling like a child yet becoming much more, both in size and independence. It might even be a connection to the feelings women experience during puberty and menopause. We’re all going through changes that eventually define us. I can certainly relate to a cat who doles out advice. I’m also given to different mood changes and sometimes my ups and downs could be considered madness.
Whatever you think of the story, there is much wisdom within the pages. When Alice meets the Cheshire Cat and asks which way to go, he responds by saying it depends on where you want to go. She answers by saying she doesn’t quite know where she wants to go and Cheshire than tells her that it doesn’t much matter which way she goes.
If you don’t have a plan, a roadmap, an itinerary or goals, it really doesn’t matter which way you go. Any road will do – yet will that road be the right one.?
We all need to set goals in our lives. It’s what makes us tick. It gives us something to work towards, to achieve and accomplish. The originator of our destiny – our Creator – has already mapped our path. He has written it within His book and it’s up to us to find the way through it. We could consider the Bible a great handbook or life manual, because the pages are filled with examples of how humanity has botched things up over the centuries. It shows how men of God also made serious mistakes and were still forgiven. It gives a clear vision of what God has done to provide for man’s salvation. It shows us our sin and provides us with a Savior.
God wants us to plan. He’s given us the wisdom and savvy to do so. By placing a functioning brain within our skull, He allows us the skill to reason, to adapt, to overcome obstacles, to achieve. It’s up to us to use our ability to think, to its full potential. If we don’t, the road may lead to someplace we don’t want to be.
Still there will be times in our lives when we think we know better than the one who created us When we take the reins and keep Him out of the picture, we’re setting ourselves up for defeat. Trust in Him who gave us life. He has a bigger plan for us than we can possibly dream up ourselves. He’s already determined our destiny.
Posted in Christian devotion, Uncategorized
Tagged destiny, Eternal Life, Goals, God's Word, Ispiration
8 Comments
SUN RAYS
MORNING SUN FILTERING INTO OUR DINING ROOM – POETRY BY KATHY BOECHER©
How do you harness the sun and capture the magnificence of its light?
Some have tried to manage the physical light that encompasses them,
Some struggle to bring illumination back into their lives,
By setting goals & dreaming dreams,
Some never find it,
Some are filled to the brim with it,
Some will continue to spend their lives,
Searching for it,
God is the source,
He created light from darkness,
It was His first creation,
Separating the night from day,
Setting time into place,
He controls the sun, the moon and stars,
He lights the world with His radiance,
When the world seems so ugly and dark,
When it seems that nothing will ever be bright again,
When the darkness of sin has penetrated,
Every aspect of our daily living,
Turn to the Creator,
His light shines brightly through His Word,
When we let Him, He shines through us,
Leading others to the flame of His truth,
Let your light shine.
Posted in Christian Poetry, Uncategorized
Tagged christian poetry, direction, Goals, light
4 Comments
WINTER FUNNIES
I know this is kind of gross, but I thought it was pretty funny.
Posted in Uncategorized
4 Comments
WINTER FUNNIES
I’m seriously considering setting up such an enterprise. Everyone in my neck of the woods is getting quite sick of winter.
Posted in Uncategorized
6 Comments
LIGHT IN MY EYES
I’m getting started late this morning. Usually our dog Gage is tugging on an arm or leg in hot pursuit of getting outdoors by 5 AM, but for some reason he let us sleep this morning. Maybe he knows we need it, or maybe he’s getting to a point in life where he needs more sleep too. Whatever the reason, I’m grateful to have had a few extra winks.
As I sit here in front of my laptop, the sun is streaming in through my otherwise darkened blinds. At this time of the year, that golden orb is a welcome sight. It pierces through the crystal atmosphere, creating diamonds across an alabaster landscape. Sometimes the light can be irritating as I try to come up with an idea for this morning’s post. It cuts through my vision and even leaves me slightly blinded by its presence.
In late January, the sun is beginning to move closer us and its power is incredible. The warmth slices through the hanging glasslike stalactites turning them into little puddles on the ground. They will soon succumb to the evening cold and refreeze for another day. The glow of the sun also gives us hope that winter will soon end – that there is a new beginning, new life and promise of warm walks in the summer heat.
For a couple more months, we face the reality that we will undoubtedly see another blizzard or two. March is generally our snowiest month. Our bones and muscles will have to wait for a while to be exposed to the warmth of summer, but that glimmer of light shining through my window this morning is enough to warm my heart. In this world, we often need artificial light to make us aware of our surroundings in the dark. In a world of darkness, we need the true Light, which never goes out, to set us on the path to heaven.
Jesus is the Light of the World. Through Him, we can identify the darkness of sin. Through Him, we have a way out. Through His death and resurrection, we’re promised an eternity where there will be no more need for light, because God is our all sufficient lumination.
Sometimes light can be a nuisance – especially when we need rest, but at the same time, our sin needs to be identified, so we realize how much we need a Savior. Our sin puts us in darkness. Our Savior provides the necessary light to lead us out of it. Bring on the Sonshine.
Posted in Christian daily devotion, Uncategorized
Tagged Hope, Inspiration, Jesus, light in darkness
8 Comments
IT’S NEVER TOO LATE
RERUN FROM JANUARY 28, 2016
I often wonder if I’d have the courage to make a complete change in the direction of my life. Am I too old to start a new career? For most people in my age range, the thought of such a drastic change would be food for a heart attack. By this time I should be settled in my ways – enjoying my senior moments with grace – give up.
Unlike most of those in my generation, I’ve continued to work – out of necessity, but also out of love for what I do. I feel I’ve been blessed being able to do this for the past 35 years and at the same time give back some of the good things that were given to me during my life.
When it comes to making change, I’ve always been a sissy. I like structure. I enjoy staying in the same place – not making waves – feeling safe. On the other hand, I have a sense of adventure that’s hidden deep inside me just dying to wiggle its way out. Maybe it’s time for a change.
I could be a greeter at WalMart. I love being with people. How about finding a cure for cancer or some other hideous disease? I always wanted to join the circus when I was a child. There might be a place for me in social work, brain surgery or professional sports. OK, I’m getting carried away. If I were 30 years younger some of those things might still be possible, but who knows? I might live for another 30 years!
Change isn’t so bad and it’s never to late to start something new. If I’m ever going to do something different it has to be now. I’m going to do it.
Yes, I’ll do it! I’m going to be a rock star!
A TALE OF TWO CITIES
Yesterday was the beginning of a ten day celebration of Super Bowl LII (or 52 if you aren’t a throwback to ancient Rome.) Yet even today, in “civilized” society, we have taken to celebrating just about everything. Minneapolis is the site of this year’s Super Bowl and even though the home team is sadly not participating, the city and state will reap the monetary benefits of this gala event.
Our convention center has been turned into the Super Bowl Experience, where young and old will participate in their own games. The Nicollet Mall (usually considered the main street in downtown Minneapolis will be the venue for specialty acts and lots of shopping opportunities for residents of the city as well as visitors from other states. There is even a zip line that carries you across the width of the Mississippi River. It is gigantic for the state of Minnesota and will create tremendous revenue and notoriety.
Back in ancient Rome, a couple thousand years ago, similar sporting activities were the fare of the day. When I looked up gladiators, I came upon this tidbit:
“Gladiator games offered their sponsors extravagantly expensive but effective opportunities for self-promotion, and gave their clients and potential voters exciting entertainment at little or no cost to themselves. Gladiators became big business for trainers and owners, for politicians on the make and those who had reached the top and wished to stay there.”
Sounds familiar, doesn’t it. The sponsors today, come up with quirky ads that often leave us enjoying the content of the ad more than the product. Unheard of amounts of money will be won and lost. Scammers will abound and the proverbial snake oil salesman will definitely show his ugly face.
It’s interesting that time doesn’t alter our thinking much, does it? Today, our modern day gladiators receive exorbitant salaries for getting their heads butted in, but their careers are usually short lived. In Roman times, some would receive their freedom in payment. Others would sacrifice their lives in exchange for the roar of the crowd. Our games today are also expensive productions designed to line the pockets of many individuals, while genuine sports enthusiasts are willing to pay ridiculous prices for tickets, clothing, trinkets and fleeting enjoyment.
I am happy that my state is hosting this year’s Super Bowl. I’m also concerned about who is going to clean up the streets when it’s all over and done – how much crime will occur during the next ten days – how much money will be lost in frivolous spending – will we have one of our notorious cold snaps, putting a damper on the whole thing? In the frozen state of Minnesota anything can happen, but we certainly know how to stay warm here.
Whether your plans include attending the Super Bowl this year, or if you stay home and view it on a recently purchased big screen TV, you can be sure that contests like this will continue through the end of time. It’s in our nature to be part of a winning team or to make a buck off of it.
Of course I’m being a bit cynical today, but bear with me. The Green Bay Packers will don their cheese heads, the Vikings will sing their Nordic swan songs and life will go on, and as Scarlet O’Hara so aptly put it – “Tomorrow is another day.” We will survive and this too shall pass.
HE TOOK MY PLACE
ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
You walked the path of life for me – You suffered for my loss.
You sacrificed Your own dear Son, upon an ugly cross.
You did this for a worm like me, You gave to me your best
Now I can walk that road to You and in Your arms find rest.
I don’t deserve this precious gift. I don’t deserve Your love.
I’ve spat upon this Son of Yours who came from Heaven above.
I’ve scorned Him as did men of old. The scourge I laid on Him.
The nails that pinned Him to the tree, were placed there with my sin.
The story didn’t end that day. It just began, you see.
For Jesus, Christ, the Son of God, returned to life for me.
The flesh that once was bruised and scorned and broken now is whole.
He conquered death – He rose again – He saved my dying soul.
WORKS OF ART
MY HUSBAND PAUL DOING A PLEIN AIR DEMONSTRATION IN THE PARK LAST SUMMER
I’m blessed to be married to an artist. I knew it way back in a high school art class. All the students were going to try three dimensional art, by pouring plaster of Paris into milk cartons, letting it harden and then chiseling the block of plaster into something recognizable.
Paul had his own designated area, behind a plastic curtain which would prevent the flying granite from hitting the rest of the students. He donned his safety classes and began to carve a masterpiece from a cornerstone of an old, demolished building. His love for art carried him to the Art Institute of Chicago and the Layton School of Art in Milwaukee.
Most people think artists just happen- they require no training – they’re simply endowed with talent. Lots of folks believe it’s a nice hobby, but certainly not something that you can make a living at. They don’t realize that artists like Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci served as apprentices at a young age. They along with other artists went through the process of learning their craft. Of course they had an inborn talent for art, but it had to be nurtured and taught to them as well.
Paul went on to learn the process of printing as an apprentice for his first job. He learned how to key line and paste up ads when he worked for an art studio. Those ancient ways of doing things are now done totally by computer. He succeeded as a creative director at a few agencies until he formed his own company. He continued to learn, to think outside the box and be educated in the art of business. Today he’s been able to sell an occasional painting from time to time. He also spent years providing works of sculpture for homes and businesses in our home state.
When you think about it, we’re all works of art. God has created us with the most amazing bodies – bones and muscles that have the ability to lift more than we should – vital organs that keep us breathing and sustaining us. We have the capacity to be warned by our brain when something is wrong somewhere else in the body. Everything has been designed perfectly. Even when things break down, we can be assured that God is taking care of us.
We might consider ourselves to be a blank canvas, just waiting to be turned into a masterpiece. We could perceive ourselves as a hunk of clay, being punched and manipulated against our own will to be made perfect by the Master Artist. While we’re going through the tough times, we’re being restructured, remolded, revived. God doesn’t make mistakes. Our sin has caused His handiwork to be tarnished, broken and dead.
Still, because He loves us so much, He won’t stand still for that. He made it possible for us to survive death and destruction in hell. His plan was in place, even before man fell into sin. He knew we’d fall, but He had a remedy for our failure, before we crashed.
When we’re born, the canvas may be blank, but God has a plan for our lives. He worked it out before we even came into the world. There’s no earthly artist like that. He alone is the Creator who makes all things right again for those who trust and believe in Him.
Posted in Christian daily devotion, Uncategorized
Tagged FAITH, God, God's creation, Human body, Jesus, masterpiece, Salvation
6 Comments
PLEIN AIR INSIDE
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ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER©
Some days you have to paint inside, unless you’re made of steel,
The weather doesn’t coincide, the wind chill makes you reel,
Inside the studio you hide, until your fingers heal,
Your paint will gently slip and slide, at least it won’t congeal,
The colors that you’ve specified, will fill the color wheel,
Your finished product will abide, and you’ll maintain your zeal.
Posted in art, Poetry, Uncategorized
Tagged Art & Poetry by Paul & Kathy Boecher, plein air painting, warmth
4 Comments
JULIE’S FRIDAY YODA WISDOM
KNOW THIS I DO WITH ASSURANCE CONFIDENT.
Posted in Uncategorized
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WINTER/SEMI-SPRING FUNNIES
In keeping with an optimistic spirit, I am looking forward to spring, yet I realistically know we have at least two more months of winter up hear in the tundra.
Posted in Uncategorized
14 Comments
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