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Noise From The Barnyard

This is where family and friends hang out and discuss world events, family happenings, valley news and things I'm "moosing" about.  It's the day to day across the fence chatter.

Diamonds Purchased With Piggy Bank Pennies

12/30/2013

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I love the television commercial that ran this Christmas of the little boy in a jewelry store who plunks what looks to be less than $10.00 in crumpled up bills and a hand full of change on the counter in front of the clerk.  It is obviously everything that he has saved through the year in a piggy bank.  The look on the clerk's face shows that there is nothing in her display case that the little boy could afford.  She looks in desperation to his Father who is standing behind him, who lifts up his hand to display a credit card that was hiding in his crossed arms.  She smiles and proceeds to place beautiful, sparkly items on the counter for the little boy to choose from.

I totally relate to this little boy on many levels.  I remember shopping once with my siblings for a gift for my mother and seeing a large, gawdy, pink gem stone, butterfly pin in the display case of a local gift shop.  My siblings had already decided on a spice rack, but I just had to buy her that pink butterfly pin.  My dad shelled out the extra money and bought her the pin for me.  (My mom, as moms do, proudly wore that pin on many occasions even though, looking back on it, it was very ugly.  But to her, it was the prettiest pin in the world. Of course I totally understand this seeming fashion fail on the part of my mom because I have worn macaroni necklaces, cardboard pins laden with sequins and glitter, and Christmas tree pins made from buttons.  Somehow the love attached to the gift makes it the most beautiful piece in the world!  And don't even think of giggling or criticizing or staring, unless, of course you are enraptured by the beauty of the love with which it was given.) 

Anyway, back to the commercial.   I am pretty sure that the credit card company that purchased that ad did not realize what a tremendous spiritual lesson and accurate portrait of the true meaning of Christmas the commercial actually conveyed.  Or maybe they did.  

I don't know anyone who does not want to go to heaven and would not like to have God's blessings here on earth.  The problem is that we can never have enough resources, money, or desire to insure heaven as our home.  We are like that little boy, bringing all we have in this world to God and hoping that it will be enough for Him to award us a place in His kingdom.  Even all the world's riches would seem less than what that little guy plunked on the counter to God, for the price for forgiveness of sins is very, very great.  But for those of us who have received Jesus Christ and made Him our Lord, we know that when we approach the throne of God, Jesus Himself will be right behind us holding up the banner of His blood for the Father to see, assuring that the price of sin has already been taken care of and that we can have whatever treasure we are desiring from God, whether it be heaven or a blood bought blessing here on earth-healing, provision, comfort, wisdom, strength, help and whatever other need the human condition can present.  

That is truly what Christmas is all about.  God spanning all of time by indwelling mortal flesh so that we might gain access to all the treasures His heart of love has provided for us.  And Christ, our surety that the price of this gift has already been paid in order for by His blood.      
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Christmas Eve 2013

12/25/2013

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A traditional Egolf family Christmas Eve is anything but relaxing!  For some reason, the Christmas mood does not hit my husband until he wakes up on December 24th.  This year was no different.  I heard him dressing and asked him where he was going.  (Of course the first answer to that question is Sheetz because it is common knowledge that ALL ROADS LEAD TO SHEETZ and you can't go anywhere without going there first!)  As if just being hit with revelation from heaven, he said "the boys are becoming and men and they don't have any tools!  They have to have tools!"  So we were off to Sears for tools for the boys.  "What did we get for Tiffy?", he asked.  Let's just get her a few more small things.  "Did we get enough for Caden?"   "WWWHHHHHAAAAATTTTTTT?"  Every time we went shopping for for anyone else, we left sometimes with what we went for AND something for Caden.  If we didn't find what we were looking for, we left with nothing EXCEPT something for Caden!  "Yes, honey, we got plenty for Caden."   Nevertheless we were off for to the mall and to Giant Food Mart because they are the only store who carries that carries rainbow sherbert this time of year and we can't have Christmas punch without rainbow sherbert!  Then he dropped me at home because he wanted to get me "one more little thing".   While he was gone I watched Millionaire Mustang with the kids until we heard a POP! Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle.  "Mom, the fuse went again!" But the smell told me that maybe this time it was more than the fuse.  Our tv was a gift from my father who had trouble with it from the day he bought it.  Eventually he got tired of fooling with it and bought a new one, but he experimented with it and thought that maybe he had figured it out, so he gave it to us.  We were thrilled to be able to see the basketball during March Madness!  Fuses blew now and then, but we would just stick a new one in and be off and running again.  This time, however, I knew it was done.  Things had melted  back there, so it was back out to get a t.v. because we all know that it is an essential (well, at least during March madness anyway).  
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 For the second year in a row, I had the privilege to photograph my favorite young family.  Aren't those boys just two slices of heaven?  The little guy slept through the whole thing!  

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Later that night, he showed up at my house-still asleep.  Doesn't he just make that Christmas outfit look awfully cute?  The manufacturer ought to employ him as a male model.

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While my son-in-law cooked in the kitchen, the siblings all sat around chatting and laughing.  After all Evan was in the mix and when he's around, someone is always laughing.  

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Within the hour, dinner was ready.   Yummy, homemade clam chowder

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In bread bowls too!  Thanks Brian!  It was delicious!  As usual!

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After dinner, some convened to the living room to enjoy the tree...and the train.  My hubby went all out this year, adding a park bench, a pond, more greenery, skaters and snow.  My favorite thing is that the lights on the tree twinkle every now and then.  Declan likes them too.  

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Some hung in the kitchen to engage in some serious salt dough ornament painting.  Caden painted his ornaments, then helped his mother with hers.  He discovered that paint doesn't taste too good either. YUK!

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Aunt Tiffy joined in the painting fun!  Meanwhile I bagged up some hard tack candy, made from Karo syrup, sugar, water, oils and coloring-a definite Egolf Christmas tradition.  The candy was for another Christmas Eve tradition that we always participate in.  

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Every year, the local fire company cover their trucks in Christmas light and travel through every neighborhood.  Any child that comes out to see them gets a candy cane and sometimes a small toy.  One year, after experiencing first hand the efforts that these volunteers make to save the lives of people they don't know, sometimes at the risk of their own lives, we decided that these brave men shouldn't be handing out gifts to people, they should be getting them, so every year we box up some goodies for those that will be manning the station on Christmas day.

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Caden liked the fire trucks!  Thank you Alpha Company!

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MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!  

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30 Days of Thankfulness-Day 22-Family

12/2/2013

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Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!  Don't know what you're doing today, or if you even celebrate Thanksgiving, but this holiday means especially much to me this year.  My family is all home, healthy and happy.  My extended family will visit today and join in for a big meal and some visiting.  Because I have such a great family, the day will be relaxing because everyone is pitching in to help with meal preparation.  I am truly blessed.
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30 Days of Thankfulness-Day 21-Homecomings

12/1/2013

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My grandson came home today.  After all the worry, expense, traveling, prayers, tears, joy, and sleeplessness, he is finally home!  I guess I understand a little now how God must feel.  His children are not completely well...yet.  Some day though, we will burst through heaven's doors, completely restored spirit, mind AND body, yelling "Father!  We're home!"  What a day that will be!
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