Are you one of the "Inn-crowd" or one of the "Stable Few?"

It has certainly been a long time for this Country Boy to write on here. A lot of life has happened... but I have felt the urging of the Holy Spirit to channel my writings and start publishing on here again. 

 I was recently looking on Pinterest for some Cricut Vinyl ideas for my Special Education classroom. I stumbled upon a sign that said, "Are you one of the inn crowd or one of the stable few?" This got me thinking... 

... When Jesus was born, Mary and Joseph were turned down for a room at the inn because it was full and Jesus had to be born in a stable and laid in a manger of hay.

What does it mean to be one of the inn-crowd? Are you one of the many who turn the Holy Family away? Do you not choose to see Jesus in everyone that you can? 

What does it mean to be one of the stable few? Do you make room for Jesus in your heart? Do you live the corporal and spiritual works of mercy? 

Matthew 25:37-40:

"Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison and visit you?" And the king [read: Jesus] will say to them in reply, "Amen I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did it for me."

Jesus asks us, as the "stable few" to perform the works of mercy out of love for Him. They are:

Spiritual Works of Mercy:
- To admonish the sinner
- To instruct the ignorant
- To counsel the doubtful
- To comfort the sorrowful
- To bear wrongs patiently
- To forgive injuries
- To pray for all the living and the dead

Corporal Works of Mercy:
- To feed the hungry
- To give drink to the thirsty
- To clothe the naked
- To visit the imprisoned
- To shelter the homeless
- To visit the sick
- To bury the dead

When we love Jesus, we will share that love with others and do these things for "the least of our brothers and sisters." 

Dorothy Day said, "You can only love God as much as you love the person you love the least."

Let's not be part of the inn crowd. They are self-serving and want only to be part of the popular crowd. Let's be part of the stable few on this celebration of the great Feast of Epiphany 2022 and take care of God's children. 

Chris' Last ride

The wagon’s a’ rollin, pulled by horses in twain;

Our eyes are still stinging from the tears of our pain

Saddled up and mounted, his buddies ride in rank;

Leading the horse always known as ol’ Hank.

We lost you too young, so much life left to live

It will never be known what there was left to give.

Hearing the news and feeling the pain

Only hurt harder near where you’ll be lain.

The load on that wagon of course, it is you.

Missed will you be by all of us, too.

Rest well ol’ buddy, in God’s prairies of the sky

We’ll see you again, when we join you on high.

Smile down on us often and bend the Lord’s ear

To watch o’er your family and all you hold dear.

God Must Be A Cowboy At Heart...

And I think God must be a cowboy at heart...

He made wide open spaces from the start.

He made grass and trees and mountains, and a horse to be a friend...

And trails to lead ol' cowboys home again.

Rest in Peace....

A good friend, Fr. Jack Garvey died Wednesday February 4th at Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton. Please pray for his soul and for his Eternal happiness!

Eternal Rest Grant unto him, O Lord and let Perpetual Light shine upon him. May his soul and the souls of all the faithful departed throught he mercy of God, rest in peace. Amen.

When It's all been said and done....

I heard this song on the radio today when I was on my lunch break. The song instantly stuck with me and stuck a chord with my heart. This will become my nightly prayer, especially if I can find this song on CD or for piano. Because as we know, singing is praying twice! The lines in red are the phrases that speak most to me.


When it's all been said and done
There is just one thing that matters
Did I do my best to live for truth
Did I live my life for You?

When it's all been said and done
All my treasures will mean nothing
Only what I've done for love's Reward
Will stand the test of time

Lord Your mercy is so great
That You look beyond our Weakness
And find purest gold in miry clay
Making sinners into saints

I will always sing Your praise
Here on earth and ever after
For You've shown me
Heaven's my True home

When it's all been said and done
You're my life when life is gone

Lord I'll live my life for You

*Lord Jesus, when all is said and done, it is you that I have to answer to. Help me to be a faithful servant who can say that I have lived for you and done in my life what it is that you have asked of me. Help me to ask myself in prayer if I am living my life for you. Help me also to do what I can for your love's reward and help it to stand the test of time. Help me Jesus to see that Heaven is my true home. Help me Jesus to live my life for you. Thank you for everything dear Lord. Thank you, my sweet Jesus! Amen.*

Wishing on Someone Else's Star

I have been a little down lately, and I found some lyrics to a song by Bryan White called, "Someone Else's Star."

Alone again tonight
Without someone to love
The stars are shining bright
So one more wish goes up
Oh I wish I may
And I wish with all my might
For the love I’m dreaming of
And missing in my life

You’d think that I could find
A true love of my own
It happens all the time
To people that I know
Their wishes all come true
So I’ve got to believe
There’s still someone out there who
Is meant for only me
I guess I must be wishing on
Someone else’s star

It seems like someone else keeps getting
What I’m wishing for
Why can’t I be as lucky
As those other people are
I guess I must be wishing
On someone else’s star
I sit here in the dark
And stare up at the sky
But I can’t give my heart
One good reason why
Everywhere I look
It’s lovers that I see
It seems like everyone’s in love
With everyone but me
I guess I must be wishing on
Someone else’s star

It seems like someone else keeps getting
What I’m wishing for
Why can’t I be as lucky
As those other people are
I guess I must be wishing
On someone else’s star
Why can’t I be as lucky
As those other people are

Oh, I guess I must be wishing
On someone else’s star

Pictures I have been promisin

Hello, Here are some pictures of events this summer that I have promised:

Grandpa Lambert and I climbed the Nicolet tower in June. You can see 3 states from the top of this tower. Grandpa is 91 and he climbed the tower better than I could!

Finally, a picture of my granite patio! Its wonderful to sit out there and enjoy the summer sun and breeze.

Hope you enjoyed! Time to go ice my knee again.

oops!

Well, last night I was part of an adventure at Fort Sisseton. There are many many ghost stories surrounding the Fort, and my dad was recruited for a family reunion to tell some of the stories from his many years of working at the Fort at night.


After the campfire stories, the crew went on a lantern tour to tour the buildings and the grounds. This is where I enter the story. My dad asked me to record a disc with some 'sounds' of the Fort that people have heard from time to time. They included a bugle, marching, horse whinny and others. My friend John and I hid behind buildings, in the breastworks (dugouts since the fort couldn't build wood walls) and such.


It was in the breastworks near the fort Jail that I took a turn for the worse. I tripped and ripped up my knee. No blood, since its all on the inside. I can't even walk on my knee at this point. But, I'm going to offer it up and hopefully I won't need to go to the Dr. tomorrow... but if i do, I will. IN fact, an X-ray or two couldn't hurt. I do think there is some damage under the kneecap, as I can't turn it or walk on it.

Just thought I would share with you the latest and greatest floop that has happened to me! haha. Have a great day! I'm sure i'll be on my couch all day.

Update!

Well, my goals of updating daily and having some fun things posted has failed miserably this summer, as has my morning exercise routine. Hopefully once the routine of school has set in, things will be 'good' again. haha

So an update on the parents, they are doing well. Mom didn't have surgery, but at this point, we're taking it as a blessing. Dad still needs some work on his back, and we're taking that as it comes.

My garden has produced wonderful cucumbers and it looks like the crop will be great for Watermelons, pumpkins, squash and tomatoes! Sadly, my strawberries aren't producing and I'm going to dig them up and put them in my basement for the winter and see if anything comes of them. I'm also not so sure about my celery and my onions. I hope they do well. OH! I forgot about my peppers! My green Jalepenos are doing wonderful and the belle peppers (red and yellow) are coming slow but sure. I'm hoping that I have lots of peppers to spice up my fall and winter! Apple tree is doing well, too. I will have some great apples for pies and i'm hoping to try my go-round at pie making and applesauce making. I have a sauce recipe that I hope will be great.

I have the blessing as of late to be a gracious host to some friends that need a place to crash. Its a great thing to be 'in need' and to do wonderful things for people. My friends that have needed a place to crash have been very thankful for the bed and I've been very grateful to God for being able to host people. Praise the Lord!

Ranching has been keeping me busy as well. I have been out haying and hopefully we will have enough hay stored up for winter for the cows.

My aunt's inlaws are having a family reunion at Fort Sisseton State Park, about 8 miles from my house. My dad is going to go out there this evening and tell Ghost stories about the Fort. (there are many!) and I'm going to play 'backup' and have some sound affects hidden around the corners! hehe... I'm so evil!

Well, off to wash dishes and enjoy this wonderful Saturday! Praise God for such great days such as this. These are the days I long for all winter.

School starts in a week, so its time to hunker down and get ready. I'm working on writing lesson plans and planning exactly what is going to go on for the first week. Once the first week is over, its smooth sailing!

Speaking of school, I got an "A" and a "B" respectively in my graduate classes this summer. Praise the Lord! I was really worried about my graduate research class.

If you get a moment, check out my friend Jen's blog, www.jenericheath.blogspot.com. She's way better at updating and has some awesome pictures.

Well, off to enjoy a perfect day made in the Lord!

Sickness...

Sorry again for the delay. I haven't had a lot of time lately, and my messy house proves it!

My mom and dad have both been pretty sick lately. Mom has some heart troubles and my dad has a ruptured disk in his back. Mom was scheduled for heart surgery today, but at the last minute, it was called off. I don't know exactly why, but I do know it is not because she's better than expected. She has more blockages building and i'm suspecting they are planning on waiting and doing them all at once. Please pray for her and also for her return to the Church.

Dad's ruptured disk started in March when a cow took him when he was trying to help her. Now, he's in a lot of pain. He has an ear infection, which until its cleared up, can't get the 'miracle shot' that is supposed to help his back. If the shot doesn't work, he will need major back surgery.

SO... thats pretty much the skinny lately. I need to get pictures of the garden, yard, flowers and patio loaded. Soon and very soon, i promise.

Have a great night.