Footprints On My Heart

Do you know what these are? Look closely...can you see them?

No, not just footprints! They are proof that my family has been here and had a good time!



They were in the pool and they were back and forth in the house. They were in the kitchen getting snacks and into the cooler for cold drinks. They were taking a shower or even taking a nap. There was food and laughter, fun and love.

If you listen (yes, listen) you can hear the giggles and shrieks, the stories shared and the memories being made.

They are evidence that a happy family has been through here, and left not only footprints in the hall...

... but Footprints On My Heart! Blessings indeed!

Can One Make a Difference?

Have you ever thought about it - can one person really make a difference? Here is a modern fable from "The Carabou" by Kurt Kauter:




"Tell me the weight of a snowflake," the coal mouse asked the wild dove.

"Why, nothing more than nothing!" was the answer.





"In that case I must tell you a marvelous story," the coal mouse said. "I sat on the branch of a fir, close to its trunk, when it began to snow. Not heavily, not in a giant blizzard, no, just like in a dream, without any violence. Since I didn't have anything better to do, I counted the snowflakes settling on the twigs and needles of my branch. Their number was exactly 3,741,952!"




"When the next snowflake dropped gently onto the branch - nothing more than nothing, as you say - the branch broke off."

Having said that, the little coal mouse flew away. The dove, since Noah's time an authority on the matter, thought about the story for a while and finally said to herself: "Perhaps there is only one person's voice lacking for peace to come into the world."


One persons voice, one persons actions can make a difference! One person who, as Mother Teresa said, cares enough to do some small thing in a great way. She told us, "God has not called us to see through each other, but to see each other through."

Think about it, then go make a difference...You can do it!

Unless someone like you cares a whole awful lot,

Nothing is going to get better.

It's not. ~Dr. Seuss~

Up, Up and Away

On the way to church last Sunday, we saw several hot air balloons inflating, getting ready for an early morning flight. Byron and I started laughing remembering an early November morning and an unexpected surprise!























On a clear bright Saturday about a week after Thanksgiving, we had the front door open enjoying the cool morning breeze. Drinking our coffee and reading the paper, the dog suddenly started barking and we could hear a strange "fshoosh
fshoosh" out front. When we went out to investigate, a large hot air balloon was settling down in front of our house!

We are fairly rural up here and don't have too many neighbors, but quite a few were gathering out front. They must have heard the excitement too!

The balloon pilots were very friendly and told us they were getting ready for an upcoming "Fox and Hounds" run, which is like a relay race. They were checking out our location as a landing spot. They gladly answered everyone's questions and demonstrated the equipment on their balloon.

Among the group gathered was a little brother and sister, about 5 and 7 years old. They were with their grandparents who were keeping them for the day. They were so excited to be so close to such an amazing thing! When one of the pilots asked, "Who would like a ride?" they started jumping up and down with their hands raised high. "Can we Grandma, please? Please?"

Neither of the grandparent's were able to get in the basket, so Byron volunteered to go up as the "adult" on board. Secretly, he would have been waving his hand too! The two little ones were helped into the basket and then Byron stepped in and they closed the basket door. As they started to rise, the little boy said, "Boy, mom and dad are NEVER going to believe this!"

I thought about the Polaroid instant camera setting in the office. The boys had used it the day before to take some work pictures. As I ran to retrieve it, I hoped there was also some film left. What luck - there were two shots left! I grabbed the camera and ran back out front.

The special balloon ride was fairly high over the desert in front of the house, and the two little ones were waving and calling down to their grandparents. The pilot started the descent and as soon as I could clearly see their beaming faces, but still see the balloon in the air, I snapped two quick pictures, and set them aside to develope. When they stepped out of the basket I handed each of them a picture and told them, "Now mom and dad will believe you had a great balloon ride!" The grandma thanked me with tears in her eyes.

The pilots were getting ready to give a few other neighbors a ride as the family walked back to their home. Byron said he had pointed out several landmarks for the kids, including grandma's house. What a great day and what a great experience for everyone!

Up, up and away - you never know what surprises may happen in your own front yard!