December 1st has arrived! Twenty fours more days until Christmas; thirty days until 2015 is a year in the history books. If time were an army, it would be a never ending line marching by; coming from the future and heading into history, and carrying billions of hopes and dreams in the ruck sack on its back.

It's 48 degrees this morning and overcast again. It rained again last night but allegedly, that was the last of it for a few days. Just seasonally cold weather and a brisk breeze reminds us that although it is still a couple of weeks away, winter is here. Fortunately, unlike our upper midwest, we haven't had any snow yet and as you know -- I wouldn't cry if I never had to use my snow blade this year.

we had a good day yesterday. Ms. Kate had to have her monthly blood work done so we went out and got that taken care of. Then we went to the local place we go to and had pedicures done, and ran to the post office and got our Christmas stamps so we can get those cards in the mail. Then we came home and finished decorating the Christmas trees. We only put up two again this year. It all seems a bit silly to me but Ms. Kate wants it done, and it does look nice. But, we are only going to have one set of company; Julie and Jim, and they will only be here for two nights and go home. The days of visiting people's homes at Christmas and having lots company have been replaced by cyberspace, email, and Facebook. For many years Ms. Kate and I would write the annual Christmas letter to bring people up to date about what is going on in our lives. I don't know that we have written more than one or two of those in the past ten years and we receive very few of them.

As I'm sitting here writing this blog, I've received no less than five notifications having to do with this being "Giving Tuesday". Don't you ever wonder who makes this stuff up?? Who decided it is Giving Tuesday for the nation? Who decides it is National Ice Cream day? With hundreds of charities spending a fortune mailing out letters and requests for donations and requests for support for their particular pet project; --- how do we suddenly need a special day be dicated that we donate today? If I don't donate today ---- will you not take my money tomorrow?

Okay, I'm digressing down to silliness so it is time to stop and watch my cardinals and squirrels and get back on track. I have writing to do today or the sermon will be very short this week. The sun is breaking through the clouds solidifying God's promise of better things and more blessings to come. What could be better than plans and promises from God? Have a blesse day.