Holmes Family Grace On Christmas DAy

Who would have guessed as He lay in the hay,
He'd be the One, our sins to allay?

From His birth to His death as He came from above,
He taught us and healed us to show us His love.

He called His disciples and taught them to care,
He then changed their lives and charged them to share-

A message of hope of joy and delight,
To brighten our day, contrasting the night,

When ninety nine sheep, their day was all done,
He left them secure, to go find the one.

We're all like that one - lost in the night,
He was seeking to find, to make us alright.

Then when He had found us in sickness and sin,
He called for repentance, our life to begin.

He paid a big price, it should break our hearts,
So we could have life, and get a fresh start.

We twelve gather here, this day in December,
His birth and ours a joy to remember.

So thanks to the cooks and the food on the table,
But thanks most of all for the One in the stable.

ramblings

I sometimes think that life is a miserable experience with a little happiness thrown it and at other times I think life is a great experience with a little misery thrown it. I have concluded that for some folks life is a great experience with very little miserableness and for others it is almost all misery with very little happiness. But for most of us it is a mix of both. Some days this and some days that. My moods seem to change with the winds of the moment. Reading the news gives me a very jaded view of life. The suffering of lots of folks everywhere gets more coverage than the great acts of kindness and mercy that are all about us. I have days of misery (less and less as time goes on) and other days of inexpressible happiness. I had a day in the hospital where I was flooded with a kind of happiness that lasted for about five minutes that was like nothing I had experiences before or have experienced since. I could give no reason for it except it was a gift of God.
"I am convinced that the sufferings of this present world are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will someday be revealed in us" - Paul
I am counting on it.

Went to the "voyage of the Dawn Treader" last week and did not like it. They way overdid the actions scenes. Reepicheep and Eustace were great. The words of the Lion at the end were marvelous.

All of our three kids and five grand kids will be here for Christmas dinner
Best wishes on this Christmas season.
Don

suggestion

I have just discovered a wonder website. Booknotes.org It is interviews of 800 different authors talking about books they have written. It is video and talking and each one is 1 Hour long. I AM enjoying it a great deal.
DON

Hi

No new posts lately because we have no news.
Have been feeling very good lately - chest pain has let up
a lot. Been getting out a lot especially out to Suzanne's
to see the kids.
Reading more and enjoying football season.
Life is good for us again and I am glad
I can say that because I did not feel that way
for too long of a time.
Best to all who try to keep up with us.
Don

back to living

spent the last four weeks on my side in bed getting over a pressure sore on my rear.
Fairly miserable? Yes but not as bad as it may sound. Up today for two hours and hope to go to book club tomorrow. Can't type on my side so no communication until tonight.
Not much reading. Otherwise doing well.
Best Wishes
Don

hi

Very active lately. Went up to Mt Baker with Tim and Andy - they hiked -beautiful weather. They stopped for a swim on the way back at a resort. Have seen the kids a lot lately. Grandkids-Kara getting ready to move to Italy. Kelly back in Spokane - plans unknown for the fall. Kayti back to Westmont for final year of school.

Reading "Best Defense" by Alan Sershowitz - it is kind of a defense of defense attorneys. VERY interesting.

Christy and Greg after a busy summer of guests are on extended sail boat trip.

Suzanne is recovering from a week long stay in the hospital after a mysterious aliment in her lower stomach. Still not diagnosed so we are praying for a good outcome.

It was Very painful.

Barbs and my help is holding up well.

Have a new renter in the barn and he looks like he may become our new caregiver when Aaron leaves the middle of March.

Send me a note.

Don

hi

More news soon -
Did you hear about the Russian who accused Krushev of being an idiot?
He got arrested for revealing state secrets.
News tomorrow

Hi

Home from Nebraska almost three weeks and things seem to be going pretty well. Julianna was baptized this morning and turned 9 yesterday so we had a big family bash today after church with about 25 family here.
Just finished "Bonhoeffer" 550 pages.. Highly recommend. Get it from your library as it costs almost $30 new.
Am rereading Narnia as Andy is reading it so I have to get current.
Barb had a wonderful two weeks in Hawaii with her sister-in-law. Came back very tan.
Weather has been wonderful - warm sunny days. I sit outdoors every day in the sun from about 2:00 to 7:00 and read.

Kara, Christy's eldest is comming home from N.Y. tomorrow for a week before she goes to Italy for the Fall term. She can keep her jo via computer while she is there.
She is a kick.

Seem to be getting a better hold on life with each passing month.

Don

nebraska trip

Well I did it. Got on an air plane and flew to Omaha Nebraska to join my two sisters and their families for a 4th of July bash at my sisters farm just outside Licoln, Ne.
Everything went well. I was accompanied by my daughter, Suzanne, Her husband and their two kids. There were almost 30 people there with 13 kids between the ages of 4 and 14. Meanwhile my wife vanished to Hawaii for two weeks with my brother's wife, Donna. She just got back today. So we have had quite a summer so far. Reading a biography about Bonhoeffer, the first full length bio on him in 25 years.
Startling - He seems to be saying that Christ is always at war with the institutional church because the institutional church is preoccupied with staff, program, budget and its reputation rather than the preaching of the Gospel. It is in competition with Christ and the preaching of the Gospel.
Very Interesting. The title of the book is "Bonoeffer" (550 pages)

Don

no sun

We haven't been able to see our beautiful Mt. Baker for ten days. Where is summer as I love to sit out in the son and read? Juliana and Andy were here all afternoon. Kayti and her boyfriend also came by for an hour. We had a very nice social day.
Still reading the "Great Burn". Lots of early 20th Century American history about the West - a very good read. Go in for my second sleep apnea test on the 10th and hope they can help my daily fatigue. I am always tired.
no other news
Don

humor to keep your spirits up

Grandson to Grandpa "Grandpa, can you make a noise like a frog?"

Grandpa "Why do you want me to do that?"

Grandson "Because dad said that as soon as you make a noise like a frog we get to go to Disneyland."

Life the same. Doc says my leg mending fine. No restrictions.

Reading 'The Great Burn" About a fire in the early 1900's in MOntana, Idaho, Wash and Canada that destroyed four towns and was bigger than the state of conneticut. Lots of history including a lot about Teddy Roosevelt.

Also a famous kids book "The Hunger Games" My friend who writes books about Harry Potter says it is the best book he has read since Harry Potter. More later.

Hope to drive again soon but my wife hopes I do not.

What do you think is the difference between 'knowing' and 'believing'?

leave me message by clicking on 'comments' below

Don
Don

hi

Been feeling fine lately. Reading more and spending lots of time with the grand kids with homework etc. See the doc tomorrow for final xray of leg. Not returned to driving yet but hope to soon.
No special plans till July Barb to Hawaii and me to Nebrasks.
Hope to send book recommendations soon.
Blessings
Don

news

van fixed
bone mending well according to x-rays yesterday
am up and around as before the wreck
doing ok
world is in its normal mess, but no worse or better than ever.
'in the world you will have tribulations but be of good cheer for I have overcome thr world'

nephew in Nebraska in a serious car wreck and well be mending for many months.
my sis will become a care giver like Barb
cheerfully

don

Latest musings -

I am ofter accused of valuing the mind more than the emotions. I plead guilty for the following two reasons:
1) The emotions are of no value is determining what is true or in determining how we should direct our live. The emotions have no inner compass to truth or actions.

2) The mind is the God created instrument whereby we can discover what is true and what is not. It is also the control center for our lives as to what we ought to do.
Doing what is reasonable and following our conscience is about the same thing as obeying God.


(Van will be fixes in a few days)

Best Wishes.
don
Holmesdb@gmail.com

dumb

Well here I am tucked in bed again. Doc says I should heal fine. A bit tired again but should should be back to 'normal'in a week or so. (After they get my wheel chair fixed which quit working Thursday eve. Never a dull moment here.

The hospital staff was WONDERFUL. They discovered that I may have sleep ackneia (sp?)
The brain keeps having to wake up to tell the lungs to get moving. So a person does not get the deep sleep they need. Fatigue and snoring are prime symptiom (sp) which fit me well. Going to pursue this with more tests later. They say there is much they can do to help.

Just finished having Pizza with my grand son Andy. What a fun kid to be with.

I don't feel alone and my spirits are good.
Don

Update

Dad is home. He was discharged late this afternoon and we got him home and tucked into bed in about an hour. In addition to his broken femur, he apparently broke his ankle too.

Surgery update

Dad's surgery went great. They put in a rod along the whole length of his femur and they expect him to go home tomorrow and to be no different than the day before the accident. In an non-paralyzed person, the pain would be debilitating, but for him it's not a concern. Strange blessing.

broken leg

Suzanne here. Dad asked me to let you know that he broke his thigh today. He is, as some of you may know, learning to drive again, and something went wrong. He hit the house (near the basement door entrance) with the van, damaging the door, the van, and his femur. It's a break clean through, with one part sitting at an angle to the other part.

After the accident he didn't realize that he was hurt, so he went inside and transferred himself from his chair to his bed for a nap. Then he happened to notice a weird bulge and thought he had better see a doctor.

He is at St. Joe's and is scheduled for early morning surgery. He'll be at the hospital for a couple of days and then back home.

Spring is here

Finally have something to write about. I'm driving again after 3 1/2 years. Have a learners permit like 15 year olds do and can drive with another person who has a license. Went out with Tim once and then with a friend three times and have now been out with Barb three times. It was awful the first time but I have now got the hand of it and happy to say it is quite easy. Will try to pass the driving test in a few weeks. Have already passed the written and the eye test. So my dear wife will resign as my driving Mr. Daisey.

Feeling better each week. The sunshine helps a lot and have seen the grand kids more which is lots of fun. They are reading well and making great progress on their math. They now have 15 chickens, two dogs, two cats, two rabbits and two goats.

Book club was yesterday in our home. Read "The Help" - # one on the best seller lists. A book about how domestic help viewed their white bosses in the fifties. Worth reading.

We are very happy with our renter in the barn and the young couple in our basement.
They both work for a Bible software company and have recently acquired a dog. So far it get along fine with our border collie.

Have been following the progress of electronic books lately. They are going to revolutionize the publishing industry. It will be almost the end of bookstores and libraries. Look up the news about Amazon's Kindle at Amazons web site.
Everybody that has one seems to like them A LOT. I'll wait until the price comes down to get one.

Drop me a note - Holmesdb@gmail.com
Don

hi

Nov 8th

Hi to all - your patience is rewarded - a new blog - amazing.

I don't write often because I don't have much to write about. We are continuing to make weekly progress in out new life. It will be three years this Christmas - hard to believe that I have not walked for three years.

We had the family over yesterday for Andy's birthday. He has been looking forward to it for months. I don't think they had much of a celebration at the 'deisky dom' (orphanage)in Russia. At the same time we also celebrated our 50th as of today.


we had a wonderful evening. Tim and his girl friend played guitar and violin and we all sang "I'll fly away'. Our kids gave us a electronic gadget with a screen loaded up with about 200 family pictures that stays on all the time and flips pictures every 10 seconds. Shows kids at all ages and many of our trips to Europe. It helps keep many wonderful memories alive.


So how are we doing? We are on a roller coaster. Some days ( not many) are awful and most days are o.k. and many days are wonderful.. Surrounded our family yesterday made me feel like the luckiest person in the world.

I will try to soon catch you up on books and Videos but will begin now with "Same Kind of Different as Me" You can read the blog at Amazon.com.

The normally gloomy winter is here but the grand kids are looking forward to snow.
See them about twice a week. Andy will probably come to spend the night this week.

We now have the barn, that I remodeled into an rental, rented. He is a retired fisherman who is going back to electronic school for two years. This is turning out to be a good investment for us. Our basement renter is moving out as of Dec. 1 as his is buying a condo. We have another fellow moving in immediately -
a man who is a professional picture painter and also teaches anatomy and physiology
at the local tech school and has several other jobs. He was raised in South Africa
so has a Brit ascent. He has had some medical training which we are glad about. We are happy to have two fellows around.

We wish you all the best with God's blessings.

Don

2010

75 Years ago today I was born in Ames Iowa, the son of two probably afraid 20 year olds. Where has 75 years gone. We ought to try to live well as we can't go back and we probably wish we could do some things over and do better.

I have felt great lately and am getting closer and closer to a restored life. We bought a new Van yesterday that has better hand controls on it that maybe I can drive. It would be fun next summer to pick up the grands and take them to the park to play.

We are going out for dinner this evening to celebrate the 75th. The kids are going to have a todo at a later date on the week-end.

Our son in law is here painting the basement to get it ready for a new renter that I hope we can find soon. Our barn renter is doing well - he has been here for about three months now.

Reading "Hole in our Gospel" by the head of World Vision" about how we Christians have dropped the ball in helping the poor. It is a very disturbing book but I think we all need to read it.

Our Saturday morning men's group is reading Mere Christianity. For me it is about the 10th time and I still thing it is the best Christian Book in modern times. I suggest that everyone read it again and and again. I know a philosopher friend who says he may have read it a hundred times and he taught in a college.

We are having a very mild winter so far. My Sisters in Nebrasks have been covered with almost record snowfall and low temperatures.

Best Wishes and Blessings to you,
Don

Q

ten years ago we had to deal with y2k which turned out to be much ado about nothing so this year came in quite calmly. All the early to mid twenties grand daughters were home with out eldest daughter, Christy along with two of their boy friends. A busy but fun time.

Quote from "Hole in Our Gospel" - "The only people who will find happiness are those who have sought and found an opportunity to serve" Albert Switzer

The point of the book is that we Christians are not even close to living up to our responsibility to the poor. The expectation of helping the poor are very clear in the Bible. Our much of our giving goes to the poor compared to how much goes to pay staff salaries and keep up our buildings. A very challenging book. Someone has said that no one will get into heaven without a letter of reccomemndation from the poor.

We are pretty much the same. We are now in our fourth year since my accident.
What can I say about it? It is awful, being paralyzed but life still continues to be good for us. I have gained tremendous sympathy for those for whom life is difficult - millions of whom are way worse of than I am. My family has been great and we have a sufficient number of friends.

I will miss college football being over as friends sometime have come over to watch but I will probably get more reading done.

Best wishes to all - love to hear from you - Holmesdb@gmail.com

Don