Saturday, December 31, 2016

MARILYN'S POST

As I say every year, I can't believe this year is ending so fast.  Where has the year gone?


I thank you all for coming to New York State of Mind, every day.  I really appreciate your comments.  I still enjoy doing this and hope you keep enjoying it, too.

Elmer will have a post on Friday this week and you will see why on Friday.

I also want to ask if anyone has anything they would like to put on here, I would be interested.  Do you have pictures?  Craft?  Growing something?  Whatever.  Just remember that New York State of Mind is for everyone, every age.  It would be nice to have someone else's posts on every now and again.

Also, does anyone have suggestions they would like to see on here?  I sometimes think I keep repeating the same thing on here.  Of course, I try to find different things and places, but I can always use suggestions. If you want to contact me use: lincolnlady1121@yahoo.com

Jean said to ask if anyone had any recipes that they really enjoyed that they would like to share on here.  It would be great to have different recipes from different homes.  Jean will continue with her posts and recipes, but thought someone else's recipes would be nice, too.

If you send something and don't want you name on here - I wouldn't put it on.  Of course, I want to know whose name it is, but will keep it private, if you want.

So we are starting a new year and are looking for some new things.

HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE,
Marilyn








Friday, December 30, 2016

GRANDFATHER ALBERT'S NEW YEAR POST

Bishop Joseph asked me to put on a post. I have never done a post, but he asked and even though we live in Florida and are twice his age, I could not turn my Bishop down.  He asked if I could give words of wisdom for this coming year.

I have no wisdom.  The only wisdom that I get once in a great while, which Olive will verify, comes from the Lord.  But, seeing Olive and I are in our 80's now, can advise you of a few things we learned in life that maybe will help others - then again maybe not.  In fact, they may be things you have heard before.

Trust in the Lord.  No matter if it is good happenings or bad happenings trust, trust, trust.  How many times in my life, I should have stopped, said a prayer and asked the Lord what HE wanted, but instead thought I knew how to handle the situation and was wrong.  Also, how many times have I done things the hard way and if I just taken the time to pray, the Lord had a different, much easier way.

Take time to listen to the Lord.  Another thing, I didn't always do when I should have.  I prayed, but didn't stop to listen to the Lord.  No, I don't get loud voices from heaven.  The room does not shake.  In fact, the Lord is just the opposite.  The Lord has spoken to me quietly.  But, we must take the time to listen.

When making big decisions, consult your spouse, if you have one.  Our ways teach that husband is the head of the house, which is true.  But, sometimes Olive knows or has a different view that I do.  Sometimes it is reverse.  If she is making a big decision and in talking together I have another view.  Also it helps that we both pray before making a big decision.  If after prayer, we feel the Lord told us both the same thing, we are doing the right thing.  In all the years we have been married, I can honestly said, when we both felt the Lord told us both the same thing, it was the right answer.

You can't change what you did last week, last year, five years ago , ten years ago, etc.  Well, maybe on a rare occasion you can, but in most you can't.  If you have gone to the Lord in prayer and asked for His forgiveness, then you too should forgive yourself.  We are not greater than the Lord.  He is greater than us.  If we have wronged someone, go, apologize.  But to worry, regret, does not change things and does not help you.

Also you can not live in the past.  We all have memories of the past - our parents who have passed, good times we had, people we knew, the happy times, the sad times, but you can't bring any of that back again. Memories are nice to remember at times, but God wants us to live today and the future, not in the past.

Also you can't always plan ahead as God has other plans for you.  I smile at people who tell me what they want to accomplish in the next 5 or 10 years.  When they reach that 5 or 10 years, they may be doing something or somethings they never thought they would be doing.  Or living some place they thought they would never being living.  When Olive and I married, I had the idea I was going to work on a farm from that until the day I died.  I have famed most of my life, but I also have dug ditches, worked in factories, torn buildings down, help build new ones up, cleaned sewers, done roofing and siding on houses, trained horses and I don't know what else.

NOTE:  I called Marilyn to add something and she put it in the wrong place.  I said let it go, people will figure it out.  Don't go to a lot of trouble to change it.  So keep reading and you will figure it out.  Albert




Which leads to when dark things happen, something good shows in the end.  In our darkest hours, the Lord is with us.  Sometimes, it is His will that we, or our family or our friends go through a hard time.  The Lord has a reason for us to go through that so He can show us our brightest time. We may not see this or understand this, but it will happen.

One time David had three deer he had to slaughter and pack.  Olive came from the house and mentioned it.  Elmer and Anna were gone some place.  The boys were just learning.  So I went out to see what I could do.  David said, when I came out, that he didn't have time to teach me.  I told him, I knew what I was doing and could maybe teach him a few things.  When we got done, David and I were in the house and he said he didn't know I could do that.  I told him, it never came up.

Olive and I never thought we would be retired, owing this cottage in Florida.  If you told me that when we got married, we would have told you your were crazy.  But here we are.  You don't know what God holds in the future for you, so don't plan too far ahead.  Oh, it is nice to have goals, but don't set your goals to firm.

Don't worry.  It does not do you any good and God is the one who takes care of all situations.  You can't change the past and you don't know the future.  Trust in the Lord.

You hear the old saying: "Stop and smell the roses along the way"?  We should do that in life.  Yes, you must work in your job.  If you are a farmer, it is day and night especially during planting and harvest.  But, still we should take time and enjoy our lives, too.  I don't mean you have to take long trips.  Just stopping and watching the sunrise or sunset.  Taking a walk though through the fields you planted.  Just sitting on the porch talking about the day with your spouse.  Taking your children fishing.  Going to their activities at school.  Do smell the roses in your yard.  Live is short and the Lord wants you to work, but He also wants you to relax and enjoy what He has put before you.

You can't take it with you when you go.  That is what made Olive and I buy our house in Pinecraft.  We had worked all our lives, helped our church, our children, and others.  After our children were on their own, we saved for when we retired.  Now, we are retired.  We could have stayed living at David and Jean's and we appreciate their having us.  But, what was work for, if not to enjoy some of it.  It is our time of rest and to enjoy our final years.  There are people, Old Order Mennonite, Englishers, and Amish, too, who work hard all their lives to leave it to their children.  Now, if one of our children needed our help, we would not turn them down.  But, all our children have farms of their own.  None of them is in a position that they need our financial help, which we Praise the Lord for, not because we don't want to give them our money, but they are all hard workers and the Lord has given to them. We know, that if we needed financial help, they would help us.  But to save all your money to give away and not enjoy some of this life, is not right, either.

Death is not an end, but a new beginning.  I think I am repeating Elmer, but it is true.  It is hard on us when someone passes that is family, friend or relative.  But the leaving of this earth is a new beginning with the Lord.  We hope that when someone dies, he or she, will be going to heaven and living with the Lord.  All their pain, problems, suffering is gone.  It is ours too.  We should miss our friends, but also feel joy that they are with the Lord.

We should not fear death.  Our bodies may be going in the ground, but if we have accepted the Lord and lived His way, we will be going to live with Him.  We are all sinners.  Jesus died for us on the cross.  We should have no fear of death.

Never, say never.  Fanny and Amos came over after my post and advised me to add this.  Whether you think you will never move again, have children again, do something you don't want to do, and more - never say never.  You have know idea what the Lord has in your future for you.  When they both lost their spouses, they both said they would never marry again.  They would raise their children on their own.  Little did they know that the Lord had someone special for each other.  Also, Amos thought when he bought his first farm, he would never move.  When his wife passed, he moved.  So you never know what God has in plan for you, your life, your family and more.

Before I started this post, Olive and I sort of went over some of things in our lives.  I have done some stupid things in our life, some down right dumb things in our lives - times I should have listened to the Lord - times I should have listened to Olive.  We both have done things, we wish we could change, but can't.  In our conversation, we also have seen where great things have been done in our lives.  We started out in the poverty level of life, but were too dumb to know it, at the time.  Yet, today we consider ourselves wealthy.  No, we are not worth millions, no where near it.  We have a great family.  Oh, sometimes we disagree with our children or grandchildren, but they know we love them and they love us.  We've been through so many hard times in our life, but it all worked out in the end, even though we didn't think so at the time.

So what can I tell you for New Year's?  Use 2017 as a new start.  Forget the past.  Look forward to the future.  Ask God to forgive all your sins.  If you must, ask whoever you have hurt to forgive you. You are not perfect.  Forgive yourself for what you have done.  That is sometimes the hardest thing.  God can forgive you.  He died on the cross for you.  But yet, we can't forgive ourselves.  Start this year with a clean slate.

Also realize that you will make mistakes.  You will do things you shouldn't have done.  Will realize you didn't do things that you should have done.  That is being human.  We will learn so much in the coming year.  We will be doing so much during the coming year.   It is a new opportunity that God has given us.  Enjoy it in the coming year.

Trust the Lord and enjoy life, you are only going to live one life on this earth..

HAPPY NEW YEAR, 2017

Be with God,
Albert and Olive

Post on tomorrow too.

There will be a New Year's Day post.

Marilyn





Thursday, December 29, 2016

GOOD - BY 2016













Where has 2016 gone?  It seems it has just started and it is ending already.  There is a picture from each month on here - two in December.  It is so hard picking just one picture a month.  Hope this brings back memories of this year.  Soon, we will be starting 2017.  Who knows what pictures there will be next year.

I think you are really going to enjoy tomorrow's post.

Sunday, December 25, 2016

MERRY CHRISTMAS - DECEMBER 25, 2016



                      FOR UNTO YOU IS BORN THIS DAY IN THE CITY OF DAVID A SAVIOUR,
                      WHICH IS CHRIST THE LORD.  Luke 2:11




MERRY CHRISTMAS,
David, Jean and Family
Elmer, Anna and Family
Bishop Joseph, Martha and family
Bishop Eli, Emma and Family
Marilyn

Friday, December 23, 2016

RANDY'S CHRISTMAS PICTURES






These are the Christmas pictures I found on Randy's Facebook.  My favorite is the second one.  You don't know how many times I have tried to get that picture at night and it doesn't come out on my camera.  I am going to have this one made into a picture and hang it on my wall. Picture five is of Noble, his fiancee's kitty cat.  The last picture was taken of Main Street in our town.  Must have been last year as we didn't have any snow then.

There will be a post on Christmas Day.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

PIERRE'S - "THE BARK" - MERRY CHRISTMAS


Mom did it again. My Mom, my girlfriend Lily and her Mom went to Country Max for pictures with Santa Claus.  Lily, went ahead of me, to give me courage.  When my turn came they snapped, these pictures.

Last year, I couldn't wear my Santa suit because I was too round.  Since them, both Mom and I, have increased our walks, activity and lost weight.  So my Santa suit fit for these pictures.  I don't like wearing that suit.  So glad it happens only once a year.  But if it makes my Mom happy, I will do it.

Merry Christmas, to all,
Love,
Pierre

P.S.

Oh, Mom said to tell you that next week, most everyone is taking off.  She will have a post on the review of 2016 on the 29th.  There will be a post a week from this Friday (Dec 30th)  for New Years by someone who has never had a post on here before.  Maybe another post or two during that week - maybe not.

Pierre

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

JEAN'S CREAM DE MENTHE BROWNIES



JEAN'S CREAM DE MENTHE BROWINIES

3/4 cup flour
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 Tablespoon Water
1/2 cup sugar
1/3 cup butter or margarine
6 - oz chocolate chips
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2 eggs
1 cup chopped nuts
1/2 cup soft butter or margarine
2 cups powdered sugar
7 teaspoon cream de menthe
1 8 - oz package chocolate chips
3 Tablespoon shortening

Combine water, sugar, 1/3 cup butter or margarine in 1 1/2 quart saucepan.  Bring to boil, stirring constantly. Remove from heat and stir in 6-oz chocolate chips and vanilla.  Beat until smooth.  Beat in 2 eggs; stir in flour mixture and chopped nuts.  Spread in greased 9x13" pan.  Bake 325 degrees for 25 minutes.  Cool completely.

FROSTING:  Cream 1/2 cup butter or margarine and powdered sugar together; add cream de menthe and mix to spreading consistency.  Spread on cooled brownies and chill until set.  Melt remaining 6-oz chocolate chips with butter or margarine.  Spread over cream de menthe layer.  Cool and cut into bars.  They are rich.  Great for a bake sale or church sale.


Tuesday, December 20, 2016

AMISH FARM IN LYONS, NY







Here is another one of the Amish Farms that I came across in the Lyons, New York area that I thought you might enjoy.

Monday, December 19, 2016

DAVID'S CHRISTMAS POST

David is Jean's husband and has not made a post for a long time.  In fact, it may have been on Amish Stories, I am not sure.  But he is here today for our Christmas Post.

"For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger." St. Luke 2: 11-12.

Can you imagine the joy that Mary and Joseph felt when baby Jesus was born?  Knowing not only they were parents, but of their and our Saviour Jesus.  I wonder if they really cared that they hadn't had gotten a room at the inn.  Or that Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes instead of expensive clothes.  I don't think so.

I can remember back to when Jean and I had Susan and later, David Jr.  The thrill of seeing the baby, we had waited so long for. Holding the child in my arms.  Counting all the fingers and toes.  Knowing that this child was ours, a gift from God, to raise in the ways of the Lord.

So was this when Michael, Edward, Thomas and Katie came into our home.  They were a little big for us to hold in our arms - except Katie.  We did not count their fingers or toes, but they all have them.  Know that these children, too, are a gift to us from God, to raise in His ways.

I feel sorry for people who do not have children.  Some it is God's will.  Some it is their desire not to have children.  As, I said, we believe that every child is a gift from God.  Also, I can not understand why someone would not want to have children, but that would be a whole another post.

At, this Christmas, I wonder what it would have been like to hold baby Jesus in my arms?  What would it have been like to hold Him against my chest?  To count his fingers and toes.  The thrill of knowing I was holding the Messiah. No, I do not feel or believe that I am worthy enough to hold baby Jesus.

When I read the Bible and the Birth of Jesus, especially to my family, I try to make it so they understand the Birth of Jesus like I do.  He could have been born in some expensive hotel of the time.  He could have had the most expensive baby clothes and robes that money could buy.  He could have been born to the richest people in the world.  But, no, that is not what He chose.

He shows us that it doesn't matter how much money we have.  Where we were born.  Who our parents are.  What He wants is us to come to Him.  He is our saviour.  He is our Messiah.  Let us worship Jesus.

Merry Christmas from our house to yours.

Be With God,
David


Saturday, December 17, 2016

SNOW





Here are some pictures of the snow we had Thursday night and Friday.

We will have the Christmas Post on Monday by someone who hasn't put a post on here for a long, long time.  I think you will enjoy his post.

Friday, December 16, 2016

FEED THE BIRDS

















Sorry, I am late today with a post.  I will have one on tomorrow, too.  I took these pictures this morning.  Randy always saw that the birds were fed and as he is no longer here, in his honor, we see the birds are fed.  Sam, upstairs of me, loaded the bird feeder before the snow storm.  Here the birds are through my window.  If I open the door or window, they fly away so I take them through the window. Reminds of the song from Mary Poppins - Feed the Birds.

We really got snowed yesterday and last night.  It is 9:30 AM and they are finally digging us out.  I couldn't walk Pierre because it was too deep, so I cleared my outside porch so he could go potty.  Snow so deep, I couldn't get across the street to walk Bella.  I hope her father did.