Oh, the weather outside is frightful, but the fire is so delightful... And since we've no place to go -- let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

What a great way to end the year 2007. We closed on our house purchase in San Luis this past Monday, arrived back home as it started to snow, and our car has been snowed in ever since.

This picture was taken this morning upon our return from our two mile post office walk. We were thrilled to find the temperature had risen to a balmy 4 degrees below zero. Life is good!

Truly a winter wonderland here in Colorado. I can't believe we're enjoying this so much. Susan came stomping into the house yesterday after a sortie into the over 12 inches of white stuff, with a joyous, "I can't remember having this much fun in a long time!!!"

Here we thought the sub-freezing temps would surely do us in, and we seem to be thriving. Now in our second winter, we haven't even experienced a cold of any kind.

It just proves -- once again, those things that cause fear in your heart, are not to be feared, but faced. It's only then you find there was nothing to fear at all. FEAR

False
Evidence
Appearing
Real

Remember that great Bing Crosby song from the fifty's, Accentuate The Positive?

You've got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
Don't mess with Mister In-Between

You've got to spread joy up to the maximum
Bring gloom down to the minimum
Have faith a pandemonium
Liable to walk upon the sea

To illustrate my last remark
Jonah in the whale, Noah in the ark
What did they do
Just when everything looked so dark?
Man, they said we better
Accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
Latch on to the affirmative
And don't mess with Mister In-Between
No, do not mess with Mister In-Between

Master that philosophy and you are in for the ride of your life! Focus on the good in your life, and see your perceived negatives as being in your life for a good and positive reason.

I love that old saying, "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change!"

Susan shown here presenting fifty brand new hard back inspirational books to the San Luis Head Start School program.

Each of the 21 preschool kids will receive their very own book at their upcoming holiday celebration. The remainder of the books will go to the school's community Improving Home Parenting Outreach Program, for children of area low income families.

Gifts of love and goodwill given by our devoted Casa de Santa Maria supporters.

Pictured left to right are; Eunice Barnal (Home Outreach Program), Susan, Shellie Quintana and Cecilie Labato, San Luis Head Start School administrative staff. (These dedicated school employees were overwhelmed and overjoyed at the Casa's generosity.) We explained the generosity was not ours, but from the dedication and love of Casa supporters throughout the country.

Not pictured are the four large boxes of toys also presented to the Head Start School for these needy students. According to Shellie (in a phone call today), there were enough toys for each child to receive his or her very own gift with a note in the child's name, stating, "This is a gift of love from The Casa de Santa Maria in San Luis."

As soon as the roads clear, Susan and I will be headed to the K-12 Centennial School in San Luis to examine the Gift-Wish Christmas Tree that sits in the school office. On the tree are stars, each representing area low income children for whom their teachers hope a concerned area resident will give a gift --perhaps their only gift this year.

From the looks of the boxes of Casa-Supporter gifts in our guest bedroom, the Casa just might grant a majority of those wishes! That makes us very happy. We'll let you know.

We also expect to have enough remaining toys/books/gifts to carry to nearby Alamosa to the Homeless Shelter there. (Along with some additional donated winter clothes.)

The many many warm winter clothes you've donated have been so well received. How satisfying to spot a child on the street wearing a Casa cloak-of-love!. (We've distributed about 35 warm winter coats thus far.)

All that to say -- Thanks dear Casa Supporters. Ya done good!

How difficult to find that just-right place for a parent (or yourself) needing a reliable, safe and comfortable assisted living home. If you're in the general area of beautiful McKinney, Texas, (or even not) check out the www.Hazelslight.com website.

Owned and operated by dear friends of Susan, myself and the Casa de Santa Maria, Julia and Benny Lewis, Hazel's Light offers activities of daily living including eating, bathing, dressing, laundry, housekeeping and medications — and a whole lot more. Hazel's Light has a small home feel, with genuine old fashioned tender loving care.

To know Julia and Benny is to love them and trust them, and we're happy to recommend you to their care. They are quality folks who exude love and compassion.

Kathy Sanderford writes; Not too long ago you requested insights or "phrases" that have inspired us along our journey. I have three. Actually, two inspirations came at your Sedona conference in 2001, with Henry Reed.

While doing a meditative exercise led by Henry, we were invited to lay down, and with the help of another attendee, meet our "Spirit Guide" who would have a special message to share. The message I received was "There is joy in the pain."

With puzzled looks, my helper and I stared at each other while reading what was written, clueless as to the meaning. Six years have passed, and now I finally know what that means. The "Joy" of any type of birth or rebirth is painful but "Joy" always follows the pain.

The dawn of an understanding or a truth wrought from an emotional or personal disaster can exemplify that statement, for when we are willing to see that truth, or look for the good in a seemingly bad situation, a sense of peace comes with that understanding.

I wrote a great deal after that conference — letters to God and sometimes to myself, and my pen would take over and there would be a message, and at the end of each one I would write ....... Trust and Just Be. Just Be what? That was my question. It echoed in my mind constantly, and it was so challenging to let go and just be.

But I am now doing it, not always successfully for there is so much to learn, but it has helped me to adopt a "Let's see how this one turns out!" attitude instead of trying to "fix" the perceived problem.

The last explosive discovery that became a mantra of sorts was found in Neale Donald Walsch's "Friendship With God" from the Conversations with God series of books. God states "You are the only wisdom, hope and love that any moment needs in order for that moment to be healed." WOW !!! I wrote that on a post-it-note and stuck it to my front door.

I read that statement every morning before going to work. When faced with difficult situations, that statement reminds me to be patient and listen, and that's listening with my heart folks, not just my ears. It reminds me I need to "Trust and Just Be!" and whatever the circumstance, joy will follow with a newly gained perspective.

Thank you both for giving me this opportunity to share, and to grow...

Thanks for the wisdom Kathy... How beautifully your discovery blends with Mother Mary's thoughts (above) for this holiday season.

As 2007 began, we asked you to become a Casa Angel, committing to the Casa de Santa Maria's development fund a monthly pledge of $10, $20 or more. Thanks for your faithfulness.

Your contributions have helped the Casa to clear the ground for Mary's Garden, dig a well, pay for the sculpture that will soon stand as the centerpiece of the garden, buy an on-site Amish-built storage shed, and purchase a camcorder last week to begin taping Casa activities.

Now those automatic subscription deductions are coming to an end, and you'll be needing to decide whether to allow them to expire, recommit to another year — or, better yet, renew and increase your monthly gift.

Whatever your decision, we so love and appreciate you.

We are also so encouraged by those who have recently decided to direct their monthly tithe to the Casa de Santa Maria. (Two folks did just that in the last 30-days, totaling $3,600.) What a wonderful gesture. We feel our efforts are being blest and appreciated.

Tithing to the Casa's spiritual goals and activities is something you might wish to consider.

Neither Susan nor myself have profited one dollar from your gifts toward making the Casa de Santa Maria a reality. For us it has been a calling — a labor of love.

Our hope is the Casa will eventually develop an established income to be able to pay for part-time and eventually full-time help as on-site public activities/services evolve.

And we can't forget those of you having made from small to sizable one time gifts throughout the year. You are also so loved and appreciated.

Finally, heart-felt thanks to our dedicated artists and product makers whose efforts are offered for sale on our Casa website at: www.casadesantamaria.org/artists

A portion of each product and service sale offered there goes directly to the general fund of the Casa de Santa Maria.

Remember also, any gift you make to the Casa by December 31st, 2007 is deductible as a charitable donation when you file your 2007 tax report.

To contribute by check please mail to:

Casa de Santa Maria
P.O. Box 64
San Luis, CO 81152

To contribute by credit card visit:

www.casadesantamaria.org/donate.html

To become a Casa Angel and donate on a monthly basis please visit:

www.casadesantamaria.org/angelwings.html

We always love hearing from you!
Please feel free to email us with your comments, suggestions or requests.

casadesantamaria@mac.com