May Christmas Stay With You

❄ Merry late Christmas, dear readers! I hope you had a joyous day. ❄

Although Christmas day has come and gone, I think one of the most important things for us to do now is for us to keep the Spirit of Christmas in our hearts. I woke up the day after Christmas and thought "now what?" There were presents to enjoy, yes, but what were the presents if I would be so soon to forget the sense of peace that came from remembering that my Saviour loved me to much to come to earth and redeem me from my sins and short comings?

O Holy night, the stars are brightly shining;

It is the night of our dear Savior's birth.

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Til He appeared and the soul felt it's worth.

A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices

For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn.

Fall on your knees

O hear the angel voices

O night divine!

O night when Christ was born

O night divine!

O night, o night divine!

May you always remember that holy night, and may we say as Mr. Scrooge did in The Christmas Carol, 

"I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."

God bless us, every one!

Love ~ S. F.

P. S.

You may remember that in 2014 I started a "Photo a Day December" photo challenge. I shared the photos for the first week, but not the rest of the month. To be truthful, I didn't take photos throughout the whole month, but I do have have several that have been waiting in a draft since then and I might as well share them now. So here are some Christmas pictures for you~

Day 11: "Up close".

Day 12: "Listen". (↓Wonderful Christmas CD if you like Celtic music.↓)

Day 13: "Star."

Day 14: "Recipe". (My siblings made a Christmas cake, and I stood by taking picture.)

Day 15: "Shopping".

Day 17 & 22: "Tree" and "Lights."

 Day 18: "Want". (The Gothard Sisters new Christmas CD!)

Blog of the Year Nomination: Chloe

Hello, dear people! Are you having a beautiful winter? I sure am. Christmas is very soon approaching!

My blog friend Kara started a "Blog of the Year" award, which you can read all about in her post here. 

Rules:

•For the sake of spreading the word about the award, please include the host's link as well as the above picture

•Award ONE blogger and do a blog post dedicated to them, thanking them for being the amazing blogger you see them as

•Answer the following questions in the blog post ( feel free to delete any of the questions that aren't relevant to the blogger or the post and add some of your own to make it more personal)

•Let Kara know on Saved by Grace who you nominated

•Let the blogger know that you nominated them

When Kara announced it, I started thinking about who I could nominate. I haven't been too active in Blogland this year, so I haven't discovered any new blogs. I reviewed the ones that I have looked at, and one stood out in my mind for deserving the award.

And so, I would like to nominated Chloe from Rustling Thoughts for the Blog of the Year Award.

Chloe's blog banner

1. Tell us why you think this blog should deserve an award as blogger of the year and what sets the blog apart in the blogging world:
Chloe has faithfully kept up her blog and her posts about her life are so fun to read. She always has something interesting to read or look at.

2. Just for fun: How did you find the blog? 
I seem to recall that she found my blog first. . .I think? 🤔 Yes, that sounds right.

3. One word descriptor for both blog and blogger:
Real.

4. What is one of your favorite posts?
I like to read the posts where she answers questions people submit. They're quite fun to read. 😊

Chloe, thank you for all you do in the blogging world! You're amazing. Keep up the good work! 😉

And thanks to Kara for thinking up this great award!

❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄ ❄

Time's running out if you want to nominate someone (which I highly recommend you do!) I think this is a perfectly brilliant way to give someone a pick-me-up.

Hope you're having a blessed Christmas season! God bless you all!
Love~S. F.

PS. The fact that Blogger now has a "insert special character" option might be the best (so many options) and worst (because methinks this blog will become full of them) thing that could happen to someone who loves smiley faces. 😁

Peace

All images from the Internet; I do not own any.

At Christmas we celebrate the birth of the Prince of peace, and we all can open our hearts and let in the "peace of God, which passeth all understanding" (Phillip. 4:7) Isn't there something so delightfully and irresistibly cozy about a scene like the ones pictured below? Gazing at a nativity scene gives me an overwhelming sense of peace, as I think about wonderful it would have been there to see the newborn King! And what about that feeling you get when you see the snow blanketed deep?

Some of my very most favourite scriptures are about peace. I'd like to share three with you now~

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. 

~John 16:33

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid. 

~John 14:27

My son, peace be unto thy soul; thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment;

And then, if thou endure it well, God shall exalt thee on high; thou shalt triumph over all thy foes. 

~ Doctrine and Covenants 121:7-8

What are some of your favourite things about Christmas?

"Light the World" this Christmas

One of my favourite things about the Christmas season is the lights. And the warmth.

This time of year is cold and dark (depending on where you live. . .), and I love that we are given a holiday to bring some light and warmth to those that are lacking it.

We celebrate the birth of our Saviour, who is the light of the world.

This video beautifully shows how we can be a light for others. Watching it is a perfect way to get into the spirit of the season! Let's all do our part to light the world for Christ!

#LIGHTtheWORLD 

Along with the video is a calendar with wonderful ideas how you can be a light all month long. It's getting me so excited as I see all the good I can do this month! :) I hope you see some ideas on there that you can do, too.

"I am the light of the world." ~John 8:12

"Ye are the light of the world." ~Matthew 5:14

To Give Thanks

The KBR Ministries's annual "Give Thanks" challenge is approaching with the month of November. I always look forward to participating every year, to write down seven things each day I'm thankful for. As I look back on this last year, I feel so incredibly blessed by the Lord for everything that He has given me. How undeserving I feel at times! But He is merciful and good. How I love Him!

I think this year I'll go a little beyond. Everyday brings blessings overflowing. I'll let all I'm grateful for flow out and write down as much as I can.

And now I extend and invitation to you-- join in the challenge! It doesn't take much to write down 7 things a day that you're grateful for. Let us all give thanks to the Lord next month!

"For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations."

~Psalm 100:5

More information on KBR's "Give Thanks X7 challenge" here.

In Honour of these Happy 3 Years

Time is passing. The weather is growing cold.

The first day on this month (being October 2016) was the third anniversary of the beginning of "On Solid Ground". Three years! Ah, it's been a good adventure. I personally have changed much in these three years, and this blog shows it, doesn't it? Let's take a look and see what I've done. . .

2013-
-Started On Solid Ground
-Did the 30 day LOTR challenge
-Awarded the Sunshine Award
-Started Three Fangirling Sisters

2014-
-Awarded for the Liebester Award, and the Sunshine Award.
-Added blog pages
-Posted a lot about needing to post more (*sigh* ☺)
-Got a bit excited about a certain movie. . .
-Wrote Misty Streets
-First Year Anniversary
-The Things That Make Me, Me

2015-
-Awarded/tagged the Blogger Recognition Award, Authorly Bucket List Tag, Sweater Weather Tag, and 12 Days of Thanksgiving Tag
-Took a blog break
-Designed quote pictures
-Created and reported on my summer bucket list
-Designed my compass blog design
-Participated in a photo challenge
-Second Year Anniversary
-Participated in an End of Year Link-up

2016-
-Tagged for the Happy Tag and Quote Tag
-Designed my sycamore blog design

Well, that was a nice little recap. :)
Thank you so much for all the fun adventures you've been a part of! I simply would not be blogging if it wasn't for my dear, dear friends, most of whom were there when I did my first post and others who have joined along the way. You are all so special and enrich my life so much. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!!

And with that said, let's continue on to the next year of blog adventures for S. F. :)
*picks up walking stick and sets off* And you say, "But wait, S. F.! It's autumn time, remember? Don't for get your hat and scarf and sweater!" *halts and comes back* See? What would I do without brilliant friends like you! Here's a hug for each of you!

God bless you all! ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

Yours truly,

S. F. (who sets off on her new-blog-year-adventure again, this time with a hat, scarf, sweater, and thankful heart)

In Which There is a New Blog Design

Dear friends,
     I thought, I asked, I liked, I looked, I worked, I figured things out. . . and lo, and behold! A new design for On Solid Ground. Thanks to Les for suggesting sycamore leaves! I quite like how it's turned out so far, but I think I have a few more extra touches to add. What do you think of it?

Love ~ S. F.

Reflections from My Dresser Top

I took a look at my piled dresser top and thought something like, "To sort or not to sort, that is the question." . . .
Well, the answer was sort. (Obviously.) And so I ended up taking everything off the dresser top and out of two "stuff drawers" and making a pile akin to Mt. Everest on the bed. :D Yes, it took a while to "sort" and yes, I still have to organise it all properly. . .but the point I'm heading for isssssssssssssss. . .I removed lots of particles (and piles) of dust (and one spider! O.O) which made me feel good.

A couple of days later. . . I took a look at my hibernating blog and a thought something like this came to mind. . . "DUST." Dust? Yes, dust! Something fresh and new and brilliant! I think I'll start with the design first. The water colour/compass design has been up for over a year, so I'll try something new (not quite sure what just yet. . .any ideas?) and then do a little updating of things here and there. The other changes I'll make I'm not quite certain of, but they will most likely insure that I post at least once a month from now on. ;) I'm looking forward to it! *happy happy happy*

The empty dresser top.

Any ideas from when you've "dusted" you blog?

I hope you have had an excellent summer, my dear friends! God bless you all!

Love, S. F.

Quote Tag - Day 3

 In which S. F. forgets to do the Quote Tag Day 3 until a few days later. . . ;)

The simple rules~

1. Thank the person who tagged/nominated you

2. Nominate/tag three new bloggers every day.

3. Post a new quote every day for three consecutive days.

 For the final day, here are some quotes for us readers and writers~

I tag. . .

SW

Elizabeth

Les

Quote Tag - Day 2

Thanks again to Chloe from Rustling Thoughts for tagging me!

The simple rules~
1. Thank the person who tagged/nominated you
2. Nominate/tag three new bloggers every day.
3. Post a new quote every day for three consecutive days.

The theme for the quotes I picked today is sharing joy. :)
 (All pictures from Pinterest)

And now for the tagging. . .

I am going to insist that this qualifies as tagging three bloggers and tag Abby, Phoebe and Jo over at their blog "A Girl's View". :)

See you tomorrow for the final day of the quote tag!

Quote Tag - Day 1

Chloe from Rustling Thoughts tagged me for the quote tag--thank you so much!

The simple rules~

1. Thank the person who tagged/nominated you

2. Nominate/tag three new bloggers every day.
3. Post a new quote every day for three consecutive days.

Here is an assortment of inspiring quotes (because one does not simply pick one quote, and the more the merrier)~

 (All pictures from Pinterest)

I tag. . .

 Kara

Elizabeth

Carissa

Make Today Count

"We shall have all eternity to celebrate the victories, but only a few hours before sunset to win them." ~Amy Carmichael

 We only have one life. And believe me, it may go faster than most of us expect. If we aren't aware of what is going on around us, we will suddenly realise that the time has swiftly gone from sunrise to sunset.

 How can we make today count? How do we wish to live our lives? What do we want to exchange our days for?

"Through this toilsome world, alas!

Once and only once I pass;

If a kindness I may show,

If a good deed I may do

To a suffering fellow man,

Let me do it while I can.

No delay, for it is plain,

I shall not pass this way again."

~ Unknown

That one day. That one chance to do good and help another along. We must take the chances "for it is plain, I shall not pass this way again."

Have I done any good in the world today?
Have I helped anyone in need?
Have I cheered up the sad and made someone feel glad?
If not, I have failed indeed.
Has anyone's burden been lighter today
Because I was willing to share?
Have the sick and the weary been helped on their way?
When they needed my help was I there?

Then wake up and do something more
Than dream of your mansion above.
Doing good is a pleasure, a joy beyond measure,
A blessing of duty and love.

~Will L. Thompson 

When the sunsets everyday, we should ask ourselves "have I done any good?" And the more you think on it, the more you'll realise how many chances you have to help others, whether you took them or not was your choice.

 
This is a lesson the Lord is teaching me more and more everyday. I have to decide what I'm going to do, who I'm going to serve, how I'm going to live. It's a choice we all are making all the time.

". . .Choose you this day whom ye will serve. . .but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."

~ Joshua 24:15 (KJV)

 I wanted to share this message with you all because it's SO IMPORTANT! Life is happening no matter what. And the encouragement I'd like to share is that any good deed that you did in a day makes it a golden day to treasure forever. Every day is worth living because every day the Lord provides ways for you to succeed and grow. He is with you every hour of your life.

While I'm on the subject of how we spend our days, I'd like to let you all know that, despite my lack of posts and comments and emails and whatever else, I'm still here. Blogging has slipped farther down on my list of priorities, but be assured that you friendship has not. I often think of my wonderful Blog friends as I go throughout my day and I wonder how you're doing and hope all is going well. And so, while I do take a long time to reply sometimes, I have not left. :)

I hope all has been going splendidly in all you have been doing this year!

 Your friend,
S. F.

Note: All pictures in this post be me and my sisters.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, m' friends!

I know no finer day to wear the most green possible, cook your version of the traditional Irish breakfast, listen to and sing Irish music, get chills as you listen to the Irish Rugby team sing "Ireland's Call", and to celebrate your Irish pride. :)

☘ ☘ ☘ ☘ ☘ ☘ ☘ ☘ ☘

My great-great-great-great-grandfather was born in Ireland. . . so I'm not sure how much Irish blood that gives me.  . .but I know it's enough to be proud of and wish you all a very hearty HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY! :)

"May your troubles be less,
and your blessings be more.
And may nothing but happiness
 come though your door."
(An Irish blessing.)

Love,

S. F.

The Gothard Sisters - Hummingbird

The Gothard Sisters have a new music video for their song "Hummingbird!" It is very beautiful, happy, and inspiring. :)

The Happy Tag

Thank you so much for tagging me, SW! ♥ This tag is quite fun and brings a bit more joy into your day as you think about all the things that make you happy. :) What you do is list things that make you happy under the 6 categories given.

I tag Kara, Abby, Carissa, Chloe and Sarah.


Books:

The Word of God

Anne of Green Gables

The Wind in the Willows

The Lion, The Witch, and the Wardrobe

A Child's Garden of Verses
Peter Rabbit

Words:
Love

Faith
Hope
Family
Home
Brilliant
Done

Movies/TV:

Anne of Green Gables
Little Women
Scenes in Hobbiton from LOTR and The Hobbit

Scents:

Just before it rains

Mushrooms cooking

Dirt and grass

Roses and Rosemary

Old books

The library

Songs:
I Am a Child of God

Mountain Rose Waltz by the Gothard Sisters

Fairy Dance Jig by the Gothard Sisters

Sunshine by John Denver

Fur Elise and other classical
Hobbiton theme song

Misc:
Smiley Faces :)
Hugs
An armful of books
Letters from friends in the mail (and e-letters, too)
Sunsets
The tick-tock of a clock
A cat's pur

February 29th

"Thirty days hath September, 

April, June, and November; 

Thirty-one the others date, 

Except in February, twenty-eight; 

But in leap year we assign 

February, twenty-nine."

 ~Unknown

Image from the Internet.

 Happy Leap Year Day 2016! 

Just think, today there was no last year and there is no next year! :)

♥ LOVE ♥

Valentine's Day has passed, but I still wanted to share some of my favourite quotes on love.

“The world is indeed full of peril, 

and in it there are many dark places; 

but still there is much that is fair, 

and though in all lands love is now mingled with grief, 

it grows perhaps the greater.”

~ J. R. R. Tolkien

"Love doesn't make the world go round, 

it makes the ride worthwhile." ~ F. P. Jones

And then this acrostic is so perfect that I had to share~

Frosty Mornings

It's that beautiful time of year when you're greeted by a white frost almost every morning. On two of those such mornings, I ventured out and photographed some of the magical fairyland (as it seemed to be.) Here are some of the best: