It was a winter wonderland as my friend and I traveled the other morning. The sun shone brightly on every tree decked out in full glory. The blizzards of yesterday and yesteryear are forgotten when one sees those snowflakes glisten and sparkle. The world around us was a heavenly mantle of white. One can truly appreciate each season of the year.

Friday the 13th was a very special day. It was a day my grandson, Jonathan Christian Werner, arrived safely into this big world. What a joy for him to soon know he has nineteen cousins alone from the Werner clan, and a family and community to love him. My sister was born on Friday the 13th and this year celebrated another birthday on that special day. I am sure you have many memories of the month of January. It is the month of winter in the heartland. The wintry nights bring us close to the glow of the hearth fireside. It permits us to dream of times past and to also dream of tomorrow's future. I love hearing from the readers of this column. I thank you all for letting me share these warm thoughts over that cup of tea. This week I learned who is the author of this beautiful prayer and I'd like to share it with you.

I Said a Prayer for You Today. I said a prayer for you today and know God must have heard. I felt the answer in my heart although he spoke no word. I didn't ask for wealth or fame, I knew you wouldn't mind. I asked him to send treasures of a far more lasting kind. I asked that he'd be near you at the start of each new day. To grant you health and blessings and friends to share the way. I asked for happiness for you in all things great and small. But it was his loving care I prayed the most of all. By Frank Zamboni

Warm thought: Life is no brief candle to me. It is a sort of splendid torch which I have got hold of for the moment and I want to make it burn as brightly as possible before handing it on to future generations. George Bernard Shaw. Celebrate Life!

Warm Thoughts from the Little Home on the Prairie Over a Cup of Tea by Luetta G Werner

Published in the Marion Record January 19th, 1995.

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Enjoy flipping through the Vintage Photo Book on your coffee table.

I hope you enjoyed this podcast episode! Please follow along on this journey by going to visualbenedictions.com or following me on Instagram, Facebook, and Pinterest. You can listen to the podcast on Apple Podcast, Spotify, Stitcher, and Overcast. And don’t forget to rate and review so more people can tune in! I’d greatly appreciate it.

Till next time,

Trina