Late afternoon at the balsam fir swamp in Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge.

From top: nodding bur-marigold (Bidens cernua), also sometimes referred to as nodding beggarticks, a clumping, wetlands-loving annual whose flowerheads nod as they mature and get heavier; bushy St. John's wort (Hypericum densiflorum), a gorgeous, densely-packed shrub with vibrant yellow flowers and copper-colored bark; white meadowsweet (Spiraea alba), a rapidly-colonizing shrub whose branching clusters of white flowers are one of summer's most generous gifts; narrow-leaved gentian (Gentiana linearis), a tall, elegant bottle gentian that can only be pollinated by bumblebees strong enough to pry open (or chew through) its closed petals; flat-topped white aster (Doellingeria umbellata), also known as parasol whitetop, a tall, attractive mountain aster with flat, branching clusters of white flowers; and the dainty white flowers of virgin's bower (Clematis virginiana), a vigorous, twining vine that forms beautiful, dense waves of foliage and flowers.

I wrote this as a part of my advent calendar fics, I hope you like it!

It is a Jake ‘Hangman’ Seresin x gn!reader imagine.

Thank you @marvelandotherfandomimagines for proofreading!

Day 4: picking out a Christmas tree

Warnings: the tiniest bit of cursing

“And that has to be done today?” Your boyfriend asked you with a roll of his eyes as he looked over at you by the front door.

Christmas was your source of joy and you couldn’t start decorating early enough, and of course the Christmas tree was one of the most important parts of your decor.

Jake was usually very busy with work, which was perfectly alright, but it only left you a few moments to spend time as a couple together.

This time Jake would have preferred to spend it in the comfort of your bed, no doubt.

Instead, you dragged him outside to go Christmas tree shopping, and after a few words of protest he gladly let that happen.

You found one of those sales at the corner of a few streets down and took your time looking around, searching for the perfect tree for your small but happy home.

You immediately got busy looking for the perfect tree with Jake following you along.

You went through the different types of trees; pine trees, spruce trees, and cypresses, but none of those were good enough.

While you had help choosing by a salesman and you were happy with a lot of the options it was Jake who developed a harsh and unbreakable opinion.

At first you had thought he was making fun of you because he feigned interest but you soon realized that he wasn’t faking it, Jake started to be actually even more invested than you were.

In the end you ended up by the different kinds of fir trees, making your way through balsam, canaan, and douglas fir until you reached the kind of tree that you knew was perfect for you.

You immediately fell in love with the grand fir trees they had standing around and chose a rather small one, but Jake wouldn’t have it for the world.

“You can’t be serious, babe. That thing is too small for a dog to pee on. We’re not taking it home,” he commented and while you were slightly offended you had to laugh at his choice of words, nodding along and following him this time as he led your investigations.

He made his way to one of the tallest and widest trees on the property and stopped dead in his tracks, staring at it for a while before turning around to grin at you.

You were shocked by his choice, not even a second doubting that he was serious about what he was doing.

“Baby, it won’t fit,” you said matter-of-factly but Jake didn’t budge, not once swaying from his fervent opinion.

Carrying the tree home alone was a nightmare and you didn’t even want to know how much it cost.

You did your best to get the fir tree into your home and living room, after which you spent some time searching for a tree stand while Jake stood holding your new roommate by its restraints.

When you finally found it and brought it along Jake did his best to keep the tree upright.

As you had said the top of the tree was bent because it pressed against your ceiling and you chuckled as you saw that, looking over at Jake to find his eyebrows furrowed in anger.

“I guess we’ll have to cut it off,” you chuckled just to tease him and Jake let out a scoff, glaring at you in mock-affront.

“Over my dead body,” he let out before he kept standing there, arms crossed defiantly in front of his chest and staring at the top of the tree to come up with a better solution.

You took that time to get the boxes with ornaments.

In the end you did have to cut the tip off.

But while you were happy just leaving it the way it was Jake decided to do you one better and cut off a little more than needed, just to be able to put the natural tip back on using a hammer and a nail that ran through both parts of the tree.

It was a mess and you had already collected a fair amount of needles and twigs from the floor, but when Jake stepped back in satisfaction you had to say that he had done well.

It had taken you an entire afternoon to choose a tree and to put it up, but when you moved to hug your boyfriend he let out a moody groan.

You started peppering kisses along his neckline until they reached his lips, your hands roaming his chest until he pulled away.

“What’s up baby, you’re not in the mood?” You asked gingerly, and grinned at him as you pulled away.

“That stupid tree took a lot of energy to put up already,” he groaned, but your grin only softened at that.

“Alright, my hero, then I’ll do all of the work,” you whispered, and Jake found enough energy in him to be able to bolt into the bedroom.

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Sderot resident: People opened their doors when Hamas terrorists knocked, thinking they were IDF troops

By CANAAN LIDOR

Shoval Kahlon, a resident of Sderot, describes the situation in the border town which was infiltrated by Hamas terrorists.

“There are Hamas troops walking around. We see videos of them. They’re walking round with impunity,” she tells the Kan public broadcaster from the bomb shelter of her home.

Security forces are fighting terrorists in at least four areas in the town, the broadcaster reports.

“We woke up at 6:30 a.m. to alarms, we thought it was the usual rocket attacks but we started hearing gunshots on the street, sounded like it came from the parking of our building. Then we realized something was unusual. We then started seeing Hamas people in pickup trucks. They knocked on the homes of residents, who thought they were Israeli soldiers. They took them hostage,” says Kahlon.

14min ago

US condemns Hamas attacks on Israeli citizens

By JACOB MAGID

An ultra-Orthodox Jew peers out of a building after a rocket attack from the Gaza Strip in Ashkelon, Israel, on Oct. 7, 2023 (AP Photo/Ohad Zwigenberg)

The United States “unequivocally condemns the unprovoked attacks by Hamas terrorists against Israeli civilians,” says White House National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson.

“There is never any justification for terrorism. We stand firmly with the government and people of Israel and extend our condolences for the Israeli lives lost in these attacks,” Watson says.

US “National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has spoken to Israeli National Security Advisor Tzachi Hanegbi and we remain in close contact with our Israeli partners,” Watson adds.

24min ago

Baby found at kibbutz where Hamas gunmen infiltrated; parents nowhere to be seen

A baby has been found at Kibbutz Kfar Aza near the Gaza border, and the parents are nowhere to be seen, Channel 12’s Tamir Steinman reports.

The baby is alive. Kibbutz residents are pleading for anyone who has information on the baby’s family to come forward.

The kibbutz is one of several places where Hamas gunmen are still believed to be on the loose.

Steinman, speaking a few minutes later, also says several of his friends and contacts who live in areas close to the Gaza border, including some he was talking to earlier today, “are no longer answering… and it’s clear why they’re not answering.”

Continuous real time updates at The Times of Israel.

Persona 1 - Emperor Arcana

1. Seimen-Kongou

Boy with Earring’s initial Persona, a Rakhasa who used to spread disease before converting to good. In both its mythology and Kaneko’s official art, is accompanied by the Three Wise Monkeys representing ‘do no evil, speak no evil, hear no evil’.

Uses Garu/Magaru and has the Delyte, Makajam and Pulinpa ailment attacks. I think its design (and Personas in general) were inspired from JoJo’s Stands. At any rate, I like ‘near-naked former evil demon’ being the representation of the first Persona protag’s inner self. 

2. Airgetlam

Nuada was king of the Tuatha Dé Danann and thought to be related to Nodens, the British/Gaulic god of fishing and hunting. Airgetlám is actually his title, referencing the silver arm he lost in a battle with the Fir Bolg’s king, Sreng. 

Fusable at Lvl 12, you’ll replace Seimen-Kongou with Airgetlam early on. He has Paralama and Dormina to inflict Paralyze and Sleep, and uses Magna and Mamagnara. Unfortunately, he has four weaknesses but he can carry you for a while. 

3. Brahma

In Hinduism, Brahma is part of the Trimurti and is called ‘The Creator’, along with Vishnu the Preserver and Shiva the Destroyer. He can be fused using any card combination that results in an Emperor and with the totem Masamune’s Eyepatch. Absorbs all Phys/Gun skills and is weak to all magic attacks. 

4. Marduk

An ancient Mesopotamian god who became the chief of gods after a civil war. He slew Tiamat, the dragon of the primordial seas and leader of the Annunaki gods, as well Kingu, her son. Marduk used Tiamat’s body to create the heavens and earth, then mixed Kingu’s blood with earth to make clay to mold the first human beings to work for the gods.

There’s an interesting lecture series on Youtube that notes how the early Bible directly references the Babylonian creation myth, and how worshipping the Christian supreme god was argubaly more appealing for people of the time. Better it be someone directly invested in the fate of His creation and humans, instead of an amoral warrior king who created humans to labour for the gods. 

Back to Marduk, his resistances are decent and he has Balzac to increase an ally’s attack and replace any other status ailments. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have any good AOE moves so slap an item on him when you fuse him.  

5. Odin

You don’t need me to explain the Allfather of the Norse pantheon. 

The opposite of Brahma, in that Odin’s weak to all physical and gun attacks and resists all magic attacks. His Dragon Whirl and Magnadyne are pretty hard-hitting attacks. 

6. Baal

“Ba’al” is an epithet meaning ‘Master/Lord’. and has been used to refer to many gods throughout the Middle East in ancient times. In mainline SMT, he is referred to as the “chief Semitic god who governs over fertility. He is the god of Canaan and brother and consort to the goddess Anat, who saved him from Mot”, which would make this Baal the Canaanite god Hadad, god of storms and rains. 

Baal resists and absorbs some magic attacks while being weak to Elec, Blast, Nuke and Gry. Uses Ice and Bless attacks. Statwise, he’s better than Odin, but I didn’t see any reason to take the time to rank him up for Bufudyne.

7. Amen Ra

Boy with Earring’s Ultimate Persona, a merger between the bigwig gods Amun and Ra. He held the position of transcendental, self-created creator deity and he was the champion of the poor or troubled, being central to personal piety.

You need this bad boy (and some grinding for max rank) if you want to have a good time against the final boss. I’m surprised how there seems to be no official art of him, if you never played the game and only read the manga, you’d be forgiven for mistaking Vishnu to be Boy with Earring’s Ultimate. 

8. Vishnu

F you and your fusion requirements. 

I like how his Marin Karin (Charm) animation is to give a big grin at the enemy. It’s the upper right sprite in this sheet. His other attacks have him whack opponents with a gada, an Indian blunt mace.

Jacob is Sent to Find a Wife

December 31, 2023  

Genesis 28:1-22  

Golden Text:       Whoso findeth a wife findeth a good thing, and obtaineth favour of the LORD. Proverbs 18:22  

Although Jacob is sent to find a wife, when we last looked in on the family, we find that Isaac has decided to bless Esau in spite of the fact that God had told him through his wife that the older (Esau) would serve the younger (Jacob).In short, Isaac wanted to rebel against God. In Chapter 27, Isaac proclaims that he is going to die and he wants to bless his son Esau so he tells Esau to go get savory meat (venison) that Isaac may eat that meat and give the blessing that was now to be that of Jacob back to Esau.  

Remember that Esau had sold his birthright to Jacob when he came out of the field hungry and traded his birthright for a mess of pottage. Esau has despised his birthright but now Isaac has thought he was going to go against the will of God and bless Esau with a blessing that was supposed to be Jacob’s.  

Rebecca the mother of Jacob and Esau, heard what Isaac was saying to Esau and she worked with her son Jacob to deceive Isaac to think Jacob was Esau and so, because of the deception, the blessing went to Jacob as God has intended.  

Shortly after Jacob left, having received the blessing of Isaac, Esau arrived and wanted the blessing from his father. Isaac trembled and admitted to Esau he had been deceived by Jacob and that he had blessed Jacob and Isaac said,”Yea and he shall be blessed.” Esau was bitter and that bitterness led to anger and the anger led to his plan for murder.  

The Bible says “And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father had blessed him and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; then will I slay my brother Jacob.” It is not clear whether Rebecca heard these words uttered by him or if it was revealed to her by God, but she knew the plan and purpose of Esau to kill Jacob. And she wanted to send her son Jacob away to be with her brother Laban in Haran , hopefully until the anger of Esau turned away.  

But at the same time, Esau had married again a Canaanite woman and Rebecca used that to convince Isaac that he should send away Jacob to be with her brother Laban and there find a wife other than of the Canaanite women.  

Message Text: Genesis 28:1-22  

1 And Isaac called Jacob, and blessed him, and charged him, and said unto him, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan . 2 Arise, go to Padanaram, to the house of Bethuel thy mother's father; and take thee a wife from thence of the daughters of Laban thy mother's brother.  

Apparently by now, Isaac was settled in the fact that the blessing would go to Jacob. I’m sure Isaac must have been aware of the fact of the death threat by Esau toward his brother, however, he seemed to encourage Jacob to go to Padan-Aram and take a wife of the daughters of Laban, Rebekah’s brother, not mentioning the death threat. God had not yet revealed to Jacob or Isaac or Rebekah the full plan He had for Jacob. As we read we will learn that God was preparing through Jacob for the 12 tribes of Israel .  

Adam Clarke (1762– 1832) says:  

It appears, from Genesis 28:11, that he lodged in the open air, with a stone for his pillow; and from Genesis 32:10, that he went on foot with his staff in his hand; nor is there even the most indirect mention of any attendants, nor is it probable there were any. He no doubt took provisions with him sufficient to carry him to the nearest encampment or village on the way, where he would naturally replenish his bread and water to carry him to the next stage, and so on.  

3 And God Almighty bless thee, and make thee fruitful, and multiply thee, that thou mayest be a multitude of people; 4 And give thee the blessing of Abraham, to thee, and to thy seed with thee; that thou mayest inherit the land wherein thou art a stranger, which God gave unto Abraham.  

And Isaac here passes on the blessing of God made first to Abraham and then to Isaac. Isaac tells Jacob to be fruitful and multiply and that he and his seed (children) will be prepared one day to inherit the land wherein Isaac is now living, which Isaac tells Jacob God gave unto Abraham and here Isaac passes the promise on to Jacob.  

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) states: 

Give thee the blessing of Abraham - But, according to St. Paul, much more than this is certainly intended here, for it appears, from Galatians 3:6-14, that the blessing of Abraham, which is to come upon the Gentiles through Jesus Christ, comprises the whole doctrine ... redemption from the curse of the law, remission of sins, and the promise of the Holy Spirit, including the constitution and establishment of the Christian Church.  

5 And Isaac sent away Jacob: and he went to Padanaram unto Laban, son of Bethuel the Syrian, the brother of Rebekah, Jacob's and Esau's mother.  

We notice that Isaac sent Jacob away. He did not want Jacob to take a wife of the Canaanite women. That was no longer his plan nor was it God’s plan but instead he was to go on to Laban, Rebekah’s brother. (Rebekah of course was the mother of Jacob and Esau.)  

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says: 

Bethuel the Syrian - so called ... because he dwelt in that country which had been formerly possessed by the descendants of Aram .  

6 When Esau saw that Isaac had blessed Jacob, and sent him away to Padanaram, to take him a wife from thence; and that as he blessed him he gave him a charge, saying, Thou shalt not take a wife of the daughters of Canaan; 7 And that Jacob obeyed his father and his mother, and was gone to Padanaram; 8 And Esau seeing that the daughters of Canaan pleased not Isaac his father; 9 Then went Esau unto Ishmael, and took unto the wives which he had Mahalath the daughter of Ishmael Abraham's son, the sister of Nebajoth, to be his wife.  

Esau was a keen observer. Not only had they blessed Jacob but had forbidden him to take a wife from the daughters of Canaan . Up to that point, Esau’s wives were from Canaan . Esau noted that Jacob had obeyed his parents and was gone to the home of Laban to find a non-Canaanite wife. Esau realized that his wives, the Canaanite wives, were displeasing to both his father Isaac and his mother Rebekah. Rather than pray and seek God or talk to his father, Esau went unto Ishmael. Ishmael was the son of Abraham. Surely a daughter of Ishmael would be acceptable to Isaac and Rebekah. But we will later learn that was not true either.  

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:

Then went Esau unto Ishmael - Esau did this with a sincere desire to obey and please his parents. Having heard the pious advice which Isaac gave to Jacob, he therefore went and took a wife from the family of his grandfather Abraham ... Esau married his father's niece; Jacob married his mother's niece. It was therefore most obviously to please his parents that Esau took this additional wife.  

10 And Jacob went out from Beersheba , and went toward Haran. 11 And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep. 12 And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.  

Jacob went out from Beersheba toward Haran and the home of Laban, apparently all alone. No camels, no entourage, and as he traveled, the sun set. He decided to lie down for the night. The Bible tells us he took stones for his pillows. That doesn’t sound too comfortable but apparently it sufficed Jacob.  

As Jacob went to sleep, he had a dream, an unusual dream. He saw a ladder that set on the earth and the top of it, why it reached to Heaven! Then as he watched, he saw the angels of God going up and down on it. We don’t know if it was a moving or a stationary ladder. We are only told it was a ladder and the angels went up and down on it.  

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:

A certain place and tarried there - From Genesis 28:19, we find this certain place was Luz, or some part of its vicinity. ... Or the gates might be shut by the time he reached it, which would prevent his admission.  

He took of the stones - He took one of the stones ...  Genesis 28:18  

He dreamed, and behold a ladder - It is very likely that its primary design was to point out the providence of God, by which He watches over and regulates all terrestrial things ...  In his present circumstances it was highly necessary that Jacob should have a clear and distinct view of this subject ... It might be intended also to point out the intercourse between heaven and earth, and the connection of both worlds by the means of angelic ministry. ...  It was probably a type of CHRIST ... for GOD was manifested in the FLESH, and in Him dwelt all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. ... By Him God comes down to man; through Him man ascends to God.  

13 And, behold, the LORD stood above it, and said, I Am the LORD God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac: the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; 14 And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed. 15 And, behold, I Am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.  

Suddenly, the LORD stood above the ladder and spoke to Jacob, proclaiming Himself to be the LORD GOD of Abraham and Isaac and told Jacob, The very spot you are lying in, I will give it to you and your children.  

And God said, his children would be numerous (as the dust of the earth). He would occupy the entire land to the east west north and south. Then He said, to his children, the children of Jacob, all of the families of the earth be blessed, of course referring to the Messiah of Israel and the Saviour of all mankind to come through the line of Jacob.  

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:  

 I Am the Lord God of Abraham — Here God confirms to him the blessing of Abraham, for which Isaac had prayed, Genesis 28:3-4.  

Thy seed shall be as the dust — The people that shall descend from thee shall be extremely numerous, and in thee and thy seed-the Lord JESUS descending from thee, according to the flesh, shall all the families of the earth - not only all of thy race, but all the other families or tribes of mankind ... be blessed; for Jesus Christ by the grace of God tasted death FOR EVERY MAN, Hebrews 2:9.  

And, behold, I Am with thee — For I fill the heavens and the earth. ... Thy descendants also shall be My peculiar people, whom I shall continue to preserve as such until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of-until the Messiah shall be born of thy race, and all the families of the earth - the Gentiles, be blessed through thee;  

16 And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not. 17 And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.  

After Jacob awoke from the conversation in dream with the LORD, he was awestruck. He realized the LORD was in this place. And he was fearful, he was frightened, just to have been in the Presence of God. He came to the conclusion that this was the gate of Heaven.  

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:  

How dreadful is this place! — The appearance of the ladder, the angels, and the Divine glory at the top of the ladder, must have left deep, solemn, and even awful impressions on the mind of Jacob  

18 And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. 19 And he called the name of that place Bethel : but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.  

These verses merely tell us that Jacob arose early in the morning, took the stone he had used for a pillow, set it up for a pillar and poured oil upon the top of it. He named the place Bethel (House of God). He knew he was in the presence of Almighty God but he didn’t fully understand how God was preparing him.  

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:  

And Jacob-took the stone - and set it up for a pillar — He placed the stone in an erect posture, that it might stand as a monument of the extraordinary vision which he had in this place; and he poured oil upon it, thereby consecrating it to God.  

And poured oil upon the top of it. — Stones, images, and altars, dedicated to Divine worship, were always anointed with oil.  

He called the name of that place Beth-El — That is, the house of God; for in consequence of his having anointed the stone, and thus consecrated it to God ... This word should be always pronounced as two distinct syllables, each strongly accented, Beth-El.  

20 And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, 21 So that I come again to my father's house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: 22 And this stone, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God's house: and of all that Thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto Thee.  

Jacob made a vow which was a promise to God. We are told in the Bible we are better off not to make a vow than to make a vow and not keep it. But Jacob’s vow was sort of self centered. It started off with, IF God will be with me and will keep me... Then Jacob asked for bread and clothing and said that if Jacob comes again and is able to go back to his father Isaac’s house in peace - then he is ready to make the LORD his God. And the stone which he set for a pillow would be one of the foundation stones for God’s house. There he promises God that he will keep the tithe, or give one tenth to God.  

Adam Clarke (1762 – 1832) says:  

         Vowed a vow — A vow is a solemn, holy promise, by which a man bound himself to do certain things in a particular way, time, c., and for power to accomplish which he depended on God hence all vows were made with prayer.  

If God will be with me, -- Jacob seems to make this vow rather for his posterity than for himself, as we may learn from Genesis 28:13-15 for he particularly refers to the promises which God had made to him, which concerned the multiplication of his offspring, and their establishment in that land. ... but as his taking refuge with Laban was probably typical of the sojourning of his descendants in Egypt, his persecution, so as to be obliged to depart from Laban, the bad treatment of his posterity by the Egyptians ... were all typical of the exodus of his descendants, their travels in the desert, and establishment in the promised land  

I shall worship God in this place. And this purpose he fulfilled, for there he built an altar. ...  

On the teaching of tithes ... as a whole tribe, that of Levi, was devoted to the public service of God; and when the land was divided, this tribe received no inheritance among their brethren. Hence, for their support, the law of tithes was enacted ...  If the ministers of God give up their whole time, talents, and strength, to watch over, labor for, and instruct the people in spiritual things, justice requires that they shall receive their support from the work.  

Next week we will see how Jacob and Laban work one against another for an advantage. When Jacob comes to the land of Laban , he has nothing, when he leaves God has indeed blessed him with two wives, two concubines, twelve sons and one daughter and thousands of livestock.  

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, I know that You love me and have a wonderful plan for my life that includes heaven with You forever in the next life. Here we see God has a plan for Jacob and the line to Messiah and the Saviour of all mankind. We need a Saviour because all have sinned. We have earned for ourselves death in the lake of fire. But Jesus died on the cross to pay that death penalty so that all who believe He is Lord and accept His death to pay for their sins can be in heaven with Him one day for ever and ever. In this lesson and the one to come we see the hand of God, that He is in charge of everything. Thank You Father, thank You Jesus, thank You God the Holy Spirit. Come in to my life in a bigger way and make me a fit vessel for Your use here on earth. This I pray in Jesus’ Name - Amen.       

May God bless you in all that you do for Him, Brother J.R. Soul winner, Bible teacher, Defender of the Faith

Twelve Days Of Christmas

Chapter 6,

Summary: Dean never realized that Y/N missed Christmas until he turned off an annoying Christmas song on the radio on the way home from a hunt, now he will make it his personal mission to give her the Christmas he misses so much, and if he plays his cards right, maybe he will give her what he has wanted to give her for so many years, himself.

Pairing: Dean Winchester x Reader

Written For: @spnchristmasbingo​​​​​

Square Field: Christmas Tree

Word Count: 2024

Warnings: Fluff, brief mention of past trauma, light angst.

A/N: This is to help me catch up on my SPN Christmas Bingo card lol Chapter 7 will post tomorrow! I knew chapter will post every day until Christmas! I know I’m insane lol. This is a real time fic collection and all mistakes will be my own! Please do not copy my work! Hope you all enjoy these!!

**SERIES MASTERLIST**    **MASTERLIST**    **BECOME A PATREON**

Snow, you had seriously never seen this much snow in your life. You were starting to think it was never going to stop snowing. It snowed all night long, finally slowing to light dusting somewhere around daybreak, and by the time you and Dean had pulled yourselves out of bed, it was evident no one was going anywhere until the snowplows came through to clear the roads, which could take a few days. 

You were totally fine with the idea of hanging around the cabin today. It had been a busy week already. Dean had gone above and beyond what anyone had ever done for you already, and if today was just a day where you hugged out and did nothing, that was okay. Not every day had to be some grand adventure for you. 

Dean, on the other hand, had been eyeing the cluster of small Canaan Firs on the back corner of the property all day. They were just big and full enough to make a small Christmas tree for the two of you. So, without much explanation other than, “get your coat and boots,” you followed Dean towards the little cluster of trees. The small ax he’d found in Baby’s trunk was swung over his shoulder as he trudged ahead of you through the almost kneed deep snow, making a path for you to easier walk in as he paved the way forward to his destination. 

From a few paces back you could see the white flurries land on his broad shoulders as well as the back of his jacket and sock hat as he went, his large silhouette standing out in stark contrast to the snow as he pushed on forward through the unforgiving cold. 

You could hear him humming along to a tune that you didn’t recognize as he turned over his shoulder giving you a little smirk while he watched you struggle to keep up with him through the deep snow. Being short wasn’t exactly working in your favor at the moment, and he paused, turning to fully face you with the ax still slung lazily over his shoulder much like he did his vampire machetes after a hunt. 

“Need me to carry you Y/N/N,” he called sarcastically, and you childishly stuck your tongue out at him before answering. 

“I’m doing just fine on my own Winchester!” 

“Okay, Sweetheart, I was just offering since the snow is almost as tall as you are. I was afraid you’d fall into a drift and I wouldn’t be able to find you until the snow melted,” he teased, and you rolled your eyes dramatically. 

“You just worry about getting us a tree cut down and stop worrying about me,” you tell him, earning a deep chuckle from him as he turned and started to make his way toward the tree line again. 

The sun was starting to go down, it was late but you and Dean both had been pretty lazy today. Doing nothing but watching Christmas movies, you pick this time, and eat as much artery-clogging food as you could manage since you didn’t have Sam the health nut breathing down your throat. The darkening sky overhead cast an almost postcard type feel to the scenery around you, but your gaze was on the back of Dean’s head as he hummed along his way.

He looked particularly smug with himself as he kept making his way towards his goal, still chuckling as your footsteps crunch along behind him. Your inner child was screaming at you to not let him get away with that. So reaching down as you went, you grabbed a handful of snow in your gloved hands and started to pound it into a ball. 

Just as Dean turned to make another comment about you talking all day to catch up to him, you launched the snowball, hitting him squarely in his broad chest, laughing as he looked grumpily from you to the show that still clung to the outer layer of jacket that was on his body before a smile carved by the devil himself appeared on those pink, wind kissed lips of his. 

“Oh Baby, it’s on now.”

Reaching down on the ground in front of him, Dean grabbed a handful of his own snow.

You turn to try and run back towards the house for safety, but it was no use, he was taller and faster than you were. Before you could even take three steps you were nailed in the back with a larger snowball, and Dean’s laugh echoed through the cold air around you as you staggered a little. 

You quickly try to gather up another snowball, but Dean was faster, quickly launching another and barely missing you as you ducked lower to the ground. 

Deciding to change your tactics a little, you charge at him, hurling two more snowballs in his directions. He rolled across the ground to escape them, laughing as you cursed and scrambled to gather up more snow.

“Oh, now you want to play dirty? Well, you shouldn’t write checks you can’t cash baby girl,” he growled playfully, looking up from his sprawled out position with his eyes almost glowing with a childlike excitement you had never seen in Dean before.

Without warning he jumped off the ground, running towards you at an impressive speed. The sudden change totally threw you, and all you could was stand there like an idiot for a moment before turning on your heels and bolting back in the opposite direction. 

Unfortunately, your pause was going to be your demise. Dean’s long legs carried him to you faster than you would have guessed possible, one long arm wrapping around your torso as the other grabbed a handful of fresh powder, dumping it down the back of your shirt and jacket. 

You twist and try to get away from the cold, screaming and laughing until your lungs hurt. If anyone was watching they were surely going to think he was killing you. Both of you were laughing so hard at this point that Dean lost his footing, falling down on his backside and pulling you down with him, both of you lying there in the snow as you tried to catch your breath from your little snowball fight. 

“Okay, truce?” Dean asked breathlessly, still smiling widely. The dim light of the winter evening casting the most gorgeous glow over the exposed skin of his face that you suddenly realized was very, very close to yours, and that you were still sitting on top of him. 

For just a moment you contemplated revenge, but decided better of it, knowing Dean could turn the tables on you in an instant and suddenly have the upper hand again. 

“Truce,” you agreed, slowly climbing off of him and helping him stand to his feet. 

Dean kept up with your pace this time as you made your way towards the tree line, looking at the trees there. While all of them were full and beautiful, they were all a little too big up close to bring into the cabin. 

“You know, there’s a box out in the woodshop labeled Christmas Stuff, bet there’s an artificial tree out there too,” Dean said, looking towards the shed that felt like it was a thousand miles away from you in the dimming light that stretched across the snow-covered lawn. 

“You know, I bet you’re right, cause even if we get one of these bad boys cut we’d have to drag it all the way back up there,” you point out in a huff of white fog, and Dean nodded in agreement. 

“Come on, hop up on my back and I’ll carry you there,” he offered as you gave him a shocked look. “Come on don't be stubborn.”

“Okay,” you agreed reluctantly as Dean knelt down in front of you in the snow for you to wrap your arms around his neck while his gloved hands came to your thighs, hoisting you up as if you weighed nothing at all.

It didn’t take him nearly as long as it would have taken the both of you walking to reach the woodshop, and as you slipped down from his back and turned on the light, you noticed the welding torch Dean had been using when he planned on taking the “big splash” still laying on the workbench and froze. 

Dean noticed your hesitation and followed your gaze with his own before pulling a heavy and on his shoulder. 

“Come on baby girl, let’s not dwell on the past okay? That’s not why we’re here.” 

You knew he was right, but the thought of him out in the middle of the ocean, buried in a metal coffin, trapped with Michael terrified you to this day. In fact, you still had nightmares about it even if you would never tell him that.

You let Dean guide you to the back of the shed, quickly finding boxes of decorations and Christmas lights of all sorts, and finally a tree. 

“Got it!” Dean yelled excited, producing a box marked “Christmas Tree,” and adding it to the growing pile of decorations on the ground. 

“Great, let’s get it to the cabin, I’m freezing,” you tell him. You weren’t really all that cold, but wanting to get away from this room where he’d almost literally created his sealed fate. Dean picked up on your hurry, and nodded, grabbing the boxes he could along with the Christmas tree and following you back into the warmth that awaited in the cabin. You didn’t really take a breath until you were back in its warm enclosure. 

Dean dropped his boxes on the ground, coming up and taking yours from you before slipping his arms around your waist and hugging you tight into him. 

“You okay Y/N,” he asked after you finally returned his hug, holding on to him like he might disappear in front of you if you let him go. 

“I’m fine,” you lie, but Dean saw through it, he knew you all too well, he knew that seeing that had bothered you even though you were trying to hide it. 

“Hey,” letting go of you he pulled a glove free of his hand with his teeth and placed it to the side of your face, making you look up into his astonishing green eyes. “I’m still here, and I don’t plan on going anywhere any time soon.” 

You nod and lean your head into his chest as his fingers glide their way through your hair and calm your racing heart a little. 

“Tell you what, that’s enough adventure for tonight. We can decorate tomorrow, right now I’m going to make you some Winchester Surprise for dinner and we can get drunk and prank call everyone that’s stone age enough to still have a number in the local phone book there.”

You hadn’t expected that, but the thought of Dean calling someone and asking them if their refrigerator was running had you cracking up in spite of yourself. Just like that, all the bad melted away as his lips pressed lightly to your forehead, and removed your jacket for you. Just like that, he chased away the bad memories again, leaving only a peace you had never felt until this moment in its wake. 

Sure the two of you had both been through your share of hell, in Dean’s case literally, but you had never seen it until right then how much you needed him and how you weren’t willing to live without him. He was your person, and you just wished you could be his. 

Even though the past tried to drag itself back up to haunt you, standing in the kitchen with Dean and helping him cook his favorite meal for the two of you felt so natural that you wouldn't have ended day 8 any other way. No matter what happened after Christmas was over, this memory would be your favorite of them all. Just you and Dean, being together in a rare slice of normal, what more could a hunter ask for?

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Skating Lessons part 21

Summary: Christmas prep with Mason. 

Warnings: Swearing, foreplay, the usual...

Word count: 2131

Series Masterlist

“Where are we going so early?” You almost whine as Josh loads Mason in the car.  Knowing he has to be tired from his game the night before.

“Its a surprise.” Josh smirks at you as he leans over Mason to buckle him up. He jumps in the driver seat and hands you your coffee that seems to have appeared from nowhere. “Drink me!” He jokes as he starts to drive. He heads out of Columbus and towards the country.

“Josh?” You draw out his name with the question of where your drive was taking you.

“Look familiar yet?” He runs his hands down to yours like always.

“I know. I know.” Mason chimes in. Your eyes dart back towards your son who has his noses pressed into the window and his hand in the air.

“Really?” Your eyebrow goes up.

“Let’s see if Momma can figure it out, kay?” Josh chuckles and squeezes your hand.

Your eyes move back and forth as Josh’s watch gives directions that you cannot see. You finally get to the exit and it looks familiar.

“Are we going to our Christmas tree farm?” Your voice raises at the realization. This was the tree farm you’ve grown up going to. Since Mason you have always gone with your parents and clearly never paid attention to the route.

“Yeah Babe. I asked your dad where to go. With my long road trip coming up I wanted to make sure we got a tree up.” He brings your hand to his lips and kisses lightly.

“So Jingles can come back!” Mason’s voice was excited.

“Who is Jingles?” Josh questions in the sweetest tone.

“My elf. He comes to help Santa! Jingles comes when we are ready for Christmas.” Mason’s excitement for the season oozing out of every word. You look at Josh’s face and smile taking a mental note to explain the whole Elf on the shelf concept to him when little ears aren’t listening. “How’s Momma going to walk around the tree farm?” Mason turned his attention to the winding country road Josh turned on.

“I already thought of that.” Josh eyes Mason for a split second in the mirror and shoots a look at you.

“Of course you have. Perfect example.” You whisper while Josh shrugs his shoulders and turns into the farm.

Opening your door you inhale the smells of evergreen and cinnamon that dance in the air. The family owned farm has always been your favorite and the bonfire they throw scraps of tree on with cinnamon sticks makes every memory of cutting down a tree come rushing to your brain. “That’s smell is heaven.” Josh breaks your trance and pulls you toward him for a hug.

“Smells like Christmas.” You breathe in deeply.

“So Mace, can you handle the wagon and I got Momma?” Josh turns to Mason and he nods in agreement. Josh dressed Mason this morning and you realize as they stood there that the two have on the same buffalo plaid shirt that coordinates with your green one. The warmer Ohio day meant forgoing the heavy coats which your ice loving boys seemed to enjoy. “Ready?” Josh looks at you with that part sinister part loving look you are all too familiar with. He turns around and dips down so you can get on his back.

“Are you giving me a piggy back ride?” You question and Mason laughs.

“At least until we get out to the trees.” Josh looks back and smiles at you. “Come on Babe! There is a tree to find!” You shake your head and do as your told. As promised, Josh puts you down in the Canaan fir section of the field and disappears like Mason. “How tall is your celling?” Josh pokes his head from around a 10 foot tree.

“We normally get an 8 foot.” You hobble over to where your boys were standing behind this tree.

“Not what I asked (y/n).” He raises his hand up to see how tall it was compared to him. “This one will fit.” Josh looks down at Mason and then you.

“True. Plus it has a nice shape.” You eye your boys excitement and pure joy that matches.

“So can we get this one Momma?” Mason runs around the tree and collides into your side. Josh puts up a hand to steady you.

“It does look like the perfect tree.” Your smile reaches your eyes as you look down at Mason and up to Josh.

“Well let’s document this shi...stuff.” Josh pulls out his phone and props it in the limbs of the tree next to where you were standing. Kneeling down he pulls you to his knee and Mason stands in front of him. Using his watch he clicks the camera mode. “Okay, on three.” Mason counts and you all three smile.

“And this is why we are matching eh?” You look at Josh as Mason runs towards the wagon. Josh just kisses you while you remain on his leg. Your hand reaches up to cup his face. “Thank you.” You breathe out while standing up.

“For?” Josh stands and pulls you into his side.

“You know...being perfect.” You nudge him and he laughs.

Josh takes the saw and blanket Mason retrieved from the wagon and gets down to cut the tree. Mason lays right next to him and you couldn’t resist taking too many pictures of the cuteness.

“Timber!” Mason yells from under the tree as it falls to the ground.

The whole process was a turn on. Josh looking like a lumberjack and easily cutting down the tree. His attention to details like dressing all three of you the same and having Mason help in the tree finding process. You quickly came back to reality when Josh and Mason placed the tree on the wagon and Josh picked you back up. Mason’s little muscles pulled the tree back to the front and you took the distance to kiss Josh’s neck and whisper in his ear.

“Can we talk about how hot you look right now?” You kiss his neck again and Josh squeezes your legs.

“Oh really.” You cannot see his face but you know his smirk is plastered on.

“Oh yeah. Cutting down our tree. Making sure to take a picture of the three of us. Letting Mason help. Looking the way you do. Anderson, you make me weak.” You pop up from his back and place a kiss on his cheek.

“Noted.” Josh chuckles as you reach the tree shaking and roping area. Josh carries you back to the car while the tree is being prepped. He and Mason head back to pay for and retrieve the tree. You see them coming back. Mason with two hot chocolates in hand and Josh with the tree on his shoulder. You press your thighs together at the sight.  He was so damn sexy in his plaid carrying a giant tree with ease.  

The drive back was filled with Christmas songs and Josh playfully running his hands up and down your leg while singing loudly.

You have never put a tree up so easily in your life.  You remember your parents did not argue much but the putting the tree in the tree stand was maybe the one thing that stressed everyone out.  Josh placed you on the couch, had Mason hold the door, put the tree in the stand and with one hand steadying it with Mason’s help he tightened the eye hooks with ease.  

“Did that just happen?”  You sipped your coffee and looked up at Josh.   “What?”  Josh’s puzzled look was adorable.

“That was...impressive.  Now let’s see this tree!”  You wink at him feeling the heat in your cheeks as he grabs scissors and cuts the tree free.  

Mason and Josh retrieved your Christmas boxes and the three of you started to decorate the tree.

“Josh, does your house need a tree?”  Mason yawned out after placing his favorite Stinger ornament at his eye level.

“Nope.  I’m not there much these days and I only had a small fake one the last few years that sat on my counter.”  Josh leaned down to Mason’s level.  “I’m glad I can help with a real tree this year.  It’s what I grew up with.”  “In Canada is Christmas different since you are closer to the North Pole?” Mason yawns again and both you and Josh laugh a little.

“Well I grew up near Toronto which is super close to the US but my parents always made sure we got to bed early since Santa was so close to us.”  Josh stands up and holds out his hand.  “Let’s get you to bed so Jingle can come.”

“Jingles, but we aren’t ready for Christmas!”  Mason whined.

“Baby, Josh and I will finish.  Promise.  Jingles will be here in the morning.”  You kiss him and Josh takes Mason to bed.

Grabbing your favorite ornament from when Mason was born you try to reach up to get it higher on the tree when Josh’s hands grabbed your hips.  

“Fuck you look gorgeous standing in front of this tree.”  He whispers and lifts you up to place the ornament.  Spinning you around he looks deep into your eyes.  “Christmas looks good on you (y/n).”  Josh holds your face and kisses you deeply.  

“Same babe but can we finish the tree first and get the elf out?”  You say breathlessly.  

“Yeah, but I’m not promising to behave since the little dude is in bed.”  Josh kisses down your neck and your breath catches in your throat.

He lived up to his lack of promise.  Josh’s hands were up your shirt, his lips on your neck and lips, and picking you up to spin you around while singing Baby it’s cold outside.  You did get the tree finished and Josh hoisted you onto his shoulder to place the angel at the top.  Sliding you down his body you feel the electricity between the two of you.  He stops and holds you so your faces are parallel.  Wrapping your legs around him careful not to get your boot in the way.

“This road trip is gonna kill me.”  He groaned and kisses your lips.  

“You and me both but at least this damn boot should be off by the time you return.”  You knock it into his ass.  

“That’s going to be amazing as hell.  Plus there is always phone sex.” Josh chuckles and attacks your neck.

“Joshua!” You playfully act offended. “It’s five days right?”  

“Yup.  For the 12 day roadie in March you might just have to sneak in my luggage.”  He pulls back to look at you. 

“Babe.” You move your hand to his face and he drops you slowly down to the ground.  “it’s your job.”

“Yeah, and it won’t last forever then I’ll be retired in my 30s and bugging the hell out of you.”  He laughs and pulls your body into his.  Josh always eluded to the future but never quite so directly.  It made your stomach flip with anticipation.

“Josh.”  You aren’t sure what to say but he kisses you where the words fell.

“Now let’s talk about this elf?”  His eyebrows move up.  “Where exactly to you keep this said Jingles?”  he laughs and you two make your way to the secret closet that Mason never gets into.  You place Jingles in a coffee cup with three packets of hot chocolate, a candy cane and sprinkle marshmallows over the counter.  “So let me get this straight...the elf is to check in on you for Santa but he’s a naughty elf?”  Josh watches from his lean on the counter.

“Sounds about right...all the other parents do it...peer pressure.” You laugh.

“Now can we go to bed?” Josh whines and makes his way to you.  “Because I’m gonna need some motivation to head out in the morning.  And you’re sexy ass has been hard not to pin to every wall I can find.” He growls loudly and lifts you up.

“Shhhh...” you giggle.  “You aren’t getting anything if you wake up Mace.  Plus, you were the tease today with your lumberjack-ness.  I had to control myself all damn day.” 

Josh has a look on his face that you know well and quickly makes his way to your bedroom to toss you gently on the bed.  

“Sure you aren’t too tired from all your heavy lifting today?  Tree, me, tree, me...” You bite your lip and Josh crowds your space.

“Fuck no.  Want me to show you?”  He grabs your ass and you know you are in for it.  “Why would my baby want a lumber fucking jack when you can have this?”  Presses his body into you and you feel yourself melt under him.

The replacements

It was a painful decision, but I finally faced the facts and started culling trees from my modest Christmas tree plantation that would never make the grade - the stunted, the misshapen, the skeletal victims of bugs, disease, deer antlers ...

On Wednesday I replaced the discards with 40 Canaan fir seedlings (like the one in the picture) from Tannenbaum Farms, which is just down the road from where I live.

Canaans, which are native to the mountain areas of West Virginia, are virtually indistinguishable from Fraser firs, which, in my opinion, are the Cadillacs of Christmas trees. Canaans are said to be a bit hardier than Frasers.

I was about half-way through my planting Wednesday afternoon when a light rain began to fall. I pushed on and finished just before the cats and dogs arrived.

I would call that perfect timing.

Tafsir Ibn Kathir: Surah Al-Baqarah Ayah 258

In the Name of Allah, the Most Gracious, the Most Merciful.

258. Have you not looked at him who disputed with Ibrahim about his Lord (Allah), because Allah had given him the kingdom! When Ibrahim said (to him): "My Lord is He Who gives life and causes death.'' He said, "I give life and cause death.'' Ibrahim said, "Verily, Allah brings the sun from the east; then bring it you from the west.'' So the disbeliever was utterly defeated. And Allah guides not the people, who are wrongdoers.

The Debate Between Ibrahim Al-Khalil and King Nimrod

The king who disputed with Ibrahim was King Nimrod, son of Canaan, son of Kush, son of Sam, son of Noah, as Mujahid stated.

It was also said that he was Nimrod, son of Falikh, son of Abir, son of Shalikh, son of Arfakhshand, son of Sam, son of Noah.

Mujahid said,

"The kings who ruled the eastern and western parts of the world are four, two believers and two disbelievers. As for the two believing kings, they were;

- Suleiman bin Dawud and

- Dhul-Qarnayn.

As for the two disbelieving kings, they were;

- Nimrod and

- Nebuchadnezzar.''

Allah knows best.

Allah said,

Have you not looked, meaning, "With your heart, O Muhammad!''

at him who disputed with Ibrahim about his Lord, meaning, about the existence of Allah.

Nimrod denied the existence of a god other than himself, as he claimed, just as Fir`awn said later to his people,

I know not that you have a god other than me. (28:38)

What made Nimrod commit this transgression, utter disbelief and arrant rebellion was his tyranny and the fact that he ruled for a long time. This is why the Ayah continued, Because Allah had given him the kingdom.

It appears that Nimrod asked Ibrahim to produce proof that Allah exists.

When Ibrahim said (to him): "My Lord is He Who gives life and causes death",

meaning, "The proof of Allah's existence is the creations that exist after they were nothing and perish after they had existed. This only proves the existence of the Creator, Who does what He wills, for these things could not have occurred on their own without a Creator who created them, and He is the Lord that I call to for worship, Alone without a partner.''

This is when Nimrod said, He said, "I give life and cause death".

Qatadah, Muhammad bin Ishaq and As-Suddi said that he meant,

"Two men who deserved execution were to be brought before me, and I would command that one of them be killed, and he would be killed. I would command that the second man be pardoned, and he would be pardoned. This is how I bring life and death.''

However, it appears that since Nimrod did not deny the existence of a Creator, his statement did not mean what Qatadah said it meant. This explanation does not provide an answer to what Ibrahim said. Nimrod arrogantly and defiantly claimed that he was the creator and pretended that it was he who brings life and death.

Later on, Fir`awn imitated him and announced, I know not that you have a god other than me. (28: 38)

This is why Ibrahim said to Nimrod, Ibrahim said, "Verily, Allah brings the sun from the east; then bring it you from the west".

This Ayah means,

"You claim that it is you who brings life and death. He who brings life and death controls the existence and creates whatever is in it, including controlling its planets and their movements. For instance, the sun rises everyday from the east. Therefore, if you were god, as you claimed, bringing life and death, then bring the sun from the west.''

Since the king was aware of his weakness, inadequacy and that he was not able to reply to Ibrahim's request, he was idle, silent and unable to comment. Therefore, the proof was established against him.

So the disbeliever was utterly defeated.

Allah said,

And Allah guides not the people, who are wrongdoers.

meaning, Allah deprives the unjust people of any valid proof or argument. Furthermore, their false proof and arguments are annulled by their Lord, and they have earned His anger and will suffer severe torment.

The meaning that we provided is better than the meaning that some philosophers offered, claiming that Ibrahim used the second argument because it was clearer than the first one. Rather, our explanation asserts that Ibrahim refuted both claims of Nimrod, all praise is due to Allah.

As-Suddi stated that the debate between Ibrahim and Nimrod occurred after Ibrahim was thrown in the fire, for Ibrahim did not meet the king before that day.

The northern end of Canaan Valley is characterized by regenerating northern hardwood forests interspersed with red spruce, open fields converting from pasture to heath, and beaver-curated wetlands. When the first white settlers arrived in the mid-1800's, the valley was a nearly impenetrable wilderness composed of mud-sucking "muskegs", gnarly rhododendron thickets, and monstrous stands of red spruce and eastern hemlock. Within 50 years, it was all gone, cut over and burned down down to bare rock. Salvation for this "Land of Canaan" has only recently come in the form of the Canaan Valley National Wildlife Refuge, which has set about the painstaking restoration of the valley's diverse (and occasionally threatened or endangered) plant and animal communities, some reaching their southernmost limits in these mountains.

From top: a view toward Cabin Mountain from Middle Ridge, whose open flank is overrun by lowbush blackberry, mountain laurel, bushy St. John's wort, bracken fern, and dotted hawthorn; several of the beaver-engineered wetlands, a mecca for birdwatchers from throughout the Mid-Atlantic region; the blazing red berries of red elderberry (Sambucus racemosa), a hugely important food source for local wildlife; the fanning white corymbs of American black elderberry (Sambucus canadensis), which comes into bloom about two months after red elderberry; quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides), whose delicate leaves flutter in unison at the slightest breeze; a beautiful young Canaan fir (Abies balsamea var phanerolepsis), a subspecies of balsam fir whose fragrant, blue foliage and high needle retention have made it increasingly popular as an ornamental; a lovely patch of hairy hedge nettle (Stachys hispida), a stately native mint; tall meadow rue (Thalictrum pubescens), a wetlands-loving perennial that clumps impressively along streambanks and bog margins; and lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium), whose berries are just now starting to ripen.

On the Eighth Day of Shipmas...

800 words of my fav brotp Cress’ev. Please let me know if you’d like to be tagged! Tagging: @bookishserendipity03 @thulianpink @clarence-potato @phantomswrath @ten-thousand-marvels @getthenoot @anj0921 12 Days Masterlist

Wolf wasn’t exactly sure why Scarlet sent Cress with him to pick out a tree. She was too small to be much help, not like he needed it, but went along with it nonetheless. Maybe she knew what species Scarlet would prefer? Wolf knew they needed a evergreen of some sort, but Cress was the one that knew more about the types of trees, right? Because she’d read so much in her satellite?

They walked side by side across the empty fields. Wolf carried an axe over his shoulders while Cress dragged a large sled behind her. The sound of crunching snow beneath their booted feet seemed almost deafening to his enhanced ears.

“Where are we going?” Cress asked.

He pointed ahead of them, toward a slope. “There’s a patch of woods at the base of that hill. We should be able to find a good tree there.”

“Wonderful.”

They continued walking in silence for a couple minutes. As the neared the slope Cress decided small talk would be nice.

“How do you like living here?”

Wolf contemplated for a second. He had a feeling she was trying to get an idea of the differences between Earth and Luna, so he talked about them. “It’s nice. A lot different than Luna. The air here is cleaner. More… fresh. And everything feels more open. The seclusion of being on the farm is nice. The people are nice for the most part. It takes some awhile to warm up to me with the--” He gestured to his face, “--fangs and wolf-like-features. But the ‘War Hero’ title usually wins them over.”

She nodded, “And living with Scarlet?”

“Perfect as ever.”

They reached the hill, but before they walked down, Wolf stopped them. “Make sure to keep the sled in front you, otherwise it might keep hitting your ankles and trip you.”

“Right.” Cress said. Pulling the contraption around her body, she gave it a little kick while still holding onto the rope with her gloved hands. Iit slowly slid along as they hastened through heavy snow. The closer they got, the higher it went up, nearly reaching her knees. Cress was beginning to think she should have bundled up more.

They soon reached to bottom, and sure enough, there were trees everywhere and in every size and shape. Many of them were without leaves, as it was winter, but there were hints of green here and there, indicating the presence of pines.

“See any you like?” Wolf asked.

She wove through the brown trunks, touching many as she passed. Examining the needles of what she believed was a white pine, she decided the branches would be too weak to hold any of Scarlet’s heavier ornaments. She moved on to a beautiful canaan fir, ready to claim it was the one until she saw the enormous bald spot in the back.

From a few trees away, Wolf called, “What about this one?”

Cress waddled over to the tree he was staring at. It was a seven, maybe eight, foot tall fraser fir. The branches appeared full as she circled around it. It was neither too fat nor too thin.

“I love it,” She smiled.

Wolf took that as his cue to chop it down. He lined up the axe and swung. Due to his immense amount of strength, it only took him half a dozen swings for the tree to fall over.

Cress began to shiver as they loaded the tree onto its chariot. This time Wolf grabbed the rope and she took the axe. They trudged back up the hill, and Wolf noticed her shivering.

“Cold?” He asked.

“A little.”

He stopped, not saying a word as he took off his jacket and draped it over her shoulders.

Cress felt better immediately, but was concerned for him. “Oh, Wolf, you don’t have to do that.” She tried handing it back to him, but he refused. “Aren’t you cold too?”

Wolf laughed. “I’m a living space heater. Trust me, I’m fine.”

Wanting to argue, but deciding it was best not to, she simply said, “Thank you.” She was grateful for the extra warmth it provided until they’d get back to the house.

“Even though you’re cute when you’re freezing, I think you need it more than I do.”

“Did you just call me cute?”

“What? You are. Especially when you’re tired and bury your face into the nearest person.”

She barked out a laugh. “I could say the same thing about you. It seems like you’re always touching Scarlet’s arm, hand, or back.”

“She’s my alpha. I’d be lost without her.”

“I know.” She paused to give him a quick hug. “Now let’s get back to the house. I’m freezing and Scarlet said she’d have hot chocolate ready for us when we got back.”

Real XMAS trees are in demand this year

Real XMAS trees are in demand this year

Planted in the spring, then sheared in the summer, looking their best for us, come Christmas time. Bill says the Canaan fir trees are the most popular this year. Before any tree leaves the farm, they get a shake to get rid of any loose needles. Then they’re wrapped for the car ride home.

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THE WORD SIROCCO Wednesday, February 12, 2020 Month Theme: Spiritual Warfare and the Jubilee Topic: The Obstacles You Must Overcome Scripture Reading: Acts 28:1-10 Main Text: Acts 28:3 And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand. Obstacles are the evidence of a road that is leading somewhere. You cannot attain an objective without obstacles. As soon as you announce your purpose, the devil will throw all sorts of problems at you. People who fear challenges never achieve anything. You don't have to create problems before they come. Jacob received the express Word of the Lord to return to Canaan (Genesis 31:3). Objectives and Obstacles are nextdoor neighbours. Purpose and Problems cannot be disconnected. Adventure and Adversity combine to create excitement. Failure has its challenges but even success does not exclude us from challenges. When the apostle Paul escaped death on the high seas, he thought his troubles were over. However, a viper was about to test his survival instincts (Acts 28:1-6). Paul and his fellow sailors gathered wood to keep their fir burning to keep them warm, when they were washed ashore onto the Island of Melita. There was a cold viper lying inactive in Paul's wood. When Paul was putting the wood into the fire, the warmth that was a blessing to him also warmed the viper (his enemy) and aroused it. The viper unleashed venom into his blood stream but he did not die because if God blesses a person, He will keep that person alive in spite of the enmity the success will attract. Your blessings will always irritate your enemies and make them throw everything at you. The warmth of your prosperity often warms up your enemies and activates them. Enemies remain quiet until they see your breakthrough emerging. It is however gratifying to know that when the enemies place an obstacle in your way, God turns the obstacle into a springboard to catapult you to another level. Obstacles are not meant to obstruct you but to uplift you. You need them. Prayer: Pray for the grace and wisdom to use the obstacles you face in life as your springboard. Recommended Readin (at FGC Agathos Pastures - Tema) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8dg05Xp6Gt/?igshid=1lxvlukmbzzt2

Maybe the Torah's Calendar was never a Lunar or Lunisolar Calendar?

First some terminology clarification.  The traditional Rabbinic Hebrew Calendar we're used to calling a Lunar Calendar is strictly speaking a Lunisolar Calendar, the phases of the Moon come first but synchronization is done with a Solar year so the seasons don't get out of wack.  The same is true of the popular variants I've discussed already like the Samaritan Calendar, the Kariate reckoning and the proposed Lunar Sabbath model.  A strictly Lunar Calendar would be something like the Islamic Calendar which makes no attempt to reconcile and so Ramadan has fallen al over the Gregorian Calendar. But I've lately been questioning this traditional assumption that the Torah's Calendar is Lunar. Let's start with the fact that the Torah has completely different words for Month and Moon, that is not what I'd expect from a strictly Lunar month based culture.  Month is Chodesh/Hodesh (Strongs Number 2320) while Moon is Jerah/Yerach (3394).  There are a few places where the latter word is used of a passage of time, but that's because even without a lunar calendar the concept of a month is still tied poetically to the Moon somewhat as it's phases come close at least. The phrase "Rosh Chodesh" gets translated "New Moon" sometimes because of our traditional assumptions, but Rosh means the beginning or head of something.  The Torah never talks about the Full Moon, even in regards to the Holy Days that should happen then on a Lunar or Lunisolar calendar.  Two verses elsewhere in the Hebrew Bible are often translated as referring to the Full Moon, but those are highly disputable as I've discussed before. Colossians 2:16 is the one New Testament reference to the Jewish concept of the "Rosh Chodesh", and it again uses a Greek word for Month, not Selene the word for the Moon. And then there is all the evidence that The Bible clearly thinks of a Month as being 30 days not 29 and a half.  It's there when you do the math of the Flood chronology of Genesis 7 and 8 with 5 months being exactly 150 days beginning on the 17th of the eight month and ending on the 17th of the seventh month.  And it's also in Daniel and Revelation with 42 Months, 1,260 days and three and a half years being treated as synonymous time periods, and then in Daniel 12 1,290 days being that with one more month added, and 1,335 days added another month and a half. However there is one thing often taken as evidence for a 365 day year in the Torah, and that is how that number happens to be the number of years Enoch lived. But that could be a coincidence. Genesis 1:14-19 discuses the Sun (greater light), Moon (lesser light) and stars being made for signs and for seasons and for days and for years.  But you'll notice in verse 16 the Sun is made and talked about first, it has priority.  And months are seemingly missing from the discussion. It is well known that the Hebrew Calendar was influenced by the Babylonian Calendar during the Captivity, the names we're now used to calling the months come from Babylon for one thing.  Well the thing is Babylon had a Lunisolar Calendar, so even that aspect of it could be Babylonian in origin. Lunar Calendars were more popular with the ancient Pagans then you might expect given the modern popular narrative that Paganism always revolved around Sun worship.  But in fact the most prominent not at all Lunar Calendar used by Pagans in classical antiquity was the Civil Egyptian calendar, but even they originally had a Lunar one which they kept for ceremonial purposes.  Actually even in Greece the Attic Lunar Calender's main purpose was for how they observed Pagan festivals. Now as much as we love to see all things Egyptian as bad, it wasn't the Egyptians much of the Torah is telling the Israelite not to be like, it was the Canaanites.  One of the Canaanite tribes was the Amorites, Babylon first became a major player in Mesopotamia under it's Amorite dynasty, so that Babylonian calendar could be Canaanite in origin. There is one indisputable difference between the Torah Calendar and the Civil Egyptian Calendar, and that is when to start it.  Exodus 12 proclaims Aviv (the time of the Barley Harvest, early Spring) to be the first month while the Egyptian Calendar starts near the Autumnal Equinox. It is a common traditional conjecture that before Exodus 12 the first season was Fall rather then Spring, and that in Exodus 12 YHWH is swapping the First and Seventh months.  I'd been thinking of making a post on how we can't prove that using Scripture alone.  But since they were in Egypt for several generations it's very possible the Egyptian Calendar was their starting point and what month to make the first month was the only change YHWH is making in Exodus 12.  Though different agricultural and climate circumstances in Canaan no doubt brought further differences, the Egyptian Calender was organized around 3 seasons rather then 4 because of how they were ruled by the flooding of the Nile. In a hypothetical Torah based Solar Calendar the Intercalary month of five or sixth days (if that was the method used for synchronization) would go between Adar and Nisan rather then in September.  (BTW, those 5 days were when the Egyptians observed the birthdays of Osiris and Horus, not anywhere near Christmas.  And the Egyptian new year was September 11th  on our calendar coincidentally enough.)  Or maybe you would try to put them before the Seventh Month to keep Yom Teruah aligned with the Spring Equinox.  Since I view the Trumpet of Yom Teruah as also the Last Trump of Revelation 11, could it be preceding 6 Trumpets were meant to be associated with the proceeding extra days? Genesis 1:14 is possibly using Signs in place of Months, I have over the years gone back and forth on the Mazzaroth/Gospel in the Stars theory. Maybe fellow Mazzaroth proponents like Rob Skiba should consider that the Star Signs can be an alternate to the Moon for how to determine the months of the year.  Josephus did refer to Nisan as being when the Sun is in Aries, in the first century the Sun entered Aries around the Spring Equinox, and that month is indeed when the Barley Harvest happens.  The Romans had a Seven Day Barley Festival similar to Unleavened Bread that was the 12-18th of April, but due to the awkwardness of Caesar's revisions that may be off form when in the Sun's journey it was supposed to be. It is popular to theorize that Revelation 12:1 is describing some astronomical alignment involving the Moon. If it is it could be an exception and not proof the months are usually defined by the Moon.  But I'm skeptical of that altogether, I think it's probably a purely supernatural vision and not something predictable using Stelarrium. Now I do believe the Passover through Pentecost of Christ's Passion, Resurrection and sending of the Holy Spirit was based on what the Jews of the time were doing regardless of if it was still accurate.  But it may be it happened to be a year when they did line up, or at least close enough that First Fruits was the right Sunday.  Since I favor 30 AD and a Thursday Crucifixion on the 14th of Nisan followed by a Sunday Resurrection on the 17th of Nisan, I have long placed the Passion on the 6th of April 30 AD. The Qumran Community who wrote the Dead Sea Scrolls also rejected the Lunar Calendar, the Temple Scroll is our main source on their Calendar but it's discussed in other scrolls too.  I don't think that Calendar is right either, like the Lunar Sabbath model it wants to synchronize the monthly and yearly cycle to the weekly cycle by giving every 3rd month and extra day creating a 364 day year.  As I've talked about before the language in Leviticus 23 about Firs Fruits and Pentecost is clearly assuming they won't line up.  They make the first day of the year a Wednesday because that was the day the Sun and Moon were created.  But at least they correctly placed First Fruits and Pentecost on Sundays.   Weeks are not even remotely mentioned in the Genesis 1 account of the fourth day, so they aren't connected to the sun, moon or stars. The Book of Jubilees was popular with them because it too rejected the Lunar Calendar (Chapter 6 verses 32-37).  Something I bet Rob Skiba didn't notice when using the book for his agendas (The Jubilees Calendar also seems to be endorsed by Enoch 72-82).  But indeed Jubilees has the same problem as the Temple Scroll system.  In fact it's criticism of the lunar system for it doesn't line up perfectly with the seasons is hypocritical when their being one day short of a solar year will inevitably create the same issue. The Hebrew Roots movement has a lot of irrational fear of Sun Worship wrapped up into it.  Obviously actually worshiping the actual Sun or Moon or any other inanimate object is idolatry.  But Malachi does call Jesus the Sun(Shamash) of Righteousness, there is no equivalent title making the Moon a symbol of Jesus.  So I have no problem believing Jesus Rose from The Grave at Sunrise on a Sunday Morning, or that he was born on or soon after the Winter Solstice. I'm not ready to propose a specific calendar model just yet.  I merely want to open up this line of discussion. Or maybe I am. Read more »

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