Frozen Solid

This was the coldest day for me yet.  We're hovering around -5 during the day and going down to about -10 at night which is WAY TOO COLD for November in my humble opinion.  Or any time of the year for me, but anyways...

There are good things going on INSIDE when it's freezing and icy outside.
For instance...

Temptations abound.  Blue Boy is taking some risks, perhaps not fully comprehending the possible consequences of these face to face visits. 

His bird house has a new spot in the kitchen and the little guy flies around like he owns this place.  Swooping low over our heads and often perching up on the shelf above the stove where he watches us humble earth dwellers below.

He terrorizes Ladybug who stands quivering in the wake of a close encounter. 

As much as she would love to snap at this living "squeaky toy" she knows he is definitely off limits.  

Blue Boy loves visiting with his reflection on the chrome taps in  the kitchen and takes little baths when we leave the water running for him. 

Isn't he just the most handsome little fellow?

Moose thinks so too.  

Ahem. 

I had my back entry painted a lovely white to brighten it up and I'm looking for a new cupboard to put in there to hide dog treats and store extra stuff.

Thankfully there have been some lovely sunny days in between the dark freezing ones and we go out to catch some Vitamin D rays and to hang with the puppies. 

Moose is just so darn photogenic.

The little head tilt is irresistible.

On this day he was finding frozen apples in the snow and laying down to eat them like popsicles.

Dear Jo popped in on Saturday for a little visit and had a photo op with the pups.  

These three could be on the cover of a magazine. 

She loves them and they are CRAZY about her. 

Snow Pretty

Woke up to a gorgeous snowfall.

Way too early in the season for me, but nobody asked me for my input. 

But seriously, it's just incredible.

Just wanted to stop and take pictures all the way to school!

Snow that coats every twig and fencepost...

Stunning beauty.

I had to stop on the bridge on my way home and snap this picture.

Sometimes when the road is quiet I stop the car, open the windows and listen to the water running below and breathe in the fresh forest air.

It's my style of enjoying the outdoors without having to get uncomfortable.

I'm just incredibly grateful that I live in the country and can see this kind of scenery every time I head out anywhere. 

One of those thousands upon thousands of good gifts that come down from my Father.

The orchard under grey skies.

Moody beauty.

I'm so glad for the seasons and for this landscape that changes so radically.

The longer I live out here the more I love it.

And then when the sun comes out it all changes again.

Look at the sweet little homestead under those blue heavens.

I'm tucked in there right now under a dark night sky, thankful that I have a warm home and a cozy bed. 

And a Big God who oversees absolutely everything.

Including those precious refugees that I am thinking of so often and feeling so helpless about.

Sending money seems like a very small thing, but combined with my prayers and the great kindnesses others are extending all over the world lives will be touched and people will be rescued. 

Ahhhh....

I hardly know what to say.

Lord Jesus Have Mercy.

Lana

I've known Lana for a long time now. 

Our girls were in elementary school together and our lives have stayed connected,  in a sporadical yet consistent way.  Like sometimes maybe once a year and then more often for a season.

But she never lets go of me.

And for this I am grateful.

Thankfully she just pops onto my grid and reminds me of how amazing she is and shares with me her journey.

We spend time talking and then we pray.

Lana is like no one else I know.

A big personality.  She's gritty and real and raw and super beautiful.

Hasn't had an easy life but she loves and laughs in a big way. 

So somehow Patrice and I had the privilege of celebrating Lana's birthday with her, her daughter and daughter's fiancé .

There was good food (cooked by the birthday girl herself) laughter and the preciousness of fellowship around a table on a dark November evening. 

This woman is gold.  

Praying that she will walk out her destiny and keep choosing to walk in the light.

She is one who has the potential of leading people out of very dark places.

She's not afraid to speak the truth in love and to lay down her life for others.

I'm honored to know her and to be chosen to be her friend.

She said it was one of the best birthdays she has ever celebrated and that meant so much to me.

That we got to be a part of that.

God is the best event planner.

Waffles & Scones

Another marvellously bright and sunny day saw this sweet little bunch of ladies heading out on an adventure once again.  

God's glory residing on three generations.

(As you can see Patrice joined the entourage this time.)

We are choosing Him and making the most of this journey.

Together.

Brunch at the Jammery with the sun streaming in; warming our backs and brightening our hearts.  

Scones and waffles, bacon and eggs, coffee and tea.

The preciousness of this family bond, despite our differences and weaknesses, does not escape me. 

It's a beautiful thing how we can dwell together in unity.

Choosing to celebrate the ordinary and laugh in the midst of adversity. 

Increasing blindness, chronic arthritis, debilitating depression, paralysis... 

SERIOUSLY!

We are overcomers extraordinaire and I am so privileged to have been born into this tribe.

This rich, strong blood flows through my veins. 

Generations of those who loved not their lives unto death.

What a heritage.

*********************

And then there's this.

Back to the dogs again.

Couldn't resist trying out a couple of new outfits.

Trying to keep everybody warm,

and looking as silly as possible...

Winter Blue

Twas cold today but the sunshine gave me courage.

The winter blue is crisp and clear.

Fresh snow has settled on our hilltops but the valley is still dry.

I rush from the school to my car and soon the heat is blowing and classical music is swirling around me.

Knowing there is a friend and hot drink ahead I wind my way through busy streets, and soon a London Fog is filling my belly with warm deliciousness and a dear friend's stories are mingling with mine. 

At home my room fills with the golden glow of an afternoon sun 

which sets far too quickly.  

But the winter sunsets are so lovely.

And the moonlit nights are unspeakably beautiful.

Stars so clear and bright, speak of other worlds and of a Creator who is known and mysterious.

**************

It's definitely harder to head out in the evenings now, but prayer has a place of priority.

Last night I bundled up in my brand new wool sweater, donned my leather gloves and made my way down the dark hill to where city lights beckoned.

Five of us gathered and the power and presence of God was so very worth the effort it took to pull my stiff and uncooperative body in and out of the car. 

As our songs ascended, heaven touched earth and our cries touched the heart of God.

We know this, without a doubt, otherwise we would not come together. 

I'm so grateful I can do this.

Still get my body dressed, out of the house and down the hill to do damage to the darkness and to be a partaker in the corporate act of worship & intercession.

My hands are not doing great.

At times stiff, at times achy and sore.

Just doing up a button can cause pain, but I have a perspective that pushes me forward. Gives me the impetus to worship in spite of pain, and gives me the faith to believe in miracles.

This God of mine is so worth it all.

Butterfly Breakfast

It baffles me how the Lord has seen fit to put so many rich gifts into my life.

I, completely undeserving, get to enjoy the most amazing people and experience the most incredible places and events. 

This breakfast, for instance was put on by my beautiful Butterfly friend Lora whom I have known for probably 23 years now. 

Our friendship was rooted and grounded in prayer as we met together at the school our boys both attended, to pray.

We have seen each other through all sorts of life experiences, but mostly in the context of this group of women whom we call the Butterflies.

We are constantly being changed into His Image as we submit to His Word and His leadings in our lives. 

Going through difficult seasons in the cocoon, seasons of emerging and finally spreading our wings to enjoy new levels of freedom and life.  

Isn't she lovely?

Inside and out, Lora is a woman of beauty and excellence.

She's also an extraordinarily good cook who is able to put on the most lavish feasts fit for royalty.  

Just look at this table.

We shared stories, enjoyed the delicious fare, and had several varieties of delicious teas served in all sorts of fancy tea cups.

I'm proud of these lovely women, each one of them remarkable and precious, and how they are choosing the higher road, the road less travelled in their daily walk. 

I'm amazed that I get to be part of this sweet circle of love and care.

So even though the day was dark and wet there was warmth and beauty to be found. 

And I even ran into this fun little trio on my way home.  Sara was out walking the puppies and she had Ladybug tied onto Moose to keep the wild things under better control.

I came home and crawled into bed with a headache for most of the rest of the day, but the happy thing is I have a warm home and comforts and family to share this life with.  

School 'n Stuff

It's feeling nippy these days, but once I get to school and settle in to the work I forget about the cold and enjoy myself. 

Immensely. 

Here's my little office space where the hard work happens.

Ten students from first and second grade.

They are all just amazing and so much fun.

I've been working with them just long enough to see them connecting the dots and even the youngest ones are beginning to read. 

It's all so fantastic really, that we can make the squiggles on paper turn into sounds and the sounds into words and thoughts. 

Today this sweet girl finished Book 2 and got her prize.

She chose a necklace from my give away box.

I seriously can hardly stand how cute they are. One of them told me the other day that she had swallowed a pencil, "well, five of them"... and that she had gone to the hospital to have them removed and she didn't even need a needle to put her to sleep!  

I thought that was just remarkable.

And one boy today said his dad paints real live turkeys purple.  

And keeps them in big cages.  

Oh my word.  

I also popped by a friend's place that I hadn't visited in ever so long for a catch up visit and these two ended up in my back seat for a brief hello as well.

When I get home there is a fantastic welcome awaiting me.

This big fellow is just the sweetest.

This is him looking hopefully at me over the kitchen counter. 

Go outside?

Play ball?

Treat?

I thank God often for the gift and privilege of having animals to cheer up our lives around here. 

Little Boy Blue is also bringing much joy and so many happy sounds into our home.

He's a bit moody, pecking us hard one minute and then doing a happy dance on our hands and kissing our thumbs.

His cage is often left open and he flies around terrorizing Ladybug and sitting high on the kitchen cupboards eyeing the action below. 

It seems to run in the family... this love of animals. Elsie's little Pupcake is pretty much the bomb as well. 

Look at that tiny bundle of cuteness all snuggled up against her.  

I had such a lovely evening yesterday. 

Dinner out with Daniel for some connecting time and then a family visit at Oma's.

God's richest gifts surround me.

Daily he pours out his blessings on me.

Promise Pages

On my drive to school in the mornings I am seeing the season change in a most spectacular way.

The leaves have been slow to fall from the trees in the orchards creating a stunning visual landscape.

And even though we're seeing snow at the tops of the hills around the valley we're still having some lovely sunny days...

The days have been getting really cool though and I'm needing to guard against a sadness that wants to creep in when I think of several months of this darkness and increasing cold.

So I've got this promise page that I've been reading and praying through on a fairly consistent basis. 

It keeps growing longer and longer as I listen to more teachings and get excited about new truths that are giving me life and direction.

So I read these promises and proclamations out loud in the morning.

First thing, while the day is fresh and I can commit everything into the incredibly capable hands of my Creator.

Powerful stuff. 

  I wait quietly before God for my hope is in Him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken.  Psalm 62:5,6

You make your saving help my shield, and your right hand sustains me. 

Your help has made me great.  You provide a broad path for my feet, so that my ankles do not give way.  Psalm 18:35

And now, even though it's not even 5:00 pm and the day has grown dark there is a light burning here in my cozy room.  

My friend Lisa is coming over and bringing some supper and then we're going to make some proclamations together.

Because, if one of us can put a thousand to flight then two of us can send the legions fleeing...

Cozying In

Sara and I took a "walk and roll" down the Greenway, which has now become a Hallowed Hall of Golden Glory! 

Just look at that pathway leading off into the light.

Ahhh, so many foretastes of glory.

This morning I was encouraged  and reminded of where my Hallowed Hall of Golden Glory is leading  when I read in Phillipians 3:20,

"But our homeland is in heaven, and we are waiting for our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, to come from heaven. By his power to rule all things, he will change our humble bodies and make them like his own glorious body."

The days are so short now and it was getting dark when we drove up the hill so we did something spontaneous and stopped to order pizza from our local pizzeria.  

We are cozying in for the winter months...

I want to make the best of this dark season - to keep it full of warmth and light and fun. My body wants to rebel and has been having difficulty moving and doing transfers and my hands have been sore and stiff, but this is only temporary.

This is not my homeland... 

I'm just passing through and the best is yet to come.