Sunshine Beckons

The icy roads haven't kept me home this winter!

When the sunshine beckons I'm out there taking Mom to an appointment, picking up groceries or meeting Asher for coffee and snapping pictures of the brightened landscape.

There's something about snow and sunshine and the very blue sky that just sets my heart a singing!

There are just so many things to be thankful for - even in an endless winter!

Sitting in front of the lake with a hot drink...

Arriving at school to read with these treasures,

Coming home to yet another freshly plowed driveway,

Baking cookies to thank the faithful neighbours who do the plowing,

Getting a sweet Valentine's chocolate,

And enjoying the friendship of this little gal.

A Bright Star

In the midst of the thin winter light and the frigid temperatures we celebrate a very bright star.

Dear little Tante Hilda was born into this wintery season and she truly brings light and joy into every place she enters.

What a little superstar.

She has overcome so much and has chosen joy, over and over again.

She loves God with her whole heart and she loves her neighbours as herself.

We are blessed to call her "Tante" and we did our best to gather the troops for a little Chinese Food and Cheesecake extravaganza to celebrate her precious life.

Pupcake is pretty crazy about her too so he was right there in the centre of things, taking the seat of honour with his Auntie.

Glad she is here to bring so much color into this month that is often black and white or shades of grey!

Fierce Frozen February

Somehow I was thinking that February, being a relatively short month, would pass by quickly. 

This has not been the case.

I keep waking up to more snow and icy temperatures.

February is dragging it's feet so that we can fully appreciate some extraordinarily low temperatures and endless amounts of snow that keep falling out of the sky.

People move swiftly when outdoors before their faces freeze and the roads are often covered with black ice giving one that feeling of free falling when approaching a stop light.

It has also been extraordinarily beautiful.

The deep stillness that envelopes the land and the incredible winter sunsets.

When possible I wait for the sunshine to make it's appearance before taking Mom and Tante Hilda on their drives.

The ladies  ooh and ahh over the lovely vistas as they clutch their hot drinks and enjoy their chicken burgers. 

This was a particularly beautiful day so we followed the road along the lake and enjoyed some spectacular sun drenched vistas.

Singing, Praying, Eating, Drinking... you know the drill. 

But it's always fresh and always new.

Just like those mercies that keep falling out of heaven onto us.

Every single day.

Even in the midst of a seeming endless winter.

There is always beauty to be found.

I picked up my friend Dawn on a Friday evening and because the sunset over the lake was so beautiful we just kept driving until we ended up in Summerland for a bowl of delicious hot French Onion Soup.

Living in a Postcard

I can hardly believe I get to live here.

The views just never get old.

Sometimes I post these pictures on Instagram and they need so few words, if any, for description.

Beyond the Graveyard...

The long road home...

Parkbench with Asher.

Coziness...

Grounding...

Timeless

Almost home...

And then there are the people that make this place home.

Had the best prayer meeting with these two at Mac - Donald's the other day.

Hamburgers, fries, and lots of Jesus. 

It was a joy filled time.

A perfect way to break up this endless winter.

Lunch with these two was pretty heavenly as well.

The clouds hung low over the lake and the pool was covered with snow...

But inside we were cozy and well fed,

With food and love.

  Home sweet Home.

Crepes for breakfast with these two.

So much laughter and goodness.