March Marvels

Slowly...Suddenly

SPRING! 

 

There has been sweet rain falling from heaven, preparing the earth for new growth and coaxing colours back onto the canvas that is my world. 

Lovely, precious, eager little harbingers of the new season.

They make my heart smile.

Tiny regal princesses and princes. 

On this particular day it was as if the valley woke out of her cold slumber and began to sing an ancient song back to her Creator...

live

grow

thrive

rejoice

get ready,

 the King is coming!

While dropping off a birthday gift for a friend I made my way down the hill, pausing to admire the  riotous clouds making way for shafts of glorious light to shine down on the lake, spread out like a ribbon of gold below.

Trees, tall and hopeful reaching heavenward along the still lakeside, some already spreading out their new spring growth,

whispers of the beauty yet to unfold. 

Picnic tables empty and still, awaiting the coming days of heat and merriment... 

This place, this familiar space I call home is calling out, as deep calls to deep, 

"Listen!

I hear my lover's voice.

I know it's Him coming to me - 

leaping with joy over mountains,

skipping in love over the hills

to come to me..."

Song of Songs 2:8

In many ways I feel like these stark, naked trees,

pruned and cut back,

waiting,

wondering,

groaning, 

longing to be clothed with new life, 

to bear much fruit, 

to see my Lover receive the reward of His suffering, in my life

and beyond. 

Smaller and Quieter

I realize I post far too many dog pictures, but my life has felt small and therefore the little things make up a big proportion of my days.

I'm so grateful for the companionship and comfort I am afforded with this gift.

She keeps digging in the dirt and running like a banshee all over the place but she is my little darling.

Keeps me entertained.

The birds have also been a delight and I have seen more doves than I can ever remember out here this year.  

One day I counted seventeen of them sitting in two trees outside my kitchen window.

There is something hauntingly beautiful about their cooing and the sound often takes me back to Hawaii.

 I've got another wedding coming up on the property...

Jenna and Aaron are getting married in May and they have been over for supper discussing their dreams and have been scouting out the property.  

Jenna's family was over recently with Jan & Coral and Mohsen.

Since none of us have gone back to the church we all attended we don't see each other as often anymore so I made the leap and had them all over for yummy crockpot steak and veggies!

It was a blessing to reconnect and to pray together.

Everyone is fighting a hard battle it seems, but together we are stronger and prayers of agreement move mountains! 

We are trusting for more miracles for our dear friend Mohsen who has gone through some very hard years following a "road rage" type incident where he almost lost his life. His family lives in Iran so he's all alone in Canada. 

Jan and Coral have been loving on him and doing a ton of practical stuff to help him through a very rough patch he's going through right now. 

I also have to make mention of this sweet woman, Marsha.

The Lord sent her to live with Elsie last November and she has brought unbelievable amounts of light and love and laughter to Elsie and to our little family. 

We've been having a few meals at Elsie's place since she's had more energy and her downstairs renter Susan is turning out to be an amazing friend and blessing as well.

As much as my winter has been quieter and my world has felt "smaller" the Lord surrounds me with the finest friends and with so much beauty.

 

I did a BIG THING

It's Patrice's birthday.

The first day of Spring and there is glory all around.

Bluebird sky and birds a-singing! 

She was happy to know there was sunshine here when I called her to wish her a happy day. 

I generally feel very celebratory on my kid's birthdays, even when I'm not with them, but this year I  out-did myself.

I bought this big beauty today and I'm in shock.

I've been wanting to do some camping and to be able to travel to places that don't necessarily have wheelchair facilities, so after years of hunting and wishing and shopping around I finally just made the plunge and bought this sprinter, sight-unseen!!

Sometimes it makes me want to cry that I feel so alone in making these big decisions and there are so many more to come with this purchase, but somehow it was time.

God is with me, always and forever.

I have to trust that certain impulses are from Him and He will rescue even if I mis-read a cue here or there. 

I remind Him that He has promised to be my Husband and oh, how amazing He has been when I look back over the years and see His kind provision and endless help and guidance along the way. 

I wasn't prayer-less going into this, but I also didn't have any great moments of divine inspiration. 

A plunge of faith and a present bought on Patrice's birthday for my coming 60th year. 

So there she sits, as big as life.

Making me a little nervous. 

The adventure has begun.

I do comfort myself knowing that if it doesn't work out I can turn around and sell her pretty easily because she's in such good shape and people are eager to take advantage of the outdoors.  

So that's that!! 

The days leading up to this momentous occasion were also eventful.

Another Hobbit night that was a nail biter ...

The dragon was finally defeated and cast down!

This series has spoken to me on many levels and this third instalment did not disappoint in any way.  

So many "aha" moments and rich themes that mirror what life has been feeling like in this past season of upheaval and unrest.

A good reminder that the dragon we are dealing with will indeed be defeated.

We got to enjoy some more scrumptious fare while we sat on the edges of our seats.

Ceia created an amazing spaghetti squash dish that was filled with tasty meat and covered with baked cheese.  

YUM! 

I was able to host a little birthday supper for my dear friend Michelle who was turning 50 which was very special.

Actually, hosting is all I did!  

Dear Donara brought the supper and dessert since I had been out and didn't have the energy to prepare. 

There was also a lovely gathering with Matthew and the micro-board members.

We like to get together even when it's not on "official business" and as you can see, we know how to party! 

In Like a Lamb

These are the kinds of snapshots I'm getting from Daniel this winter.

So gorgeous - him and the scenery. 

(I know, I'm his mom and I'm biased.)

He is doing so much better now and has found his groove in the playground that surrounds Vancouver.

Skiing or mountain biking, depending on the weather. 

That smile just melts my heart!

Patrice was home on a little mental health break and it was lovely to be with her, despite some anxiety issues she is working through. 

I wish it didn't have to be, but it is, 

and she is learning skills and finding her way through.

I'm so proud of her and thankful for time together, even though I wish it could be under different circumstances. 

The puzzle we finished was her gift to me at Christmas.

It was remarkably difficult, but it felt therapeutic to work on it while Patrice was making phone calls, finding solutions and implementing them in order to obtain a measure of equilibrium.  

Meanwhile, I was sitting for hours, putting together the cabin and trees, feeling so accomplished every time the pieces fit. 

It felt like a visible picture of her journey.

It turned our beautifully so I'm taking that as a positive sign.

As usual, Willow was in heat during her visit here, (this is the third time now) but thankfully Winnie is NOT, making the whole scenario much easier.  

Willow is such a chill, lovely dog so she's easy to have around and very compliant.

Winnie, on the other hand is a bit of a noisy whirlwind. 

But I love them both and am thankful for humorous diversions! 

My TV had died so it was very providential that Vic was around earlier to help me choose a new one and that Patrice was here to instal it! 

Ahh, the providence of God to provide for me in countless ways.

I'm so often surprised when things stop working or break.  I feel like they are still quite new and then realize that they could possibly be 20 years old or so... 

But these two gems are far more than 20 years old and they are still going strong!

Well, strong is maybe an overstatement for Mom, but Tante Hilda is a wonder at 91!

She's been having to climb four flights of stairs (or is it 8) to get to her apartment since the elevator hasn't been working for several weeks!!

It was lovely to have Mom over again and to enjoy her sweet laughter and company. 

Those two sisters know how to have FUN! 

Patrice enjoyed time with friends and her very pregnant friend Kristen came over with two of her four little ones.  

I can't even remember the name of this little darling, but I do know she was here with her brother Jasper and that Elliot was the one in the oven!  

Such fun names. 

Also, this happened.

From muppet to model... thanks to the neighbourhood dog salon! 

Here she is dragging her monkey around.

The whirlwind...

Before she left for the coast, Patrice popped in to see Oma at the care home.

So precious to get an inside glimpse of her life and to make sure she's being well taken care of.

Since Hannah was going to the coast to visit a friend it was perfect timing for Patrice to catch a ride and they were off!

Hannah has named her new car "Edelwiess" which seems very fitting for a Swiss miss! 

And March has entered like a sweet Lamb with the beginnings of tulips and sunshine...