Snow, Snow, Beautiful (treachorous) Snow

And so winter came, first freezing rain for a day, and then snow; white fluffy snow that over burdened the already ice laden landscape. It was beautiful, but dangerous too. Many in our area were without power. Fire trucks and police cars occasionally screamed through the whiteness, generators hummed all over our neighborhood. Our kids played out for a while but the 'gunshot' sounds of tree branches snapping, made me call them close to home. Once inside, we were cozy, the portable heater going and the gas stove in the basement chugging away.

 In Job 38:22 God asks Job,"Have you entered the store houses of the snow, or have you seen the storehouses of the hail?" Nice to know that God is in control, even when the weather seems chaotic!

All in all, it was beautiful. Words can't describe it as good as pictures, so enjoy.

Inside, looking out through ice.

Ice.....

And more ice...

And some people that really enjoyed the whole thing...

Trees in our woods.

And beyond our side yard.

FRESH......

Last of the Christmas candles

Last night, I burned the last of the Christmas candles. They were orangey-red and smelled like cloves and ginger. I pried its stubby self out of the fire place candle holder and put it on my kitchen stove while I cleaned up after dinner.

Christmas has gone fast this year, faster than any other...and it was a rather strange one. Our house is for sale so I didn't go all out this year. Our children are mostly grown too, so Christmas looks and feels different. Our daughter-in-law Kaitlin graciously offered to put on Christmas dinner (and what a marvelous dinner it was) so that was a very pleasant change, but we ended that evening on a somewhat awkward note, since one of our sons ended up going to hospital by ambulance for chest pains. He was okay in the end, still....a bit unnerving.

On January 2, the tree came down..and the snowflakes...and everything else 'Christmas".

And so on to a new year! Lamentations 3:22-23 comes to mind. "The Lord's loving kindnesses indeed never cease for His compassions never fail, They are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness." I am so glad that the God who has been there all through my life is still there, still caring, entering this new year with me, knows what 2012 holds for me and will guide me through it.

What does this year hold? I am down to 2 children in my homeschooling.  We are being blessed with another grandchild in the early summer. Our house is for sale. I want to downsize considerably. Looks like a wedding might be on the horizon...again, but last year it was a daughter so this son will require less work. ;) We will be married 32 years next month. Lots going on.

As every year, I long to grow in my relationship with Jesus Christ. And I do...looking back, I can see where He has changed me, strengthened me, grew me, in 2011. But I want more...it never ends. The closer I get to Him, the more I want. And I want to see it in my children and our family life.

My new years resolutions? I resolve to spend more time reading my Bible, more time praying for my loved ones and those around me, and more time reaching out.

Hope your 2012 is great too and hope it is a year of growth and change! Blessings, Anita

A summer friend who stayed too long. (Picture by Patrick)

New year...new calendar. Oh the possibilities!

It's Almost Here!

We are counting down the days 'til Christmas. The manger scene is up, the trees are decorated, home made luminaries grace our front step. Today we made dozens of paper snowflakes to adorn our front windows. The grass however is still green in places, and I often go out for the mail in bare feet. I have mixed emotions. I like that I am not out shoveling and that it is not too cold for my morning walks. I miss the white stuff though. It really adds to the festive feel.

One thing doesn't change though. I love to read the Bible stories with my boys and talk about how wonderful it was that Jesus came as a tiny baby to that long ago stable in Bethlehem. I know, I know....we need to keep Christmas in our hearts year round. That baby should be our daily focus. However, with all the talk of Holiday trees, and Season's greetings, I think it has been good for us as Christians to be able to put a special focus on this birth one day a year even if no one knows when the actual day was. It has heightened our urge to share this wonderful gift God gave us, it has been an opportunity to share the gospel message over and over.....I think it will be sadly missed when it sinks into the mire of holidays that have nothing to do with the birth of that special Child. I will miss Christmas all around us when the political powers that be, wipe it out. Did you buy a 'Holiday' tree instead of a Christmas tree? Did you wish the people at work, "Best of the Season"? Are you listening to the songs of the season pumping out on the radio and realizing they have nothing to do with Christ? I will celebrate His birth as long as I have breath to do so, and I am not ashamed to wish you a Merry CHRISTMAS.

A little candle light makes for a very cozy home.

Nativity made by 3 year old hands 25 years ago.

My...um...lovely Christmas village. It was invaded by those plastic 'Homies" from gum ball machines, years ago and every year they return.

Home made luminaries! Lovely, lighting the way up our front step.

Decently December

Ahh, change. A new entrance to our local waste station. I love things that stay the same. I want the same old traditions and patterns and I want to drive in the same old driveway when I go to the dump!!!

 

December is kind this year. It came in with a cold crisp day but beautiful sunshine. I wandered outside today to escape the closeness of the house and reveled in the fact that it is December but my petunias are still in bloom along the west wall of the house, and the grass is still lush and green where my dryer vents. Winter will be short this year...not that I dislike winter, but a little is nicer than a lot.

My desk top timer tells me it is only 23 days, 2 hours, 56 minutes, and 28 seconds to Christmas. There was so much I planned to do. I love crafts and the kiddos that make them, but everyone is getting older and the interest has waned a little, thank goodness for two little granddaughters that came for cookies and to help Granny set up my Christmas village. God knows I am a mama that loves babies and this two and four year old fill up what would otherwise be a big gap.

A late night visitor that chomped down on the mouse block in the attic, I'm thinking. He came out obligingly and died where I could see him. His relatives were not so kind. It kinda smells around here.

Soon I will post the pics of our decorating efforts, but for now I am getting my house in order and trying to slow down and focus on the reason we celebrate Christmas in the first place. Bible in hand, I am heading off to bed with a cup of tea. Get your devotions done ladies! It ties everything together.

November......Hmmm.

"Something told the wild geese it was time to go, Summer sun was on their wing but something whispered 'snow'. - Rachael Fields

Its been a lovely fall. I needed a break from teaching and we headed to Lyn Falls.

November is a saddish month.The sky lately is dull and gray and threatens snow although it is too warm for it to do so. The trees are bare and stark against the sky. The lawns are slowly turning a tired brown. The birds are fewer and more bold and boisterous than the shy wrens and sparrows and finches that grace our back yard in the summer. A friend who was visiting from Ottawa ( and has only been in Canada a few years) thought the bluejays were pets. "Nope," I told her, "Just very bold Canadian birds."

I could go broke buying peanuts. Good thing we limit it to a dozen a day. 

In November I think about my mother. She passed away 6 years ago and for the first few years the pain of losing her was raw and hurt hard this time of year. This year though, my memories seem to have grown more tender, a time for looking at old pictures, reminiscing with the kids about all that was good and dear about her, especially her strong faith in the Lord, and it draws me closer to Him myself. Her favorite psalm was 104, and when I read verse 33, "I will sing to the Lord as long as I live, I will sing praise to my God as long as I have my being", I am grateful that she lived that verse all the years I knew her.

The boys had a great time, but Gord's back complained a bit.

We have enough squirrels to populate a National Park, living in our yard. This guy was on look out. "Watch out for the crazy lady with the broom."

Fall Harvest Feasting....Mmmmm.I love

I love this time of year and the delicious food it inspires. On one of the first really cold days, I put together a pot of chilli, and yes, I used a few of those left over garden tomatoes that were still clinging to the vine. It was so tasty with a side of homemade bread.

These beauties were on sale at the local grocery store and we ate apple crisp, apple sauce and just plain ole' apples. Yum.

Two apple crisps ready to go!

Top it all off with a cold October sky in all its loveliness, and you can see why I love fall.

This is a picture our preteen took from high atop the neighbor's pine tree. Made my heart skip a beat. Ahh well, not many years ago, I would have been up there myself. I almost went up with him but thought the better of it.

God blesses us daily, but often just in the ordinary days of life. He is there as we do the same old same old, day in, day out. But here in blog land, we tend to extract more out of the ordinary than we do in our own homes. Lets point these little joys and blessings out to our families too. We are truly in the palm of His hand!

Falling In Love With Fall

All our winter friends are returning. After a summer of no food in the feeders, the word is out! She's feeding us again guys!

I was in Goodwill again this week. I found this lovely candle holder. In case you can't read what it says, it is taken from Jeremiah 29:11. "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and give you a future and a hope." Gotta love that....and a nice little reminder on my coffee table is a good visual aid!

I love this fall sunshine that permeates my kitchen while I'm making supper. I still need to distribute the gourds throughout the house, but for now, I'm enjoying them in the kitchen. And the apples...I don't peel 4 bushels with the apple peeler like I did when all seven kids lived at home, but I love the smell and who turns down a nice apple crisp?

My baubles. I have had these for several years. I 'borrowed' them from an old chandelier in a house we were leaving. They catch that gorgeous sun and fill the whole kitchen with light.

Hmmm....blogger tipped this on its side, but you still get the general idea. The sun was even brighter than in the other pic so I thought I'd include this one.

And ahhhh...my bittersweet. At least I think it is. I wade into the swamp up to my thighs while my boys laugh by the roadside. But I always come back triumphant! This dries out lovely and then I put a miniscule dab of hot glue on each berry (yes, I'm a little weird) so they don't roll off, I have also tried modge-podging them. Any way, I love bringing in wild things from outside.

All in all, fall is my favorite season, walks on chilly days, leaves everywhere, animals hunkering down for winter, the food, the glorious colors. Makes me want to sing!

1. Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
   Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
   Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
   With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.
2. Oh, may this bounteous God through all our life be near us,
   With ever joyful hearts and blessed peace to cheer us;
   And keep us in His grace, and guide us when perplexed;
   And guard us through all ills in this world, till the next!
3. All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given,
   The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
   The one eternal God, Whom earth and Heav’n adore;
   For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.

I love this old hymn. We sang it in church every Thanksgiving when I was little. I'm enjoying Fall, and I am enjoying the wonderful blessings God continually gives us.