Drenched

A lot of old order Mennonite and Amish live in our area. So quite a few stores have hitching posts. Such was the case when we visited a large Farmer's Market last fall. It was raining and this horse was drenched. He was waiting on his Master, who was inside shopping.

“Are you the one who gave the horse his prowess and adorned him with a shimmering mane? Did you create him to prance proudly and strike terror with his royal snorts? He paws the ground fiercely, eager and spirited, then charges into the fray.”

Job 39

The Cat & The Swan

I recently acquired this pretty swan, and I put it on my kitchen table. Sunny thinks she is very pretty too. In fact, he has been caught kissing and stroking her more then once. I think he's in love.

I hate to tell him she isn't real. It might send him into shock.

“Your neck is carved ivory, curved and slender.” 

Song of Solomon 7

Pillows

A few days ago when I opened the front door, the snow looked like this. Perfectly shaped into  pillows, or a beautiful comforter. This is the way it fell. And not just in our yard. There were pillows in fields, and everywhere else. How does such a thing happen?

Winter came down to our home one night

Quietly pirouetting on silvery-toed slippers of snow,

And we, we were children once again.

-Bill Morgan Jr.

“When Jacob got up early the next morning, he took the rock that he had used for a pillow and stood it up for a place of worship. Then he poured olive oil on the rock to dedicate it to God…”

Genesis 28

The Dish

A month or so ago, we drove up a hill. The sun was very low and about to set. It made the side of this brick building light up. And the shadow of this huge dish fascinated me.

                    It was a momentary distraction from the real reason we had driven up here.

 “You’ll forget your troubles; they’ll be like old, faded photographs. Your world will be washed in sunshine, every shadow dispersed by dayspring. Full of hope, you’ll relax, confident again; you’ll look around, sit back, and take it easy.”

Job 11

Again

Another blizzard! The city nine miles away from us got 14 inches! It is snowing so hard and so fast that as soon as the plows clear the roads, they are covered back up again. Everything for tomorrow is cancelled. All these pictures were taken from our windows and doors.

The mailman was never able to get through, so who is this mysterious person? He was trudging miserably up the street.

A few blocks away, our son and granddaughter were out sledding! This pic was not taken by me. 

                             Hockey was on T.V., so there was snow both inside and outside!

Simba sat looking out the door in his kitchen chair. He turned to look at me as if to say "Not again!" Yes, again!

“He spreads snow like a white fleece, he scatters frost like ashes, He broadcasts hail like birdseed— who can survive his winter? Then he gives the command and it all melts; he breathes on winter—suddenly it’s spring!”

Psalm 147

Finding The Light

We could see the bright light clear from the end of the street. So I will show you as we saw it, driving closer and closer.

“For as long as I am in the world, there is plenty of light. I am the world’s Light.”

John 9

A Cold visitor

We opened the front door this morning to see that a bird had hopped to the door. It looked like he had waited awhile, then hopped away. His tracks came right to the door, then away. Matter of fact, the lines overlap, so it could have been two birds.

The fact occurs to me that he could have been seeking shelter. It is to be below zero tonight and tomorrow night. Whatever the reason, it is odd and a bit worrisome. Poor birds.

“I’ve followed him closely, my feet in his footprints, not once swerving from his way. I’ve obeyed every word he’s spoken, and not just obeyed his advice—I’ve treasured it.”

Job 23

The Return

I like to mark on the calendar when I see the first robin of spring. And last Friday, there were robins in the front yard! And across the street there were a whole flock of them!

I got out my camera and started snapping them through the storm door. They were actually listening to the ground for worms and pulling them up!

It has been snowing all day, and is to snow Wednesday, Saturday, and Sunday. And later this week the actual temp will be -4. So I imagine they will all die. I have come to the conclusion that they do not return because of the weather, but because of programmed migration in their little brains.

Here is a little house finch who found a big seed in the snow today. I hope both finches and robins will survive!

“And robins, warblers, and bluebirds know when it’s time to come back again. But my people? My people know nothing, not the first thing of God and his rule.”

Jeremiah 8

Three Little Hearts

All three grandchildren came over for a very fun babysitting night! First we had pizza and chocolate chip yogurt for dinner. Then I put all kinds of crafting material and hearts on the table for us to make Valentines! The little ones were a bit too young, but Anne Marie had fun!

                         Anne decided to make a kitty with two hearts and cut up cupcake liner.

                         In the meantime, I had the little girls put heart clings on the window!

I gave them some penguin binoculars to look through. Under a dollar at Goodwill!

Then we brought out the electric drums and Anne Marie gave them a lesson. At the end of the day we got them in their jammies and we had popcorn while watching a movie. The end of a FUN day!

“God judges persons differently than humans do. Men and women look at the face; God looks into the heart.”

1 Samuel 16

P.S. You may remember that we are not allowed to show the babies faces online until the adoption papers are signed. So I had to find some creative ways to snap them!