Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Snowflakes, night city and other things

Snowflakes, night city and other things'via Blog this'

This Russian photographer does beautiful and amazing work! We may be sick and tired of snow, but look at these photos of snowflakes. Gives a different perspective, a magical look so close and fantastic.

From a Distance

Our little guy is sick and his mother is staying home with him. He was "off" yesterday and by mid-afternoon he had the stomach flu. A sure sign was when he didn't want to do water play before lunch and then was falling asleep in his high chair. 

Our daughter is keeping us updated. Last evening he was still sick and sleeping on the sofa so they could keep an eye on him. No update yet this morning.

I remember those days of stomach flu with our daughters. Lots of concern, laundry, buckets, Lysol, videos, camping out on our family room floor, and worry. Now I don't do all that, however I do think about him and am worried/concerned from a distance. Less messy this way, less work, still the concern.

So I'm thankful our daughter updates us. And I'm anxious to hear from her this morning. And although I will have a day off from Nana Care it will cause me to be a bit "off."

Monday, February 24, 2014

Spring Will Come

Grandson Hugo smelling the roses. Photo copyright Eric Boyd.
Spring will come. That I trust. So when I saw my pile of gardening and backyard books, I picked them up. That will be my evening reading, along with the newspaper. When I have had enough winter, flower and outside planning books are just the thing to perk me up, give me hope and joy.

Right now my garden is rather depressing. Brown with overgrown rose bushes that need pruning. Dead weeds that need pulling. And a dirty, filthy bird bath, turned upside down (because I don't want the dogs to drink out of it) that is wanting cleaning and new, warm water. 

Since Lent begins in about a week (Ash Wednesday is March 5), the garden looks appropriate. Dingy and dark and not pretty at all. Yet I know, just like I know about the Resurrection, the garden will grow, be green and bloom when spring arrives. 

Jesus Christ died and rose from the dead for us. My garden dies and is resurrected each spring and summer, giving my family and I some beauty in this often dark world. For this I am thankful to God. For all of this.

The Good Samaritan

From “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop”
by Martin Luther King, Jr.

(Speech given the day before his death, about the road from Jerusalem to Jericho)

“I remember when Mrs. King and I were first in Jerusalem. We rented a car and drove from Jerusalem down to Jericho. And as soon as we got on that road I said to my wife, “I can see why Jesus used this as the setting for his parable.” It’s a winding, meandering road. It’s really conducive for ambushing. … That’s a dangerous road. In the days of Jesus it came to be known as the “Bloody Pass.” And you know, it’s possible that the priest and the Levite looked over that man on the ground and wondered if the robbers were still around. Or it’s possible that they felt that the man on the ground was merely faking, and he was acting like he had been robbed and hurt in order to seize them over there, lure them there for quick and easy seizure. And so the first question that the priest asked, the first question that the Levite asked was, “If I stop to help this man, what will happen to me? But then the Good Samaritan came by, and he reversed the question: “If I do not stop to help this man, what will happen to him?”

In Celebration of Slow - chatting at the sky

In Celebration of Slow - chatting at the sky:  'via Blog this'

I like this blogger's thoughts on "slow" so I'm sharing them with you. It's also good to read that one of the bloggers I read and like, works so hard on her blog posts. These more "professional" blogs are a daily task, with deadlines. Obviously as seen in my blog, I am not an every-day blogger. Yes, I wish I was, and I am working toward writing more posts, basically as practice for writing. Since I've retired from teaching, I certainly don't write as much, why I'm not sure. So my post today is giving you another post to read! Cheers!

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Let It Go | The Piano Guys

Let It Go | The Piano GuysThe Piano Guys:

'via Blog this'

This is a marvelous music video. I found this group before Christmas (see January 1, 2014 post). They are over-the-top creative. This piece incorporates two other themes: Disney's "Frozen" and Vivaldi's "Winter." And the location for the filming is beautiful. Amazing music and visual candy! Enjoy!

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

Winter, Snow, and Me


More snow. On top of ice. Blowing, drifting snow. Frigid, extreme temperatures tonight. Oh winter, you are fierce this year in Missouri, and many other places.

Me, after three no-school days (snow days) I am missing Benjamin. So happy his mommy can be with him and have lots of quality time. Still I'm thinking of his little voice, words, seeing his toys, and missing him. Ben enlivens my days, keeps me healthy (I don't snack or really eat as much when he is here). There is still a child in me because I so enjoy playing with him, doing toddler activities, trying out songs, discovering new things, and just plain being together.

This has been a time of intense reading for me. Working on my Bible Study chapters, reading more about St. Paul, and reading Acts and Romans (currently in Romans). And (chagrin) too much time on Facebook. Also have been catching up in my journal,
handwritten with fountain pen. Oh and there have been naps, and sleeping late. Watching the numerous birds at our feeders which I filled up yesterday in the snow (more snow and wind filled up my footprints on the deck). Just distraction free (overall) time to think, pray, and expand my mind. 

Time, I thank and praise our Lord God for the day. Every day is precious and I must focus on His blessings to find joy. Eucharisteo. GRACE, THANKSGIVING, JOY. To be with God every minute of every day.

Tuesday, February 4, 2014

Keeping a Gratitude List of HIS Gifts


I just read this from Ann Voskamp in an email update of her blog "A Holy Experience." Because I am keeping a gratitude list I was keenly interested in reading these benefits from studies.

Why bother keeping a gratitude list of His gifts?

Because if you keep a gratitude list, you:

1. Have a relative absence of stress and depression. (Woods et al., 2008)
2. Make progress towards important personal goals (Emmons and McCullough, 2003)
3. Report higher levels of determination and energy (Emmons and McCullough, 2003)
4. Feel closer in their relationships and desire to build stronger relationships (Algoe and Haidt, 2009)
5. Increase your happiness by 25% — (Who wouldn’t want a quarter more happiness!) (McCullough et al., 2002)
Who doesn’t want all that? Just three gifts a day. 
“… that habit of discontentment, it can only be driven out by hammering in iron that is even sharper —
The sleek pin of gratitude.” ….
~ {One Thousand Gifts}

Sunday, February 2, 2014

Home on Sunday Morning

This is very rare indeed. Our worship services were cancelled today for the second time in two months. Our outside world is ice covered with a thin layer of snow. Main roads are OK, but our hilly side streets are not. So my pastor husband and I are together at home on a Sunday morning. Strange.

He has been working on church work in his study. I have been blogging, reading, and praying in the living room. Oh and also watching birds at our two feeders. This is not too different for me in that I am usually home in the early morning until I go to worship on Sunday.

Making French Toast for brunch, eating late in the morning, all not the usual. I am not complaining, because I like that we have time together, that he gets to truly have a Sabbath rest. We even watched a movie last night, a Saturday night! I could get used to this, but alas, that's a few years off. Get used to Saturday night movies, and still attending Sunday worship of course!

Sunday blessings to you.


Grateful for Grace

Grateful for Grace...yes. Thanking the Lord for all the grace-filled blogs I am finding. Women (mainly) who have things to say, gorgeous photos to share, all with the love of Jesus in their hearts. 


Today via Ann Voskamp's blog "A Holy Experience"(see my list of blogs I follow)I found "The Nesting Place" and "Chatting at the Sky." Now they are added to my list of blogs. All three of the above women support and spread the word about Compassion International,an international charity of integrity that sponsors children in poverty all over the world.

I am happy to share these blogs. My blog is not intended to go commercial or even to a wide audience (at this time I have 2 followers and they are my family!). Still I will blog for the few that read! And for myself, I guess. It's a way of journaling as we know. And I will continue to be inspired by these blogs I read. I am thankful and grateful for these remarkable women. Maybe I am also thinking had I been a young wife and mother in this day and age, I may have gone after blogging the way they have. 


I'll end this with an excerpt from Emily P. Freeman at "Chatting at the Sky":



May your weekend be full of hope. May you be able to move beyond your fear and insecurity into the life of someone else, releasing the right to control the outcomes of your movement. And may you remember the words of Wess Stafford, words that brought tears to my eyes every time I heard him speak them this week: If God makes you strong, it is so you can help those who are weak.
May you embrace your own strength and offer help to those who need it. And may you accept your weakness when others help you, being wise enough to receive it.