a Winter poem - by my ten year old...

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:: Winter White ::

Gently falling 

Winter White -

all are dancing 

in the night.

Waking up to

piles high, 

the snow has drifted 

to the sky .

From the window 

I did say, "Oh, the 

snow -- stay home,and play."

Rolling, Tumbling 

Winter White 

snowmen family 

in our sight.

Gently whisper 

"nighty- night"

Dreams of snowflakes

through the night.

~ Aubrey S. (10 yrs)

**

I'm proud of my little one.  She was home "sick" the first day back to school in the new year and we got talking about things she is looking forward to in the upcoming school days.  She mentioned that she will be venturing into poetry.  So we sat down and started writing.  I helped to tweak or challenged her to use a "deeper word" here and there... but this is HERS!!!  I love poetry.  Always have...

 The snowflake mug mats were a gift from a dear friend... whom, I don't want to forget.  Ever!!

fmf :: routine

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This past week began like any other and excitement was building for all that it entailed.  The first day of Spring... nature's way of celebrating routine...was Wednesday!

School days in session... an expected thing!!

Evening events.  The calendar says - "things are happening"!  Things planned for a really looonnnng time!!!!

Then bam!

The weather changes and who knew - we'd all be out of sync with our routine!!  Here we were anticipating Nor'easter #4... and boy, did we get some snow!  Changing everything.

Two days - out of school.

No plans of travel.

No keeping up with "our" schedule - as planned.

I was reading to the kiddos' one morning, this week - over breakfast.  Words from the book of Proverbs about how a man will plan his days but its the Lord who orders his steps.

(In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps. ~ Proverbs 16:9 NIV 

Or like the ESV says: The heart of man plans his way but the Lord establishes his steps.)

It just shows that what think IS and SHOULD BE - are really our own rote routines.  But God, our Heavenly Father, truly is Sovereign and HE KNOWS his ways are higher than our ways.

We just need to sit back and (enjoy!) trust the process!

 Looks like Spring is on it's way after all!!   

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater. 

 ~ Isaiah 55 :10

***

Joining up with Five Minute Friday - writing in five minutes 

our take on the prompt word... routine!

"Blessed are those who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing."

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This quote (in the title) spoke to me... and I just had to share!!

** feeling today, a sense of calm in the midst of storm.   thank you for your considerate thoughts and prayers!  I will elaborate, in time, as time goes on...

Snow or no snow...

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Copying over verses from Matthew 6:25-34, this morning, into my journal, only seems fitting to share again today, in regards to this here word-prompt: doubt.

***
Truth be told I was beginning to doubt if we'd ever see a snowflake.  I read on my gardening almanac type calendar this phrase -
"January warm, the Lord have mercy".

I believed that.  We needed some snow!  At least more than a dusting...

As the kiddos and I were talking this morning...
What one, two, or even three days difference can do with the weather and yet - these little birds have not a single care in the world... about their life.

Snow or no snow...

Why, then, do we worry about ours?
Why do we doubt our heavenly Father's daily and constant care for us?

I was just so encouraged writing out these verses of Scripture this morning!  Verses from Matthew chapter 6 and in particular - this final verse...

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.  
Each day has enough troubles of its own. ~ Matthew 6:34

Do I ever doubt? Or, question?  Or, worry?
Sure I do.  I just told you that I do.
I read that line over and over on my January calendar and wondered for the future - what would a winter without much snow do for the following seasons?
I would read "the Lord have mercy" phrase over and over and pray fervently for snow...
I was worried.  :)

Listen, I want it to be said of me that this is a woman who trusts and fears her Maker.
That she is one who rests in the Sovereignty of her God!
Snow or no snow... He is God!!
He will sustain and keep us in HIS righteous, right hand!

Consider the birds of the air; neither do they sow nor reap nor gather into barns... 
yet your heavenly Father feeds them.

***

*** Linking with Finding the Grace Within | tuesday @ ten :: doubt

Enjoying the Blizzard of 2016

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And more (snow) is on the way....
Perhaps even later this week!
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The drifts we get around here - are amazing!!  Like the second and third photo from the top... what looks like foot tracks is really the road plowed through. It might be the angle or the way the photo was taken... but the drifts were amazing out across our front lawn area.  Our mailboxes were actually buried.  Some of those drifts were over five feet ...  and as you see, drifts almost to the top of the barn door there on that one photo.  And other parts of the driveway almost clear - due to the way the wind blew that snow around.

Nothing like feeling safe and cozy indoors.

Remembering this Blizzard of 2016 - as perfect!!

Winter finally and fully arrived in one fell swoop!

trust

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:: TRUST ::

Not a very big word.  One rather easy to say.
However, at the very best, quite challenging - to live out!  

Can I get an Amen?
I don't know that I would say I've ever had trust issues.  But it has acted as a backdoor catching me on the backside, from time to time - if and when I'm not careful.

It's hard!

I came across a single quote the other day that has kept me thinking...

God's part we cannot do; our part God will not do.

This year, our little family has a real opportunity to walk this road...wholeheartedly!

Not blindly... but with a sure confidence.
Hand-in-hand with our Saviour who goes before!
 Do the tears fall, and the lip quiver?   Yes!  Perhaps, a little too often.

However, here's what I know.

We can't do God's part of orchestrating the plan he has in mind for us - but we sure can do our part of following in his footsteps.  One step at a time.

Thank you for your prayers as we lean on Him!!

Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  ~ Proverbs 3:5-6 KJV

**Linking with Finding the Grace Within | Tuesday @ Ten :: trust