books ... books ... books ... and not enough room ... until now

So ... I love books ... anyone who knows me knows this to be a fact. But, not only do I love books, I love getting books as well. :) So, as a bookshelf can only hold so many, I had started to stack them on top of each other and in a box, and on top of each other in the box. It was then that I decided to buy another book shelf. So we have before and after pictures.

BEFORE

Notice all the books stacked on the shelves and on other books? (click on any picture for a closer look.)

Ahh ... the box. See the duck tape? It was coming apart because of the weight ... poor faithful box.

The closet (where I put the new bookshelf) before.

AFTER

See all the stacks are gone? :) And the box is gone too! Hurrah!

The new bookshelf ... so pretty.

The new bookshelf ... again.

AFTER AFTER

Yes, even after I set it all up I acquired even more books and had to rearrange again! :) I just love how it looks and holds Every. Single. One. Of. My. Books!!

Valentine's surprise from Leah

While at work on Valentine's day I looked out the window to see my sister driving up to the house where I work ... quite unusual. As I continued to look I noticed my little brother was in the car, too. Even more unusual. One of the little kids ran out to meet them and came back inside with a rather large piece of red tissue paper wrapped around something. As she handed it to me I saw Leah driving away. I was quite confused ... why would they drive all this way to drop this red tissue paper off and then leave without even saying hi. I then noticed that there was a "card" on the tissue paper. :) It all clicked! I opened the paper and was completely surprised. Aren't they the sweetest?!

It's more then just taking your eyes off ...

... It's putting them on ... on Christ that is.

Happy Valentine's day everyone!! (Happy Single's awareness day ... as my sister and I joke).

May all you married peeps enjoy having someone to hold tight and love and give your heart to. :) May all you peeps with a special someone also enjoy being together and enjoy each other's company. May all you singles out there .... hummm ... is there really anything to enjoy on Valentine's day for singles?

Yes!! As a matter of fact there is. Sometimes it doesn't seem that there is much to be thankful for and enjoy (especially when one of your greatest desires is to be married and live in oneness with your husband) when you're alone on the holiday that makes so much of that 'special someone' and you haven't that 'special someone'. And it seems harder still when you have friends and family that have 'special someones' :) and you don't.

So, what is there to be thankful for on Valentine's day? Well, there's always the famous 'you're alive aren't you?' question. (Well, at least I'm assuming that if you're reading this then you're alive ... but I guess I could be wrong. *wink*) But sometimes, if you're like me, that doesn't bring the joy and peace that you're looking for.

Instead of spending your time, thinking of how lonely you are, think of someone else. Send a card, write a letter, bake a cake and deliver it to someone (single or married). Call up another single friend and get together for the day. When we set our loneliness and sadness aside and open our eyes and truly look at other people and ask ourselves how we can help them, we see that there is so much we can do, even if it's something little like bringing a rose to someone just because.

Well, I've been thinking a lot lately about marriage, being alone (especial with Valentine's day), taking my eyes off of things I can't have (namely a companion), looking to Christ to be my all in all, letting go of my desires and longings, looking to Christ to be my all in all, letting go of my desires and longings, looking to Christ to be my all in all, letting go of my desires and longings ... and ... ummm ... looking to Christ to be my all in all and letting go of my desires and longings. Did I miss anything? Humm. I don't think so, I think I got 'em all.

If you've been a longtime reader of my blog you know I post quite a bit about letting go of my desires and longings. How much it hurts, how I don't want to let go, how I know I need to let go. But, as I've said, I've been thinking. Maybe there's more. How so? More then just "letting go". How so? Maybe it's not so much letting go as it is grasping tighter ... to something else.

Have you ever had a time in your life when you try and try to not think of something (or someone ... we're going with someone, being Valentine's and all), but the more you try not to think of them, the more you think of them? Kind of distressing if you ask me. But, maybe instead of trying not to think of 'someone' we need to think about Christ.

Back to letting go ... instead of trying so very, very hard to let go of desires and dreams, and someones, we should grip tighter and tighter to Christ. Because when our hands are full of Christ and holding tight to Him with all we have, we soon see that we have no extra space to hold onto someone else, and no need to let go, because our hands are completely filled with Christ. Same with our thoughts. If our thoughts are saturated with Christ, verses, songs of praise, and such, there won't be any thoughts about not thinking about someone. And if our minds are filled with Christ there won't be any room for thoughts of that someone.

It's kind of like stepping into a dark room with only a single candle to light the room. Your object, with said candle, is to make the darkness flee, to make it simply light in the room. But as you chase the darkness from one corner you turn to find that it simply moved to the corner behind you. You run from place to place with your candle trying to make the darkness leave, but it only follows behind you, wherever you go. Discouraged that the darkness remains you're not as careful as you should be with your candle flame and in your hurrying about you forget to protect the flame, to nurture it and it is blown out by such fast, desperate movements. Now completely in the dark you sink to the ground ... still in the darkness, still wishing it to be gone. As tears flow your heart gets heavier and heavier. You don't know what to do, you've tried and tried to make the darkness go away, but you just can't. What if you can never make it go away, what if you are to live the rest of your life fighting the darkness with only your little flame? Fear starts to fill your heavy heart. Suddenly a strong hand closes around your shoulder. You cannot see who it is that is touching you, but the touch brings peace and you feel no reason to be afraid. Then the words, "Arise, and do not be afraid*" are spoken in a soft, comforting tone. Tears still streaming down your face you take heart, somewhat, and find you have no strength to stand, but the matter is soon solved as you are lifted by strong able arms to your feet. But once on your feet your find the strong arms do not let you go, but hold you fast, strong, close. Still the identity of this man is not revealed but as your legs will not hold your weight you cling to this man. Your fists full of his shirt, the candle you once depended on is now fallen from your hands, forgotten in the darkness. "Who are you?" your soft whisper fills the dark room. Slowly a soft glow fills the space around you. It takes you a moment to realize that the man you're clinging to tightly to is beginning to glow. Slightly afraid you know not what to do. Slowly the glow brightens and brightens. It continues to brighten until you must shut your eyes at the brightness of it. You blink, stunned by the light. Once your eyes adjust to the majesty of the light you look at the one who still holds you so close. Your eyes then behold the Savior. His face is soft, tender, caring as He holds you close to His heart. As you look into His face your fears fade away as your mind is completely taken up with studying His features. A few moments pass before you reluctantly let your eyes wander from His face and you realize that the room around you is no longer dark. In fact, there is not even a trace of darkness for all is revealed by the holy, majestic glow of the Savior. You wonder, as you rest safely in His arms, how you could have even tried to disperse the darkness with simply a single flame all on your own.

When our minds are filled with Christ, (with the light of His holy majesty) there is no room for anything else. When our eyes are so focused on Christ, learning about and studying Him, there is nothing else to look at. When our hands are so full of holding tightly to Christ, the "candle" we used to guide our way falls from our hands ... for there is no room to hold to anything but Christ.

*Matthew 17:7 (NKJV)

For further thoughts see my series from last year: Single for Valnetine's day? Parts: 1- Choose, 2- You're Being Watched, 3- Surrender, 4- Submit, and 5- The Checklist.

In which we learn the importance of DRYING one's hair ...

... before venturing out in freezing temperatures.

Up at 6:45am this morning. Jumped in the shower. Took too long in the shower and realized I had to be out the door in like ten minutes. Due to the hairdryer being kidnapped in someone's suitcase I was unable to dry my hair in the manner which I usually do. A lot of squeezing my hair with the towel proved insufficient for drying so I just left it ... as I already mentioned I was behind.


As I was throwing my coat on, I checked to make sure my siblings were waking up before I ran out the door. I didn't, however, check the temperature. I'm used to cold temperatures so I wasn't worried about it. I ran out to my car, started it, then ran over to Leah's car and started it too so it would be warm when she came out (her car sits just across the driveway from mine). In the amount of time it took me to run to my car from the house, across the driveway, then back to my car I could feel my hair starting to get hard ... almost like it was freezing. I've never actually frozen my hair so I wasn't worried.

I could feel my hair starting to form clumps of hardness, due to cold temperatures (my car said it was 9 above zero but I think it was more like 6 or 7 above, plus the wind was blowing, making it freezingly cold). As it was cold and I was tired, I wanted some coffee (but since I had to run out of the house you may have guessed that I didn't have time to make myself some). So I decided to stop at the gas station (I had around 5 before I had to be out of town). I figured since I would be seeing other people I should at least look half way decent, so I decided to brush my hair to "unclump" it.

Pulling the brush from my purse I brushed my hair and then was going to put it down (the brush, not my hair) on the seat next to me and get out of the car. But as I was setting it down (the brush peeps, not my hair) I noticed that my brush (black and dark purple) had white in the bristles. Unusual ... I don't have dandruff and it was a lot of white and all stuck together in one spot. As I lifted it to examine it more I noticed it was frost!! Like snow-y, ice-y frost-y! In my brush! It took me a second to realize that it was from my hair ... my hair had frozen and when I brushed it out it got stuck in my brush. I looked down at my seat and steering wheel and it looked like it had snowed in my car! :) It was weird!

I shook my head in wonder and got out of the car (after check myself in the mirror to make sure my hair wasn't white ... it wasn't). As I walked (actually more like ran because it was cold!) into the gas station I couldn't help but smile and nearly giggle thinking that this must be why your mother tells you not to go out in the cold with wet hair. :) Okay, okay, I know that's not why, but still ... it makes good sense.

And I thought I went shopping too much ...

In case any of you don't already know, the Superbowl was yesterday. Superbowl XLIII. Pittsburgh and Arizona battled to be Superbowl 43 champion!! In the end Pittsburgh achieved the title of Superbowl 43 champion.

Normally I'm not a football person. I watch it if someone else is already watching it, I've played it a few times, I know the general rules and such, but I'm more a baseball kinda gal. But since we went to a friend's house to have a "Superbowl party" I watched most of the game.

It was a great day!!!

But on to the post title ... what does football have to do with shopping? :) Well, let me shed some light on the issue.

I like shopping ... I mean, who doesn't enjoy a little something new once in a while. I'm not, however, a 'shop till you drop' kind of person. I'll shop if there is something I need, and once in a great while I shop with Leah just for a girl day. Sometimes when I go shopping little brother Ethan comes a long ... clearly I have warped the poor child ... for upon seeing the Superbowl number (yes, peeps, this is where it all connects, pay attention) written out in roman numerals ... looking thus: XLIII, Ethan questioned, "What are the letters for?" Our kind host explained to him that they were roman numerals (which Ethan knew, but I think it just slipped his mind ... or as I've already said ... he's been warped by shopping). Ethan nodded, obviously it clicked in his mind and all made sence. He was kind enough, however, to explain to us why it didn't click when first he saw the numbers ... "Oh, *a little half hearted giggle* I thought they were for an extra large 3." To which the oldset son of our host said, "Yeah or extra large long, long, long."

XLIII ... you'll never look at roman numerals the same again ... or maybe when you're shopping and see size tags you'll wonder if you fit in an M-1,000, an L-50, an X-10, or an XL-40?

I guessed we've learned ... it's all how you look at it ... or don't take your little brother shopping too much. :)

Picture worthy ... it's so warm!!

*~::Simply Beautiful::~*

*~Click on a picture for a close view~*

I Will Praise Him, Still

When the morning falls on the farthest hill,
I will sing His name, I will praise Him still.
When dark trials come and my heart is filled
With the weight of doubt, I will praise Him still.

For the Lord our God, He is strong to save
From the arms of death, from the deepest grave.
And He gave us life in His perfect will,
And by His good grace, I will praise Him still.

By~Fernando Ortega

Classic Oatmeal Cookies

* 3/4 C. butter, softened
* 1 C. packed brown sugar
* 1/2 C. granulated sugar
* 1 teaspoon baking powder
* 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (optional)
* 1/4 teaspoon ground cloves (optional)
* 2 eggs
* 1 teaspoon vanilla
* 1 1/2 C. all-purpose flour
* 2 C. rolled oats

**Preheat oven to 375F. In a large mixing bowl beat butter with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add brown sugar, granulated sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and if desired cinnamon and cloves. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Beat in eggs and vanilla until combined. Beat in as much of the flour as you can with the mixer. Stir in any remaining flour. Stir in oats.

Drop dough by rounded teaspoons 2 inches apart onto an ungreased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 to 10 minutes or until edges are lightly browned. Let stand for 1 minute on cookie sheet. Trnasfer to wire rack; cool.

*** I really like the taste of the cinnamon and cloves. It gives it a "christmas-y" flavor. However, they are just as good without the cinnamon and cloves. :) ENJOY!

Thank you ... sweet peeps

I just thought, since you were all so wonderful and thoughtful when I mentioned my cold, that I would let you all know that I'm much better now. My nose is no longer stuffy, my ears are no longer plugged and my energy is pretty much back up to normal. :) So thank you all for your kind words and well-wishes!! It means so much to me to know that you all care enough to leave me a little comment. :)

Tag

1. Fill in your memories of 2008.
2. Link my blog to yours. (Or my profile, at least.)
3. Tag others, and comment on their blogs so they know they've been tagged.

I was tagged by Rosebud.

~A good book I read~
A trilogy actually: "The Door Within" by Wayne Thomas Batson

~A great film/movie I watched~
Prince Caspian

~A new place I visited~
The Bad Lands, in South Dakota

~An inspiring verse or quote I read~
"...And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides You." Ps, 73:25

~A new skill I acquired~
Playing new games.

~A lesson I learned~
That God's timing is always right, even when I don't think it is.

~A moment I will always remember~
A walk in the woods in the falling snow.

I tag: Leah, Katie, and Melanie.

Check it out!

My sister wrote a post that made me laugh. Check it out!

Also, this is my 300th post!!! Wahoo!!! Hurrah!!! :) Just had to tell ya peeps that.

Another rather pointless post

So today, I woke up around 7:30am (my normal time) and had to pretty much push myself from my covers and out into the open. For some reason today I was very tired. I decided to not take my routine shower. I didn't really feel like taking a shower (and, a side note, I wasn't in the best of moods. I was a little down and my cold kind of made me feel worse). Then around 8:15-ish I walked out to my car (started by sweet little brother) and climbed inside. Off to work I went. The wind was blowing pretty hard and as the wind was blowing it blew the soft, loose snow around too, making drifts on the road. I told myself the plows would be out later to clear the roads, that I didn't have to worry about it.

Upon arrival at work I parked in my nicely shoveled "parking spot" (which is faithfully cleared away by J. Thank you J.) At work I sat, holding M., and listened to the joyful chatter and playfulness of the children! (Such fun.) But as I was tired (already mentioned) I thought I'd close my eyes for just a little rest. I nearly fell asleep peeps! Right there, on the couch at work! *gathp* (as Tigger says). I decided it wasn't a good idea to fall asleep and tried to keep myself awake. I listened to more things and enjoyed watching the children. M. has a cold and was a little fussy today. And as you know, when a little child is fussy and there's nothing you can do to calm him down, it slowly wears on you and makes you feel a little defeated.

All the while I was at work I kept my eye on the weather. I mentioned that the roads were starting to get a little drifted on the way to work and I didn't want to end up on the side of the road, unable to go anywhere on my way home. On the way to work I drive on a gravel road and there is a spot where there are two farms within walking distance of each other and the wind blew the snow around and around in between them, so much so that I couldn't really see the road and since I couldn't see the road I couldn't see the massive drift across the whole road. It slowed me down quite a bit, but I was able to get through it. A couple of hours after I got to work however Mrs. J and I decided it would be best if I headed for home, as she didn't think the plows would be out and the roads weren't getting better.

So out to my car I went. I got in, buckled my seat-belt and put Lexie (my car) in reverse. I slowly backed out of my "parking place" and soon put my care in drive. I didn't, however, "drive". I was stuck ... and there wasn't even hardly any snow! (a couple inches ... maybe. But I think what happened was that my back wheels were on ice and one of them was off a little "ledge" of ice, making me unable to get free.) After a couple minutes of trying to go back and forward, then back then forward and being unsuccessful, J appears from around their van. "Do you need help?" he asks with a smile, already knowing I was stuck and did need help. "No," I said, "I just enjoy playing around in your drive way." :)

Another couple minutes brought the arrival of Mr. J. :) With the two of them working to help me set my car free (for the third time this winter) I was soon on my way again! (Thank you Mr. J and J!! Such faithful rescue-ers you are.) Down the gravel road I went. Soon I came to the place between the two farms that I nearly got stuck at on the way to work. As I knew it was coming I tried to prepare myself for the drift. Since the wind continued to blow I still couldn't see the road in that area (but it had also blown more snow on the drifts). The first drift slowed me down, the second one nearly made me lose control of my car (I didn't though) and the third one stopped me ... completely. I was stuck. Determined not to have to call the J.'s for help a second time in not even five minutes I put Lexie in reverse and rocked it back and forth a few times, successfully freeing myself from the grasps of the rather deep drift. Wahoo!! Three cheers for Lexie!

The drive home was also very interesting. The snow blew all the way home and there were a few times I had to go into the other lane to avoid the drifts that completely covered the lane I was in. There was one time, I remember, that it was complete whiteout conditions. I couldn't see the road, I couldn't see the side of the road ... I couldn't see anything. But thankfully it lasted not even a minute and I was out of it.

Making it home, safe and sound, I ate some dinner, took some decongestants for my still stuffy nose, and laid down for a while. I don't think I ever actually feel asleep but I laid down for a while. Little brother E had a friend over this afternoon. E's friend's father told us he would pick up his son around 5:00pm. I knew that he was coming for his son but I though I would be up from my rest long before then. I wasn't. I "woke up" from my very light sleep to a knock on the door and then had to quickly sit up, fix my hair and look half-way decent and mostly alive, after throwing off the blankets that had wrapped me in warmth. I hope I managed to do so, but I'm not quite sure. :)

Now, I sit, blanket over my lap, computer on top of that. Hot chocolate sitting ready to be drunk next to the freshly filled water cup. Pizza also is ready to be eaten. A bowl of mint-chocolate chip ice cream is slowly emptying as I hold it in my hand. I think my Advil-type-ish-pill is finally kicking in and my throbbing headache is now subsiding some. My nose is stuffy, so my ears are also plugged, I'm still slightly tired and to top it all of I think there's something on my contact ... it's slightly scratchy. :)

So, why did I write this overly long, pointlessly rambling post? Because I wanted to write something on my blog, and I didn't really know what to say, so I thought I'd tell ya'll about my day, but I realize it's rather gloomy. :) So ... tell me about your day peeps. Tell me your day was much better and cheerier. :) If not, well, then I can relate. Either way, I'd love to hear from you!

I think the cold is getting to me

I heard reports about it being around -20 (yes, that is 20 below zero) this morning. Mama said she only saw -19 below, but I guess the weather site said -20. Anyway, as I didn't have to work this morning, I slept in for the first time in months and months. It felt soooooo good. But, as I wasn't up in the wee hours of the mornings (*cough* I never am) I didn't see this extremely cold temperature on the thermometer.

When I came upstairs this morning and did look at the thermometer it said -12 below. To me it was cold (as I hadn't yet been told about the -19 below). Thoughts of thankfulness that I didn't have to get up early and go to work came to mind. However, I was planning on enjoying a cozy morning with sister-in-law, Kat and niece-y, Greta. But, when I asked my sweet little brother (who has been faithfully starting my car each and every morning for me) to start my car so I could head over to Kat's, in he came a few minutes later only to inform me that my car was not going to start. I told him I would try, just to make sure it was true ... it was. I couldn't get my car started either (my car, much like me, doesn't take to highly to double-digit negative numbers). So I called sweet Kat and told her my car was unstartable.

So, I took the morning to write some letters and fight off fridge temps and the cold that I woke up with this morning. All in all, aside from coldness outside and feeling a little low and groggy due to the cold that is taking up residence in my sinuses, it's been a good morning.

So why did I write this long, rambling, rather useless post? To tell you, that I honestly think the cold is getting to me. As I mentioned, it was -12 when I got up this morning, looking at the thermometer just a few short moments ago I noticed it was -6 ... what was my response? I kid you not, the first words out of my mouth were "Wow, it's getting warm outside!" *This is where I stop, think, shake my head, roll my eyes and try to figure out why that was the first thing out of my mouth ... but coming up with no logical answer I let it go and tell myself the cold is getting to me.* Why? Because even if -6 is warmer then -12 it's still COLD out peeps. Good grief, I feel like some little old woman who has spent her life in frigid temperatures and has become an old sourdough (definitions 2 and 3).

Candle Beauty

Sunrise on ice on glass

How to wear flip-flops in the middle of winter 101 ...

This is what I saw when I got to the J.'s house the other day.

Intercessory Introspecion

"And I pray God your whole spirit
and soul and body be preserved blameless."
~1 Thessalonians 5:23

"Your whole spirit ..." The great mystical work of the holy Spirit is in the dim regions of our personality which we cannot get at. Read the 139th Psalm; the Psalmist implies, "Thou are the God of the early mornings, the God of the late at nights, the God of the mountain peaks, and the God of the sea; but, my God, my soul has further horizons than the early mornings, deeper darkness than the nights of earth, higher peaks than any mountain peaks, great depths than any see in nature -- Thou who are the God of all these, be my God. I cannot reach to the heights or to the depths; there are motives I cannot trace, dreams I cannot get at -- my God, search me out."

Do we believe that God can garrison the imagination far beyond where we can go? "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth us from all sin" -- if that means in conscious experience only, may God have mercy on us. The man who has been made obtuse by sin will say he is not conscious of sin. Cleansing from sin is to the very heights and depths of our spirit if we will keep in the light as God is in the light, and the very Spirit that fed the life of Jesus Christ will feed the life of our spirit. It is only when we are garrisoned by God with the stupendous sanctity of the Holy Spirit, that spirit, soul and body are preserved in unspoted integrity, underseving of censure in God's sight, until Jesus comes.

We do not allow our minds to dwell as they should on these great massive truths of God.

~Oswald Chamers ~~ My Utmost for His Highest ~~ Januray 9th.

::~::The Lord's Mercy::~::

22~Through (it is of~KJV) the LORD's mercies we are not consumed,
Because His compassions fail not.
23~They are new every morning;
Great is Your faithfulness.
24~"The LORD is my portion," says my soul,
"Therefore I hope in Him!"
25~The LORD is good to those who wait for Him,
To the soul who seeks Him.
26~It is good that one should hope and wait quietly
For the salvation of the LORD.
27~It is good for a man to bear
The yoke (suffering) in his youth.
28~Let him sit alone and keep silent,
Because God has laid it on him.

32~Though He causes grief,
Yet He will show compassion
According to the multitude of His mercies.

~Lamentations 3:22-28 & 32 (NKJV) ~

Waaaaay too comfy

Tagged

Rules:
* Post the six to ten things that you do on a daily basis.
*Link to the person who tagged you.
*Tag five other people.
*Leave a comment on the blog of the person that tagged you letting them know you posted this on your blog.

Melanie tagged me for this one. And I'm going to tell you right off that I'm not selecting five people to tag, I'm going to leave this one open. If you stumble across this post and want to do your own tag, please do. Maybe leave me a comment to I can see your tag. :)

Six to ten things I do each day ...

1. Wake up
2. Get dressed
3. Drive to work
4. Hold M.
5. Love my job!
6. Come home
7. Love my family and home!
   
8. Check the blog
9. Check other people's blogs
10. Teach piano

So there you go! Random, I know. But still, the rules never said anything about making any kind of sense with your ten things.

Merry Christmas all ye peeps

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas. I did. We were in SD and the weather was beautiful there, compared to the weather here (negative numbers and even more negative numbered wind chills, lots of snow and such). It was a good day of just spending time with family, eating too much, enjoying time of just sitting around and not having to worry about being anywhere on time. Drinking lots of hot drinks. Spending time by the corn burner. Eating turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, salad, etc., etc., and lots of Christmas cookies!

But even though it is fun to lazy around and do nothing, remember what Christmas is about. It's not about gifts, family, friends, food, etc. ... it's about honoring and glorifying God. And it's about God's gift to us. His Son. His sinless, perfect, precious Son. Praise the Lord for His grace and mercy in giving us a way for us to come to Him! May Christ be the center of your thoughts and conversations, not just around Christmas time, but all year 'round. Merry Christmas, God's grace and mercy be rich upon you.

My Christmas letter to you ...

I've seen that my father has blogged a Christmas letter and my sister has blogged a Christmas letter (check them out) so I thought, to keep it going, that I should blog a Christmas letter for all of you peeps as well. So, here goes!

W

Merry Christmas all ye peeps.

a cold walk

The snow crunches beneath your feet, the temperature is 7 degrees above zero. The snow falls softly and gets stuck to your hat, scarf, gloves, hair, eyebrows and eyelashes. The wind makes it even colder. Little ice crystals form on your eyelashes and in your hair as the snow melts because of your breath coming up from your scarf-covered mouth. The trees sport very few leaves but are starting to get wrapped with white beauty. Every thing is starting to get covered with inches of whiteness. All is quiet as you walk. A few tracks here and there tell you that some other brave soul ventured out in the cold weather. You curl your fingers up into the palm of your hand and are very thankful for the very warm mittens that you've borrowed from your father. Your toes, legs and nose start to get cold and you quicken your pace so that you can reach your destination quickly then turn around and go home.

When you get back to the warmth of your house your legs start to tingle because of the cold. Your first thought is of warm tea and blog hopping. You unlace your boots that faithfully kept your feet warm. As you pull them off you realize that your pants (which are roll up because they are too long) have filled with snow and it's starting to melt. You pull off your hat and the snow that collected there is cold on your hand. You unwrap your scarf which leaves coldness on your neck as the snow stuck on the scarf brushes up against your neck. You wiggle out of your coat and put it away. It's good to be home ... safe, cozy and warm.

Insight from the roses

Yes ... this post is called "Insight from the roses." Strange? You'll understand soon enough. :)

No doubt you've heard that God "prunes" those He loves. That He "clips" away things in our lives that are unnecessary, unhelpful, sinful, wrong, etc.. And, as I'm sure you know, it's painful. It hurts to watch those things being taken from our lives, and sometimes our hearts. We don't want to change, we don't want to let go. We don't want the pain and hurt. I'm also assuming that you've heard that God prunes and clips and purges in love, because He loves us, because He's growing us, because it's best for us ... even if it doesn't seem like it.

Since the weather is turning cold (the snow on the ground is a sure sign) it's time to trim back the flowers and cover the ones that need covering. If you've read my posts about my roses you know I love them. Their beauty, their smell, their everything. God makes my roses grow so wonderfully and they bring joy and happiness to my heart when I see them and tend them.

If you know anything about roses you know (at least in Minnesota) you clip them back and cover them well so they can make it through the winter.

So the other day, out I went, clippers in hand, to the roses. So tall and once beautiful, but untended, as my work schedule is busy. I realized that in order for them to have continued to bloom and grow, cutting must have been done. As I stood looking at my roses my trials came to mind. God was cutting, I need to change, I need to let go.

I knelt and started clipping the green stems. Some of them were thin and easily let go of the other part of the stem. Others were thick, and I had a hard time clipping them off, reluctant as they were to be separated from the other part of the stem. *Clip* I realized that struggles in life were kind of that way, too. Some things are easy to let go, they don't mean so much to me. I trust that God's doing what's right and I let go. And then there's the other kind ... the things that are so dear, "thick" like the rose stems, which are hard to let go of. I start to question why they must be taken. Is it really in love that He cuts away? But as I looked at my roses, I knew the answer. I loved my roses, and even though it was hard to clip the back, and see the things taken away, I knew it was best, that in order for them to grow properly they must be cut back. I didn't do it to "hurt" the roses, but I knew next year they would bloom and grow. And I also knew that next year I wouldn't be able to tell that I'd cut them back. That the cuts wouldn't show. New growth would cover what is now bare.

Today I covered my roses with leaves and rocks to keep them from growing too soon in the spring.

As I covered them, I could see where I'd cut them back just a few weeks before. I couldn't help but think that God does the same thing. When we're hurt and in pain, He covers us with His grace, His mercy, His love, His care ... His hand. To guide, direct, protect, help, comfort and sustain us.

Maybe God is taking, cutting things out of your life (maybe from your heart). I can now say, with new understanding, that it's all in love. He only purges and cuts in love, because He knows it's best and couldn't possibly be anything else! Remember, He doesn't just cut and purge and then leave, He's there, sustaining, comforting, helping ... loving.

Rose pictures found at www.allposters.com.

Decorated room

I put up the lights in my bedroom again (actually, Leah and I did ... actually, Leah did most of it :)). They make me so happy that I just had to share them with you!! Be warned, there are a lot of pictures. :) (Sorry they are rather "grainy".)

Tagged ...

Natalie tagged me. The rules are:

Go to your Picture file, go to the 5th folder, open up the 5th picture, post it, and then tag 5 people.
I tag ... Charity, Lady Heather, and Tiffany (I know it's suppose to be five, but I could only think of three people who haven't been tagged yet. :))

*~Snowdrift beauties~*

The wind was blowing pretty hard the other day when I arrived at the J's. As their driveway area is gravel the gravel mixed with the snow as it formed the drifts. It was beautiful! Or ... at least I thought it was beautiful ... I do understand that it's dirt ...er gravel ... on snow, yes ... but hey. :)

*~Below picture courtesy of J. Thank you J you captured it perfectly!~*

*~Below picture courtesy of J. Thank you again J for capturing it just right. :)~*

Joy and thankfulness ... right now

Do you ever have those times in life when a certain trial or hardship threatens to undo you and you feel like you just want to shut the world out? You too? *Whew* Actually, it is (I should actually say was) all to familiar in my life. Too often I give in to the flesh, thinking, "I can't do this. Oh Jesus, I can't do this! Why are You asking me to let go? Why are You asking me to give You this dear and precious thing?" Tears flow, sobs come. Sorrow is becoming a constant companion.

Now before you think I need help for depression, let me tell you what the Lord has been teaching me!

It was one of those "said times" when I didn't want to talk to anyone, I didn't want to try to explain why the tears were so near, why the ache in my heart was almost more then I could bear. So I went shopping ... or rather, just went walking around stores, I didn't really have a destination in mind. I walked around for a few hours before returning home. Once back at home mom pulled me aside and asked me what was wrong. Of course I told her ... I tell my mom everything. I told her I couldn't let go. I needed this thing which I was clinging so tightly to.

I could just imagine the pain, the sorrow, the hurt if I did let go ... forever to be single.

But Mom, in her gentle motherly way, spoke the words which God knew I needed to hear.

(I'm kind of paraphrasing because I can't remember word for word what she said. :)) "Ana, joy and happiness doesn't just come when you get married. God wants to give you joy and happiness right now, as you let go, as you give up. Giving up and letting go doesn't mean that is has to be a sad, painful thing. God gives joy ... right now, in this time of surrendering."

Of course I knew that, but I was shocked ... really?

She went on. "I know you think that you can't do this. That you can't go through this trial." (How is it that Mom's always know stuff, even if you don't tell them?) "But God never gives you anything you can't do. He'll give you the victory, He wants you to have victory. You can do this, but only with God's help and strength. And not only can you do this, but you can have joy as you do this!"

As her words sank in and I really thought them over the tears came and my heart cried out to Jesus.

Then Wednesday night Pastor went through some verses to help us with giving thanks. He took us to Ephesians 5:20 ~ "giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (emphasis mine) and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 ~ "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" (emphasis mine).

In everything give thanks? Even in trials, in pain, in hardships? Give thanks? Like to be thankful for them? ... Yes! And only through Jesus, our Lord and Savior, can I do that!

All of this ramble-i-ness to say. Don't loose heart you singles who desire beyond almost anything to be married. God will give you joy, right now ... in this time of longing and unfulfilled desire. He will give you the strength and grace to endure until the time He has planned for you. And be thankful, God always does everything for a purpose. For our good and for His glory.

So pray, dear unmarried ones, pray, ask the Lord to make you truly thankful and give you the joy and strength that only He can give! (Although this post was written to encourage the unmarried, anyone can have joy in Christ ... right now, anyone can fly to Christ for strength and grace to have victory and thankfulness in the trails and situations in your life! Praise the Lord.)

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope and pray that you all will have a wonderful Thanksgiving ... doing whatever you will be doing. :) I'm spending time with family. Eating turkey (and probably ham), enjoying a day of sitting and doing nothing! Hoping that there will be hot drinks after dinner sometime (preferably hot apple cider!!).

What about you? What did you do (or what will you be doing)? What are your favorite things about Thanksgiving? I've already mentioned some of my things ...

• Turkey
• Hot apple cider
• Cuddling up on the couch with said drink in hand
• Chatting with family
• Thanking Christ for the many, many blessings that He's given that I so often overlook
• Just being with family
• Not working (at J.'s or teaching piano ... although I truly love both!!)

I'm sure my rather petty list could go on but it won't. :) So, here's wishing you all a happy Thanksgiving, with family, friends and in the Lord, our Salvation!

Check it out!!!

The ladies over at the IDD blog are giving away a basket of tea goodies!!! Do stop over and leave them a comment. Also, check out their old posts. They are such a wonderful encouragement to me in the Lord and I'm sure they will be to you as well.