Joy!

"You visit the earth and water it, You greatly enrich it;... You crown the year with Your goodness ... the little hills rejoice on every side... they shout for JOY, they also sing." ~ Psalm 65: 9, 11, 12, 13

I feel like singing & shouting for joy today! It is a BEAUTIFUL sunny day and Spring is definitely in the air. But now I see, it is also bursting from the ground. For the last week or so I have been scoping out my backyard, waiting for those first signs of life poking thru with green shoots! Those first blades of the crocus plant. Today I found them. Oh, I'm sure they've been popping up in yards everywhere for a couple weeks now, but these are in my yard, and my yard gets a lot of shade so I had to be patient!

And today my patience paid off. For there they were stretching out of the cold damp earth and reaching towards heaven, towards the warmth of the sun.

Yes, the ice is still on the lakes, yes there is still snow in the corners of the yard and yes, chances are real that a few flakes could STILL fall, but these little heralds of spring pay no attention to all that and reach through all the same!

Praise God for greatly enriching the earth!

Still Waiting

"Wait on the Lord; Be of good courage" Psalm 27:14

Its certainly not kayaking season yet!

Spring is starting to let its presence be known here in the valley. The sun has been coming out for us and for people like me, having a sunny day changes my whole attitude. I love the sun. Winters can be so dreary here and when we have sunny days I feel the sun in my soul. It encourages me. I had been waiting to feel its warmth on my face! And now, in mid-February, its finally gaining some warmth. The temps rise above freezing, the snow is melting and believe it or not, rumors of crocuses in bloom are being whispered here & there.

And so, another sunny and somewhat warm day, I took myself down to the lake. I was greeted with this huge ice shelf full of cracks & caverns. On the side of the lake where the wind blows the most it pushes the ice up onto the shore to make amazing formations!

I got up close & took some photos, hearing the ice cracking, breaking & dripping all around me. I stomped the softer ice to encourage it to break & melt sooner. I threw rocks out a little further to see how strong it was...still pretty strong.

And so, we are still waiting for the warmth, the thaw and the sign of green things. But I am thankful for sunny days to encourage & warm my soul. I'm thankful that the ice can hold some wonder for me while I wait for it to melt away.

"...and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord." Psalm 27:14