sweet surprise

Wasn’t that sweet!  My husband took me to a cross-county skiing progressive dinner for my birthday.  Being handed a map of trails with numbered locations reminded me of his marriage proposal 10 years ago in a similar location.   Since it was a night event we were able to enjoy the clear night sky and stars.  How cool that all the trails were lit, but I am glad I took a headlamp for the areas in-between!  Have you ever been x-country skiing at night?  I am thankful for another year and such a creative partner to navigate these trails of life with.

tracks

This morning the pool was a little too crowded for a swim, being a beautiful sunrise I opted for some winter play.  Walking along the old rails to trail I remembered the allure of winter hikes.  The trail I walked on was loaded first with snowmobile tracks, than as I moved further along the river fox, deer, rabbits, and I am sure many others I didn’t catch.  I am glad I took my snow shoes as it allowed me to go off the path in areas that are normally covered in brush in the summer.  Quiet, peaceful, textural – I have been slow to get back in the studio after Christmas.  Winter has come, it’s time for play!

winter where are you?

It’s not often that I wish for cold.  I like winter, I love snow, I am glad it is a season, but it just hasn’t come to town yet…  A little scattering of snow here, melt there, these short cycles are getting a little old.  I tried to make these luminaries before Christmas but they kept melting, and because when I get something in my head I keep trying, I made these very christmas-y looking ice sculptures for new years.  Two days later they are a melted mess. I snapped a few photos at night to capture the beauty of lit ice.  O winter, can you please come for a few weeks so we can all use these new skis and I miss your glistening white blanket of snow.

winter’s pane

We kept the original leaded glass picture windows on the front of our house.  I admire how they capture the light and distort the scenery.  Yesterday they framed winters own art sprawled across the glass panes.  I’m mesmerized by the ice crystals and abstract design.

pressing on through winters ride

Hosea 6:2-4

After two days he will revive us;
on the third day he will restore us,
that we may live in his presence.
Let us acknowledge the LORD;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.”

 

This weekend I was a camper at SpringHill for the first time!  I dared to attend a winter teen retreat with the junior highers from our church, which proved to be a great time.  What a great weekend of refreshment and a chance to view this place from a new perspective.

I also conquered a new first – I went on a winter trail ride.  I actually have never ever been on a trail ride ever, so to do it in winter was even more daunting for me.  I am not a big fan of horses to begin with the size, strength and their will, slightly frightens me, when I am on and off them.  The snow added another obstacle and another burden (me being the first) for the horse, as it trusted the guide and other horses traveling in front of it to step in the right spots down the right path.

My girls love horses, we visit the barn often in the summer. I have paid little attention in the past to their bodily change for the seasons, all the horses seemed larger and harrier then I remember.  While this seems like an odd detail to focus on, it struck me that their bodies ready themselves for the long season ahead, and they are most likely oblivious to the change.  By contrast we know the taste of each season, and long not only with our bodies but our whole being for what comes next.  We are not created to passively wait for change but ready ourselves by reading the word and putting our faith into action.

As surly as the sun rises he will appear, let us press on to acknowledge him, that he will revive us, restore us, that we may live in his presence.

 

 

a treat sort of a day

Yesterday it was 50 out.  It was also a snow day?

School was called off due to morning ice I presume but  it turned out to be such a gorgeous day that we couldn’t help but enjoy the sunshine.  Camp has its own rhythm outside of summer and on a weekday it is quite tranquil… This makes a great setting for quality time, teachable moments and a little nature discovery.

So we enjoyed the warm weather, snow, longed for our fun summer days and enjoyed lollipops.  These were gifts from friends for their birthday’s but I kept finding reasons to delay the sweet treats.  I think they tasted better after the wait, perhaps as sweet as spring feels after a long snowy winter.

 

books, books and sacred corners

Some mornings you wake up and know its just gonna be a great day.  The beauty of the ordinary which is rarely appreciated until something catastrophic happens and we long to be back in that spot.  That mindset allowed me to savor waking up early with my husband, anticipate the coffee brewing and reading in bed together for a whole hour before the girls even woke.  Dutch baby pancakes and sausage for breakfast, I sat on the couch gearing up to go out and shovel the 5 new inches of snow when my neighbor drove up in his tractor/plow and took care of the sidewalk and driveway.

This allowed me to look around at corners of my home that I have been overlooking for weeks with a new freshness.  I wish I took a before picture but I am sure we can all imagine a corner ruled completely by kids, books shoved in crannies, crayons, sticky fingers… isn’t that quite the picture in itself!   This morning I was on a mission more than straightening books but sorting and savoring.   As nut turned four shortly before Christmas I am torn between making room on the shelves for new mature books and parting with treasured pages.  We are a family that reads, so many afternoons are spent snuggling on the sofa a kid on each side a pile of books on the lap.   I generally fall somewhere in-between a keeper and purger, but today is a great day.  I can confidently make the room, letting go of the objects, yet keep the memories and moments.  Sometimes the letting go leaves your hands free to embrace what is coming ahead.

{this moment}

{this moment} – A Friday ritual. A single photo – no words – capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. If you’re inspired to do the same, leave a link to your ‘moment’ in the comments for all to find and see. Find out more about this ritual at soulemama.com

I have to write a few words… Just want to give a heads up, next week I am posting a series of working in clay – reflections from a potter.  I am so excited to share about what has been laid on my heart.  Also I will be posting more pendant necklaces and hosting the first sale in my shop all next week, stoneware pendants will be 20% off.  I am looking forward to this weekend and enjoying the sun glistening on the snow!

white as snow

“Come now, let us settle the matter,” says the LORD.

“Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;

though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.

Isaiah 1:18

These are some beautiful photos I took a few years ago around camp.  They remind me very much of the past few days.  The gleaming whiteness of the snow and the deep blue of the clear skies.  As I drove A into work this morning the heavy snow clung to the sides of trees and weighed the branches down.  What a picture of the weight of his glory and the splendor of his majesty.

These days are not possible without the sting of the cold.  We cannot fully grasp natures beauty without entering in it.  As I study the book of Isaiah this year and I look back on this passage I am reminded of its defining choice.  The Lord invites us into a conversation, he wants to enlighten us to make the right choice.  If we choose him and obey we will be as white as snow.  We shall be like wool and eat the best from the land.  If we oppose him and disobey our sins will be scarlet, crimson and we will be devoured by the sword.

The Lord set in motion his plan long ago, to rescue his people and deliver them from the sting of the cold.  Will you enter into a conversation with him this Christmas season?   Will you receive his gift of a new baby, Jesus?  Will you give him the gift of your heart?

I love these last two verses of the hymn ‘O little town of Bethlehem”

How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.
No ear may his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him still,
The dear Christ enters in.

O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today
We hear the Christmas angels
The great glad tidings tell
O come to us, abide with us
Our Lord Emmanuel