Spring Is Here!

Spring has sprung.  We had an all-time record breaking amount of snow this year.  Here is one of the berms by our house.

We had to shovel out windows and doors all winter long.  We did get some nice exercise.  The two youngest boys are working at their homeschooling.  We are almost done with our academic year.  We are happy to see that many of the birds are returning.  We haven't seen a robin yet, but it won't be long.  The buds on the trees are especially large this Spring and are progressing rapidly.  Some of the alders in protected locations have started to leaf out.  Yesterday, we got the bicycles out.  Bigger one, above has been cooking up a storm.  He wants to be a chef.  We have put our current home up for sale and will be moving a little further up north due to my husband's new job.  I'm trying to adjust to leaving this beautiful spot here.  But, I feel strongly that I'll need to say "goodbye" to this home to be able to say "hello" to our new place.  It is time to move on.  I've lived in lots of homes and know that you make home homey wherever you go.  Here are some budding alder leaves.

We are boxing things up and preparing to move.  Littlest one just had his birthday and he is six now.  He was born here at the house.  I think the boys and I will walk around and make a list of all of the blessings that we've shared here.  Then we'll say a prayer of thanks and hopes for a new family to come and be blessed here in this place.  We saw a Three Toed Woodpecker today.  He was tapping away.  Happy Spring!

    

 

"When I was young and free and my imagination had no limits I dreamed of changing the world.As I grew older and wiser I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it, too, seemed immovable.
As I entered my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I sought to change only my family, those closest to me, but alas! they would have none of it.
And now as I lie on my deathbed and realize (perhaps for the first time) that if only I’d changed myself first, then by example I may have influenced my family and with their encouragement and support may have bettered my country, and who knows, I may have changed the world."

—Inscribed on the tomb of an Anglican Bishop (1100 A.D) in the crypt at Westminster Abbey in London

Dear Lord, as Winter is upon us here, I tend to dwell within, both at home and within myself.  It IS all in how you look at it.  Thank you, God for all of your many blessings.  Somehow I've gotten lost and tried so hard and so often to control the world around me.  How silly!  Instead I'd like to be quietly open to the flow of what is good and kind and true- to take joy in the small and ordinary in each and every day.   May the Lord guide me.  Amen. 

Thoughts for a Sunday in Early Winter...