Encouraging Deep Roots

I was sewing in my bedroom when I heard all this racket on the hill behind the house. Noisy visitors. The male stayed at the top of the hill to scope things out. He must of decided he didn't like the sound of the camera or some noise I was making. He started making noise and immediately all the females left and went up into the woods. They'll be back!

Mondays normally tend to be a difficult day to get back into the swing of things, especially for those in the pastorate. Yesterday was especially hard. We were gone from early morning until late at night on Sunday and I was wiped out yesterday. So I gave the children a day off from school. I figured it wouldn't hurt them and I definitely need the time off. Besides, I woke up looking like this and I felt even worse! So this is what they did instead: Then after lunch they did this: And this: If you look closely, you can see her tongue hanging out all the way down the hill. LOL! Today we are back to our normal school schedule.

Well, the snow got me motivated yesterday and I finished the apron. I made a serious mistake on the 2nd pocket so that's why there is only one. Oh well, I'll do better next time!

Lines Written After a Snow-Storm by Clement Clarke Moore Come children dear, and look around; Behold how soft and light The silent snow had glad the ground In robes of purest white. The trees seem deck'd by fairy hand, Nor need their native green; And every breeze appears to stand, All hush'd, to view the scene. You wonder how the snows were made That dance upon the air, As if from purer worlds they stray'd, So lightly and so fair. Perhaps they are the summer flowers In northern stars that bloom, Wafted away from icy bowers To cheer our winter's gloom. Perhaps they're feathers of a race Of birds that live away, In some cold dreary wintry place, Far from the sun's warm ray. And clouds, perhaps, are downy beds On which the winds repose; Who, when they rouse their slumb'ring heads, Shake down the feath'ry snows. But see, my darlings, while we stay And gaze with fond delight, The fairy scene soon fades away, And mocks our raptur'd sight. And let this fl...

Dan & I went walking again yesterday. It wasn't raining but boy was it windy! I worked on getting some closeups. Most of these things were over a fence and about 15 feet or more away so they are not as clear as they could be. We always talk about winter being so gray and drab but I managed to see quite a few colors. It's amazing what you can see when you take the time to look. There were greens Same picture; only closer. Reds & Purples Blues White Foam Black & White Chickadee Black, Brown & White Woodpecker Orange See, it's all a matter of perspective.

Dan & I went for a walk yesterday and only made it about a mile when it started raining hard. It seems like the past 3 times we have gone, we have gotten rained on. However, there were a couple of interesting sights that I thought I'd share with you. We saw cows. They aren't really exciting but since it's grey and dreary I had to take what I could get. :-) Actually, our neighbor sold his farm and his 300 head of cattle. These 3 were the only ones he couldn't catch and he ended up leaving them there for the buyer. We saw ducks. There is a game preserve down the road from us and they have a fenced in duck pond. I think these little guys got loose. We usually have one or two hanging around by the house. There was a whole flock today! The creek has been raging the past few days. You can hear it inside the house and I've warned the children to stay away from it. The most exciting thing we saw was a bald eagle. There are a pair of them that have been hanging ...

"A heart at peace gives life to the body but envy rots the bones." Proverbs 14:30 Good morning! Do you have a heart that is at peace? Or are you looking to your circumstances to give you peace? Do you look at other people and say, "If I had a house like that my life would be great!" or "If my husband made more money then things would be better!" Let's look at what this verse says. If you have a heart at peace you will have life! I find this true in my own life. When I am content and peaceful about where the Lord has me I am joyful and content. I feel good! However, when I start looking at others and envying them and their situation, I get in a bad mood and just overall feel rotten. Today I want to encourage you to ask the Lord to make you a woman of peace. To take your eyes off your circumstances and ask him to help you be content no matter what! Have a wonderful, blessed and peaceful day :-)! Terri

I was looking for Emily this afternoon and after searching through the house, this is where I found her. I pushed the bathroom door open and there she was. Later on, I found her sitting up and playing her game. Where else can you go in a house that has noisy older brothers? I asked her why she likes the bathroom so much and she said, "It's the only place that has peace and quiet and I can concentrate!" Silly me. I should start sending her in there to do her school work!

I was fooling around with Nathan's camera the other day and got some different shots of the sun coming through the window. I thought I'd share them with you as I have nothing else to say today! :-) There. Wasn't that exciting?