Winter Bliss

Happy New Year!!

Christmas has passed, but Winter is still here leaving its sparkling snow and cheer. Driving back home today I couldn't help but stare at the snow covered fields. To some, their beauty is not recognized, but it's the little things in life that can make our days brighter. Taking in every moment we have and recognizing the beauty in it is so important. Winter can be such a dismal time of year for some. It's dark and gray with very little color, but that blank slate of gray and white is so important for painting the colors of Spring. Would we so eagerly welcome the vibrant shades of Spring if we didn't have those dark days? Each season has a purpose. God created this masterpiece that we each choose to enjoy or ignore. I hope you can find time this year to really enjoy each moment. For me, I can never decide which time of year is my favorite, but I love the beauty of winter that seems to be hidden for so many people. Take time to enjoy the views you pass every day, look beyond the gray, and discover something new along the way.

This picture was taken near my grandparents' house. There is so much beauty in such a simple scene, but sometimes it's missed when we don't slow down long enough to notice it.

After writing the post above I was reading my Bible and had to share a few verses that seem to fit this topic. I hope you take time to look them up; they are Isaiah 55:10-13.

Share a smile

Cleaning up the yard is not always the most fun chore, but when the sun is shining and you can start to see your work paying off it's really not that bad. I was pulling some overgrown grass around a bush and there were a bunch of succulents intertwined with the grass and I couldn't just pull them all up! I was telling a friend about my dilemma and she offered to take one of the succulents off my hands if I accidentally pulled one up. Well, I was trying not to pull any up, so instead, I pulled a couple up especially for her from another area of the yard that has an abundance of these purple tipped "hens and chickens." While I was at the store I bought a paint pen and painted a sweet face on this little pot I had gotten at a thrift store. I never mind taking the time to share a smile and now my friend can enjoy her very own little smiling "plant pal" as she called him. Perhaps you have someone who would love a little friendliness for their desk or windowsill. These little guys are easy to put together and fun to give away. 

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Springtime and Poppies

Can you believe we're already this far into spring? I for one can't, but I am so enjoying the weather and all that it brings with it. God's creation is truly awesome. My mom came to visit me for mom's weekend at school, and we went to a plant sale and bought tomatoes, flowers, and herbs. I was most excited about the poppies. These delicate, thinner-than-paper, flowers are so cheerful and really brighten up the day. I planted them in the planter in the corner of my yard hoping they will eventually spread and be all over! One bloomed just a few days after my mom bought it, and I just had to include a picture of it to spread some of its cheerfulness. I still cannot believe that this semester is almost over. Soon I will be onto the next phase of life and seeking God's direction in where He might lead me. As for now I will continue to enjoy my flowers and watching baseball games in the bright sun! I hope you all are enjoying springtime and all of its sweet treasures. 

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Groundhog Day!!

Just a quick little post before it's over! Well, six more weeks of winter it is, Punxsutawney Phil. I can't complain, this has been a wonderful winter, and I am enjoying it! I'll just keep on crafting away whether the sun is shining on the spring flowers or the snow is falling thoughtlessly to the ground. Groundhog Day is one of those easily forgotten holidays that many people pay no attention to, but I have always thought it was fun. Maybe that's because my mom always reminded me when Groundhog Day came around, and she would put a little stuffed Punxsutawney Phil out for the holiday. It's these simple things in life that bring me so much joy. This could be looked at as just another day, or it can be celebrated as the day that Phil pops out of his home in the ground, looks around for his shadow, and let's us know if it will be more winter or if spring will be here before we know it. Of course this is just silliness, but isn't it fun? Why not have a little randomness in our lives? Well, I hope you all had a wonderful Groundhog Day!