Winter's Beauty

Goooood evening all!

Now that the storm is over, I hope you all have recovered from shoveling and/or playing in the many feet of snow you may have gotten (according to your area).

I am especially thankful that we didn't lose power during the storm. I pray your ordeal was not that strenuous.

I hope you don't mind me saying this, but there is nothing more beautiful than the after-storm stillness of nature! The birds and animals come out again, the air is clean, the snow forms a lovely blanket over the shrubs and trees, and everything is so peaceful and serene.

God never promised He would take away all our storms (although some times, He does), but He always protects us through the storm. Now I know there are some of you who lost power, had some damage to property, gotten into  vehicular accidents and the like, but scripture tells us in everything; e-v-e-r-y-t-h-i-n-g, we ought to give thanks (1 Thess 5:18). Now that is NOT easy in any way, especially when things don't go our way, so I believe it must be a heavenly mindset that helps us give thanks to God in any state we find ourselves.

Now that the storm is over, spend some time gazing at God's beautiful handiwork. It is a snowy work of art :-)

Where's Winter? There It Is!

The official start of winter was December 22, 2015.

It is almost a month later, and in my home town, we have only had about 1/2 inch of snow in all that time.

That is about to change.

By this weekend (Friday, 1/22 into Saturday 1/23/2016), we are expecting our FIRST snow storm of the winter! It is of course expected to be quite a doozy (especially for folks in the Washington D.C. area), but there are predictions the New York-Metro will receive about 6 inches to a foot of snow.

Yes, the weather pundits are excited again (not to mention the ski resorts!) But all that snow is NO FUN if your roof caves in or if your electricity goes out. I pray you all have a save journey through this storm, and that The LORD keeps you and your homes safe and warm.

Will check-in on you after the storm God willing...

When Life Gives You Snow...

It's the most wonderful timmmme of the yearrrrrr!

(Okay, so not quite, but I am very happy that we're in March!)

 

It's been quite a winter for us in the Northeast (and even more-so for Boston!). We have had major snow storms almost every week, and we may have had our last one yesterday. According to the weather pundits, we will be having 40-50 degree weather next week (bring it on), but I have been thinking...

What do you do when life gives you a snowstorm?

Although I am a summer-baby, I actually love winter and snow. With all the white stuff we have been getting, we might as well learn to enjoy it (especially since these snow piles aren't going to melt any time soon). There are plenty fun things to do with and in snow. I have taken to snowboarding, but some of you may like skiing or snow-tubing, and then others may even try ice-climbing, and snow-trekking. While the time is ripe, why not consider trying a snow activity with friends and family.

My point is this, when life gives you snow, don't complain about the current condition, but learn how to work/live through it. We cannot change the weather, but we can change our outlook on it by trying new activities or volunteering with a charitable organization to lift someone else up. It can't hurt (unless you are just learning  to board or ski :-)), but seize each precious day God gives us, no matter if the weather outside is frightful ;-).

Snow, Snow Everywhere

This week will go down in infamy!

In 7 days, New York would have suffered THREE snow storms! We had a major one on Monday night, then another one (with rain and ice) on Wednesday morning and the third is due on Sunday! These are the signs of the times!!!

I cannot recall ever being so bombarded by so much white stuff in so little time. February has juuuust started, but it seems like winter has been upon us for a year now! If you ask anyone, many are already tired of this season that seems to have been making its presence very vehemently.

I used to love winter...maybe 'love' is too strong a-word to use here. I really, really liked winter...but I may have to 'unlike' it :-). I am dreaming of a day when I don't have to wear snowboots every day and 3 to 4 layers of clothing just to walk out of my house. I know I am not alone. I pray that that day comes soon! Who's with me!

Heat! Come quickly!!!!! :-)

...but, while we wait...praise GOD anyhow!

•  Praise HIM for the beauty snow brings when it blankets everything all around;
• Praise HIM for the cool, crisp/clean air we get to enjoy every winter;
• And praise HIM for fun things we can do to enjoy these winter months (skiing, snowboarding, winter hikes, etc, etc).

So while we wait, let's still learn to number our days and praise The LORD in the midst of a hot summer's day, or a bitterly cold winter's night.