A Little Perspective

Few things elicit excitement in this house like those four little words....
              IT'S A SNOW DAY!
 Amazing what those words have the power to do!
Suddenly the dynamics have shifted and normal is adjusted according.



My kids don't know this.....but I consider it  a compliment that they'd rather be home than go to school!

After all they don't sit and watch movies all day.....
We reinvent play as we bake, dust and vacuum,and do the barn chores.
Of course theirs always time to curl up with a book,paint,crochet and dig out all those toys that don't appear quite as often any more!

The appeal seems to be in the gleam of possibility and the unknown.

Makes me thankful for the unknown, because if I knew all that was to transpire in a given day or week, I would either become too self assured and not trust, or I'd become fearful and anxious.

So thank-you God for snow days. When plans take a detour and we learn to say " not my will, but Thine be done."

              (view from my front window ,the world is indoors)

                    my ten year old still likes to play...

           

             oatmeal valentine cookies we made ...

        my wintery sill...

 I couldn't resist...bringing out  my tulips, 

love the white, with the  snow.

















   
        two things cannot be in one place...
                 where you tend a rose,
         a thistle cannot grow.( The Secret Garden)


linked herehttp://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.ca/
http://frenchcountrycottage.blogspot.ca/

Winter Gardens

   Winter;I can't say it's ever been my favourite season.
     After all it's usually too long and too cold and too dark.

     The stark landscape and frozen gardens seem devoid of dreams.

    Then it dawned on me how my heart has a winter season too.

At times it feels too dark and too frozen, like nothing could ever grow there,
not even a flicker of a dream.

As I contemplated my winter garden and heart I couldn't help but notice how necessary this winter season is though if I am willing to accept it as good and useful to overall growth and beauty.

After all, this is the time to add new hopes and dreams to enrich the soil and fortify it with the nutrients of His word.

The time to remove the old,dead wood of pride and stubbornness, that  can quickly mar any beauty in my heart garden.

The time to plan what I am going to plant and where I will plant it, to help serve others.

The time to pour out prayers; like water on parched land thatcan give new heart gardens the long roots of encouragement and safety and shelter to nurture a few forgotten dreams.

Heart gardens; so like gardens of clumps of dirt, must learn to be patient.
Never giving up but knowing in His time their will be beauty.(Ecclesiastes 3:11)
Waiting always precedes growth. Some things grow very slow.

When we have laboured diligently,committed it all to a much greater Hand...
                    the reward will be in the relinquishment
                        and the peace that follows.

    

           Reflect upon your blessings,of which most of   us have plenty,not on your past misfortunes, 
          of which all men have some.  Charles Dickens)  





354-for gorgeous sunrises like this one,355- Super bowl Sunday-a great tradition,356-impromptu lunch with friends,357-shopping with daughter and son home from school,358-realising we didn't need anything,and that is what made it fun:) 359-the shortest month of winter,360-my mother's beautiful example of sacrificial love,361-Love that came down here,362-a happy husband,363-bedtime prayers ..for this boy Johnathon who we just can't forget,after reading this...364-beautiful friends whom I love in blog land.

linked here..

Just Crackle It

I had never really been happy with the color of this project.
I posted it here...

so it was time for a redo...
I tried antiquing it a bit with some stain....

                      still NOT right.....

so I decided to do what seems to work every time; a crackled, distressed look

          







here's the magic so to speak... 

paint this on,let it dry.


add top color, and

wala....

watch it crackle...

                so much better...( this turquoise is my new favorite color)

Here is a few more items that got this treatment...

these frames hanging here by my kitchen sink....














                                                         

  

            
          this frame; that frames my immortal love...

                          also this mirror in my bathroom...

  (Do you have anything you'd like to crackle? :)  


 After all isn't changing ones mind a woman's liberty?

  linked here... http://chiconashoestringdecorating.blogspot.ca/                               

Prerequisite For My Day

Give me your eyes of grace, Lord.

                                         
I need them to see through this day.

Give me your hands of mercy, Lord.
 I have much work to do.

 Give me your feet of faith, Lord.
 The road before me is long.

 Give me your lips of truth,Lord.
 Someone needs your hope.


Give me your heart of love, Lord.
Without it I am void,

For all I have is nothing
Without love to spur me on.


                                                                       

    Love bears all things, believes all things. hopes all things,endures all things,love never fails.
                 I Corinthians 13

341- baby lambs still living, ,342-flowers,343-tea with daughter,344- young love,345-children who are diligent with school,346-exams went well for them,347- a good book to read on a snowy day,348-hugs,349-laughter,350- sharing concerns 351- praying for people who have shared,352-family time,353-summer dreams and plans....