Snow Days and Crazy Weather

While the snow days have definitely caused me some stress this year (SOL testing and yearbook deadlines), I love the traditions that a snow day brings. Sledding with friends, baking cookies, walking up the road to visit loved ones...my days are complete when I can spend time doing the things I love.

However, there is a bit of reality that strikes sometimes, too. I do take time to grade papers, wash laundry and clean my house.

Yesterday the weather was so warm we could enjoy being outside in our shirt sleeves. (It was 74! Hard to handle the 50 degree difference we experienced today!) We ventured to Crump Park to visit with the animals and to look for snakes and other creatures. You guessed it, Allen and his family were with us. I've posted a few pics for all to enjoy.

This is Luke the snail that Allen found and Hannah adopted for a few hours. He was a cute little bugger.

The beauty of the woods.

Hannah and Emily "play" a game of checkers while Jaden and Nala look on.

Meet Hamilton the mule. I really wanted to go back to the park today. The mules have a building for shelter (in the background), but they often choose the outdoors. I am sure they were beautiful this morning covered in snow.

Hope that you, too, have enjoyed your time off today.

Hope

Today our pastor spoke on Hope. Do you have hope? Do you have peace and joy? My faith in Christ and personal relationship with him reminds me that I have hope for tomorrow and hope today. I continued reading today after church, and I was reminded that struggles and strife remind us that we have hope through Christ. Through the trials of my life, especially our five lost pregnancies, I am reminded that God is doing a good work in me. And, over the last ten years, I have been able to reach out to other moms who have suffered loss, too. This ministry is definitely one I wish I did not have, but I am thankful that I have been able to be a support to so many others.

I ask you today, where does your hope come from? Do you have hope? Do you have peace? Joy? Love? If not, I invite you to talk to me about my Christ and my relationship with Him.

"I have a hope! I have a future!
I have a destiny that is yet awaiting me.
My life's not over, a new beginning's just begun,
I have a hope, I have this hope!

God has a plan, it's not to harm me,
But it's to prosper me and to hear me when I call,
He intercedes for me, working all things for my good,
Though trials may come, I have this hope.

I will yet praise Him, my great Redeemer,
I will yet stand up and give Him glory with my life.
He takes my darkness and turns it into light,
I will yet praise Him, my Lord, my God.

There's still hope for me today 'cause the God in heaven loves me.

I have a hope, I have this hope."

-Tom Walker
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uSbJtqYow3Q&noredirect=1

40 years?

How it is possible that in less than 10 days I will turn 40? To be cliche, it feels like just yesterday that I was 25. I guess time really does fly when you're having fun - or just living life!

As I teenager, I remember thinking that 40 was ancient - that no one had a life at 40. Thankfully, I realize now that thought was incorrect! Over the past 40 years I have learned patience, found a stronger faith in God, and learned to bite my tongue more often. I am certainly more assertive than aggressive, have more wisdom to offer, and have acquired a taste for red wine. My life no longer centers around me but revolves around my family and those whom I hold dearest. I realize being alone is not the same as feeling lonely; that love at first sight does exist (DAVID!); that it's okay to leave the laundry for a week; that I cannot be perfect at anything. My microwave needs to be cleaned again, my dog sheds too much (so does the fluffy cat), my mom really knows a lot about life, and life is fleeting. As 40 creeps closer and closer, I realize that my parents are getting older and won't be here forever like I thought when I was little. But, my mom still makes me chicken noodle soup when I am sick and my dad calls me at night to check on me.

As I enter the last week of my 30s, I will celebrate the people around me who love me just as I am. And I will love my age, despite my trepidation of turning the big 4-0. Cheers!!