Ol' Man Winter

I love winter. I love the snow and I love the brilliance of the white reflected in the moonlight. I love sitting in front of a warm fire with a good book, wrapped in a cozy blanket and enjoying a cup of hot chocolate. Okay, so I don't drink hot chocolate very often, but you get the picture.

I gaze out the window and the branches are bare, with the exception of a few foolhardy leaves that refuse to fall to the ground. They may still be there come spring, struggling against the strong winds that are soon to come.

In some ways, we are like the leaves, struggling desperately to hold on, afraid that if we touch the ground, we will be blown along with everyone else. We try so hard to hang on to what we have and are sometimes afraid to reach out and let go and try something new.

Change is good, although we may not see it at first. It takes time to absorb change and to force ourselves to focus on the positive aspects of change. Even the seasons are in change. Soon, ol' man winter will be gone and we will dive into spring, with rains that refresh the earth. We will dry out in the summer heat, only to begin the cycle again in the fall, when the leaves once again touch the earth.

Ol' man winter, stay with me awhile and let me enjoy the beauty of winter for it, too, will soon be gone.

Say Cheese!

Snapping a posed photograph of one grandchild can be a challenge. They never really want to do what you want them to do. Then add two more grandchildren into the mix and they all have their own ideas of where to look - everywhere except at the camera! So how do you finally get a good photo of three grandchildren all looking in the same direction at the same time. Simple: You take lots and lots of photos (105, to be exact) and, if you are lucky, one will turn out to be the perfect photo.

The first challenge is to get them in the same place at the same time. They all have different nap schedules, so when one is up, the others are down and vice versa. And then there are cranky times, teething, and just plain stubbornness, both on the part of the grandchild and, I dare say, on the part of the photographer. Short attention spans are also a problem, and the grandchildren start to wander off. Parents chase them down and put them back into position. In the process, one of them disappears.

The end result? A lot of absolutely hilarious photos and, maybe, a few really good ones.

And, ultimately, the best ones usually turn out to be the ones you took earlier in the photo shoot.

Camping in Coeur d'Alene

Since we hadn't camped in quite a number of years, with the exception of a weekend camping trip with Ruth to a campground in Glenns Ferry, we weren't sure how the experience was going to turn out. Here are some photos of our campsite.

Have you ever noticed that when you buy a tent, it comes in a compact little bag. Then when you set it up and take it down, you stand back and ask yourself, "How is that going to fit into that little bag?" Les demonstrates how to make it work.

Coeur d'Alene

After nearly 20 years of living in Idaho, we finally took the time to visit northern Idaho for a few days. We discovered a land that was absolutely gorgeous with blue skies and beautiful lakes. We found a campground that was located a few miles east of Coeur d'Alene (Wolf Lodge Campground) to make our home base. From there, we spent three days traveling around the area and enjoying the sites.

Train ride at Silverwood Theme Park

Mackenzie River Pizza Company (very good!)

Boat cruise on Lake Coeur d'Alene

Waterfall into Lake Coeur d'Alene

Chickadee nesting in a tree trunk next to our campsite.

Mr. and Mrs. Owl and Family

For several years, I have driven down the same road to and from work. One day this spring, before the trees started to sprout leaves, I saw something that looked like two large nests in a tree on the side of the road. As I looked more closely, I realized one of the objects was an extremely large nest and the other one that looked like a nest with actually a very large owl.

Sitting on the nest was a beautiful female Great Horned Owl. They don't really have horns; it's actually tufts of hair. In the nest, being kept warm and safe by the mother owl, were two white, fluffy baby owls.

Sitting on another branch a few feet away was the male. As we walked closer to the tree, he would fly off to try to lead us away from the nest. They were both very attentive to the protection of the nest and the babies. As we walked around the tree, they remained alert to our every move.

As I did a bit of research on these owls, I learned that their habitat includes all of North America and much of South America. They usually "steal" nests of other birds to use for laying their eggs. They are also very solitary, spending most of their time alone except during nesting season.

These birds are HUGE! I would guess they were 18-24 inches in height. They were certainly an awesome sight to see, both sitting in the tree and soaring across the landscape.

Coloring Easter Eggs

Here are some important guidelines for coloring Easter eggs with a three-year-old:

#1 - Be sure the child is covered from head to toe in something that protects their clothing. They have a way of getting stuff everywhere.


#2 - Make sure the adult who is supervising the child is covered from head to toe in something that protects their clothing. They have a way of getting stuff everywhere.


#3 - Use only hard-boiled eggs for this project. Raw eggs create a real mess, especially when handled by a three-year-old being supervised by her grandpa.


#4 - For extra safety, ensure that someone is supervising the adult who is supervising the child. That way, you have a responsible adult to clean up the mess.


If you are lucky, you will end up with beautifully-colored eggs like these AND a clean kitchen.

Flowers

I have nothing really extraordinary to say as my thoughts are very simple today. I'm home from work and just trying to relax after such a frustrating week at work. So I pulled out my camera and looked at some of the photos I took this week.



Ronnie brought these beautiful, yellow tulips to me on Easter Sunday. They are absolutely gorgeous. It's amazing how soft and fragile they look, yet they are able to stand up against wind and rain.



The pink chrysanthemums were given to me by Les last week. Their color is brilliant and the flowers look great sitting in front of the fireplace in a clear glass vase with a pink bow around the neck of the vase.

Big Sister, Little Brother

Just looking at this photo, I can tell that these two children are in for a very exciting future, and it reminds me of my childhood.

I was the big sister, and I used to put my little brother through all kinds of silly things. At least, I did until he got bigger than me and could beat me up!

At one point in my life, we lived in a neighborhood where there were no girls my age to play with, so I used to play with my little brother and his friends. I was 10 or 11 years old and my brother was 7 or 8 years old. On one occasion, I remember that I dressed them all in my dresses and, somewhere, I still have the photograph.

When our parents divorced, we became latch-key kids--walking home from school to an empty house--for a short period of time. Our dad was usually home within an hour, but it's amazing the amount of trouble you can get into in an hour! And I'm pretty sure that I was probably the instigator of our mischief.

One time, we explored all of the cabinets in the upper-reaches of the kitchen, like the cabinet above the refrigerator. We had always wondered what was up there, so I pulled a chair up to the cupboard, climbed up and opened the door. I remember finding some magazines that I had never seen before and my dad's service revolver. I was pretty sure we weren't supposed to see that stuff, so I put everything back and shut the door. I am also certain that my dad never found out what we found out that day. (Unless, of course, he reads this blog!)

When my brother and I had an argument, we would chase each other through the house and try to hit each other. I remember one incident where we had been playing pool and my brother got mad at me. He chased me around the house with a pool cue. I ran into a bedroom and slammed the door shut, and he promptly jabbed the base of the pool cue through the door. The thin plywood on the door splintered and left a 2" gash in the door. Needless to say, our mom wasn't too happy with us. For years, the door had an orange, vinyl flower adhered to the door to cover up the hole.

Fortunately, as we grew older and somewhat more mature, we actually started liking each other. We played tennis, went to the movies, spent the day at Disneyland and did a lot of other fun activities together. When my brother played in various sporting activities, I was his biggest fan.

In the photo above, I see a hint of the fun that these two children will enjoy as they grow up. And they will, indeed, grow up. It'll be a joy to watch the two of them together.

Fresh and New

What is he thinking? So small, so vulnerable, so adorable. What could be going through his little brain?

Is he thinking about his next meal or nap time? Perhaps he is wondering who is going to pick him up and cuddle him, smothering him in kisses. Maybe he is watching his big sister and wondering how long it will be before he can do what she is doing.

What must it be like to see everything fresh and new? Every day is a new learning experience when seen through "new" eyes.

We can have that same experience by reading our Bible every day and walking close to the Lord. He opens our eyes so that we see things from a fresh, new perspective.

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time." (1 Peter 1:3-5, New International Version)

Wow! We, too, can see through "fresh" eyes, much the same as a newborn baby, discovering the many wonders in the world around us. We can gain strength through our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ! We can learn to appreciate the "newness" we see all around us. We can grow to become the man or woman of God that he wants us to be.

A Quiet Hush

In the quiet of the early morning hours, a hush fell over the trees, which were shrouded in a thick, dense fog. Everything took on an eerie appearance in the gray stillness. A few people were in the park playing Frisbee golf or feeding the geese. Even these could not break the silence that hung over the trees.

"The earth is the Lord's, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it." (Psalm 24:1, New International Version)

In the peace and stillness of the morning, I can see the Lord's handiwork in all that He has made. What better place to draw close to the Lord than in the quiet of an early morning?

Just do it!

Have you ever noticed that when a child does something out of the ordinary, they jump in with both feet? They don't stop to analyze what is going to happen or why they are doing it; they just do it.

They do it because they are ready and willing to experience new things. They do it because they are doing it with someone special. They do it.....because.

As we get older, we are less inclined to jump in with both feet to accomplish a task. We tend to analyze and evaluate and weigh the results before we even take a step to start the task. Why? It may have something to do with the fact that our minds are littered with "tasks gone bad". How many times has a simple task turned into a lengthy chore? A project that we thought would take a couple of hours takes a couple of days instead.

Perhaps we need some of the childlike innocence in our lives, the willingness to do and not worry about the consequences (within reason, of course!).

The Bible says, "Unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." (Matthew 18:3, New International Version) There is a difference between "childish" and "childlike". Jesus wants us to open our minds and have the simple trust and loving obedience that is characteristic of children. These are character traits that are highly treasured in the kingdom of heaven.

Simple trust, loving obedience--character traits of children--these are the desirable traits in the children of God who long to share heaven with Jesus.

No Words Needed

When I made the decision to post this photo on my blog, I tried and tried to come up with a story to go with it. Then I realized that the photo doesn't need any written text. The photos says it all. I should probably explain that the rubber mallet was a birthday gift, and Les had just opened it.

Good News - Bad News - Sensational News

Unless you live in a cave, you cannot avoid the news. It's on television, radio, and you hear it from friends, family and co-workers. News about fires, floods, airplane crashes, murders, and so on. The media produces very little "good" news because the public loves the drama and wants to hear the sensational news stories.

Have you ever heard this lead-in on the evening news? "We start tonight with our top story we've been following for you today here on the News at 6. Jesus was born in a stable tonight and will bring peace and eternal life to all men."

Do you think this will hit the news? "Jesus was seen by every man, woman and child on earth today, as foretold in Revelation 1:7." Hmm, I wonder if that will be dramatic enough to appease the public desire for sensationalism.

We have the most sensational news on earth: the news of Jesus' soon return to take His people home. We are tasked with the responsibility to get this news out to the public. Jesus IS coming again, to rule the earth, to take us home....for eternity.

"You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:14-16, New International Version)

Let the light of Jesus shine in you and around you as you share the most glorious, sensational news of all.

Creation or Evolution?

As I gaze into the face of a newborn babe, I have great difficulty believing in evolution. I don't believe for one second that this beautiful child developed over millions of years of evolution from an ape-like creature. This perfect little being with ten fingers and ten toes is, according to the Bible, created in the image of God.

Open your Bible to the very first book, Genesis, and turn to chapter 1, verse 26: "Then God said, 'Let us make man in our image, in our likeness.'" It doesn't say to make man from an ape or an organism that will crawl up out of the sea onto the land. It clearly states that man will be made in the image, or likeness, of God. Verse 27 continues, "So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them."

Creation or evolution--which will you believe? Regardless of which you choose to believe, they must both be accepted on faith. There are no hard facts on evolution--that's why they call it the theory of evolution. It's based on man's opinion of how it all started without any hard evidence. Creation, on the other hand, has a strong foundation based on scientific evidence.

Archeological research has proven that what is written in the Bible is based on fact. History also supports the evidence of creation, through the life of Jesus Christ as told in the Bible. Man has been provided with this written history, yet still he tries to fabricate the origin of the species and support the theory of evolution.

By definition, faith is belief that is not based on proof. If we choose to accept the Bible by faith as the historical record of creation, it gives us all the proof we need to support that belief.

Evidence of creation vs. the theory of evolution--which will you choose to believe?