Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Summer and Winter


Chilly doesn't come close to describing the weather here. It's down right bitter cold! I have the privelege of staying indoors, and enjoying the cozy delight of wood heat. The daytime high was below zero. Not sure how far, I didn't bother to pay attention, but instead browsed a few of my summer photos...like the one above. 
 FORGET ME NOTS...
How quickly I do...
Forget.
In the summer, at wind-down time, I find myself longing for the autumn chill to come, and the grass to slow down it's growing. Tired of taking the mower out every week, tired of intense labor in the garden. Of course if you have followed my 2009 journey, you know I put double effort in this summer for the September wedding in our yard.
Looking back...
I enjoyed the extra effort. It was rewarding to have a lofty goal, take the steps to reach it, and then see it come to fruition. Funny, I didn't have to deliberate very much over my to~do list (like I often do) since there were so many tasks, I had no time to mull it over. I just got up and got to work! I had to set some things aside in order to put more of myself into the task. Some things that were valuable. Like friend time. Like blogging.
But now that it has passed, I am working on restoring those things that I set aside.

And now I am reminded...
To enjoy the one I am in. I do get tired of the cold, and the sand from the icy sidewalk coming in the house on our shoes every day. Bundling up big every time I go out. Starting the car 15 minutes before leaving the driveway. Scraping ice and snow off the windshield...
But...
The snow is beautiful. I love sitting in my kitchen watching the birds on the deck fluttering from their "buffet" to the tree to eat their tiny morsel, and then back to the buffet again. I love seeing my men bundle up and do the tasks they have to do despite the weather. It is heroic to me...while I sit in the house, and have my coffee.
Ethan is running a chair lift tonight at Wild Mountain.
I always felt sorry for chair lift operators when I was skiing...as they blew on their hands to warm them, and rocked side to side to keep their blood moving...
God bless them!


I have so many rich reminders of God's goodness to me... 
I am so glad for changes of seasons!
I am so thankful for wood heat!
I am deeply grateful for my heroic men!
Supremely thankful for the beautiful day He gave us for the wedding!
Thankful.
In January.
In Wisconsin.
Only God.
*laughs*
How about you? What blessings come to your mind in January?


"As the heavens are higher than the earth,
so are my ways higher than your ways
and my thoughts than your thoughts.
 As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
 so is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:9-11


10 comments:

B His Girl said...

Hi Kathy,

It is kind of like finding JOY in the moment, where you are. I am thankful for the winter today too. It is very cold for us in FL. Below freezing! Very rare for us. Praying it kills some weeds in the yard. lol I almost wrote the JOY, Jesus, Others, and You on my Turtle Tuesday post. I guess God knew you would read that between the lines and share that message on my comments. I smiled when I read it. I pray we all forget not Joy, where we are. B

Rachel Beran said...

Boy, it really is all in the attitude isn't it?! Each season of the year...and each season of life has it's good and bad points. We just have to choose to focus on the good and be thankful! Like you, I am thankful for my heroic husband!! :)

I always appreciate your "upbeat" perspective, Kathy! And I enjoyed the beautiful pics of your farm. Reminds me that spring will come again! :)

Big Hugs to you today!! Stay cozy!

elaine @ peace for the journey said...

That picture of your farm just "invites" me to a simpler way of doing life! I realize it's an illusion and reading about how much work you put into your place, well, nothing simple about that.

But I do love a farm. And I love seasons. I imagine you experience them all where you live. We rarely have Spring, much less a Fall. Just hot summers and (for us) cool winters. Even the threat of snow cancels school for a day.

Our souls go through seasons as well. Right now, I'm in winter, but I know that even there, buds are readying themselves for bloom in due time.

Thanks for checking in. Stay warm and live you winter, sister! It won't be long before the melting begins and the blooming all the more.

peace~elaine

Aunt Angie said...

Kathy--I came to see what the snow was like in your corner of the world!

Thank you for reminding me of all the "other" times and seasons as well!

I had pointed a few gals to your spot earlier in the week when I found that "statement of awesome faith" and truth on your blog--along with some scriptures I found here--and when Lynn shared it today on the TT post, I mentioned your name again in my comment--and low and behold---I SPELLED it WRONG! I KNOW how to spell it---I must have a frozen brain here in FL!!! Please forgive!!!

I love you dearly my northern friend! Send me some snow please!!!

Edie said...

In this cold weather I have been especially grateful for the comforts God has blessed me with and find myself praying for the homeless more.

Isn't it ironic how we grow weary of our seasons so quickly and want to hurry and move into the next one?

Much love to you!

Joyful said...

How interesting that I read about seasons here this morning. Just yesterday the Lord spoke the following verse to me: "I will send down showers in season, there will be showers of blessing." Ez.34:26

Some seasons seem to bring more blessings. Some are much drier...and colder...but still have their purpose as they cause me to draw closer and seek His presence and warmth. I was contemplating my 'season' just a few short hours ago. So thankful the Lord is with me through each one, providing what I need.

Blessings to you today Kathy,
Joy

LisaShaw said...

Enjoyed this entire message and photo. I'm ever grateful to our LORD for every bit of what He provides including the cold, warm, hot and cool temps that come our way....seasons of life.

Blessings and thank you for sharing with us today.

Warren Baldwin said...

Blessings that come to my mind in January - a new chance to get right what I didn't in the previous year.

Dionna said...

I am so glad for changes of seasons too. And I realize that everyone has a season they enjoy. For me - it's summer. :)

Unknown said...

Kathy,
Thanks for stopping by...Your post so reminded me of Buffalo, NY winters and I begin to shiver as I sit here in San Antonio with the temp getting to the 70's today...I hate being cold, so reading about the shoveling, scraping windows, the warming of the car, the drifts over my head, etc, etc, etc, and it makes me sooooo thankful for the gift of moving southwest!!!
In January I am thankful that I am able to care for my parents, that htey finally agreed to move south and that every day they comment about how happy they are...that is a tremendous gift to be given...their latter years better than the former. He, Daddy God, is so worthy of my all...
Blessings~

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