JOY INCREASING!

Happy First Day of Spring! 

Memphis has flowers and our snow has dissipated! (Pradip pic)

Just the thought of springtime brings me JOY!

In every season.....winter, spring, summer, fall, ordained by God;

Focus on Him. 

Lean in to others in the "church."

Result = JOY 

Think increasing JOY!

Come let us sing for "JOY to the Lord"! (Psalm 95:1a) for "all my springs of joy are in you." (Psalm 87:7)

Everlasting JOY!

SPRING SHOW BEGINS!

There might be 20 days, 11 hours, 17 minutes and 0 seconds left until the official first day of spring as I start this entry!

But God gave me an early peek yesterday! Think vernal

Even on this chilly mountain ridge, between BIG rocks, I had a real glimpse yesterday. My first!

I remain hopeful! Subtle but real!!

BLURSDAY--THURSDAY!

I don't know if it's plaque on the brain, age-related or the COLD Winter Weather alert for the past week, but I rarely know what time it is or what day it is! Thanks to Renee B. & my squad, I have been receiving pix lately that give me reminders. Grateful for those early morning hints! I pray for my daily folks before I even get out of bed.

Today, I was very late getting to my prayer chair and noticed that my "Word A Day" was still on Monday. I knew it wasn't Monday but after that my memory was a bit hazy! "Word A Day" was a gift from "My" Molly who understands both my memory lapses as well as my "grammarian bent" of love for words and their usage.

Voilà!!

There it was! Who doesn't know what Blursday is!

How grateful I am to be able to laugh at myself and all my maladies!

As it says in Ecclesiastes 3:1, there is a time for every matter under the sun. Today at my house there was building up, laughing and dancing!

Glad you could join me!

SPRINGTIME IS HERE!

LENTEN ROSES. Bowing their heads at 4:24 CST to welcome spring!

Maybe we should all bow our heads in worship for the Creator. 

He changes time and seasons. (Daniel 2:21, ESV)

There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heavens: (Ecclesiastes 3:1, NIV)

Springtime is one of my favorite.

FIRST-TIMERS DAY 3!

Kid's do indeed say the darndest things. Especially when they speak their own language.

Sometimes their words make us smile. Chuckle. Or...laugh out right. (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

Day 3 pre-school activity was "Dress Like a Book Character"! 

There was still a bit of problem getting him in the door---maybe it was the size of the taco.

At pick-up he was smiling. He couldn't wait to tell Mommy, "I got candy at school!"

Mommy, asked, "Who gave it to you?" 

Response, "I ont know."

Rephrasing, Mommy asked, "Who gave you the candy?"

Response, "Oh, some human."

Mommy chuckled.....cause kids do say the darndest and on day 3 of pre-school, all smiles & chuckles are appreciated. 

SEASONAL CELEBRATIONS!

There are many reasons to celebrate each season especially in the Mid-South. We have a bit of all the seasons without too many extremes, until lately!

But God....in His Word tells us, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven: (Ecclesiastes 3:1) 

Gof is with us in every season---not just those that are weather related. He is with us in every season of our life birth and death, feast and famine, war and peace. His Word helps us remember He is in control and working out every situation for our own good and His purposes. "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world. (John 16:33)

Just a snapshot of one of my roadsides---it blesses my heart with my favorite color, favorite flower, esp those yellow tulips! As I drive by, I see them as "gifts from above." (James 1:17)

Springtime, that time of seeding and warmth just weeks after an ice storm and hours after tornado sirens blaring in our state helps us be of good cheer.

Lord may we continue to celebrate every season of life knowing that you are with us always. (Joshua 1:9, Isaiah; 41:10)

PANDEMIC PROTOCOL

To everything there is a season or as Solomon says in Ecclesiastes 3:1, There is a time  for everything and a season for every activity under the sun. He even says in Ecclesiastes 3:8b a time for war and a time for peace.

Yesterday the President in his report on the coronavirus pandemic, used the analogy of being at war with an invisible enemy. The CDC warned that people need to stay home and heed the warning of exposure to others. So.....what does one do?

My grands have been following the protocol from  FL, MA, NY, Tennessee & Texas.

Turning the kitchen table into a ping-pong table....

....the front door into a basketball goal and the hallway into the court.The Texans 5 boys comprise their own team.

Finding a cozy chair for some device time......

......and a chair on the porch just to be outside,

and an inside chair to share with brother.

More sibling time as one reading the same book as her friend for a bookclub which is monitored by Alice's grandmother but takes time to include her baby sister.

Hand washing is important---sometimes one needs the whole sink to do it.

Factoring in fun & laughter (Ecclesiastes 3:4) to keep up brother's spirit! **that video is not working so enjoy J's PT. His breathing shows he is working hard to improve his "walk" . Will post the "funny" video when I can make it work.

Practicing the pandemic protocol is so important to stem the spread of this disease. 

So glad my grands are doing their part.

CHOOSE: promp-TEA-tude

Promptitude is truly a word. An important word!
My childhood family valued promptitude. "Promptness is just good manners!" (Mother)

Thus, promptness has been important to me all my life. I wasn't always tolerant of others' timeliness, rather their lack there of!

As a real stickler for being "on time," it has always seemed polite to honor an appointment or engagement in a timely manner---which for me was usually a little early to said destination.  Even if I did not "go in" until the appointed time, I was prompt. Maybe to a fault. I even set kitchen clocks early so we would go out the door with a little "wiggle" room as other family members did not seem to share my obsession with promptitude! (Ecclesiastes 3:1, 1Corinthians 14:40)

But God....recently had me spill my cuppa promp-TEA-tude. And....my daughter was there to point that out! I had an excuse for my 1 minute tardiness, but as in the past, I have not "allowed" for excuses, I was pretty sure I shouldn't even open my mouth to share it.

It appears I needed to add a spoonful of grace to my cuppa promp-TEA-tude,  as well as to remember to serve it to others.

CHOOSE: SADNESS

Sometimes one cannot help but to choose sadness. Sometimes sadness chooses you.

That's what happened with me when the "New Yorkers" had to leave Disney World a day early.

            

Impending SNOW in New York---a real nor'easter. It even has a name. Winter snow storm "Reggie."

"....a time to weep, a time to laugh; a time to mourn and a time to dance" (Ecclesiastes 3:4)

That's life---"unto everything there is a season." (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

All week we have had laughter and dancing and I need to focus on that. Great family memories.

But.....I also don't need to repress the sadness. I didn't.

The tears flowed as last year we only saw them once. Even this time "Mommy" had to stay home and teach. So, I cried for all of that. I don't even know when we'll see them again so I added that to the tears as well.

But God and other family members reminded me the importance of remembering the recent "season" of family celebrations.

What a "privilege" to be with Lucy as she met her favorite Elsa and Anna....... 

and had dinner in Cinderella's palace with her 6 male cousins and met lots of other princesses.

That helps me to smile through the sadness, though my heart still aches. 

Seasonal Meditation

7/22/13

"To everything there is a season. A time for every purpose under heaven.

....a time to be silent and a time to speak,.....a time to weep and a time to laugh,...a time to mourn and a time to dance." (Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 7, and 4)

All of those emotions are real. All are valid responses to both the blessings and the seeming curve balls which life throws our way. Life isn't always one or the other----sometimes I can burst out laughing right after a good cry. 

But sometimes I have to let grief run it's course. Right now I'm dealing with the pain of watching dear friends struggle with disappointments---both in relationships and in disappointing biopsies.  I'm silent because I'm not sure what to say. I try not to let the circumstances touch me, at least not while I'm with them. I'm mourning for them. I'm not ready to dance. But God.....has said there is a time.....and I need to trust His timing. 

As Laura Story sings, 'Cause what if your blessings come through rain drops

What if Your healing comes through tears

What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near?'

God's Word, song lyrics and an African (Zimbbwe) proverb are all "food for thought" on this Monday of seasonal meditation.

SABBATH SNAPSHOTS: Lookout Mountain & Beyond

10/14/12 "To everything there is a season" and I so-o-o love the turning of each, especially the visual turning to fall.

Blazing pyracantha

Point Park mountain view of Tennessee River 

Dogwood Radiance

New York Monument--only one in nation with both a Confederate and a Yankee soldier

Incline Railroad to Lookout Mountain---STRAIGHT UP

Asters in the fall

RC Colas and Moon Pies available

A "serious" bird house---"See Rock City" on the side 

Even I-40 is "coloring up"