“Lord, catch me off guard today.
Surprise me with some moment of beauty or pain
so that at least for the moment,
I may be startled into seeing that you are here
in your splendor,
always and everywhere,
barely hidden,
beneath, beyond,
within this life I breath.”
Frederick Beuchner
on the garden zinnias.
“Snow falling soundlessly in the middle of the night will always fill my heart with sweet clarity” ~Takemoto
When we woke up that morning….
….the peonies were covered in snow.
The *all but opened* tulips were exposed to freezing temperatures. The question is will they still bloom?
I quickly picked our *just opened* daffodils. (They are now sitting on the windowsill in a vase, looking out at the white white world, thankful to have not frozen to death.)
We had to resurrect the snowsuits, gloves, boots, and hats.
Children had a snow day yesterday.
Even now, there are little glassy specks of snow in the air (20 degree air).
It was dazzling beyond words. It pulled us outside to only try to capture God’s beauty with a humble camera which never does nature justice, the pictures it takes only save a small flat, tasteless, odorless, lukewarm piece of it. They should be cold as ice and as big as the sky!
In reality there was wind in our faces, cold snow falling in our shoes, pain while looking into the bright sun on snow, shock of having a greening spring all of a sudden turn back into black and blue winter, along with the sound of water running and birds singing!
glee!
In the woods it was quiet, whispery quiet, and a shade darker under the branches which were like ceilings of snow. We were bird watching in a breathtaking world of new fallen snow.
The birds felt glee, too. April snow is invigorating. Because it’s so unexpected, beautiful, and won’t last long!
Red-budded tree branches drooped down with heavy snow.
Walking with my love, who was wearing thin pajama bottoms and confessed it was kinda cold. The snow was so wet and sticky it clung to our boots like mud.
And the pond?
I could never in a million years get my mirrors this sparkling clean and clear.
And the trees bent and bowed their heads, looking at their reflections and praising God.
All the earth bows down to you; they sing praise to you, they sing praise to your name.
Last night I woke up at 12:30 a.m. to my husband getting into bed after being gone on a business trip. He wasn’t away for very long – Monday through Thursday – but it felt much longer to me, I missed him terribly and welcomed him with open arms.
This morning we slept until 8…the children didn’t have school…I regretted teaching Seth my cell phone number because he kept calling it from the living room, basically right outside our door.
“What is taking too long for you to come out?” he asked in his wee small voice.
We eventually emerged and I got to work making sausage and pancakes for Ethan and his friend Mitch, and Grace, David, Caleb, Seth, Sarah, and Rich. Jacob was already up and out of the house. Did I tell you that he has his FIRST REAL JOB? He’s working at Dick’s Clothing and Sporting Goods as a shoe person. He’s going to be great.
I made blueberry pancakes and fried some eggs. Mitch ate his first fried egg from a family chicken rather than a grocery store carton.
By the time our slow relaxing morning and breakfast was over, it was 10. I needed to get some things at Costco so I asked “who wants to go with me” and soon we were leaving….me, Grace, Caleb, Seth, and Sarah.
I bought our needed supplies plus a big pumpkin for the front porch. David needed some duct tape in order to make a sheath for his new cold steel sword so after Costco we went to Target and Grace and I got matching flannel shirts.
It’s a PERFECT fall day, there is a touch of warmth and humidity in the air, it’s windy and the leaves look so pretty swirling down.
We gathered five eggs from the coop. Soon we will have too many to use up ourselves and I will give some away to my friends.
When you have Jesus in your life, in your heart, you cannot help being beautiful.
Never underestimate or take for granted the Holy Spirit….what is the Holy Spirit doing inside of us and around us, for surely the Spirit of God is always at work? Giving life, producing sweet fruit, guiding, helping us to pray, helping us be our real selves. Without saying a word the people around us can sense His love.
“Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” St. Francis of Assisi
The Spirit of God has made me, and the breath of the Almighty gives me life. Job 33:4
So do not struggle in your soul, do not strive, do not burden yourself in change….rest your spirit in Christ, but yes, work your body and mind in living the life He gave you to live, your own personal little spot in the world is a light for God just because you are you, wrapped up in the righteousness of Jesus.
In this way, God gets the glory for everything.
Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. Matthew 5:16
It’s not the greeny green dress that Grace wears that makes her beautiful.
It’s not what you wear that makes you beautiful.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…….. Galatians 5:22 (in salvation by the mighty power of God, these fruits WILL appear, you can’t stop them, praise God!)
Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:38 (a believer WILL refresh others! You can’t help yourself! And it will happen when you are not even aware of it. You will probably never know what a huge BLESSING you are!!)
And now for a word from the boys.
I love you.
“….there are three dimensions of the Christian life that the Scriptures are concerned about–the good, the true, and the beautiful. Yet we tend to cut off the third from the other two…rarely do we find a focus on the beautiful…..”
“….the Scriptures speak about the beauty of God. His Word tells us that all things beautiful find their source and foundation in the character of God Himself. So, God is ultimately the norm of the good, the norm of the true, and the norm of the beautiful.”
“Ever since the people of God have existed in community, art has been a significant concern. When we go to the Old Testament, for example, we see there that the first people filled with the Holy Ghost were the artisans and craftsman that God selected to prepare the objects for the tabernacle.”
“…….God saw art and what it communicates as being important enough to include in His tabernacle—to include the beautiful where people would meet to worship Him. Beauty is important to God because He is beautiful, and so what is beautiful must be of importance to His people as well. Christian artists should be encouraged to create beautiful art, and Christian people should be encouraged to appreciate the beautiful alongside the true and the good, for the Lord Himself is beautiful.”
“Our Beautiful God”, article in Tabletalk magazine by R.C. Sproul
****
Although I am not an artist, I have an hungry eye for beauty. I suppose this is the reason I like carrying my camera around in capturing some of the loveliness in the world around me.
As I wrote in the last post, I have lost a ring that is precious to me. It haven’t been found yet, but in looking for it I have done a lot of cleaning in rather neglected corners of my home.
I have been forced to take the time to thoughtfully clean and dust and rearrange the things we have in our home, and as a result, it has been a surprising blessing in losing my ring that my eyes have been opened to the beauty of home-life again.
There is so much beauty in ordinary life. A well made bed, children playing games, toys lying about, animals curled up in surprising locations, food lovingly prepared, candles lit, pretty dishes, quiet music playing, blankets ready to be snuggled in, piles of books, the children’s school papers and art, clean floors, the smell of fresh laundry, and the glow of sunlight through a clean window.
Indeed, just give me one clean and washed counter and I’ll be happy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
“We must have beauty around us to make us good.” M.E.W. Sherwood
I made myself lunch yesterday. It was broccoli and red pepper stir fried with a minced clove of garlic and sliced mushrooms. After the vegetables were done, I removed them from the skillet and scrambled two eggs. Topped with shredded parmesan and pepper.
Yesterday’s supper. It was well received by all except Caleb and Seth.
For dessert, a frozen fruit salad. 3 cups fresh whipped cream and a 14 oz can sweetened condensed milk (folded together gently). Add 14 oz drained crushed pineapple, 2 cups sliced strawberries, and 3 sliced bananas. Freeze until firm. Very much like homemade ice cream, with no churning.
Art by David; painted on silk at school. It looks so pretty propped up in the window.
A game of Memory right before the bus came this morning. Caleb won.
Beautiful snow sprinkles and a beautiful smile.
This morning’s sun, coming up over the trees wan and cloud covered.
Jacob’s art ~ calligraphy
Tree painting by Jacob, wooden shelf made by Ethan, candlelight, old books, and football trophies.
More paintings by Jacob.
I pinned the crocheted doily on the basket with straight pins…I think it looks so pretty.
Valentine roses.
Tips from Alexandra Stoddard on creating a Beautiful Home:
* Every day can be a memorable celebration. Use your favorite dishes, napkins, and accessories to brighten up daily mealtimes.
*Always have something growing in your rooms, even if it is a modest basket arrangement of flowers from the garden.
*Clean windows are like a cloudless day.
*If you’re short on closet space, use a beautiful pine armoire, which also adds height and a focal point to the room.
* Because we spend more than a third of our lives in bed, collect a wardrobe for your bed: Invest in a variety of different sets of sheets, pillow shams, and blanket covers and an assortment of colorful patterned baby pillows and neck rolls. (I bought linen sheets this winter and Rich said they were the best thing I’ve ever purchased besides his wedding ring.)
*Seek freshness and lightness
*Make every room a living room.
(from the book, Creating a Beautiful Home)
“It never occurred to me until I had this house to take a vacation and stay home.” Bill Robinson
“The homeliest tasks get beautiful if loving hands do them.” Louisa May Alcott
How about you? Do you have any special tips or ideas in beautifying the surroundings you live in? (from your own experience, a book, or someone you admire?)
Good to be Home 