Weekend Review in Photos

I am home in the County watching the Amish go by in the snow. There is something so peaceful about this scene.

LilyBear came to visit Mammy and Grampy. Veggie Tales is always a hit.

My precious girl turned eighteen. (This is her photo from her iPhone). How is it possible she's all grown up? It was hard not being with her this weekend.

Still babying the foot. I keep ignoring the crutches but back with them this afternoon.

Sunset Signals

Some days I'm thankful for a sunset signaling the day is near an end. 

Sunday Travels

 

Gorgeous morning for traveling. It's cloudy but snow frost is covering the trees in the County. 

We are heading south to see our girls today. It has been nearly three weeks and I can't wait!

Another beautiful sight along the way. 

I am glad to be out of the house. I am still using crutches but I am more mobile. 

Check Instagram for more pics today. 

Desire to Fly

I keep wondering if I made a mistake in choosing HERE for my "one little word 2014." Everywhere I turn I run into the word FLY.  I ponder the word for awhile. Something in me wants to believe it is possible, but then I move over to the word already chosen - HERE - and I feel grounded, steadied, sure.

Is there a longing in the human heart to fly that never goes away? God didn't create us with wings, yet mankind constantly seeks a way to defy gravity and move into flight. What motivated the Wright brothers to create a plane that would lift them from the earth? What drives man to fly to the moon, into unknown outer space?
If you are expecting me to share some amazing revelation at this point, I am sorry to disappoint you. All I have are questions. That's not quite true. I know one thing. If man has a strong desire that never leaves, God has placed it there for a reason, to lead us to a place or a purpose found in Him.

As a little girl, I used to dream that I was flying. I'm talking about real dreams while I was asleep. I had those dreams over and over. I mostly flew at night when no one could see me but I could see them. I felt safe and free. I can almost but not quite feel the sensation I felt in my dreams. There was nothing like it.

Then I grew up.

I am keeping HERE as my OLW, but I am not turning away from FLY. There's a seed there, planted in my heart, long buried. I will let it germinate as I live here in this place and time, my feet on solid ground for now.

Miss Pouty Princess

My daughter sent this picture to me  and I cracked up laughing. Notice the crown on Lily's head as she waits for her time out to end. Our pouty princess.

I can relate. This "time out" in my life is getting old.

My frustration levels grew this morning as I contemplated how I would get across our icy driveway to the car to go have my mammogram, which I had already cancelled three times. I have enough problems navigating on crutches in the house. Why am I constantly dropping things when it takes so much energy to bend over and pick it up?
Hubby's only backup, his brother fell on the ice yesterday and cracked a rib. This changes his flexibility to help me.  Would he be able to take me?

 And I stubbornly ignored my gratitude journal this morning.

Above is the scene as Hubby did drive me to town - dreary, dirty snow, rain. I arrived for my mammogram appointment without mishap.

Here is my gratitude list for today after all:

My cough is nearly gone. 

I am able to use crutches. It could have been worse.

I have a patient husband.

It's warm outside and the roads are clear.

Frustration level back down.

Lily still makes me laugh, even when I can't be there!

iPhone photos and facetime! I love them.

Pouty Princess.

I hope God is chuckling over me, like I did with Lily.

Saturday Afternoon

On the fun side of January 2014,  here is my life map poster for the year. Amber, Ken and I spent New Year's Eve making them. I loved theirs, but mine not quite as much as I did last year's map. I have my visual journal to work in and who knows I may create another life map at some point?

Another freezing rain storm has hit the state today, so I am enjoying being able to be home. I've heard their have been a thousand calls for Triple A in central Maine of cars off the road. We are in northern Maine and our yard is a sheet of ice. What a strange winter this is!

I am debating on working on billing or reading a good book. What a nice leisurely debate on a Saturday afternoon! Never far from my mind is the suffering of others.  I can truly appreciate an ordinary day, crutches and all.

A God Breathed Life

Be still and know that I am God.

I will be exalted among the nations. I will be exalted in the earth.

Psalm 46:10

The ice storm of December 2013 left a creepy frozen aftermath of destruction on the coast of Maine. In the sunlight, there was beauty but on gray days,  the landscape left one feeling a but unsettled, to say the least. How fragile life really is and what an incredible gift!

The first week of this year has been challenging. All my plans were brought to an abrupt halt. Once again I am reminded who is in control of my life and that He is good. I have witnessed God bring turnarounds through prayers that I wouldn't have prayed had I been recovering from surgery. I am hearing his voice clearly through his Word before me and on Christian television.  I see splashes of color through  prisms of ice, glimpses of silver linings.

Today's reading from Jesus Calling was stunning:

"Much, much stress results from your wanting to make things happen before their times have come. One of the main ways I assert my sovereignty is in the timing of events. if you want to stay close to me and do things my way, ask me to show you the path forward moment by moment. Instead of dashing headlong toward toward your goal, let me set the pace. Slow down and enjoy the journey in My Presence."

One of 2013 life lessons for me was to stop (usually after I hit a wall) and pray, trusting God to direct my paths. When I think I have a great idea or a plan, step back, wait a minute, and pray. Breathe. 

If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that. James 4:15

It is when you initiate that you step away from Me.

Thus this year of 2014, I long to be still, breathe and know that He is God. 

It is the Lord's will that I am alive today. I choose life.

Here

Here we are in 2014.  

I honestly thought this year would begin with quiet healing and a period of rest. It has been anything but, here in my life. Oh, I'm resting but not as planned. On New Year's Day I missed a few stairs, which sent me to the landing with all my weight on my heel. This in itself would have been enough but that same day I awoke with a scratchy throat that turned into a full blown furious cold. I've spent the last two nights in the recliner attempting to get rest, which a  persistent cough has interrupted. Today's scheduled surgery, which I spent the past two months planning for, is off the table.

This is what my days look like right now. 

My one little word for 2014 is HERE.

I know its very simple and perhaps a bit bland but I believe combined with last year's word OPEN. it holds great possibility. 

My new blog header is created with a beautiful photo taken by my friend and sister in prayer, 

Vicky Ghering. 

I don't know if I will blog daily or once a week, but I do want to stay connected with old friends online and make new ones this year here on wings open. Join me for the journey.