The Dawn Has Broken

"By the tender mercy of our God,

the dawn from on high will break upon us,

to give light to those who sit in darkness

and in the shadow of death,

to guide our feet into the way of peace."

-Luke 1:78-79

Winter Snow Song - Audrey Assad with Chris Tomlin from Eric Rutgrink on Vimeo.

One Day Closer

Today was the first truly COLD, WINTRY day we have had this year.  It was the kind of day when the sun never seemed to actually come out.  It was dark and overcast all day, and this weird not-quite-rain was in the air all day long.

It would have been a perfect day for cuddling in front of the fire with a good book... or just for sleeping in!  Except that it is a Tuesday... when people go to work.  And I am SO THANKFUL to have work to go to!!!  But I did miss that fireplace and book periodically throughout the day.

Aside from the weather, it was an absolutely crazy day at work.  There is no way that I could fully describe some of the things that happened or the people we saw today.  I do not even want to try because I could not do it justice.  All day I just wondered where the candid camera was.  It is like something you would watch on a sitcom... But it isn't quite so funny in the heat of the moment and in real life.

So, in the midst of the craziness, I longed for a little corner of the world that was my peaceful and quiet place.  And that is Jesus.  The peaceful and calm in the midst of a crazy world.

"In peace I will lie down and sleep; for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety."

-Psalm 4:8

Image from here

“The LORD bless you
   and keep you;
the LORD make his face shine on you
   and be gracious to you;
 the LORD turn his face toward you
   and give you PEACE.”
-Numbers 6:24-26 

Image from here

^"Rejoice always,  pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it."
-Thelssalonians 5:19,23

Fun for your Friday

I don't know whose dog this is, but she is precious!  



Thankfully, it is getting too warm for booties here... finally!  But we may have to get some for Lady before next winter.

Snow Day

Today was a happy little surprise vacation day. The school where my husband teaches (that is SO COOL to be able to finally say!) was closed due to the snow, and no one at my work ended up going to the office either. Thanks to our surprise three day weekend, I had the bathroom cleaned, five greeting cards made, and dollar theater movie times scoped out... all before 9am! What a day!

Here are some snow scenes from our apartment balcony.  It was way too cold to venture out much further just for a good photo op... It just didn't seem quite worth it at the time.

Honestly, snow is not my favorite thing. It is cold, wet, slushy, slippery, and altogether gross. And winter is not my favorite season. It is also cold, wet, slushy, and gross. Not to mention dreary and dark before 5:00 in the afternoon. I find myself wanting to snuggle into my PJs and get in bed before 7:00 each night. I tend to feel a little less happy and a little more gloomy during the winter.  No doubt, I am a summer gal through and through. 

Ecclesiastes 3

A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything,

and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

9 What do workers gain from their toil? 10 I have seen the burden God has laid on the human race. 11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the human heart; yet[a] no one can fathom what God has done from beginning to end. 12 I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live. 13 That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God. 14 I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that people will fear him.

15 Whatever is has already been,

and what will be has been before;

and God will call the past to account.

Stop a moment, cease your work, and look around you.- Thomas Carlyle

After almost a lifetime of having to wear glasses or contacts in order to see ANYTHING, I had LASIK eye surgery yesterday. It is kind of a crazy thing... Years of ordering new contacts, picking out new glasses, and changing lense prescriptions, and all it took was about two minutes to correct my vision completely.
I can see the TV from far away. I can see the numbers on the microwave from far away, and I can tell what time it is even when I am standing yards away from the clock! I have a whole new lease on life now!
The sentimental part of me misses my glasses. I always felt more dignified and professional when I wore them. The more rational part of me knows that not having to wear glasses or contacts in order to function each day is totally practical. I never have to order contacts again. I never have to buy glasses frames or lenses again! Granted, they can be cute, but they are also expensive! And I have to admit, it was an incredible feeling to wake up first thing this morning and be able to see... PERFECTLY!

The Love Chapter: 1 Corinthians 13

"If I speak in tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.



Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.



Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears...



And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love."



Happy Belated Valentines' Day!