All Things New

Spring has sprung! Here in my small town in the South, anyway. I know it's not officially spring yet, but at least it feels like it is. What wonderful weather we're having (finally!). I think it's supposed to be in the 70's all week. Warm weather = capri pants and flip flops... Yay for warm weather!

I love this time of year. Signs of new life everywhere you look ...behold, all things have become new. 2 Corinthians 5:17.

Freedom

I'm trying to finish up our schoolwork for the day, but I keep losing my kids. This weather is soooo nice! They work a little, then before I know it, they are back outside again!

But that's ok with me...we've had a long winter and a VERY rainy one, at that! So we've been cooped up inside so much that this is really a NICE change of pace! Just after lunch, I decided to take up the brush and scrub the "stuck-on" pollen from the sides of our swimming pool. As I savored the warmth of the sun on my skin, I didn't even seem to notice the tiredness in my arms from the scrubbing action! I LOVE spring!!!

From Journey to the Cross...  Today we learned that the palm branches they waved as Jesus entered Jerusalem was a symbol of freedom. The branches of the date palm tree were like a national flag to the Jews. And by waving the palm branches, the people were saying that they wanted to be free from the Roman rulers. As Jesus passed through the crowds, the people called out, "Hosanna!" The word Hosanna means, "Please save us!" They wanted Jesus to free them from their oppressors, the Romans.

They weren't really concerned with the thought that Jesus came to free people from the oppression of their sin. They were more interested in being set free from their human oppressors. How many times am I just like that? More often than not, I am concerned with Jesus getting me out of the current situation I am in, rather than waiting for Him to deliver me from the oppression of my sin... the very thing that drags me back down into the pit that He reached down into and set me free from. Oh how I need to be reminded that He is working all things together for my good and His glory! And how freeing it is to know that when I don't understand what's going on, He DOES!

"LORD, save us. LORD give us success. Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the LORD." Psalm 118:25-26

Rain, Rain, Go Away...?

Yesterday I was invited to join a friend for lunch. It had already begun to rain by the time I had to leave my house. As I was backing out of my garage onto our muddy dirt driveway, I thought to myself (and subsequently, to the Lord as well), "Oh why the rain today after these few days of blessed sunshine we've had?" Really, we've had LOTS of rain lately (and it's not even April yet!). "Lord," I thought, "Do we really need more rain?"

Signs of Spring

It's beginning to look like spring around here, finally. I have to say this has been the coldest winter I remember ever having experienced here in the south. Usually by March it is quite warm and the kids are even beginning to go swimming by mid to late March. However, it is still quite chilly right now. But today it has been really nice weather. The kids have enjoyed playing outside this afternoon, and I've enjoyed walking around noticing all the signs of spring.

the seeds have sprouted underneath the bird feeder

Our Weekend

Spring is in the air! My nose tells me so (in good ways and bad). Spring Revival started at our church this morning...we've been able to spend more time outside (yeah!!) working in the yard...watching birds visit our feeders...watching the antics of the squirrels at our bird feeders...collecting tadpoles...older son enrolled in LifeSkills 101 (smile). And an update...fil continues to improve from surgery (PTL)...still in hospital...but walking some now. They are trying to regulate his blood pressure...he should be released from the hospital soon. It's been a good weekend! I'll leave you with some photos.

The cardinals are just so beautiful!

Notice his mate on the branch to the right of the feeder.

This is just funny.

Look closely to find the tadpoles...they're kinda hard to see.

Working in the yard

Life Skills 101: Changing the Oil

Son under the car

Daughter and dog had to see what was going on under there

This was worth just sitting, waiting and watching (what my husband calls "doing absolutely nothing")

Can you see his mate?

Back to Normal ?

Life here is back to normal, I suppose. Granddaddy and Billy have gone back home, back to their normal daily routines. But what exactly is normal? I suppose that depends upon whom you ask. I guess we are definitely not normal, not by the world's standards at least. Anyway...

We tried to get back into our regular weekday routine, but I have been far too groggy to accomplish much in the way of routine work around here. I love the spring weather we are having here in south Georgia, but I declare, the pollen is wreaking havoc upon my sinuses. Hence, the grogginess from the medication I have taken today. However, I am very thankful that aggravated sinuses are my only medical ailments. Far too many around here have suffered from the flu and other viral infections, and have not fared nearly as well. Hopefully, the pollen index will be somewhat lower in the next couple of weeks! It is beautiful weather right now, though.