It's nearing spring here yet we can't tell from all the cold weather and snow we keep getting. I believe this has been the longest, coldest and snowiest year we've experienced in a long time. You can't go anywhere without someone making a comment on how they can't wait until spring arrives. We are all ready for a dose of warmer temps, to forego our winter coats, and enjoy the outdoors. We've got about an inch of snow here and its still coming down, heavily at times. I know, for all practical purposes, its still very much "winter" here but when March comes we assume it should just automatically be "spring". We will get through this, as always, but inside the anxiousness still persists. Its hard not to be a bit anxious as we have so many things in our lives that are about to change. Hopefully a new job, new location, a son graduating, kids moving, classes ending, vacations, open houses, it all brings me to a sense of an anxious spirit. I try not to get ahead of myself, to let these anxious tingles affect me yet they do and my attitude and responses tend to show it. I know that the Master has it all under control, yet at times, feel like He isn't revealing anything to us. Sometimes my anxious spirit brings about discouragement and frustration, and a feeling of hopelessness, it shouldn't because our hope rests in Him, yet the waiting, wondering, and spinning gets tireing and exhausting, and dealing with kids, finances and issues just adds to it all. There are always lessons learned when the refining is taking place, hard and painful though they may be, I hope I learn them so we don't have to walk this path again. Maybe our journey will one day touch the life of another, to encourage, to uplift, and to give strength. Today, I pray that my attitude will reflect His and that all I say and do will bring Him honor; every minute of it! (I love that little phrase a sweet friend said that to me when we lived in Boulder and it's stuck in my brain! because sometimes we walk the journey minute by minute!)

Zechariah 13:9 ". . .I will bring (you) into the fire; I will refine (you) them like silver and test (you) like gold. They (you) will call on my name and I will answer (you) them."