season to season

you can see a tiny bit of sparkle!

A week ago we had a wonderful taste of spring; out came the fleeces, hoodies and even, one day, short-sleeved tee shirts.  People all over suburbia were outside; cleaning up their yards, walking, even sitting in their lawn chairs, enjoying the sunshine and warmer (50's) temps.  Its a crazy time of year when your ready for winter to end and spring to begin. I did the unthinkable and put away all of our winter outerwear! Did I "jinx" myself by doing that? some say yes! I did live to regret it, as this past Tuesday we got yet another winter storm; thunder, lightening, rain, snow and ice!  It was amazing, beautiful and awesome!  Call me crazy! but I found myself totally drawn to the window watching it all play out.  As I listened to the groans and moans of my winter weary friends I found solace and delight in the storm; its fury, its beauty.  We awoke (after 8 hours without power), to an amazing scene painted by God's hand.  Simply gorgeous, breathtaking and unbelievable.  Schools were closed (our last snow day allotted for the year) and life came to some what of a stand still.  Not only was there snow blanketing the tress but there was a layer of ice around and on top of everything.  Three days later, we are still basking in the beauty of that storm.  Nothing has melted, everything is still as it was Wednesday morning, with the exception of clear roads.  The sun has peeked out, two days in a row, and it highlights the ice on the landscape.  Not once was I disappointed about the storm; (hey we live in Michigan and its still typically winter),  but was completely thankful that God chose to bless us with such beauty.  Spring will come, with all its splendor and glory, and we will accept it, embrace it and enjoy it; yet for now, I'm choosing to enjoy, without yearning for spring, what God gives me each day.  I'm, typically, in the over-anxious mode, but God has been slowly showing me, directing my thoughts and eyes, to finding the blessings of each day.  All too quickly life can change, in the blink of an eye; my situation could always be worse; and that its all about perspective. God has a great way of changing one's perspective, sometimes he allows my story to encourage or challenge another and sometimes their stories challenge and encourage me; either way I'm choosing to "seize the moment" enjoying the offering from His hand. . . .