When it's -13 and the snow is blowing, piling drifts up high, 

we break out the crafts and spend the morning colouring, beading and eating snacks with friends!

Owen worked on his stacking skills,

at least until he got bored and then turned to something more fun.....

Blowing the foam beads across the table!

(while spraying spit everywhere....we might need to work on that for his birthday next month!)

Birds of Spring

This is the first time all year we have had birds visit our feeder.

 I think it has something to do with the fact that the grass and seed they were eating is buried again.

 So they are seeking out other sources of food.

 Anthony was very excited to see the birds and the foot-prints in the snow around the base of the tree where the feeder hangs.

I am thankful for their beauty, and I admit that I spent a good deal of time just staring at them out the window and marveling at them.

(thankful that the kids had friends over and I could spend the time staring out the window!)

Thankful for the snow in April that allows the birds to look for food, and find it in our feeder.

Yah....He is the I AM

I love that God knows what I need.

That He is loyal and trustworthy.

That He is stronger than anything I may find myself in.

I fell into God's arms last night, filled with peace at the timing of a note facebooked to me. I needed, truly, soul-deep, needed to hear what was said.

It caused me to stop and praise God for how He is working even when I cannot see it. Even as I sit and pour my heart out to Him, laying the fear and worry before His throne of grace.

As I learn to parent each phase of childhood I often find that I run into road bumps that I am not sure how to work through, areas that I just can't figure out how to *fix*.

It's in those moments, that I realize it really isn't up to me to fix it. That God knows my child's heart, for He is the one who formed it, and it is up to God to change the heart, not me.

I forget that some days. The days where it seems like it is one thing after another and I wonder if they are EVER going to hear me, ever going to get it. Days where I wonder if I am speaking to a brick wall, or saying it all in my head!

But God knows where these kids He has blessed me with are headed. Where they will go and where He will lead them. So I lay down the fears and worry (at least temporarily) at His feet and trust that He will work in His time, in His way through whatever circumstances He ordains to draw my kids to Him and work in their hearts.

I pray for that end, and am thankful for notes that let give me a glimpse of what God is doing in the lives of these little ones.

A fresh layer of snow graces our yard this morning and the temperature reads -5 (Celsius). Gone, at least for now, is the splashing of kids in the sub-pump water as it keeps our basement dry.

 Gone, today, is the chance for Owen to ride his 'lawn motor' up and down the slight incline on our driveway.

But the beauty that is a crisp, fresh layer of snow makes up for the fact that we were anticipating the arrival of spring and it seems that we still have to wait on that. The kids were out yesterday shoveling and building snowman.

Because that's the joy of snow at this time of year, it is perfect for packing and throwing and playing in. The kids were super excited to wake up to snow yesterday and they were even happier to see even more on the ground this morning.

It's hard to stay grumpy about snowfall in April when the kids bubble with joy at it!

We've been busy. And life shows no sign of slowing down anytime soon. I am embracing it and trying to be purposeful in what is being added to our calendar.  There's dance rehearsals and recitals, there are birthday parties, Easter celebrations, baby showers, year-end banquets and finally, at the end of it all, in the middle of May, a weekend away.

Just Troy and I.

I.am.excited!! It has been a really, really long time since we have been able to get away, just the two of us for a weekend.

Buds of Spring

 Slowly,

 Surely,

 Spring

 is finding

 its ways

 to Northern Ontario

 Snow is melting

 and bikes are out.

Grace, Thankfulness, Joy

It's one thing to give thanks for the trials in your own life: for the darkness that falls with depression, or the chaos that reigns in a house with over-tired children and the anger and frustration that leaks from exhausted, self-focused lips.

It's another thing entirely to sit in hospital, by the bed of a friend and pray thanksgiving over that moment.

To beseech God for His hand of healing to fall and His comfort and strength to carry them through the unknown moments and the questions that arise because of it, and to raise thanks for her being there, for the moments that God is using. And the way He is working.

Do those prayers, of offering thanks in a hospital, sound harsh? I can only pray that my fumbling words bring the comfort of the great Comforter to her, that my heart will shine through and that God Himself will hold her and her family in the unknown moments and the waiting game that comes.

Today I am thankful for

homemade cinnamon buns,

sunshine,

melting snow,

wind blowing through the house,

clothes on the line (1st time this year!),

sticky,

messy kitchen floors,

friends who will surround each other and cover each other in prayer.

Perspective can always adopt gratitude — and gratitude always parents joy. 

- Ann Voskamp

Shadows

This week, iheartfaces is all about shadows. Head on over to their website to check out all the incredible shadow pictures!

Idols

Oh to find joy in the teary-eyed, weary-worn days.

God holds tight and clings close and I feel Him moving closer, holding tighter, catching me when I start to fall and reminding me to look for Him in the moment.

That moment when the idols scream and it becomes about me - about what I think will make me happy in that given moment.

But really, that idol, will crash and burn and pull me right along with it if I let it sneak in and take over. Let it steal the joy - the grace that I balance on when nothing else makes sense.

In lack of sleep and late nights and cranky children where is that moment? Does it start before I get out of bed? That I'm at least awake before them? Or is it that moment where they really.don't.want. breakfast and it's a battle of just one.more.bite.

At what moment do I let the idol rise up within and block out the Light of Him who is the I Am in all my moments. Because in that moment, I have the choice.

Will I choose to cling to the cross of the One Who has already paid the price and WON the victory, or will I choose to let the whispers of this idol close in and capture the elusive joy that searches for ways to stay put?

Because, in Christ the victory is always ours. He has won the battles and if I am living defeated it is because I have chosen to let the enemy take my idol and turn it into my god.

He Who Is, Who Was and Who Is to come holds my life in His hand and in Him I can live in joy, in grace, in freedom for He has paid the price for my (many) idols.

And I am thankful.

For there are days when the idols win and take control and I stumble and trip right into the mud of my own making. But I learn and lean and grow in Him and trust that I am loved and it makes all the difference in the world.

The falling before Jesus to confess the idol, and to watch Him as He walks with me and teaches me how, on a daily basis, to surrender to Him and Him alone. My King teaches me that I am held tight and that He is fighting these idols with me and for me and He has already won.

Maybe I need to start living like it.

Fearfully and Wonderfully Made

I love this lady. She is a dear friend and I was given the privilege of being able to give her a few maternity pictures. She's due in about 4 weeks and I am so excited for her!

Sundays

A red-gold sunrise kisses the streets and I have already been to buy groceries, ever so thankful for 24hr grocery stores and the people who work in them during the odd hours.

Why was I shopping before 8am this morning? Well, it was a choice of leaving the house or losing it on whiny, grumpy children who literally rolled out of bed in foul moods. I don't like starting mornings like that! So on went the t.v and this momma went to buy groceries (including cream for a much needed coffee!)

The beauty of the morning sunrise has given way to the beauty of large, fat, fluffy snow flakes. And yes, I do realize it is April. But one of the advantages joys, of living in Northwestern Ontario is that it snows at random times of year!

OK, maybe April isn't that random for snow given that 2 years ago we had a snow day on April 1 because of the amount of snow fall! It's that time of year where the weather teases me into thinking that I can wash and pack away the kids winter hats and mitts and whatnot, only to need them not even 24 hours later!

After my wonderful morning of looking for patience that didn't get out of bed, I was thankful for the sermon today. Our pastor is starting a sermon series on 'Jesus in the Psalms'. I enjoy seeing how God uses all Scripture for His purpose. There are so many things that I tend to miss reading it on my own and I love the way the dots connect as God speaks to my heart through sermons.

Love the reminder today that I (we!) have a high priest Who is our mediator. That when I mess up (again!) and can't find the words to express what is going on in my heart, Jesus already knows and He knows what I need and He asks His Father on my behalf!

Isn't that incredible?! It utterly floors me everytime I am reminded of it. Jesus loves and cares for me enough to place my mumblings before His Father in such a way that I am understood. It is such a comfort on days when I don't know how or can't find the words to express what I need or where I am at or why I have just managed to stumble one.more.time.

Tomorrow I am taking pictures of a friend. I am excited because there is no pressure to get it 'right'. I love playing with my camera and I love that God uses my lens to remind me of His beauty, of His love and, of Who He is.