Happy Feet

I couldn't take my eyes off this young ice skater on the rink at the base of one of the ski resorts. Of course, the turquoise crazy pants caught my eye. But I stayed to watch the skill and joy exhibited by this young lady. She was having so much fun! Her pleasure just spilled on to everyone who watched her.

I pray for my grandchildren to have wonderful times outside playing games and honing skills. Their shouts and giggles as they race to kick balls, swim for the pool's edge, or even inside with a game of Wii bowling, gives me such joy.

From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.
Psalm 8:2

Above the Earth

When I saw clouds above mountains from the airplane, being able to look down on our beautiful planet Earth, I could not fully fathom the magnitude of these scriptures:

He waters the mountains from his upper chambers;
the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work.
Psalm 104:13

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him.
Psalm 103:11

We are but specks on this planet, and the planet is but a speck in the universe.
His love is unending and vast beyond our comprehension. Amazing God!

Snow Days

Heavy snows in Utah captured on dormer windows and roofs brought back childhood memories in Nebraska. I still don't enjoy scooping it or driving in it, but I am complelled to go play in freshly fallen snow. We lived 7 miles out in the country, and occasionally would have a cancelled day of school due to heavy snow. I remember one blizzard on March 22 that literally covered telephone poles. We were out of school for a few weeks because buses could not get to the country houses. We had propane for cooking and melting water, and plenty of candles and propane lamps for reading.

Our children were amazed when we moved to Texas that school would be cancelled because it was very cold, or there was a small amount of ice on the roads. The sparce flurries here will find my daughters, me, and my grandchildren outside playing, and catching flakes on our tongues. We will diligently try to make snowmen out of two inches of snow.

A ton of pristine snow is not a reason to stay inside when the 'child' is calling out to make the first snow angels or snowmen. Those days of heavy snow on the farm in Nebraska would only find us inside seeking some hot chocolate or warming our back sides enough to go out again. We would find various things to use as sleds, or make snow forts from which to attack the other team of siblings with a ton of snow balls.


Makes me wonder...how have you 'played' lately, and come as a child to give
giggling thanks to the SNOWMAKER, or RAINMAKER, or SUNMAKER, the author of it all, for giving you the desire to go out and enjoy His creation?

Shout for joy to the Lord!
Psalm 100:1

Lift me Up

One of the anxieties I faced in skiing again after 23 years was my age and my lack of skill. I remember some very embarrassing things happening the first time I went skiing involving getting on and off tow ropes and chair lifts. Needless to say, age and pride were not looking to be my friends this trip.

Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,
and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds. Ps. 71:17

However, my desire to get to the top of the mountain, and my faith in help from my husband and God, I was able to overcome the fears that I had about the endeavor. It was wonderful to get my nose cold, maneuver my tips out of a cross before taking a tumble, and having some success getting down 3.5 mile green run the second day without any falls. I got my rhythm and started to have fun. But believe me that these scriptures crossed my lips numerous times:

Hasten, O God, to save me;
O Lord, come quickly to help me...
or
Do not let my foot slip!

I did not wait until the seventh day to rest. I stayed in my jammies the third day until 11:00, only to get into a jacuzzi. After a soothing muscle treatment I had a big bowl of cereal, did some reading, and took a long winter's nap under a luxurious throw.

The fourth morning my camera and I caught the shuttle to downtown Park City. We found some wonderful mixes of bright store fronts and awnings heavy with icicles and snow. It was a good mix of time with friends, and time by myself, plus creative time with the camera.


Even when I am old and gray,
do not forsake me, O God,
til I declare your power
to the next generation,
your might to all who are to come.
Your righteousness reaches to the skies.
Psalm 71:18-19

PERSPECTIVE

These three pictures are all of the Great Sand Dunes in southern Colorado. They are magnificent to experience, and I highly recommend seeing them in person. They seem so out of place, like they have been transported from a sea shore or desert from a far away land. They don't look so big from the fly over back from Utah. They look much bigger in front of the Sangre de Cristo range. But they are huge when seen in the perspective of two human beings walking at the base. As tiny as we are in relation to the mountains, we are His treasure above all creation.