In case you live in the midwest and haven't noticed, the roads (and most everything else) are covered with a glaze of ice this grey January day.  There have been bits of sleet slowly falling since morning.  The funny thing was....I went outside to take a few pictures, but the transparent, glossy sheet my feet were sliding on was pretty much invisible!  Though I could hardly stand because even the grassy areas are like oiled glass, it was very difficult to see the slippery evidence - therefore my photo opportunities were hindered severely. 

Oh well, I decided to resort to color from the files of sunny extravagance!  Here's a bit more pink for an icy, cold day.  After attempting to simply walk past the end of my porch and driveway, I would recommend not risking a broken limb to see invisible frozen-ness!  Pictures of ice?  Perhaps tomorrow - at Tara! 

Maybe just a picture bright

Could bring some focus to my sight

Take away some winter grey

Add a smile and lift the day

The window offers tones of brown

Icy mix still cloaks the ground

Though at times those scenes are nice

The cloudy cold does not suffice

To sing a cheery melody

Or offer comfort now to me

And so I add a splash of pink

It makes me smile and helps me think

Of warmth and joy and things that lift

My heart to song and treasured gifts

Moments when I've stood in light

And knew the feel of pure delight

Blessings I remember clear

 God's sweet presence, oh so near

This sweet baby is too quickly becoming a little boy!  I love catching him still enough to get glimpses of sugar!  The smile that pulls "Ga Ga's" heart right out of her throat!  Love these little cherubs of delight!

Sometimes a girl just has to stand on her head to express what is in her heart!

This Deli is the Bell of all Bales!  

Love her guts!

Just because this little princess needs a spot light!

Ready or not, here it comes!  I do love me some winter snow, but ice?  Well, that's a bit different...especially when it becomes dangerous in so many ways.  However, I am still secretly enjoying a reason to not have responsibilities beyond building a fire and staying in my pj's!  I also have to admit that the photo ops are often pretty incredible!  Is it more desirable to NOT have ice and be able to do anything I'd like to do?  Of course.  I guess that really isn't an option!  So.....tomorrow when the sky begins to fall in frozen form I'll be looking for the the glassy shimmer wherever my eyes might pause.  The translucent encasements on branches and boughs will not cease to mesmerize my senses.  Truly there is beauty in all of God's magical creation.

This picture kinda reminds me of me today.  Ever have moments when contemplation and questions fill your heart and mind?  Sometimes it's hard to focus on life or responsibilities due to pressing concerns.  Most of us do not get a "free ticket" to ride through our days.  It seems there are bumps in the road and sometimes the cart tips over spilling to the ground everything we guard most.

Here's how David responded in the 89th chapter of Psalms, verse 2:  "I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself."  

Funny....the chapter just before it starts out like this, "Lord, you are the God who saves me day and night;....I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death..."  

Well, maybe you get what I am saying?  

Did someone say we're getting an ice storm??  

Weather reports are sounding a little scary if you've listened this 11th day of January.  The predicted forecast seems to be that tomorrow evening (Thursday) through Sunday there is a very good possibility for sleet, ice and very cold temperatures.  Well, we live at the top of a High Ridge small mountain and so are particularly paying attention - especially since two of us in this household have work schedules on that day.  We don't want to wait until it is terribly slick outside before we come home, knowing that if ice is the case, we won't be able to get to our house from the main road below.   So the words of the day are "plan" and "prepare"!  We have hiked the almost 1/2 mile trek from bottom to top more than once!  It's not my preferred activity to be sure - particularly when it is cold and slippery!

As much as we like to predict correctly how things will go so that we know just when to get our cars home, it is not always possible!  It seems that weather is not the only unpredictable thing in life!  It is not uncommon that un-calculated events take us by surprise.  Try as we might, we are not always prepared!  

There is a word that comes to mind when this happens...faith!  Often (and frankly, always) we are simply dealt a choice - to believe that God has our backs - or not.  The Bible states that faith is the evidence of things NOT seen!  In other words, there is a definite element of "I didn't see that coming" as we go through our journey here on earth!   I believe God has so designed life that way because He truly wants us to turn to Him and learn to lean into His outstretched arms.  And...like the weather, those unplanned and sometimes unpleasant experiences can catch us off guard to the point of desperation or utter shock.  

Our choice?  To believe God is God and that He is on our side regardless of the circumstances - or not.  I think that before the weather turns bad, I will choose to look in the face of the storm and declare that God has promised His love and grace in the time of need.  I pray that He will remind me to confidently continue in that declaration.  He, indeed, is the established Rock of ages.