beauty & joy {lately} photographs

I reminded myself: It is in the hurried days when it is most important for me to take the time to pause and look with expectation.

I don't like to be rushed. It is no longer alluring to me. But, at times, it is a reality.

Even so, I combat it.

Today I set my timer to chime at odd times throughout the busy day, reminding me to be still. When the timer alerted me, I calmed my hands, took a deep breath, and stood motionless.

I prayed. I gazed outside. I watched the sunlight splash across the room. I closed my eyes and gave thanks.

I stilled myself with expectation. And I was rewarded.

It is a verse commonly quoted, but not so commonly practiced:

   "Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 4:10

The reward? To know. To know that even through the craziness, through the unknown, through the good and difficult times, God is in control. He is sovereign. God is God.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Hew are a few pictures from the past month featuring our Winter-Spring-Winter-Spring weather. :)

So much beauty and joy...



My colorful little boy who thoroughly enjoys being outside no matter how cold it is.



Outside time means nature sensory time for Grant.

I'll never forget the first time I saw North Carolina clay dirt. I was fascinated by it. Now I've become a master at getting it out of the boys' clothes.



Let it snow! Again!

Eating snow

While Grant endured some outside time, he preferred to stay indoors during the snow and cold. His body doesn't regulate "extreme" temperatures well. So he'd rather look at books.

Cold weather is also a perfect time for making indoor forts. :)

God is our refuge and strength,

    an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
    and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
    though its waters roar and foam
    and the mountains quake with their surging.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
    the holy place where the Most High dwells.
God is within her, she will not fall;
    God will help her at break of day.
Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall;
    He lifts his voice, the earth melts.

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.

Come and see what the Lord has done,
    the desolations He has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease
    to the ends of the earth.
He breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
    He burns the shields with fire.
He says, “Be still, and know that I am God;
    I will be exalted among the nations,
    I will be exalted in the earth.”

The Lord Almighty is with us;
    the God of Jacob is our fortress.                Psalm 46