By William Wordsworth
I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o’er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.
Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way;
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.
The calendar says spring arrives tomorrow.
Typically, we Minnesotans find ourselves still under a blanket of snow on March 20 and searching eagerly for any small hint of spring. Usually, the calendar and maybe a few robins are the only hints.
Here are the first robins we saw last spring.
It’s not easy when March and half of April comes and goes while the snow does not.
But this March is exceptional. It’s marching boldly into spring.
On March 1, while wandering about in the freshly fallen snow, we saw fuzzy buds on the trees.
On March 10, the first robin flew in and rested at the bird bath.
By March 12, the snow was nearly gone, and it was warm enough to play outside for hours without a jacket.
On March 16, the robin was getting pretty cozy at the bird bath, and my children were digging through bins in a feverish search for shorts and t-shirts. Last week was quite possibly the best spring break weather ever recorded in this otherwise-usually-frozen state.
Yesterday, my husband actually turned on the air conditioner — for a few hours — because it was nearly 80 inside and outside.
This week the tulips have begun poking through the dirt, the lilac bush has started budding, and even the grass has commenced to look faintly green. And we’ve spied many songbirds besides the robins. We’ve seen cardinals, blue jays, and goldfinches.
After ballet class today, a brief rain shower came our way. The girls — ever so jubilant — quickly grabbed their gear and headed out to test the conditions under their new umbrellas.
But the rain ended ever-so abruptly.
Yet the wind continued ever-so fiercely.
Later this evening we had more rain along with a little thunderstorm — which was little but still just big enough to make the little sister nervous at bedtime.
So the girls are camped out together in sleeping bags, keeping each other safe from the thunder and whatever marches in overnight.
After a good rest, perhaps they’ll have more opportunities for umbrella testing tomorrow.
It was almost like Peter Pan himself invited us to go.
So of course we had to go flying– even if I was a bit unsure at first. Wasn’t Wendy a little nervous, too?
The little ones, they weren’t nervous at all. They’d gone before and were sure it would be fun to fly again. All full of faith and trust and pixie dust, they were. So we left our cares behind and soared right up into the blue sky — in a red and white Piper Cherokee.
We can fly! We can fly! We can fly!
But if I focused on what I didn’t understand, what I couldn’t control, I’d get too nervous.
So I focused on trusting the pilot and studying the big picture spread out below us.
Our kind pilot flew us a little more than 1,200 feet above the town we live in. How fascinating home looks from above!
The littlest one thought the March landscape looked like a brown and grey patchwork quilt, all those fields and lakes and clumps of trees pieced together with dirt roads and paved highways.
How exhilarating to see what the birds can see — and to see the birds themselves flying so far below us!
All too soon the sun started slipping farther west.
So our kind pilot brought us gently back down to earth — smiling and full of wonder. We flew!
Just had to re-post this one from the archives.
Tranquility is thousands of little twinkle lights wrapped around the palm trees.
Tranquility is a bright little beach house away from home.
Tranquility is relaxing on the back porch with someone you love.
Tranquility is having time to paint your toe nails orange.
Tranquility is a cozy spot under the covers, sharing secrets.
Ahem.
Tranquility is not hearing your 7-year-old call from the bathroom,
“Mommy! There’s a dead lizard in here!”
Tranquility is not hearing your husband say, “It’s not dead! Where did it go?”
Tranquility is not hearing your daughters race downstairs shrieking, “It went into our bedroom!”
Tranquility is not hearing your husband calmly but seriously calling, “Honey, you better come up here.”
Tranquility is not seeing your husband, down on all fours, sheepishly looking up and quietly admitting, “I can’t find it. It’s just too fast!”
The Florida chameleon is tiny and fast but not exactly a threatening creature. It’s fun to spy one on the sidewalk or in the garden or even on the porch. But the thought of one creeping around in your bedroom while you sleep? Clearly that’s not a tranquil thought for most.
At bedtime, Laurel was especially worried about the chameleon sleeping in her room or crawling into her bed. Michael and I couldn’t offer her complete assurance that the lizard was gone. All we could do was pray that Laurel and Linnea would sleep well and not be disturbed by any lizards. So that’s just what we did.
“Do not be anxious about anything (even lizards in your bedroom), but in everything (even lizard emergencies), by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, make your requests known to God. (No lizards in our beds, please God). And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding (of where exactly said lizard might still be hiding), will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7
By the way, we never saw that little chameleon inside again, thank God!
Click here to find out more about Tranquility Bay Beachfront Resort in Marathon, FL. We highly recommend it, lizards and all.
Florida Keys Top 10 Series
Catching Giant Snowflakes, 2:48 p.m.
Let the trees of the forest sing,
Let them sing for joy before the LORD,
For He comes to judge the earth.
Give thanks to the LORD,
For He is good;
His love endures forever.
1 Chronicles 16:33-34
Thank You, God, for these lovely memories of all the sweet-smelling roses. Thank You for the long, warm days of June. And thank You for little girls in white dresses frolicking through the garden green.
“In everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
{1 Thes. 5:18}
***
1,001. Jessica’s words that encourage me to keep counting {A Diamond in the Rough}
1,002. surprisingly lovable llamas
1,003. trail hikes with Carmella and Chocolate Chip
1,004. a fantastic field trip with dear friends
1,005. a special visit by Great Grandma
1,006. hot tea with breakfast
1,007. introducing Great Grandma to our favorite red wagon, Lacie, at the apple orchard
1,008. slices of Sweet 16, Honeycrisp and SweetTango apples
1,009. sips of hot apple cider
1,010. fruit-seekers crunching through the fallen leaves
1,011. tree branches sagging heavy with ripe apples
1,012. little girls happily snatching apples
1,013. chasing butterflies wildly through the vineyard and orchard
1,014. the monarch that finally lets me capture it on camera
1,015. the brilliant display of fall colors in the trees
1,016. rains that rush in just before we leave the apple orchard
1,017. big hats and a fancy tea luncheon with Great Grandma
1,018. the cheery, busy squeak of our apple peeler
1,019. Great Grandma’s help with our pie baking tradition
1,020. the smell of cinnamon lofting throughout the house
1,021. Piper’s free seminar on Let the Nations Be Glad
1,022. God’s promises in the Psalms and in Isaiah
1,023. prayers and praises in the Psalms
1,024. character lessons in compassion, kindness, creativity and courage from Betsy-Tacy
1,025. little girls bubbling with excitement as they share thoughts about the book
1,026. our own little “Sand Store” of bottles full of colorful sand
1,027. a sunny autumn morning at the park with friends
1,028. another hard eucharisteo: the fall that fractures both bones in her delicate little forearm
1,029. the kind, dear friend eagerly helping so many ways — the help that comes from the Maker of Heaven and Earth
1,030. strength and peace that gets us through a traumatic Friday
1,031. words, freshly memorized in Isaiah 53, that help calm her sobs
1,031. medicine that helps manage her pain and the pastor who speaks healing Words to us
1,032. quiet moments in the hospital room, just before her surgery, watching the sun rise and the birds fly in formation and then later reading Malachi 4:2 – “But to you who fear My name the Sun of Righteousness shall arise with healing in His wings.”
1,033. the skilled hands of both surgeons and the kind, familiar face in the pre-op/recovery room
1,034. a real plaster cast for her Girls-n-Grace doll, too
1,035. Debra, Kathy and Stacey, three exceptional nurses on the pediatrics floor
1,036. peace that passes understanding while she undergoes surgery
1,037. the prayers of countless friends and family as we wait
1,038. bendable nails that help keep her bones in place
1,039. her groggy, sleepy smile after surgery
1,040. friends cheering at the curbside as she leaves the hospital — and the sweet little boy who does a “happy jog” of joy
1,041. the soft gray shawl that is just her size and keeps her arms and shoulders warm
1,042. cards and gifts and balloons and callers for the injured one
1,043. homemade soup and bread
1,044. her fearless ambition to become ambidextrous
“Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the LORD.”
{1 Chronicles 16:36}
You’re invited! Check out other bloggers’ posts in the One Thousand Gifts community by clicking the graphic below. Or click here to check out all previous posts in my “Counting to 1,000” series.
“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”
{2 Corinthians 2:14-15}
I started my One Thousand Gifts list back in January with “the aroma of fresh bread baking” as the very first item. Is there a more delicious, comforting smell on a cold winter day?
I pray that my list has also been an aroma of the Bread of Life, a pleasant fragrance of thanks to God.
Second Corinthians 2:15 says, “For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing.”
While regularly counting the ways God loves me and thanking Him for each, I have seen God’s character. Time and again, I have seen that God is who He says He is. God can do what He says He can do. I can trust Him.
Daniel 11:32 says, “…but the people who know their God shall be strong.”
Dear readers, I pray that you also know the one true God and find your strength in Him. You can trust Him, too. Just count the ways He loves you. Draw near to Him and He will draw near to you.
This week my own list reaches 1,000. I realize how the list doesn’t end there. Once you start, you can’t stop! Endless gifts, indeed, because His love stretches from everlasting to everlasting.
“Praise be to the LORD, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Then all the people said “Amen” and “Praise the LORD.”
{1 Chronicles 16:36}
***
980. trees ablaze with a brilliant display of color
981. the smell and crunch of dry leaves
982. the neighbor kids raking leaves into pile
983. the linden tree that’s grown strong enough for her to climb
984. her first and last carmel apple for a while
985. her big, beautiful smile that’s a little more shiny
986. the sweet family that hosts our church’s Fall Festival
987. an afternoon hayride pulled by their Allis Chalmers
988. how they love to wear boots and hats when they visit the farm
989. fellowship around the bonfire
990. finding hay in her boots
991. the silver-sliver moon that reminds me of the night my youngest was born
992. their open Bibles at the breakfast table
993. learning about El Elyon, God Most High
994. reminders about quietness and trust (Isaiah 30:15)
995. Isaac’s baptism
996. her birthday countdown and uncontainable anticipation, and all her six years
997. the movie that encourages men to be Courageous
998. true friends who share life with us, feed us pizza and cookies, know our imperfections and love us anyway
999. jars of her apple pie filling, apple sauce, tomatoes and hot pepper jelly
1,000. the boldness to fiercely trust God
You’re invited! Check out other bloggers’ posts in the One Thousand Gifts community by clicking the graphic below. Or click here to check out all previous posts in my “Counting to 1,000” series.
“Giver of every breath I breathe
Author of all eternity
Giver of every perfect thing
To You be the glory”
{lyrics from “All Because of Jesus” by Steve Fee}
Over the weekend, I was among a crowd of 370 women singing “All Because of Jesus” during chapel at a women’s retreat. What a memorable way to praise the Giver of every perfect thing! That retreat was indeed the perfect gift given at the perfect time. To God be the glory! I so needed that time of refreshment with ladies from church!
I am still adding gifts — from the Giver of every perfect thing — to my One Thousand Gifts list, which continues this week with items 960 through 979:
960. little boys in sweatshirts and vests, all eager to play outside
961. the itsy-bitsy Keen boots and the ticklish little feet that wear them
962. a tall, tall tree to climb and hug
963. more lessons in wisdom from Proverbs and from this sermon in James 1
964. six great ladies rooming with me in “Cinnamon Bear” — a cabin full of bunk beds and smiles
965. a dear friend who encourages and inspires me
966. brightly colored leaves on the birch trees
967. the refreshment gained through retreating with 20 wonderful women from church
968. forgiveness (Psalm 103:11-12)
969. lessons in faith, hope and love
970. brightly colored fingernails painted by Ivy
971. wind rushing through the tops of the birch trees
972. the smell of horses and leather as I take the reins, riding tall on a trusty but slow little horse named Sultan
973. mingling on horseback with seven deer as they slowly cross and re-cross our path through the woods
974. singing joyful praises to God in the chapel with 370 women
975. the clash of the symbols — praising Him
976. quiet moments resting in the top bunk
977. lessons in true friendship and stories that evoke riotous laughter
978. being welcomed home Sunday afternoon with tight hugs and blazing new maple trees just planted in the backyard
979. the kind crew that will carry our care-package for Dawit to another hemisphere
You’re invited! Check out other bloggers’ posts in the One Thousand Gifts community by clicking the graphic below. Or click here to check out all previous posts in my “Counting to 1,000” series.
Starlight Writer 