blossom...

Another week has passed, and it has changed the look in our yard.. The trees are blossoming now, and tulips are blooming... So here's an update.. (Sorry if you have to turn and look sideways)

Saskatoon

Crabapple

budding..

not sure what the name of this is?!

Cherry

last year's Lilacs all done blooming...

this year's Lilac ready to bloom

Early Gold Pear

???

 

 tulips

tulips 

who knows?

an iris of a kind

honey crisp apple

 "The desert and the parched land will be glad;
   the wilderness will rejoice and blossom.
Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;
   it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy."

~Isaiah 35:1,2~

Spring...

 

The past winter was very long, very cold, and with lots of snow. If I remember correctly I think that every year. Each winter, around February I am done with the snow and cold, and then we usually still have a month or two and sometimes three to go... In November I went to Ontario, on Remembrance Day there was no snow in Alberta yet. When I came back to Alberta 5 days later there was a ton of snow. Seriously, so much snow had fallen in the few days I was gone. From then on it kept going. It didn't snow that often, but when it snowed a lot came down.

I was never used to snow (and wonder if I ever will be) when I grew up in Holland. Sure we saw snow from time to time and we sometimes vacationed in other countries to see the snow (I can't believe it). But when we came here in '04 it was quite the shocker, the amount of snow that kept coming down, and how long it stayed on the ground and covered the earth was unbelievable to me. Still now, after 7 winters here I cannot believe it.

So each fall I do not look forward to the winter that is to come. That makes the winter seem longer than it actually is from the start. It never is that long really, life just keeps going even with the snow that comes down, and stays. It never is that long really when you think about the years that have gone by and the many months we have spent in a world of white... Looking back it always seems that it has gone by fast (I was thinking I should have kept track of the days that there was snow on the ground..but I think this every year and never do.) but really has it gone by fast not really...

Then God said, "Let the earth sprout
vegetation, plants yielding seed, and
fruit trees on the earth bearing fruit after their
kind with seed in them"; and it was so.
~Genesis 1:11~

 

Every Spring the first green that comes up makes my heart rejoice. I love the green, and have not seen it for more than 6 months. My thoughts are always, 'I have never been this excited to see the green...' I don't know if this is true.. But I do know that the seasons of Spring, Summer and Autumn go by much faster then Winter. During that the none white seasons I take the greenery for granted.  I consider it Winter from the time the snow first falls (sometimes already in October) until the snow leaves (sometimes, like this year, not until April). Maybe I should go by the seasons on the calendar, from Dec.21 to Mar.21 it is Winter, perhaps than that season would not seem so long...?

 grass

 

Anyways, each Winter I think about how I will take pictures as soon as I see green outside. Many a Spring have I forgotten about this. But today I remembered :D (which makes me so happy). I took a ton of pictures, and many weren't very good. However, I do have some I'd like to share with you.. So that you can see how excited I am for this season of life outdoors!

'Let us fear the LORD our God, who gives autumn
and spring rains in season.'

~Jeremiah 5:24~

 

   He makes me lie down in green pastures;
   He leads me beside quiet waters.
   ~Psalm 23:3~

 

 Malus domestica ('Honeycrisp' apple)

 "all its loveliness is like the flower
        of the field."           

~Isaiah 40:6~

  Amelanchier Alnifolia (Saskatoon berry)

   Pyrus ussuriensis 'Early Gold' (pear)

 

 tulip

Storms

 "So pursue them with Your tempest

And terrify them with Your storm...

That they may seek Your face, O LORD"
~Psalm 83:15,16b~

It's quite windy here, but I would not consider this a storm. TheWeatherNetwork says the wind is 35km/h, so it is windier than usual in these parts. I found a blog post on www.generationcedar.com, a wonderful blog by people who just went through the devastation of loosing everything due to the tornadoes that swept across Alabama. A tornado, now that is what we call a storm.

But storms can also hit in our lives, when they aren't about snow or rain or wind. Storms in life that are trials. They upset the 'normal'. They throw us off the path. And we have to cope, in one way or another. I believe these storms are a time of growth, and God has a purpose for them, though we don't know what or why just yet.

“And we know that in all things God works for
the good of those who love him, who have
been
called according to his purpose.” 

 ~Romans 8:28~

 

Here's Kelly's post from GenerationCedar....

If there were no storms, we would never rejoice over serenity.

If there were no rain, we would never fully appreciate blue skies.

If there were no darkness, we could not contrast it with light.

If there were no thunder, we wouldn’t enjoy the quiet.

If there were no turbulence, we wouldn’t need a mighty Stronghold, we wouldn’t know Peace in the midst, we wouldn’t cling to a Savior who holds all things in the palm of His hand.

What is your storm? 
Does fear grip your heart? 
Are there uncertainties about tomorrow? 
Do you wish someone would send you a memo–a blueprint mapping out how things are going to turn out?

“Trust Me dear one”, He says.

“I am not surprised.  I am working all things for your good.  Open your hands and let it go.  Watch what I can do.  If I am for you, who can be against you?”

Why We Need the Storm

“‘For I know the plans I have for you,’
declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and
not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’” 

~Jeremiah 29:11~

REJOICE!

"Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice!"
~Phil 4:4~

This wonderful verse has come up several times in the last couple of days. During my personal devotions I was reminded to rejoice, in the LORD. Then this morning at work with grade 1s I again was reminded to rejoice in the Lord, the same verse from the Philippians. Something I need to remember perhaps and what is being commanded to me. REJOICE!

Rejoice that the Lord is our God, that He is Ruler of all, King and Father. That He cares for me, and he knows all things for me. Not just rejoice, but to always rejoice. To rejoice in Him in good times and bad. To rejoice in Him when things go silly or really go well. 

A joy in the Lord that will continually reappear in life and be renewed. The LORD, through the Paul's letter to the Philippians, commands us to rejoice in God, that we must rejoice in our fellowship with the Him. Then, only then when we are in Christ can we rejoice even in the sufferings (Rom. 5:1-3)

"These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might
remain in you, and that your joy might be full."

~John 15:11~ 

 

Rejoice in the Lord, because He is close at hand, near; with us and around us now and always! By His grace I will rejoice in all the days of my life!

 

"The Lord is at hand."
~Phil. 4:5~ 

 

me... want... i....

The mind of man plans his way,

But the LORD direct his steps

~Proverbs 16:9~

Whatever I want. Whatever I plan. Whatever I desire. Sometimes I put too many I's in my thoughts. Sometimes I put too many wants in thoughts. Sometimes I put too many me's in my thoughts. And sometimes they come out. The 'I WANT ME's are in my actions. In my words. In everything.

At those times I seem to forget that God is the only One who knows. Knows what I am, who I am, how I am, where I am... Knows what I need, what I should have, what I can have, what I will have, what I won't have. Knows what happens to me, knows why things happen to me, has a purpose for me, and knows what's best for me, knows how to direct the paths for me.

 Because He loves me.

Because He cares for me.

Because He is God!

So then, who am I to say what I WANT for ME?

Why does me want to be in control of me?

Why does I want to be in control of I?

Why does want for me want control of me?

...by bike...

Yes that's right, I'm going by bike. Not going to Holland by bike, no I doubt that to be possible. Not going to Ontario by bike, that would take weeks I think. But yes, I have biked to work today. And hope to do so more often. It is a wonderfully long bike ride and I have found a place where I can 'carpool'. That is park my car, get on my bike and join the other two that are taking this great tour through Lacombe in order to get to work. 

I enjoyed it; I must say it feels great to bike. Get those legs moving, feel the wind from whatever direction it comes, be energized (I know, weird, a 45 minute bike right (this morning) did leave me energized even though I was tired from biking. Huh? Well, you can probably figure that one out) and know that it is a great workout as well. What we all do  for a bike ride... (hmm)
For years I biked, all over, all the time, through all weather conditions. I used to live in Holland, biked to school, biked to friends houses, biked to church sometimes, biked to go shopping, to visit people near and far, and even took leisurely bike rides with a large group of people on days like Easter Monday and Ascension day. As long as I can remember I biked. I recall the day that I received a new bike as birthday present, it was turquoise and lime green, and my first bike without training wheels. I remember learning how to bike on it, and how to break so that I wouldn't fly into everyone. 
Then we moved to Canada.. An end to the good ol' bike riding traditions. When we moved to our acreage (half year after we moved to Canada), and could actually store our bikes without them being in boxes etc. we realized that my Dutch city bike and the rest of our bikes were not going to work very well on the gravel roads out by where we live. So when we went for a holiday to the Netherlands a year later my bike was taken apart, that is the wheels taken off, and wrapped up in a box again. Now my sister in law, in the Netherlands still bikes around on 'my bike'

 

Anyways, we got new 'mountain' bikes, (I doubt I'll ever bike in the mountains!) and I used it quite regularly when I didn't have my license yet and did have a summer job... Then I did my driving test, passed it, and never looked at my bike once. For a couple of years I'd always thought, I should bike to school, to work, everywhere during the summer months. You know, park my car on the driveway and not touch it until September. It has never worked, and I dont think it will here in Alberta, Canada (would I really want it to, hmm???) at least not where I live know.
So what we'll do for now, is go, by bike, to work. And see how long it lasts. At least we can try right?! (and maybe do semi-okay when I actually will have to bike when in the Netherlands this summer...)