But...

What a marvelous little word the tiny conjunction "but" can be.  In the Scripture I referenced on my last post, I put the period where it belongs - at the end of the sentence.  However, that's not the whole story...there is that redemptive little word "But" beginning the next verse...
"But the mercy of the Lord
is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him,
and his righteousness unto children's children..."  Psalm 103:17
...which takes the sting out of the preceding verse and brings hope and encouragement.
There's so much comfort too in the beauty all around me as I  saw again on my walk today:

Fish Trap Creek

A beautiful, natural park right in my neighbourhood.

Fish Trap Creek is in Ellwood Park and they're both part of the wonderful Discovery Trails.

Even the skunk cabbage is a beautiful addition to the flora in its rich green foliage and yellow flowers.

Split Rail fences are plentiful along the path.

Cultured Rhododendron on one of the front lawns nearby as I wend my way back home.

As I write this I see another amazing sunset from my balcony tonight.  I thank God for the beauty all around me.

...and just another great "but" ...
"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: 
While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." 
Romans 5:8

Come With Me...

We don't always know what we'll see on life's path.  It's a good thing, a very good thing.   But on my path today I knew I would see some wonderful things since I'd walked this path before.  Come with me and you can see what I saw...

...pretty pink blossoms...

...a grand magnolia tree...

...pure and welcome dandelion in its setting...

...a welcoming path...

... to the left...

... straight ahead...

...I choose to the right...

...and everywhere Canada Geese...

...a picnic shelter...

...a memorial right on the grounds of my condo...what does it say?

... sobering, yet solacing...

...and the flowers, the beautiful encircling flowers....

...delightful tulips...

...and blue grape-hyacinths bordering it all.

"As for man, his days are like grass, 

he flourishes like a flower of the field; 

the wind blows over it and it is gone,

 and its place remembers it no more." 

 Psalm 103:15-16

Marching along...

Well March is indeed marching right along.  Today was our very first day of real spring weather, it seems to me - so welcome, so glorious.  And of course I had to poke around to see how things were coming along...

...Grape Hyacinth (Muscari botryoides)-looks like they took quite a hit from the frost over the past months after an earlier warm spell...

...Hyacinth orientalis....I noticed them first poking through around Christmas time  and was thrilled now to see they survived the winter nicely, about a dozen or so stalwartly making their journey sunward...

But even more heart-warming were the birthdays of two of our dear 

grandchildren earlier this month-

 Daniel who turned 4 last week...

And Megan 8 -

Megan lined up her Webkinz - getting just the right one was part of the fun for her and us on that special day - and card for the shot.

Such precious and special moments 

with such wonderful little people as these in our lives makes our hearts sing...

Happy Birthday to you!
 We are grateful.

"Break Forth..."

Two weeks ago I snapped off a few bare twigs from our forsythia bush and put them into a jar of water.  Even though I like to do this every year in late January, it never ceases to amaze me what happens within the next two weeks...

 ...this...

 It reminds me of the powerful thought that lies within this little ditty..

The leaves are gone, 

The trees are bare, 

but next year's leaves are hiding there.

And so they are.  Within the next six weeks or so, our bush should be looking like this, as it did two years ago.

 And all over the unkempt flower beds signs of spring are relentlessly making a glorious statement...

   there is life

      there is hope

        there is joy

          there is beauty...

Just like these sweet snowdrops near our front door...

Break forth into joy, 

sing together, ye waste places of Jerusalem: for the LORD hath comforted his people, he hath redeemed Jerusalem.  

  Isaiah 52:9

February 2 ~ Groundhog Day

 With the early morning sky looking like this today, I'm thinking the groundhog will have seen its shadow....but maybe where you live, it didn't!  Does this really mean six more weeks of winter over here?  We'll find out soon enough.

 

From our front patio doors I was able to capture a bit of the glorious morning sky!  

 

...and again part of the Garibaldi range taken yesterday from a few blocks South of us.  Our house, hidden here, would be just behind the trees to the right.

What a beautiful day...thank you, God.

_______________________________________

Groundhog Day was always capitalized on while I was teaching primary-aged school children.  Teachers love themes. To run with a theme was a tremendous boon to daily activities ~ Math, Reading, Writing, Art, Singing, Science, an integrated approach, and a great method.  In this way even the lowly groundhog was a special assistant to me as a teacher.

Strength for the moment...

Strengthen the weak hands, 

and make firm the feeble knees.

Say to those who have an anxious heart,

'Be strong; fear not!

Behold, your God

will come with vengeance,

with the recompense of God.

He will come and save you...'

And a highway shall be there,

and it shall be called the Way of Holiness;

...the redeemed shall walk there.

And the ransomed of the LORD shall

return

and come to Zion with singing;

everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;

they shall obtain gladness and joy, 

and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Isaiah 35:3-4; 8,9b,10

These passages from God's Word, were among my mother's favourites, during her last weeks here on earth.  This came to light during her stay in hospital as we spent time with her.  She recited the last section with great fervour, in the German language, over and over again, gaining  inner strength and encouragement from them, as did we who listened.  Other favourite verses were:

"You will keep Him in perfect peace, 

Whose mind is stayed on You, 

Because he trusts in You." 

Isaiah 26:3

and...

"Call upon Me in the day of trouble;

I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me."

Psalm 50:15

  Mom was so secure in the promises of God, so confident, so sure that He would safely see her through...and He did.  Then silently, early on a September morning,  He came for her

Through this I am encouraged and inspired over and over again by the rich heritage of faith and triumph which my dear Mom practiced  throughout her life and from which her progeny can now benefit.  It's too good...too good and too important not to share. 

The Door

 I am the door. 

If anyone enters by Me,

he will be saved, 

and will go in and out and find pasture.

John 10:9