Snow!

The snow! The snow came at last! This morning we woke up to a fresh blanket of snow on the ground and we all couldn't wait to get out and play in it! I captured some beautiful pictures of our backyard . . .

Footprints in the Sand

Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.

In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there was only one.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints, so I said to the Lord,

“You promised me Lord,
that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there has only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, have you not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The years when you have seen only one set of footprints, my child, is when I carried you.”

~Mary Stevenson

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

Small and simple things

Did anyone else see the moon tonight? It was just so . . . amazing. I see the full moon every month and I always take a few minutes to admire the beauty, but this time was different. It was simply stunning. Lots of people say that they feel the most peace in nature watching a sunset or a sunrise. But there's something about the quiet and mystery of the night that makes it magical. The tall sillhouettes of the pine trees against the night sky . . . the clouds lingering low in the sky illuminated by the silvery glow of the moon . . . the chorus of frogs singing somewhere in the forest . . .You listen more intently and notice more sounds when everything around you is shrouded in darkness.

           I couldn't seem to take my eyes off the moon and I must have been out in the freezing cold in my backyard just staring at it for a half an hour. It was worth it though;  in that short period of time I felt more peace than as long as I can remember. I tried to take a picture of it with my mom's camera, but after a few tries, I realized it just couldn't quite capture the feeling, and it would never be the same as the real thing. So I decided I would just sit outside and admire it until I had the sight painted into my mind. I never wanted that moment to end, I wanted to remember it
forever.

          Sorry guys, I just felt impressed to share this. Hopefully the moon will be out tomorrow night! You need to go and take a peek at it. It is the small and simple things that are the most beautiful to my eye . . .

Happy Valentine's Day!

♥ Happy Valentine’s Day, everybody! ♥

~♥~♥~♥~

 I was thinking about what kind of creative post I could do for Valentine's Day. I don't have a true love yet, so I can't really pour out my heart to anybody just yet, but I thought it would be fun to make a list of my favorite fictional couples. So here goes . . . get ready for a super-long post . . .

1. Romeo and Juliet

Romeo and Juliet are the classic couple in the classic romance story. Two who are so deeply in love and are determined to be together that they don't care what other people think. When two people are in love, we call them Romeos and Juliets.

2. Han Solo and Princess Leia

How much cooler can you get with a pair like this?

   "I love you."

   "I know."

Talk about confidence.

3. Aragorn and Arwen

They were ever loyal to each other beyond compare. They waited and waited and remained true to each other even though they didn't even know if the other was alive or not. Now that's true love. This has got to be one of the greatest couples ever.

4. Katniss and Peeta

One of my new favorites, two opposites that must act madly in love with each other to save their lives as well as those they love, but end up falling for each other for real . . .

5. Westley and Buttercup

"This is true love. You think this happens every day?" Absolutely the cutest, most romantic couple in the world. Love conquers all.

6. Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy

How romantic....need I say more?

7. Ron and Hermione

 She's the the "brightest witch of her age", and he's a boy with a famous friend who's always in his brothers' shadows. Somehow love finds them . . . and aren't they just the perfect match? Although, I have to admit, Ginny and Harry are pretty cute too . . .

8. Hodel and Perchik

Young people in love who find a way to break tradition and refuse to listen to anyone who says they can't get married. They will go any lengths to be together, even if it means moving to Siberia.

 9. Razo and Dasha

I had a tough time deciding between the couples in the Books of Bayern series, but this one finally won me over. They are just the cutest match!

10. Tiana and Naveen

I've got to have at least one Disney princess match on this list, and let's face it: these guys are just so adorable to ignore. Their love isn't the whole shallow "love-at-first-sight" like most Disney princess movies have going on. They actually didn't like each other at first, but they slowly grow to love each other along their adventure as frogs. So sweet!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And we can't forget all of those pairs of best friends, because Valentine's Day isn't just about the romantic couples, but the lasting friendships too . . .

Merry and Pippin

Two hilarious and inseparable buddies, the two peas in a pod that can't live without the other. Their bravery and courage for people so small cannot be matched, and they're innocence and humor never fail to make me smile.

Fred and George

The mischievously unstoppable duo, the very best of friends, Fred and George Weasley! They are undoubtedly the funniest, cleverest pair of twins the world has ever seen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

But the best couple of all is my parents, married nearly fifteen years and still in love. ♥ You guys are such awesome examples and teachers to me and I'm so lucky to have you guys as my parents. I love you!

Duct tape is like the Force.

Words of wisdom, my friend, words of wisdom.

Not much else to be said there.

Concerning Crayons

I was bored today, and decided to experiment
a little bit with crayons...

What do you think?