Pictures and such

This morning dawned clear and frosty. The hoarfrost on the trees was sparkling - but the camera didn't catch that.

This afternoon the temperature was -10 C, but the windchill was a good deal colder. However, it was bright and sunny and we went outside.

This is Gavin's snowfort. He is lying in front, Thomas is peeking out one door, and Warren is sitting on the "chimney". On the other side of Warren is another door. There are two more doors on the other side.
The inside of a tunnel... It is small but protected from the wind.

The weather is very cold. I like the cold, once I'm out anyway. Getting out isn't fun. Recently we have been watching some episodes of Planet Earth, and the scenes of spring and summer are reminding me that soon it will be warm enough to open windows and run outside without a coat. Cold and snow are fun, but staying out for a long time gets really cold, so we aren't outside as often at this time of year. Going outside is necessary for the sake of the puppy, though, and I am sure he will be glad when spring comes again and his companions are outside more.

Here are a couple pictures I took as the sun was going down. The days are getting longer. Today we ate supper early, and didn't need the light on. I love having more daylight. It is more cheerful, especially on sunny days when the light reflects off the snow. Isn't it great that the snow comes at the darkest part of the year, to brighten everything? I think it is a blessing from God. Do you ever think of how He works even the smallest details for good? He designed things so that even the side effects are good.

Justine

"The presence and company of Christ will make amends for all we suffer here below. When we see as we have been seen, and look back on the journey of life, we shall wonder at our own faintness of heart. We shall marvel that we made so much of our cross, and thought so little of our crown. We shall marvel that in 'counting the cost' we could ever doubt on which side the balance of profit lay. Let us take courage. We are not far from home. IT MAY COST MUCH TO BE A TRUE CHRISTIAN AND A CONSISTENT HOLY MAN; BUT IT PAYS."

~excerpt from Holiness chapter 6 (Counting the Cost) by J. C. Ryle

This is a book on the Christian life, and one I would recommend reading. The author covers various aspects of the Christian life in an urgent and encouraging manner. Though the book was written in the late 1800's, the subject is applicable today.

Justine

"Jehovah's truth will stand forever,

His covenant-bonds He will not sever;

The word of grace which He commands

To thousand generations stands;

The covenant made in days of old

With Abraham He doth uphold."

~From a Psalter selection based on Psalm 105

"'I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,'

says the Lord,

'who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.'"

~Revelation 1:8

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to seperate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

~Romans 8:38-39

Our God never changes. What a great comfort!

Justine

I thought maybe I would post a quote or verse every day or every few days this month.

"Over all God reigns forever,

Through all ages He is King;

Unto Him, thy God, O Zion,

Joyful hallelujahs sing."

~From a Psalter selection based on Psalm 146.

We sang this in church on Sunday and it got me thinking. We have nothing to fear because our God is King forever. He is always in control and knows all things. Isn't that something to be thankful and praise God for?

Justine

Photos from Photography Class

Allison and I are taking a photography class with our homeschool group. Photography isn't my favourite thing, although Allison loves it, but I did learn some fun techniques. I found out the camera I used (actually my mom's, but since she got a larger, fancier one, we are allowed to use it) anyway, the camera I used has manual focus. I found that out after I took these pictures, though.

Two different focal points...

Yes, I was being a bit silly on this next picture. But notice the colour. I came up with the idea of putting coloured tissue paper over the flash on the camera. Allison took this picture in a dark room with purple tissue paper over the flash.

And this one using red...

Neat, eh?

Justine

Books....and other musings

On Monday Allison and I started The Great Ideas courses from Tree of Life. Here are my books...

Since we revised the courses a bit in order to finish the courses by the end of this school year, we are not doing all the books. I have Macbeth in the picture, but I'm not planning to study it. I chose to do Hamlet but since the copy we have is included in a large volume of The Complete Works of Shakespeare, I didn't take a picture of that. So replace Macbeth with Hamlet and you'll see the books I have to read. :) Some of the books are just to study part of: How to Read a Book, Calvin's Institutes, and the Bible.

And here is another picture of books:

Leah was using them and I decided to take a picture.

I've been thinking about What To Do After Highschool. I am sure any of you who are in highschool, recently graduated, or even are approaching highschool, have heard the question, "So, do you know what you want to do after highschool?" A good question. But I never know what to say.

"Umm, I don't know."

"Maybe I'll be a nurse."

"I'd kinda like to be a midwife."

"Well, I'd like to get married and have kids."
None of them are definite answers. They weren't supposed to be. It is partly a cover up for the fact that I don't really want to go to school for anything. I really want to have a family and own a farm. Right now I would like to get a job when I am done highschool, work and save up money to buy a farm. Then I'd like to get married and have a large family. Though, at the same time, I'd like to learn more about healthy living and natural healing. I'd like to help children and especially young people from troubled families, by giving them a safe and loving home. I've also thought about going to South America to spread the gospel to tribes that have had little or no contact with the outside world. I have no idea where the Lord will lead me or what I will do in my life time. I've dreamed of an adventurous life in a different part of the world. But if I could choose, I'd settle down nearby and live to a ripe old age surrounded by children and grandchildren, in a peaceful, happy, and not very eventful life. I know, though, that our world is changing. In only a few years there will be new problems and realities to face, and likely I will end up with a different kind of life than I have imagined. But I don't need to worry, knowing it is all in God's hands.

What are some of your ambitions, if you don't mind sharing?

Anyway, since someone else is waiting for the computer, I'll stop.

Justine

My Brave Soldier

"If any animals that eat people come, I'll donk them over the head."

It's nice to have such a willing protector. :)

But don't worry, he isn't too grown up yet.

Justine