It's been a very long time...

...hasn't it?

Instead of the usual March weather of grey skies and brown fields, we received a beautiful layer of snow the other night. On top of that, the snow was glazed with ice from freezing rain. Today dawned bright and clear, the sunshine reflected off the ice and snow, and it was altogether a cheerful and breath-takingly pretty day.

In this picture, I tried to focus on the coil of vine. However, the sun was glinting off the camera screen, so I didn't see the result until I put the pictures on the computer. It did focus on something, just not what I wanted it to. And the background looks how I wanted it to. :)

I was bouncing these two little men on a fallen log (and having lots of fun) when they told me I looked like a Daddy long-legs. I just laughed, so they kept calling me that and laughing. :)

Happy Friday!

Justine

Nadia Goes to Bed

Me: "Do you want Dee-Dee (Justine) to put you to bed or do you want E-ah (Leah) to put you to bed?"

Nadia: "Na'ia do dat!"

And she ran and climbed in bed.

I thought, "That's cute, I'll take a picture and put it on my blog with what she said. (above)"

So I ran and got the camera.

Nadia stayed nicely in bed until she saw the camera.

Then she wanted to see the screen on the back.

She got out of bed and looked.

When I told her to go back to bed, she ran to the boys' room.

I followed her and put her back in bed.

So you'll have to suffice with a picture of her bed, which I got when she went to look at the back of the camera, and a picture of her crying in bed, after I put her back.

Justine

Yesterday...

I got my G2 license!

This means I can:

~drive on my own

~drive on the major highways (freeways)

Yesterday I took the road test. I was very nervous. Consequently I had a sore stomach and didn't sleep well for two days prior to the test. However, the test was easy and took only twenty minutes. I did have a calm, cheerful examinor, though. I was very thankful for that, especially because it was early morning and I know some people don't like to be up early.

Last night I drove to catechism class with two sisters and three friends. It was interesting driving without one of my parents or my driving instructor. Today I went alone to pick Leah up from a sewing lesson. That was the first time in my life that I have traveled in a vehicle alone. It was fun. :)

When I came home yesterday, I saw this:

And this:

And two notes from my sisters:

And we had cupcakes for dessert. I love having a family that gets excited with me. :)

Justine

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