Swinging into Spring

This was Thursday. Friday was even warmer and sunnier. Saturday was unbelievably gorgeous. So, if rain is on the way (and the weatherman says it is) oh well, the sun will come out...again...one of these tomorrows.

A miracle happens every year. These daffodils come up, then they turn into tulips, then the tulips become dahlias.

I know -- it astounds me too!

Rise and Shine

Tom and I went for a sunrise walk on Easter morning. Here's proof...well okay, the sun was already up pretty much before we got going. That's simply because one of us isn't an early riser!

It was a gorgeous morning. Church was fabulous. We only had the company of one of our sons, but hey, we had the company of one of our sons. (Adam gets extra points in the quest toward the favorite son award. I find pitting the boys against each other works nicely for me. Kidding. I'm just kidding. I AM NOT THAT KIND OF MOTHER. Am I? Oooh, I hope not!)

Later in the day we took a walk to the daffodil field with Adam and Alicia and Alicia's mom, Wendie, who we met for the first time. It was a nice walk with good company, but alas, no daffodils. It's alright though, we have plenty in the yard. Beautiful, lovely gifts, each and everyone.

"Every good and perfect gift is from the Father above." James 1:17

Sorrow and Love

Tom sang a hymn called "When I Survey the Wondrous Cross" by Isaac Watts at the Good Friday Service at church today. He did a beautiful job, and I was deeply touched by these words.

When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of Glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down.
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

AMEN.

Never did such love and sorrow meet... We (everyone of us who accepts the gift of salvation) were bought with a price. I'm ashamed to say I rarely think about that price; it's much too sad. The cost of my salvation, free to me, was pain and shame for God's son. A good and righteous God/Man endured suffering and laid down His life for my sin. That's an amazing kind of love. Thank you Jesus.

Love, Betsy

April Fool

Five inches of snow, that was the prediction, but I hoped they were wrong. Yesterday's newspaper said, "Big Storm Coming? Say it Ain't Snow!" But yes indeed, it is snow. I'm comforted by the Bible verse that says to everything there is a season. That assures me that this season will pass. But, hey, wait a minute, it's spring. I'm supposed to be seeing daffodils and green grass. Mother nature has her seasons all mixed up, or perhaps this is just an April Fool's joke.

My friend Beth said they have snow in North Carolina. And Tom's sister said they were expecting snow in Georgia. What's going on? I think it's a part of global warming that is beyond my comprehension.

In an effort to give thanks in all circumstances I'll say this about the snow: it's white, it's bright, it's pure, it's pretty. And best of all, this is probably the absolute, positive, last snow of all. I mean, the last snow before October or November. My forecast is, it'll be warmer by June.

Scratchy Throat

I've been fighting a cold for a few days now. I thought I was winning, until I woke up this morning with a pounding headache and sore throat. So I stayed home and took it easy all day long. I drank a half gallon of orange juice, swallowed vitamin C's, gargled with salt water, ran the humidifier, and rubbed Vicks on my chest and feet. Feet? Yeah, I read that somewhere. Put Vicks on your feet and then wear socks to bed. You can laugh if you want, but old wives' tales rarely let me down.

Tomorrow I plan to be back in the swing of things, Lord willing!

We've joined the modern world with higher speed internet, not to be confused with high speed, but definitely higher. I can watch You Tubes now and I can listen to sermons. Even now I have my son Aaron preaching at me. And it's a good message on friendship, if you'd like to listen just click here. So...I'm signing off so I can pay attention.

It Can't Last

There's a bit of snow today. Just a bit. And it can't last, at least I think it can't last. Far be it from me to tempt fate or mother nature!

On Friday it was nice enough to play outside with little Audrey. We sat on the porch swing enjoying an ice cream cone. The ice cream was a bribe to get her off the swingset because I was tired of pushing her higher. It was supposed to be a calming transition to an afternoon nap. Yeah, right, that didn't work out. Turns out there's only one of us who wants an afternoon nap, even though we both need one. Oh to have the energy of a two-year-old.


That was Friday. Saturday went from sunny and warm to cloudy and windy. The wind blew in cooler weather and rain that fell steadily on Sunday morning. A short burst of sunshine tricked us into thinking the promised rain (and snow) wouldn't show. But it was just a trick. It rained and snowed.

Sunny Day, Sweeping the Clouds Away

Do they still sing that on Sesame Street? I'll have to ask my little Audrey.

Anyway, it's a gorgeous sunny day here, chilly, but oh so pretty. Crocuses (or croci if you prefer) are in bloom. The daffodils are a couple inches high and beginning to show tight buds, and tulip stems are poking up through the dirt. After a long, cold, bleak and barren winter, new life never ceases to amaze me. When we were in Florida in February our senses were bombarded with all the wonderful outdoor smells of life. Grass, leaves, flowers. And now here it comes for us to enjoy up north. New Life.

Speaking of which...Tom and I got a brand new great nephew. From the pictures he looks oh so sweet, absolutely adorable. His momma looks terrific too. He's only hours old in the pictures we saw, which means she was only hours from that exciting, exhausting, exhilarating, uncomfortable experience so benignly called labor. They both look like it was no more than a walk in the park. We moms know better, and, mercifully, babies don't remember.

"Oh sing to the Lord a new song..." Ps. 96:1
"...behold, all things are new..." 2 Cor. 5:17

The fresh and new has come! Just go outside and breathe it in for yourself. New life has come, go hug a baby if you should be so lucky to have one nearby!

#3 is 29

Of course the picture is from last year when he turned 28. This year we don't get to see him for his birthday...more our fault than his. So in lieu of face-to-face, here's a written out warm wish for a good day and a fantastic year. Happy Birthday Adam! (The card's in the mail.) I love you more than I can possibly say. Mom

My Best Thought -- Every Day

Be thou my vision, O Lord of my heart;
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art;
Thou my best thought by day or by night;
Waking or sleeping Thy presence my light.

Be thou my Wisdom, and thou my true Word;
I ever with thee and thou with me, Lord;
Thou my great Father, and I thy true son,
Thou in me dwelling, and I with thee one.

The words of this ancient Irish hymn were written possibly as early as the 8th century. Be Thou My Vision was translated by Mary Byrne in the 1800's or very early 1900's, and later adapted by Eleanor Hull. When the music is added (an Irish melody) the song is both comforting and haunting, uplifting and soulfull. Today the words remind me that I'll be fine, more than fine, if I rise above my "I" trouble.

MARCH

I love March. But I'll tell you what...it's dang cold this year. Freezing cold. Look at the lonely sap buckets. There they sit, waiting for the drip, drip, drip of sap. Yeah well they're going to have to keep on waiting. Nothing's dripping. Absolutely nothing.