Spring Sun

Surging up from Somewhere

Past the Shadows

of this

Winter-Weary

World

Snow...Wonders and Worries

I like snow. I really do. It comforts somehow and calms like a long, monotonous lullaby over the restless town...but it doesn't come without consequences. Our recent heavy snow that brought us two days off from school also damaged our heating system; My classroom is icy cold. All the students wear jackets and scarfs. They are troopers. Some of them were without electricity for over twenty four hours and stayed in houses that got pretty cold. Nobody complains. That's part of living in the country--just an unpleasant price to pay for watching the wonder of winter on the foggy fields and hollows.

Not everyone felt that way, however; some of the farmers lost cattle--despite all the hours they put into hauling feed and strengthening fences. Cattle don't always do what's best for them, and there are simply not enough sheds scattered throughout their pastureland, so,  using only bovine sense, they keep walking away from the wind, pile up at the fences, and suffocate in the snow. The farmers are stoic. "Did your cows survive," I ask, hesitantly.  They smile, grimly retorting,
"Most of em." and don't say anything else.

We never lost our electricity for very long, so the house stayed warm, and we invited Elijah and Marie to stay with us for the duration of the storm.  Grandbaby Blaze was a little restless at staying in one house for so long.  Marie took him out onto the porch and let him feel the cool breeze.  He was ecstatic.

This morning as I drove by the bank, I noticed that one of our old buildings on the square had collapsed under the weight of wet snow. What a pity. I hate to see it torn down, but, by the looks of the long crack in the wall next to the pocket park, that's what will happen.

There doesn't seem to be a way to save it, even if the first floor were to be scrapped.  Even worse, the damage affected the next building as well. This yellow tape automatically made me think of a crime scene. The criminal? My snow lullaby. Sigh.

Snow Haiku

Sudden, silent snow
Shimmering sunrise surprise
Serendipitous!

 It was perfect for an early morning walk. The birds were chirping merrily as the tulips and daffodils nervously looked around and wondered if they hadn't poked up a little early.

You never know what odd items you'll find down by the creek...looks like a long lost pioneer relic.

It's supposed to be almost 60 degrees here by the end of the day...so this snow will be a cloudy memory. It's pretty though--while it lasts.

Bible Valentine Riddles

Here are some valentine riddles for you...
Each poem represents a "couple" from the Bible.
The answers are at the bottom.
______________________________________________

Together we plotted; together we schemed

For the land we had sold far too dearly—it seemed

We kept back a part, but claimed we gave all

Together we schemed…but apart we would fall.

 ______________________________________________

For a vineyard denied him

He sulked in his room

I hired two good liars.

Nabboth was doomed.

But our evil was judged

Cruel was our fate

The dogs licked his blood

Me—they ate!

_______________________________________________

As she gleaned in my fields

I beheld her one day

A maiden from Moab

Many miles away.

She wanted my protection

She offered her life

I gave her a family

I made her my wife.

_______________________________________________

I watered some camels for a man at the well

He charmed me with jewels and a quest

He asked me to marry a man--sight unseen

And I followed him off to the West.

_______________________________________________

She charmed me; she teased me

She lied so sincerely

She called in the barbers

And I paid rather dearly.

 ______________________________________________

 Her father made a promise to offer her hand

To whoever conquered a piece of Cannan land

I found it quite easy and married the daughter

Receiving some land and two wells of water.

______________________________________________

I wanted to marry a beautiful girl.

And the seven years it cost me

Passed by in a whirl.

But her scheming father

Had his own little agenda

And I married the eldest

An able pretender.

 ______________________________________________

 We worked hard together

Designing some tents

And met an earnest preacher

Who made lots of sense

So we both were converted

And started to follow

In turn we were able

To preach to Apollo

______________________________________________

She was the fairest

I was the best

Together we plunged

You into a mess

We lost everything

When we fell to a fib

I was her teacher

She was my rib.

 _____________________________________________

Nobody wanted to marry the woman

She would be trouble; her eyes, they were roamin’

But God gave an order.

Obey it, I must.

She broke my heart; but did not kill my trust.

_____________________________________________

When Vashti got sassy

I sent her away

To find a replacement

Was easy that day

She dressed rather simply

I thought she was fine

All Kings need a Queen

So she would be mine.

_____________________________________________

She gave her firstborn son

To the temple for his life

And thus redeemed her position

As a man’s barren wife.

He had another wife, you see

And children as well

But none were “asked of God”

Like the little Samuel 

______________________________________________

God’s judgment fell upon us

Though we prayed and though we cried

For the murder of Uriah

Our little baby died.

______________________________________________

My husband was a wealthy man

With a temper like a mule

Stingy and intractable

His name meant “fool”,

_____________________________________________

My name meant “princess”

And my beauty was renown

He said I was his sister

When we got to Egypt’s town

I didn’t have a baby

Until I was ninety-nine

So we named him laughter

And I loved him—he was mine.

____________________________________________

We moved away to Moab

When the famine hit our land

There I buried my poor husband

And my sons, close at hand.

Then I headed for my homeland

With my daughter-in-law

“Call me Marah,” I said

My pain was all I saw.

____________________________________________

He drove away some bullies

And was such a gentleman

I knew he’d learned his manners

In a civilized land.

So though he was an exile

I loved him all the same

And followed him to Egypt

And watched him grow in fame.

____________________________________________

He killed all his brothers—princes’ every one

When he died he left his kingdom to the youngest of our sons

Who died within a year, in spite of all his wealth, so I

Slaughtered all my grandsons, and took the throne myself.

______________________________________________

 I didn’t believe the angel

 Well, he’d given me a shock

So I wrote a letter to my wife

Cause now, I couldn’t talk

I told her about the baby

That would soon be born to us

But when we named him John

How our neighbors made a fuss.

_______________________________________________

Our third little baby

Was the one we had to hide

So we put him in the river

Left his sister at his side

We gave him up when he was young

We left him in God’s hands

How little did we know about

His destiny: His plans.

_______________________________________________

My father was an Egyptian priest.

My husband was a slave

He saved us all from famine

With the good advice he gave.

He knew what skinny cows meant

He listened to God’s voice

I was really proud to be his wife.

Though it wasn’t all my choice.

 _______________________________________________

Answers: Ananias and Sapphira, Ahab and Jezebel, Boaz and Ruth,

 Isaac and Rebecca, Samson and Delilah, Othniel and Achsah, 

 Jacob and Leah and or Rachael,

Aquila and Priscilla, Adam and Eve, Hosea and Gomer,
Ahasuerus and Esther (or Xerses and Haddasah),

 Elkanah and Hannah,  David and Bathsheba, Nabal and Abigail,
Abraham and Sarah, Naomi and Elimelech, Moses and Zipporah,

Jehoram and Athaliah (Ahaziah was the one in the middle, and the surviving grandson was Joash.)

Zacharias and Elizabeth, Amram and Jocobed, Joseph and Asenath

Lamplighter, Pathtender, Flamethrower

You are the Lamplighter

You are the one

            who shines upon their shadowed world

            and shows them cluttered corners that need cleaning.

You help them trim the wick and polish the glass,

            so their steps are safe in the shadows

            and their enemy hides his faces

            from the sight of the shining light which you have lit.

You are the Pathtender

You are the one

            who leads them to their source of life

            and shows them running streams that wait for drinking.

You help them find the food that lasts forever,

            so their ways are safe from famine

            and their enemy fades before them

            at the sound of strength and purpose you have set.

You are the Flamethrower

You are the one
            who fans the coals within their hearts

            and shows them frozen corners that need thawing.

You help them find the fuel…and burn the dross,

            so their ways are free from fences,

            and their enemy flees defeated

            at the feel of the holy fire that you have lit.

So, Lamplighter, Pathtender, Flamethrower,

Burn brightly.

You are their kindling

So your fire must never go out.

 

"...the fire shall ever be burning upon the altar; 

it shall never go out."Leviticus 6:13

Just Pictures--Sunrise and Sunset

Sometimes it's fun to see how many points you can make...but  if your opponent is tired of crosswords too, making a design is much more rewarding.