Thursday, February 18, 2010

New Things Are Popping Up Everywhere!

This has been the coldest winter we've had in a long time, but I have enjoyed the cozy fires and the rare snowfall. But like most of you, I'm ready for spring!

Today has been fairly warm and sunny, and I've enjoyed the the very subtle hint of spring. While outdoors with our grandson, I noticed several signs that winter won't last forever. I know that we'll have more cold, dreary days before spring actually arrives, but it was refreshing to see some of our trees budding and tiny flowers blooming amidst the deadness of winter. Let me show you!

Pink Honeysuckle


Tulip tree


Plum tree


Fig tree




Tiny green growth peeking through the browns

And three generations of our family went fishing in a nearby pond. It really was the perfect spring-like day to be outdoors!

Even though spring won't officially arrive for another month, we can be sure that winter will end, and new life and new growth will announce spring's arrival! It's never failed to happen since the Creator set the seasons in motion.

Likewise, we can be sure that the winter seasons of our lives - those difficult times marked by coldness and bleakness and deadness - won't last forever; spring will come, and newness . . . and growth . . . and beauty . . . and warmth will spring forth.
Isaiah 42:9-10 says:
Behold the former things are come to pass, and new things do I declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them. Sing unto the Lord a new song, and His praise from the end of the earth.


"Summer and winter, and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon, and stars in their courses above,
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy, and love."
~Thomas O. Chisholm~

6 comments:

S. Etole said...

a welcome sight indeed ...

Nancy said...

Ahhh!! Makes me want to go out in my yard and look for signs of spring here...but I just now read your blog and alas...it's dark outside. :) Thanks for the reminders. God is SO good, isn't He? Love the picture of your men in the boat!!

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

You are so right we are all ready for Spring. I enjoyed your pictures. It looks like your Spring is more imminent than ours. We are still covered in snow.

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi Glenda, Thanks for coming to my blog. I hope you come back. I noted that you and have something in common--our love for our backyard birds. I have tons of pictures. If you go on my right sidebar down to where you see LABELS. I have some categories you should check out: Birds, Birds 2010, Bluebirds, Bluebirds 2010, Woodpeckers.....

Looks like you are pretty far south compared to us. We are in Crossville, TN (on the Cumberland Plateau). We've had a pretty wicked winter this year with two large snows (nothing like the east though). So--we don't have many buds popping open yet...

I do remember your deep south snow this year. We got NOTHING from that one...

Come back to my blog anytime. I am enjoying yours.
Hugs,
Betsy

Marinela said...

What a beautiful photo!
So beautiful and soooo true =]

Unknown said...

Look at those beautiful buds! I am dying to force some branches into bloom. But being new here I have no idea what the bare trees and shrubs are yet.

And we are expecting 3 inches of snow again tonight too. Bundle up and dust off those boots :)