Ice Cream for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Sarah is recovering from a tonsillectomy this week. We have been anticipating this surgery for a few months and so glad to have it over and done with!

She remains in good spirits. Although, in pain and swollen, still provided me with a smile this morning.


Before Sarah was bravely carted off to have her surgery, she handed me her sketchbook. She had kept busy sketching scenes of beautiful fields and horses while waiting patiently to submit herself, into the Doctor's capable hands, to remove that offending part which has been causing her daily loss of sleep and sickness. I noticed along the next page she had begun to journal her thoughts. They were interrupted, but the thoughts were deep on the subject of suffering... and questioning why it has to happen in a life.

I could not help but finish her sentences in hope that she would read them later and find comfort in the hope that suffering produces endurance and endurance helps us to finish the race set before us in life... it draws us closer to Him who suffered unimaginable pain and death to give us the gift of everlasting life.

Pain and suffering can draw us nearer to Christ...it brings us to the realization that without help from Him, we are inadequate and helpless to control... it brings us to our knees and reminds us of who we are and who we depend upon the most.

Yet pain can also draw us farther from Him as we shake our fist in anger, "it's not fair"... allowing ourselves to become disillusioned and hopeless.

It is a choice we make... choosing joy, (instead of wallowing in worry and self pity, amidst life's unavoidable circumstances). It comes from a steadfast faith and decision to follow Christ's lead and submit to, rather than hide from, pain. Pain is never enjoyable...it is always difficult and most always long to suffer through... but if we have a mindset of eternity, like Christ, we can submit to our suffering in an attitude of joy, knowing that we have hope in the greater good that our suffering will bring.

²Consider it pure joy, my brothers,
whenever you face trials of many kinds,
³because you know that the testing of your faith
develops perseverance.
⁴Perseverance must finish its work
so that you may be mature and complete,
not lacking anything.

James 1:2-4 NIV

The Countdown Until Spring

This morning my dear little Thomas was sitting on my lap for our morning snuggle and wistfully asked me, "is it Spring yet?". The sun was pouring into the window and the day looked to be one of those lovely warm March days. One of those days that fill a soul with hope that Spring is on it's way...

We decided to check our calendar and count the days!

Fifteen days exactly.

This is the time of year I get out my garden books and start really enjoying the thought of flowers and green again...Oh! and porch life... we live on our porch as soon as the weather is warm enough!

As I read the Friday Garden Column in our local news paper, it suggested that planting cold weather crops like lettuce, spinach and peas are on my to-do list this month. Yikes!... I better get my boxes prepared. They lasted the winter beautifully and are ready for another year filled to the brim with vegetables and herbs.


Today the children enjoyed the afternoon playing in their sand box... in the warm sun. It has been a long winter... we are ready for spring!