Springtime's Arrival - Maybe!

The brilliant harbingers of Spring - the tiny but mighty "Glory of the Snow"- are appearing everywhere now that Spring has rounded a corner, and blooms are appearing every day. The anticipation of the blooms as I wander my garden is exciting. I've begun to allow my heart to be excited for this new season. Does anyone else approach Spring with a mixture of trepid anticipation? You just never know if Spring is really here, or if it is Springter, or just Winter! However, I'm letting my breath out slowly and breathing in deep. Yes. I believe Spring has arrived! 

 

Another early spring bloomer - the radiant crocus with such vibrant purples - is glorious to see amidst the mud and dirt!  

Our son and his wife took their RV out to camp last weekend. It was such a pretty weekend with abundant sunshine. We had other obligations and couldn't camp with them, but we did drive up to spend the evening with them. Oh, what fun it was to enjoy our time by the creek. 

The best kind of day's end is around a campfire with friends and family! 

The singing waters of the creek always bring such contentment to my soul. Riley stepped in the rushing waters for a drink! She didn't stay long; it was COLD, ice cold! 

There was still some snow on the ground in places up there, but most of the snow had melted. 

A little bird sang the sweetest song to us on the rock as she basked in the late afternoon sun. "Spring is coming, Spring is coming", I'm sure that is what she was singing! 

We love this beautiful country church, and dear friends of ours attend here. Isn't it the cutest little church! The view of the surrounding mountains is always a treat to see. 

My amazing friend, Stacy who blogs here: Words by Stacy is just about to publish her first book, and I will be sharing it here soon in a giveaway (stay tuned!) once the book is released! She has written a story of how God's love turns unspeakable tragedy into a beautiful story of love and new life. I can't wait to share it with you :) 

Our little Danika loves to play the piano with her mother! We can't even believe that she is already 6 months old! The days fly by quickly, and she is cooing/singing and making the funniest faces for us. She grows more adorable by the day :) 

Some of you may recognize the Collingsworth Family buses. They are a precious family who travel the US once or twice a year singing praises to the Lord.  The whole family travels on these buses, including their children and grandchildren! 

Now they have 9 grandchildren, who they brought on stage, and each of them sang. It is so special to see these children singing about Jesus! 

After the service, I was blessed to meet Kim Collingsworth in person, and it was a treat to talk to her. She is genuinely beautiful inside and out. After the concert, their plan was to load their buses and drive all night to their next destination in British Columbia, which meant a border crossing in the middle of the night.  I'm sure this must be an exhausting schedule, but they handled it all with grace and beauty. 

I'm sharing a video I made of the concert highlighting the Collingsworth Family with their Classics and Hymns tour.  If you ever get a chance to see them in person, I would highly recommend them. The concert was amazing, showcasing incredible talent from the piano, Courtney and Brooklyn's violins, and Phil's trumpet. But the Lord's presence made it truly special. It was a wonderful evening, and I'd gladly go again to see them! 

Here is a short video I made of some of the highlights of the evening.  

Below is a video I made some time ago of some of my favorite songs from their CD "Classics and Hymns". 

John 14:27 

Peace I leave with you, 

my peace I give unto you: 

not as the world giveth, 

give I unto you. 

Let not your heart be troubled, 

neither let it be afraid."

This verse has been a comfort to me recently, and I wanted to share it with you as we are in the Easter season, where we are remembering Calvary and what it must have been like for our Lord to suffer for us. This verse speaks to the days we live in today, too - the world seeks for peace and for love, but lasting peace can't be found anywhere. The world is constantly changing with so much turmoil, and people are searching for peace, for love, and for answers to their struggles. Jesus spoke these words just before His death, and I want to encourage your heart with them. His peace remains steadfast in the midst of all that is happening in the world! 

I pray for each of you to 

feel the peace of God in your hearts 

in these difficult days we live in! 

Much love to each of you!