season change

multiple trips to the yard

now frosted, Kona the puppy

quickly self-trained

but her whimpers at the door

call for quick response

cold settles in to the deepest

pain in my bones

still, I can appreciate

beauty, snow burdened branches

painted skies

and the hush

of a season that comes

wanted or not

too too soon

the beginning of 2014

January through April, perhaps a bit of May

winter slipped under the doors

painted pictures on the windows

while we were lost in dreams

of a life hotter, fuller in Africa

and in August that same year

we left the prairies below us as we flew away

there were visits back

2016, 2018 but always summer

never did I miss the ice

the bitter winds

or the snow, no

not at all

yet, today I find myself here

the sky dull

constant cloud cover 

dripping rain and yes,

snow,  early October

shivering deep beneath my skin

winter hardly begun

the long season of fleece

down, woolly socks and hot tea

is upon me and the thought

of hibernation tantalizes

new snow tires on the vehicle

but oh, if I had my way

I'd remain inside

until Spring's thaw

months and months from here

slow to change

the seasons are slow to change

this year, uncertain

samples of heat, retreat

as cool returns

two weeks into July

and summer has no foothold

this blood, thinned

by African years, shivers

I see the shrugs, hear

the snickers, loud

from those already awash

in sweat and complaints

leaves me wondering

will I ever be warm

will I ever be home

again

tease

summer teases, laughing

joyous colour riot

life explodes

then stills

cool winds fall

farmers fret

and I, unaccustomed

to such weather

drape a shawl

around aching bones

believing surely one day

soon, heat will come

extended light

the horizon cracks early

light splinters, spills

evenings extend long

as the sun tarries

unwilling to retire

I am misled

by years of the equality

of African days and nights

unable to read the hours

dinners are late

as we too,unwilling

to miss a moment

soak in the fullness of time

as we wonder

the day in-between

deep despair

and sparkling glory

has an unexpected weight

this year, a living portrait

of the season we have inhabited

the past behind us

the future not yet reachable

we linger here

in wonder

as we wonder

no digging

I have been distant, yes

somewhere down deep

following the Light

words scattered into 

places hidden

but His voice reminds 

He has called me

as His pen

I must not dig for words

but embrace them

as they come

refreshment in this

the driest of seasons

lazy in the heat

Malawi heat

sun baked

the day feels slow

lazy, but work continues

the boys, Jonty and Bruce

have it figured out

naptime all the time

 

break out

I feel like

the colour pushing

against the green

anxious for the break out

curled in tight, hidden

fed by the roots

but thirsty for light

there is pain mingled 

joy in the waiting 

then reaching

the deep 

breathing stretch

toward new life

Meanwhile, friends, wait patiently for the Master’s Arrival. 

You see farmers do this all the time, 

waiting for their valuable crops to mature, 

patiently letting the rain do its slow but sure work. 

Be patient like that. Stay steady and strong. 

The Master could arrive at any time.

James 5:7-8 The Message

walking with Emily imperfect but beloved

 

drunk on fragrance

shaped by wind

winters that last too long

summers that start too late

the nanking cherry trees are alive 

with the most delicate of pink blooms

wild limbs extended

like my own thoughts

reaching out in all directions 

at once, seeking to settle, focus

drunk on the fragrance of life

open to rest, but mind consumed

with filing every glimpse away

to remember, later

in a foreign land, when my heart

thirsts for a taste of home

breathing in unforced rhythm with Kelli

 

signs of Spring

the ground is clear of snow

save for along the tree lines

and spots protected from the sun

we live on high land

so even the mud has soaked well in

and we can walk the yard on dry ground

until the rains come

the rains that gather in brooding clouds

dark but beautiful

there are sure signs of Spring's return

Rick caught a glimpse of this year's first litter of kittens

robins and flickers are returning

and other more annoying things with wings

flies, and yes, even mosquitos have been spotted

temperatures still drop below freezing in the night

the future could yet hold more snow

but it is Spring

undeniable, irrepressible Spring

let all the earth rejoice

So let Heaven rejoice, let Earth be jubilant,

    and pass the word among the nations, “God reigns!”

1 Chronicles 16:31 The Message

 

point of view

I find myself, again

living in the inbetween

winter lingers in this

not yet spring

stepping out the door

I turn to my left

to a cloud darkened sky

and it somehow feels right

this heaviness

as I have felt called

to prayer, for needs known

and unknown

I trust the Holy Spirit

to interpret, groans

beyond my understanding

yet, in turning

to my right, the sky 

fills with boldness

of blue, light

beauty, assertion

of life, hope breathes

I can choose where 

I focus, where 

my eyes will rest

I choose life

I call heaven and earth to witness against you this day, 

that I have set before you life and death, blessing and curse; 

therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live,

loving the Lord your God, obeying his voice, and cleaving to him; 

for that means life to you and length of days, 

that you may dwell in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers, 

to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them. 

Deuteronomy 30:19-20 RSV

 

change

sun streams hot upon my feet

through windows streaked

by the freeze/thaw of winter

melting snow drips 

off roof tops

and though the threat

of more

frozen precipitation

lingers, I am ready

much more than ready

for Spring to dig in

heels, claim her ground

unfolding full with new life

here sit I, hot footed

on the cusp of change 

more profound than season 

to season, a breaking out

turned upside down, full

circle turn, I am ready

much more than ready

for soon to become now

for questions to be silenced

by answers, fears stilled

by the reality of a life

my mind can not yet

imagine

winds blow strong today

in the heat of the sun

calling in

a contagion of refreshing

 

craving colour

snow returns

again and again

not concerned

with welcomes

so many days clothed

in shades of gray

leaves the heart weary

so that even the dull red

of out buildings

brings delight to my eyes

so hungry for colour

as I wait for Spring

 

all His

The day is yours, and yours also the night;

    you established the sun and moon.

It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;

    you made both summer and winter.

Psalm 74:16-17 NIV

praising Him in community with Deidra

 

quickly winter

There is a privacy about it which no other season gives you. . . 

In spring, summer and fall people sort of have an open season on each other;

only in the winter, in the country, can you have longer, quiet stretches

when you can savor belonging to yourself.

Ruth Stout

winter has fallen

hard, fast

the air cracking with cold

dawns come late

nights early

in the silent dark

I return to the Him in me

 

in the stillness with Sandy who is flying off to Haiti. Let's keep her in our prayers.

the corner tree

when I try to catch the changing light

or the wind in photos

the variable texture of life here

the tree on the corner is there

posing, announcing home

there, where the road curves

where we begin to leave our land

it stands 

sunrise to sunset

almost, but not quite hidden 

in fog

branches waving goodbye as we go

and welcoming us as we return

not very large

or particularly beautiful

but familiar

the day is coming

when we will take that curve

a final time

moving toward trees of a different sort

baobabs, palm, African teak

and I will be grateful

for photo memories

digital eternity

I'm linking to Lisa-Jo to talk about the word tree

 

new snow

Whose woods these are I think I know.   

His house is in the village though;   

He will not see me stopping here   

To watch his woods fill up with snow.   

My little horse must think it queer   

To stop without a farmhouse near   

Between the woods and frozen lake   

The darkest evening of the year.   

He gives his harness bells a shake   

To ask if there is some mistake.   

The only other sound’s the sweep   

Of easy wind and downy flake.   

The woods are lovely, dark and deep.   

But I have promises to keep,   

And miles to go before I sleep,   

And miles to go before I sleep.

Robert Frost

I am finding rest 

in the silence and the beauty

of His new fallen snow

smoothing rough edges

coating the world with fresh

 

finding the stillness with Sandy

 

surrendering to change

The first snow has landed 

lightly on our land

all is covered with a dusting of white

I would grab hold of Autumn

wishing it to linger

but why whisper such a futile prayer

change is upon us

there is no profit in fighting

all is simply preparation

for a bigger change ahead

help me be a willing student

and learn my lessons well

He sends his command to the earth;

    his word runs swiftly.

He spreads the snow like wool

    and scatters the frost like ashes

Psalm 147:15-16 NIV

Day 20 of 31 Days of Surrender

 

shifted glory

leaves are loosing their green

transformed to browns

yellows, a blanket spreading 

wide across the yard

the glories of Summer

ceding to Autumn

and yet

the flowers refuse

to surrender

exploding wild with life

in hues of joyous praise

capturing the light

against the darkening days