Winter wonderland!!

This past week Oklahoma had the second snow/ice storm of the winter. This is very unusual for Oklahoma weather, in fact most people don't even own a shovel! It started with an ice storm which coated everything with a nice thick layer of ice before moving on to about 5 to 6 inches of snow on top. As you can imagine, this makes one big mess of the roads and since they only have about two plow trucks in the city, it takes a while for it to get cleaned up. We had two days off from class and cancelled church on Sunday. We were snowed/iced in. We did take a trip out on Saturday to some of the lovely parks and lakes in Oklahoma city took lots of pictures of the beauty left behind from the "storm".

This is never what I thought I would see in Oklahoma, but I enjoy it greatly!!!

Peace

How is it that the sun still shines on days like these? Days when all hope seems to be lost? Days when faith and perseverance are a far away cry. How is it that the sky is still blue when darkness covers the path of my eyes? How is it that the birds still sing when there is no music left to play?

It’s another world outside the walls of my problems. It’s beauty and joy instead shame and hopelessness. It’s victory, instead of failure. Peace, in midst the storm. Peace.

I feel trapped inside this place of anguish, the window I look out holds me back from touching the freedom of peace. Why is this window here? To keep me stuck? To hold me down and tell me can’t do it and that I’m not good enough? Who put this window here that I could look out but never truly experience? I feel like I could never get past these walls and window. I fear I will only ever get to watch as the dreamers find joy and love in peace. I fear I will be left here to stay and never to be free.

But I can hear the sound of freedom calling me, it calls me to shine like the sun, to hope like the sky, and sing with the birds. I can’t hold back any longer, I long to find victory and rejoicing. I can’t let these chains hold me any longer, I’m ready to go, I’m ready to break free beyond the walls of shame and find peace in midst the storm. Peace.

Reflection...

I was shopping at wal-mart a few weeks ago with a friend and I saw one of the little girl’s from our kids program that we do on Wednesday nights. She was standing in the check out line with her daddy and a cart full of grocery’s, her Mom at home with the new baby and younger brothers. It took my mind back to the days when I would go with my daddy to the store almost every week. I always wanted to go with him to the store, those were some good times with my daddy. Whether it was a quick run for a last minute item, or a full out trip that would take hours, I was there. Also when Dad would make dinner, I was there. I loved helping him cook and I remember many nights after he got home helping him cook and get dinner ready. These were just a few of the memories that came to my mind when I saw the picture of the little girl out shopping with her daddy, I hadn't thought about those times in a long time.

This got me thinking of other good times with my Grandpa’s that I hadn't thought about in a long time. Every time we went to Grandma and Grandpa’s house, we would always have to go to the park and play. And one time Grandpa almost went to the park in his slippers!! And all those books we read that we would have to keep waking up Grandpa to hear the rest of the book. Tractor rides at the other Grandpa’s house are something I will never forget. All those times we spent making things and playing trains. I don’t know how I could ever forget these times.

And then my little brothers, my sweet little brothers who hardly seem little to me anymore, being that one is taller then me and the other is probably smarter then me. Oh how many days we spent tearing up the basement and leaving it a mess. Or playing in the snow making our own little sledding hills and snow forts. Woofle ball baseball, driveway hockey, extreme spoons, hot wheels and the list could go on forever.

But something I never had that I always wished I could have had was an older brother. I never knew what it was like to have an older brother who could protect me and look out for me. I often thought about what it would be like. Being here at Master’s commission I now have five older brothers who watch out for me and protect me. We were talking about this week what a brother is to us girls. I suddenly realized that I had what I always dreamed of, I know what it is really like to have older brothers for the first time in my life. They protect me, pick on me, teach me about cars, push me to lead, play cards with me, laugh with me, care about me when I'm down, and most of all, encourage me. I never thought I would really know what it is like to have older brothers, but I do. To my brothers, grandpa's, and Dad, Thanks for all the good memories and loving me so much. I will never forget those things that you did that made me feel loved. Thanks :D