Happiness Is...

                                                                   ...seeing this photo.

Everything about it is just so amazing. My humble opinion.

Family Blessings

Last weekend we were so blessed to have different events that brought our family together: the arrival of a daughter and her family from Brazil, meals together, a granddaughter's birthday and the baptism of our son and oldest grandson. Sunday was the first time the 7 of us have been together in 5 years. For this momma, it was cause for much joy! I praise the Lord Who enabled all of this to happen .

Pink Rose Beauties

As I look for spots of beauty in my days, these items have made me smile. One daughter gave me this lovely pink "rose" made from a conch shell and I must admit that I've never seen one like it! They brought it from Mexico.

 The twirl on the base was obviously cut off from the middle part. Very creative!

Looking down on it...

 ...with a close-up of the middle. What a Master Creator we have!

A view from the back of it.

Then a sister-in-law has been giving me a pink rose item or 2 almost every time I see her. What a generous and caring heart she has. Here are a few of those items.

Well OK, I put the shell rose in one of the items. Perfect, hey?

A lovely plate, a mug...wait, this is too pretty to be called a mug. Is it a porcelain coffee cup? Then there's the little candle holder. Love 'em!

Here are a couple of unusual items. On the left is a compact which belonged to my mother-in-law when she was young. A note inside says she was 17 which would mean that this is about 70 years old. Awesome. The other item is a ceramic "egg" made in Budapest, Hungary as you can see. I love little "pretties" like this, they make me smile for their beauty. Thank you, givers (and Giver) of beautiful things to me!

I've used this verse on other posts but it's so appropriate for this one, too:

"Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest,

 whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely,

whatsoever things are of good report;

 if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things." 

(Philippians 4:8)  

Saturday Bath

"Search me, O God, and know my heart:

 try me, and know my thoughts:

   And see if there be any wicked way in me,

 and lead me in the way everlasting."

(Psalm 139: 23,24)

Creatures In The Snow

Here's another post about the snow we had several days ago, this time of the various "creatures" and other things that I saw there.

I'll start off with the birds. They began flocking around pretty early, obviously looking for food. Poor babies, couldn't find much of it elsewhere, I guess, so I welcomed them with open arms...or maybe I should say open lens, heh.

I saw a flash of red in the trees, starkly contrasted against the white snow. The cardinal decorated the winter scenery so beautifully.

He flew to a tree that was a bit closer to me...

...and finally only a couple meters away. I guess he was hungry enough! Yes, that's birdseed that I scattered on top of the snow. 

Then there was the lovely robin, a bit more shy than her cardinal cousin. There's something about birds in the snow that looks picture-perfect, don't you think?

Well! It's obvious there's some sort of creature prowling around! Let's see if we can find it...

Aha, there he is. He looks a bit bewildered with the white stuff all around him, don't you think?

Here's Kitty, my daughter's cat next door. It took her several minutes to get adjusted to accepting her first snow. But she obviously liked it because she stayed out all day.

This little junco is all balled up, trying to keep warm while sitting in 2 inches of the cold, soft stuff. Or is she sitting ON it? I'm not sure!

What about this creature?! Looks like a rose but it's a camillia. She certainly contributed a lovely decoration to the scenery. I felt sorry for this beauty but she seemed to survive just fine.

Speaking of surviving, I've been amazed at my little pansy that I bought a month ago. It has survived at least 2 strong winds, 5 or 6 frosts and now this 2-inch snow. Look at the next photo to see how she's still as perky as ever...

I think its theme is: "Just keep on keepin' on"! A fantastic winter flower.

I shall end with this photo which might just be my favorite of all the ones I took of the snow. I've been calling it my little snow family. Aren't they the cutest?!

"Hast thou entered into the treasures of the snow...?" (Job 38:22)

Snow Like Wool

On Sunday my husband and I saw our first snow in 5 years. To those of you who are used to seeing it every year and even measure it in feet instead of inches, you will wonder why this is such a big thing to us or why it is considered such a blessing. But the rest of you will probably understand.
Without many more words, I now offer to you some of the 200+ photos that I took, mostly within one hour. Had to do it quickly because the sun was threatening to melt away my photographer's paradise! I will make about 3 posts with these snow pics since I have so many. Wouldn't want them to go to waste, now would I?! The ones I'm posting today remind me of the verse in Psalm 147:16:

"He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes."
Now, deciding which ones to post!

The sight that greeted us on Monday morning. Words can't describe our admiration!

Here comes the sun! I had to work fast...

This branch loaded with snow was extra lovely. Thank you to our next-door neighbor!

I mean, have you EVER seen snow that looks as much like cottonballs as this?!

New Blog Title & A Bouquet Of Roses

I guess I don't need to announce it but I am. I wouldn't want you to think you were on the wrong blog and go elsewhere! Today I am officially changing the title of my blog to Rena's Pink Roses. Since Ana started out being an anonymous name...well, I'm not really anonymous anymore. Everyone who knows me knows who Rena is! I know, it'll take awhile for you to get used to it, it will for me, too. But for one or two reasons, I thought it best to change it. My DH protested but, after all, this is my blog and, well, he really does let me do what I want with my things. What a guy!

That said, I'll make you happy with this photo of the dozen red roses that my DH gave me today (oops, yesterday!) for Valentine's Day. Didn't I just say, what a guy?! He's the best.

Now I Lay Me Down To Sleep

I know that's the beginning of a little children's prayer (which has at least 26 versions, I learned here!) and there is also a network of photographers by that name which has a very touching ministry. But did you know there is a verse in the Psalms which says almost the same thing?
"I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety." (Psalm 4:8)

I have often said that "home is where my bed is". My husband and I, as missionaries, are often traveling around to different places and churches, and of necessity we have to sleep in other beds. Some are comfy and some are not but I am always so happy to get home to my own bed! I'm sure that most of you feel the same way.

However, I do recall one time several years ago when I spent the night at a colleague's house enroute to traveling elsewhere. In comparison to my bedroom at home, this bedroom just seemed so extremely comfy and luxurious, I just felt so....blessed! So much so, that I cross-stitched the above verse from the Psalms and gave it to my hostess later on.

How wonderful to know that no matter what our bed is like, we can sleep in peace and safety knowing that the Lord is ever awake and watching over us. He never slumbers or sleeps but graciously gives this to His beloved ones (Psalm 127:2). With such a promise and with such sweet peace in our hearts, no wonder we can "lay ourselves down to sleep"!

                                                                    Sweet dreams!

Once Upon A Time

Once upon a time in the corner of a little yard there lived a little patch of clovers, a very special little patch of clovers. It was special because it was different. Most patches of clovers come with 3-leaf plants and once in awhile you may be "lucky" enough to find a 4-leaf one in the middle of the patch. If you're lucky. And, oh! you might even find a 5-leaf one! 

Well, this patch was indeed lucky. Look! Can you count how many leaves are on each plant? Of course not, how silly I am, we need to take a closer look. So come with me...

Oh! There's one! In fact, I see at least three! Could there be more than that? Can it be that this patch of clover has several 4-leaf plants? Oh, it cannot be true, it just cannot be true! They say that you have only one chance in thousands to find one!

Now the owner of this patch of clover was a man named Johnny. He was quite proud of it and let it grow for several months, never cutting it when he would cut the grass in the rest of the yard. He tended them with tender, loving care, he did.

Every once in awhile he would say "Have you noticed my patch of clover? Come and let me show you!" And so with joy he would point out how many 4-leaf clover plants there were in the patch. Indeed, there were many, it was quite amazing!

But one day he decided that he should cut the little patch of clover. He would be moving away and knew that the new people would want to cut it down-and so he did it himself. But before he did that, he picked out all of the 4-leaf ones and his wife put them in a little vase to keep them as long as possible. And there they lived happily for many days, turning yellow and dying one by one until there was only one left of the 58 that came from the little patch of clover which had brought much joy to the man named Johnny.

"He hath made every thing beautiful in his time..." (Ecclesiastes 3:)

God's Breath

Frosty Morning

I've heard that in the halls of old
They plated everything with gold-
The chandeliers, the pillars, floors
With spoils from their latest wars.
Yet all this splendor cannot be
As rich as what is given me.

For every night as soft we sleep
Out in the dark, and midnight deep
A beauteous miracle is done
Before the waking of the sun;

And if I wake just at the dawn
I catch a glimpse of what went on:
Each leaf is clad in crystal cloak,
The grass glimmers in fairy smoke.
The rudest bramble, tinged with rust
Is sprinkled well with diamond-dust.

The thorn, the tree, the hidden flower
Are glittering with a silver shower
And things that never caught my eye              
Are regal in their shimmering dye.

This miracle is but for those
Who early from their beds arose
And I can say I'm wealthy quite:
My world is gilded every night!                        -Rachel H.(from her delightful blog!)

By the breath of God frost is given: and the breadth of the waters is straitened. (Job 37:10)

Hope

"For there is hope of a tree, if it be cut down, that it will sprout again, and that the tender branch thereof will not cease." (Job 14:7)

"Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD." (Psalm 31:24)

"Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance." (Psalm 42:5)

"But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." (Romans 8:25)