It was just a dusting, but beautiful nonetheless. We've already been outside having fun in it! The temperatures are in the 30's so we know it won't last long!

The following is a link to our Snow Studies from last year. We'll be doing many of those things again, plus more starting in January using the Snow and Ice unit that Shining Dawn Books will be releasing very soon!

Snow Studies

When the sun is shining it just makes everything look more beautiful. After several days of freezing temperatures the thermometer headed into the 40's today and the iced over creek is once again on the move.  Winter is slowly loosing it's grip.  The sun was glistening on the flowing water magically, and in places the creek seemed illuminated in green and edged in white.  We were out on a nature walk today to accomplish our Nature Challenge this week by observing evergreen and deciduous trees, however as always nature provides much more than that to admire.

 "Golden Sunshine"

At dawn this morning I was working at my computer desk, when I stopped to glance out the window above me facing the east sky.  The sun was just beginning to rise over the horizon, just breaking a little through the thick gray sky.   As the sun ascended a bit more, the clouds seemed to become illuminated in different shades of blue, highlighted with thin brush strokes of pale pink.  It was breathtaking.  As I went outside to get a better view I took note of how the sky seemed to have a soft and gentle, yet ominous appearance all at the same time.  Possibly it was the contrast of the bare, black tree branches reaching up to it which made it seem somewhat threatening.

Then I noticed how gentle and cool the breeze was.  As it blew on my face I breathed in as deeply as I could, which helped immensely in shedding tiredness from the night.  It was then that I was reminded of the weather forecast today; we have been given numerous warnings of possible bad storms and wind damage.

Then, just as quickly as the sun had appeared and colored the sky, it disappeared under a thick dark gray cover of clouds.  It has yet to be seen again.  The radar currently shows the storms just west of us, only minutes away.

Brown patches of earth are beginning to reclaim their territory from the snow.  And the creek is once again flowing and babbling peacefully.  The ground is soggy and squishy, full of water.  The sun is shinning luminously and the birds are singing enthusiastically.  And the breeze is cool like spring, no longer biting with cold.  I can breathe it deeply and feel it's rejuvenation.

I will enjoy this moment while it's here, for it's only February still......

 

 

I have a confession....cabin fever has set in, really set in.  Even though we've been outside here and there enjoying the nature in winter, of course we've just not been out nearly as much as we are in the warmer months.  So...cabin fever is reeking it's ugly havoc in our household.  No matter that we've gotten outside some (which is helpful), breathing in the fresh bitterly cold air just isn't the same as breathing in the fresh warm invigorating air of spring.  I'm finding myself desperately longing for the cheerful greens to begin poking themselves up through the woods floor.

Don't get me wrong, I truthfully do love the different seasons, winter included...I would not enjoy myself nearly as much in a climate that didn't have four seasons.  I simply love seeing the changes in scenery throughout the year, it keeps things interesting.  However, inevitably around February each year I reach this breaking point.  The whole family reaches this breaking point...we NEED spring.  If you haven't guessed it from my blog, I have VERY hands-on children; children who aren't engaged unless they are finding themselves doing something which requires their whole bodies to be involved.  That which requires them to hear it, feel it, taste it, smell it, run amongst it, this is what most greatly benefits our whole family.  The great outdoors is very helpful in satisfying this need.  Even "table work" goes better when there's hope that afterward they can run like wild horses through the threshold into the vast natural world outside.

But alas, here again is February.  Now that the sparkle of the icy diamonds on the trees is gone and the sun has hidden itself once again behind gray skies, I'm dealing with those old familiar feelings as if I and my children were caged animals peering through the glass windows.  Daydreams of seeing the first wildflowers emerging from the under their blankets of leaves are occupying our thoughts.  I do know those days will come again.

"See! The winter is past; the rains are over and gone. Flowers appear on the earth; the season of singing has come, the cooing of doves is heard in our land." - Song of Solomon 2:11-12

Our need of spring, our need of the natural world around us to burst back forth to life reminds me of our joy for when our Savior was brought back to life to give us the hope and promise of a future close to our God.  We NEED it, we desire it, it's embedded within everyone's God-given soul.  So, I could say that we should just be happy in this wintrous state, and it is true that we can find peace amongst it.  However I have no problem saying that YES I do need spring!  I need to experience abundant life returning!   And I'm looking forward to it with great anticipation!  But until then, I will try harder to find peace and happiness in this place where we are and continue to reach out to enjoy it for it's own unique beauty.