Frost and Frosting

I had a birthday about two weeks ago!  I will admit that I'm pretty childish about birthdays.  I don't want to go out for a fancy meal, and I don't want to have a party.  I want to be home in my pajamas all day long.  Todd has to be home, too...pajamas on.  I bake my own birthday treats.  Forget cake, which is too light and fluffy for a birthday.  I want something thick and rich, so I always bake birthday brownies (chocolate) with homemade vanilla buttercream, covered in sprinkles, served with peppermint chip ice cream.  Every single year.  The only difference comes when I mix the two together and have ice cream cake (same flavors). 

We always play board games for hours.

We're always surrounded by our beloved pets.

It's a pretty special time.  Todd is usually pretty good at gift-giving, and he found some really cool things this year.  First, he purchased some vintage nature books.

Then he tracked down the original painted artwork and had it framed for me.  The detail is amazing!

The first print, like the book, has a mustard-colored background...

...but the other, regrettably, is pretty close to neon green.

Because of the color, we aren't quite sure what to do with it.  Hopefully inspiration will strike!

We've had a recent warm spell, which brought days of beautiful fog.

It was so warm that my spring bulbs started popping up.

Thankfully, the temperatures did finally drop, and now we've got some lovely frost.

When you look closer, the ice crystals are so beautiful.

The heat has been on, and Tabitha has discovered that under the living room couch, a register blows out pretty pleasant air, creating a hot pocket that she spends most of her time in.

My Christmas cactus has bloomed.

It reminds me so much of my beloved cosmos.

I've been taking a lot of comfort where I can find it lately, because we've had a family tragedy.  Two days ago, my dad committed suicide by jumping from the top of a tall building in Japan, only a week away from the anniversary of my beloved grandpa's death.  My dad and I weren't close, but it's always sad to me, trite as it may sound, when someone who has turned their back on God dies without reconciliation.  I've had a string of tragedies and a great deal of loss in my life, starting from a very early age, and each one has tested and strengthened my faith.  I am grateful for my many blessings, and I am grateful that I don't have to worry about the reasons why bad things - sometimes very bad things - happen.  God never said the common phrase so often attributed to Him:  "God will never give you more than you can handle."  We frequently DO have more than we can handle, don't you think?  It's during these overwhelming times that I think of Psalm 23:4:  "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for thou art with me."  The concept of God being with us is a theme throughout the Bible. 

Joshua 1:9:  "Be strong and courageous.  Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

Matthew 28:20: "And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age."

Hebrews 13:5:  "...be content with what you have, for He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

Romans 8:38 - 39:  "  For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

It's a pretty powerful message, and one that gives me great comfort and peace.  

'Til next time...