Dear Reader:

At first glance the bare-limbed Bradford Pear, in my front yard, might appear “bleak” but if you take a moment longer to study it, you will find a bright surprise…there is one red leaf still left on the tree…the color of hope in the winter… like the cardinal.

And that is the thing about life…when it appears to be at its bleakest or we feel that way…only then do we realize that we have created beauty from the bleakness elsewhere. Two examples:

Honey sent me this photo…at first it looks like a view of the mountains in a rather bleak wintry setting, but upon closer inspection Honey said one can see snow on the top of the mountains right across from them….beautiful, calm, and peaceful.

I brought in “Big Red” Monday night, as well as the other poinsettias, so the porch looked empty and bleak with only my one dried hydrangea and plaque to decorate the wall. Everything else was empty. But then I realized that “Boo’s Blessing” had simply moved indoors.

Colder and darker wintry days lead to warm rooms by hot, mellowing fireplaces in the evening.

We have talked quite a bit lately about finding more time for silence and listening. Today, in this short blog post, I would like everyone to do just that….In this beautiful, beautiful song, “In the Bleak Midwinter” listen to the words, especially the last stanza…

“What can I give him, poor as I am

If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb

If I were a wise one, I would do my part

Yes, what I can I give him, give him my heart.”

This three minute video of the Gloucester Cathedral  Choir sent chills down by back…especially the group solo by the youth at the end while singing the last stanza.

Gloucester Cathedral Choir – In the Bleak Midwinter – YouTube

So until tomorrow…Let that bright red leaf, still left on the Bradford Pear, symbolize our  red heart within us…our gift to give back to Christ…our heart.

“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

Look what Anne painted earlier in the week on her 30 day art challenge….such joy for us to see …I can only imagine the joy in creating it.

• If the outside is bleak…turn inward this winter for the repeat of sounding joy.
• Yesterday was a busy day not a bleak one….picked up Eva Cate for an over-night visit since Mandy had her return doctor’s appointment….
• We made a girl’s day of it….Took her to Tuesdies Salon and the marvelous Rianne washed, dried, and turned her hair into Anna from Frozen.…one happy little girl left…we got  a new winter light-weight jacket marked really down along with a “steal” outfit….came home modeled, drew, and lit the logs in the fireplace with hot cocoa and marshmellows….a great way to mellow down.
• 

Please keep the Clarkson family in your prayers…Libby updated me yesterday afternoon after Trey left to go into surgery….Osteomyelitis…deep bone infection-affecting the hip and upper leg on the left side with infection in surrounding tissue. As Libby says: “Pray hard PLEASE!” *Libby with all the grandchildren…Trey is in the green sweater.