Listen to the soft buzzing of snow as it lands on the dried grasses.

Notice the bright butterscotch hue of gold and the red buds in the new growth on the old willow tree.

Snowflakes bloom as tiny white flowers on moss. Can you see them?

[click to embiggen]

Thin ice remains suspended in air where there was once a miniature pond, water collected from previous snow melt.

Bird song drowns out the soft buzz of snow as we complete our walk through the park.

Today is Presidents’ day. As a child, it meant that we learned about Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. As an adult in the United States, it usually means there will be sales and shoppers at the local mall. It is a federal holiday so the banks and post offices are closed, and the kids are home from school today.

Yesterday, however, was a much more important date of note: the 70th anniversary of the signing of Order 9066 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on February 19, 1942, ”Establishing the War Relocation Authority in the Executive Office of the President and Defining its Functions and Duties.” It was a horrific backlash to the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and the fear that the West Coast of the USA was in danger of attack. This order signed by FDR created suffering for more than 110,000 Japanese Americans who were sent to live in isolated “relocation centers” with little notice and even less information about the future. In essence, it was an American version of the Nazi concentration camps. It is an incredibly shameful part of the history of the United States.

A while back, I was lucky enough to win a book over at Jenn’s blog. Camp Nine is about one of these “relocation centers.”  In an example of serendipitous timing, the book arrived when I was already reading two other novels, so I set it aside and just picked it up to start reading yesterday – Sunday, February 19, 2012.  If not for winning the random drawing and a link I saw posted on facebook yesterday, I would not have realized the importance of the date.

I took a walk this morning and came back with prose in my head and pictures in my camera, ready to share with you, but mandatory yoga and limited computer time life got in the way — and I was kind of long-winded up above — so those words and images will have to wait. 

Making your way in the world today takes everything you’ve got.
Taking a break from all your worries, sure would help a lot.
Wouldn’t you like to get away?
Sometimes you want to go
Where everybody knows your name,
and they’re always glad you came.
You wanna be where you can see,
our troubles are all the same
You wanna be where everybody knows
Your name.
You wanna go where people know,
people are all the same,
You wanna go where everybody knows
your name.

Theme song from the TV show “Cheers”

You may have guessed from last Sunday’s post that I’m still searching for a new church family.
I’m don’t think I’m your typical church “shopper” — and I’m not even sure I like that term. When I sign up for something, I’m in it for the long haul. Committed. Which is probably why I’m finding it so darn difficult. For the past two decades, my commitment didn’t have an infinite number of years ahead of it; there was always another move in the foreseeable future. This time is different. This time, I’m not planning on digging up my roots and transplanting. This was my final move. As my brother might say, the final-final.

And right now, I’m tired. We’ve been here for 6 months, but I still haven’t found what I’m looking for…

the things one can find
fragile feathers set in ice
frozen arrowhead

One year ago she was fighting cancer. At the time, we didn’t know it was stage 4 appendiceal cancer, but we knew it was bad. I don’t remember what I gave my mother for her birthday, and it really doesn’t matter. She didn’t need anything. What she desired was healing, but we don’t always get what we want. I knew in my heart she was dying. Four months later, she took her last breath.

In the past few days, I have shared in the sorrow of others who have lost loved ones:  for one friend, the shock of a one-week window between cancer diagnosis and death of someone dear to her;  an agonizing night of seizures followed by death of a beloved dog for another.

So many grieving hearts, so many walking wounded, so many haunted eyes in faces we see every day… and in the midst of it all, here is Valentine’s Day — a day in which we celebrate love.

celebrating love
within a season of grief
mysteries of life

These “Christian One-liners” that showed up in my e-mail inbox recently. Some I agree with and some I don’t… and it got me musing:

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Some people are kind, polite, and sweet-spirited
Until you try to sit in their pews.. 

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Many folks want to serve God,
But only as advisers. 

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It is easier to preach ten sermons
Than it is to live one.

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The good Lord didn’t create anything without a purpose,
But mosquitoes come close. 

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When you get to your wit’s end,
You’ll find God lives there. 

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People are funny;
They want the Front of the bus, the Middle of the road,
And Back of the church. 

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Opportunity may knock once,
But temptation bangs on the front door forever. 

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Quit griping about your church;
If it was perfect, you couldn’t belong. 

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If a church wants a better pastor,
It only needs to pray for the one it has..

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God Himself doesn’t propose to judge a man until he is dead.
So why should you?

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Some minds are like concrete
Thoroughly mixed up and permanently set. 

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Peace starts with a smile. 

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I don’t know why some people change churches;
What difference does it make which one you stay home from?

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A lot of church members singing ‘Standing on the Promises’
Are just sitting on the premises.

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Coincidence is when God chooses to remain anonymous.

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Don’t put a question mark where God put a period.

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Forbidden fruits create many jams. 

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God doesn’t call the qualified,
He qualifies the called. 

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God grades on the cross, not the curve.

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God loves everyone,
But probably prefers ‘fruits of the spirit’ over ‘religious nuts!’

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God promises a safe landing, not a calm passage.

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He who angers you, controls you! 

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If God is your Co-pilot, swap seats! 

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Prayer: Don’t give God instructions, just report for duty!

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The task ahead of us is never as great as the Power behind us. 

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The Will of God never takes you to where the
Grace of God will not protect you. 

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We don’t change the message,
The message changes us.

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So, did any of these strike you as especially true in your experience? Which ones?

Life is full of both darkness and light.

Every single one of us experiences each of these extremes.

We may not be able to choose our experiences, but we can choose our focus.

An hour later, the frost had been melted by the sun.

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Below are four photographs showing four different views of the same pattern:

Which one of these four is your favorite, and why?

winter flowers bloom
delicate, fragile, brittle
shatter like a heart

hiking boots and Snow Trax

Today’s adventure — brought to you by Snow Trax — was hiking into the creek canyon that we biked to last fall.  It was sunny and clear after breakfast, so we simply waited for the thermometer to hit 32°F before heading north of the city limits. It only takes about 20 minutes to be on the trail.

SuperDad and SnakeMaster had come here for a hike yesterday without the Snow Trax. There was some falling and bruising involved. Today we had ski poles instead of walking sticks, and the spikes on our heels and wire coils under the balls of our feet made for minimal slippage.

A couple of weeks ago, we had a sizable snowfall of about ten inches. It’s been warm enough lately for the snow and ice to melt a bit; it’s been cold enough at night to re-freeze. This made the walk both treacherous (ice + hills = very slippery) and a bit of a mind game. There were times my eyes told my brain, “Don’t step in that puddle!” only to discover it was frozen solid.

Apparently there was an impressive snow melt earlier this winter, evidenced by sandbars left high and dry and high water marks on the rocks & snow.

The yellow jacket trap was still hanging in the trees where we saw it 4 months ago.

Carabiners await climbers

Today was one of those days I’m glad to have a digital camera. I uploaded over 100 pictures to the computer! It’s safe to say I’ll be sharing more pictures with you another time this week.