We welcomed the new year with a gathering of friends, playing games and eating food. We decided to simplify our gingerbread village this year, propping up cookie cutter gingerbread men in front of pop tents, calling it a Civil War encampment and not connecting it with any particular famous moment in history or any anniversary of an event. The fancy store bought gingerbread houses were Southern mansions, decorated on Christmas Day.
The days following our party settled into a steady rhythm of work and music, back in the saddle again! Shortly after, our first winter storm blew in and we broke out the shovels and snow blowers, thankful for relatively light snow.
The temperatures have been hovering between single digits and twenty degrees so we rediscovered the skating pond at a charming little park down the road. Matthew and N’gella brought hockey sticks and we dueled it out in front of the makeshift goal at the grassy edge.
There have been other little pleasantries, going for a long stroll on the bike trail, practicing bird photography outside in freezing temperatures, visits with family, work projects together and snuggle time with sweet little nieces.
“The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.”
(Lamentations 3:24-26)