Is this the end??

i don't know the answer to that just yet.

It's spring, time to clean up, take stock of life and let the changes roll where they may. Having said that the Saturday Night Group has more or less disbanded (we haven't met in more than a year - or has it been just a year, i can't remember precisely). Some have moved on, others have become overwhelmingly busy and others just can't afford the gas. . . we all have our reasons and they are all valid.
The only constant in life is change (well. . . that and God), and so i see that the lessons that came out of those beloved Saturday Nights were preparing us for what is next. And now we (the Russell household) are at the next. Living in tight (Do you have a bigger house that we can have???) community with another family and exploring community together has been the most intense time i can remember since living with my brother, some guy from Tennessee (i miss you Dave) and a random host of other sojourners back in Santa Cruz.
Blah, blah, blah! i talk too much. So all of that being said, i am devoting my time to a new blog that will hopefully have a different look and feel that more accurately reflects these crazy days. So if you have nothing better to do with your otherwise probably mundane life take a swing over to: Thephunnypharm.blogspot.com
Or for more interesting reading from the community as a whole (everybody posts on this one - from time to time) head on over to: Reconciliation.tougas.net

As for This Side of Life. . . i may still post here. . . it's hard to say.

Be at peace.

The growing reliance on the shrinking Church

The growing reliance on the shrinking Church

 

 

I am a huge proponent of the separation of Church and state. Not because I am anti-God, but because I am PRO-God, and pro-Church. Even before my current reading I have believed in the need for the separation, but now that belief is growing all the more. It seems to me that all the signs are obvious and that no one in the Church should miss the fact that this is an un-holy union, but for whatever reason, be it culture or tradition we have the hardest time breaking away.

At the moment I am about halfway through Jesus for President. What a great book! I have to say that, like all books, there are things that I disagree with, but it has also been a tremendous resource of information and insight. The authors did an excellent job compiling information in just such a way that you can't help ignore it. As I mentioned, I have long held the belief that the Church should be devoid of politics or national allegiance, but this book has made me so much more aware of some of the often time overlooked bits of the old testament. In fact I feel that I have a better grasp of the purpose of the law in our lives as believers.

The book doesn't devote a lot of energy to environmentalism (so far­) though it is most definitely there. It does however draw to the forefront the need to rely less on fossil fuels and the pros and cons of globalization. In subtle ways it calls us to shrink our thinking, something that house church proponent Wolfgang Simpson promotes in his lectures. We lose a lot at the hands of globalization, and we cause a tremendous amount of damage to the planet. We talk to our "friends" on the other side of the planet but never see our neighbors, fisheries collapse so that everyone can have access to certain breeds of fish many of whom never had access to these species before. . .

We rely on the government in its various stages up to the U.N. to care for us and supply for us . . . and we neglect ourselves and our communities, forgetting to tend to one another.

It's the same way in the church. We build huge meeting halls and fill them to the limit. We get lost in huge groups and when we need council we look to people we will never meet because they wrote a book or an article on a subject that appeared to work, we rely on the Rick Warrens and the Billy Grahams to fill our cup every week all to the detriment of the local body.

 

"Do you think the Church will ever function like it is supposed to?" asked our housemate Chris.

 

My answer – not so long as we look elsewhere for things that God can and will equip his Church to do. We have to stop looking afar for the spiritual gifts. We have to stop relying on diplomas and certifications. We have to trust God, and trust that he will give gifts to those as he sees that we have need. At some point the local fellowships need to band together and become more self reliant (and by that I mean more God reliant and trusting that God will make us sustainable within our local body). At some point we will have to drop the facade and become trusting of God and vulnerable to one another. Not popular in this culture, no! But necessary – if for nothing else, for growth.

More life on the farm . . .

Ok, so the following two accounts may be a bit extreme, but I had to document them simply to illustrate the continual madness around the house these days.

 

Yesterday I woke up (in the afternoon – I work nights) alone in the house, the rest of the gang was off having fun, to the sound of the peahens freaking out. Now, for those of you who have no experience with peafowl, the cockerels (the boy peafowl – the pretty ones) make this tremendous noise. Hens on the other hand just honk, and it really is a soothing sound . . . at least to me. So at first it really didn't faze me till I looked out the window and realized that there was a dog in the chicken coop. Bad news. After shooing it away I discovered that of our flock of 6 production hens, two were dead, two were missing, and two were hiding.   

It was traumatizing. However . . . I was able to remove the bodies before the kids got home, and as of this morning one of the "missing" birds had returned home. Although I don't have a lot of hope for the last one, until I see a body there is always a chance. The "missing" bird is the same bird that went on sabbatical last year around the time of the great fox invasion – and returned. So who knows?

 

 

Today – we were approved for our loan and we bought the van. A little back story here: on Saturday we put a down payment on a fifteen passenger van that we have been looking at. Chris called and put the down payment on my ATM card. Mind you, I have never talked to any of the people at this dealership. Now while on the phone on Saturday, Chris said, "This is not my card", and the guy at the dealership processed the card without batting an eye. They didn't ask for confirmation from the owner of the card or anything. What the heck is up with that????

Further, Chris has had some trouble getting his CDL transferred to the state of Maine and this has wreaked havoc on their (the Hogans) insurance situation. The van is going to be on their insurance – well that can't happen till his license gets squared away, and the vehicle can't be inspected without insurance.
Long story short. . . The van somehow (;-P) ended up with Florida tags on it that were supposed to be on a different van that we use (which in this great state is illegal – but apparently not elsewhere). The new van, made it home without inspection, unregistered and with the wrong (hence illegal) plates.

To boot, the car salesman signed all of the paperwork, but forgot to take payment . . . so we effectively paid $200.00 bucks for the van. Teeheehee!!!!

Meanwhile, James' school called to let us know that he was sick. Amy went to pick him up in the other van. The van that didn't have any tags on it. . .

So now two adults are risking having a vehicle towed and arrest, while back in town the other parent unwittingly risked having a vehicle towed, and arrest. . .

Leaving me home – alone – with 5 kids . . .AAAAAAAAAUUUUUUGGGGGGHHHH!

 

I love our little community!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

--
Reconciliation.tougas.net
Saturdaynightwalk.blogspot.com

Passive subversion.

Fight the man!

 

Or so they say. i am reading an excellent book (especially for an election year) entitled Jesus For President by Shane Claiborne and Chris Haw. It is a sweet follow up to Shane's other book The Irresistable Revolution.

 

The book reminds of our Jesus call to love and passive resistance to the world systems. The authors look, albeit broadly, at the history of the church - going back to the likes of Abraham and our interaction with God - reminding us that we are called to be a nation (not America but the Church) set apart. We are called, by God, to be a people that look like no other nation on earth, whose only elected official is God! We are to practice an economy of equality, and that through mutuality and love all are accounted for. Every person concerns themselves with contributing to feed the others and by doing so all are fed, both spiritually and physically.

i hope this yammering doesn't bore too many. i know that i keep coming around to themes like this, but i am super encouraged by all the reinforcement.
--
Reconciliation.tougas.net
Saturdaynightwalk.blogspot.com

Random life in spring. . .

Yes i know i already mentioned all the cool things that spring brings with it, i am just so excited about warmth and grass and a garden . . .

 

The first of the baby birds are in - the chickens. The company forgot to ship the ducks and no turkeys till next month. Spreading things out is good though, otherwise we end up turning the house into an indoor aviary, and as it is we are collecting kids faster than can be imagined.

So the communal living (i'm just gonna call it a commune because it's shorter and i am an American. . .we like short) thing is going well. We are looking at houses now and there are some fantastic prospects. i confess that i am a bit nervous just because there is so much that i want to do on the current house before we try to sell it. . .or rent it, whatever.

The most entertaining part of living in community is watching how much it scares and inspires "normal" people. As i speak a couple of co-workers are trying to build the community a website. . .not sure we are ready or even wanting that, but it is entertaining these monkeys. They have openly admitted that they support what we are doing though they are scared to do it too. Just as well at the moment. i would much prefer people to be able to come and see, so that there is no crazy delusions of sunshine and daisies all the time. We are just regular disfunctional people with issues living together to encourage and love one another and hopefully grow up into the example that Jesus left.

 

Oh well . . . hopefully this whole thing doesn't scare the folks back home. . .

--
Reconciliation.tougas.net
Saturdaynightwalk.blogspot.com

Spring is wonderful

i can see grass!! Wow haven't i missed that. Yesterday i ordered seeds for the garden, the first of the chicks (baby chickens/turkeys/ducks) are in, my driveway is back. Oh, and the snow is receeding rapidly.

 

For all of my joy i have discovered this season how much these transitional seasons (Spring and Autumn) affect me. Even as i look forward to walking barefoot across my lawn again, i find that i am sad to see the snow go. Yes, i know that is a sick thought given the severity of this winter. Likewise last Autumn i was sad to see the grass go even as i was thinking about sledding and snow ball fights and cups of cocoa by the picture window as the snow falls. Maybe i am bipolar.

 

With a prospective move in the not too distant future (Lord willing) i am a bit ambiguous about the garden. Why plant if you can't reap. . . Likewise i have seventeen more birds on the way that wont be ready to butcher till at least September. What if i can't take them with me?

Who knows, i guess i wont worry about it now.

--
Reconciliation.tougas.net
Saturdaynightwalk.blogspot.com

All about the easter chicken. . .

Ugh, how civilization has confused our children. The candy makers are trying to convince our young ones that the cadbury bunny lays the Easter eggs. What the heck. . . .rabbits are mammals!!! Mammals don't lay eggs, that is part of what makes them mammals.

But we can help correct that. It's just before easter and our Americana's are laying colored eggs galore. Woohoo! No need to dye them, the birds do it for us. The real treat was while cleaning the turkey coop i was treated to a sweet little discovery - an egg! Our one turkey who avoided the chopping block because she was way too small decided to try her hand at mothering. There wont be any chicks by her (no husband) but it was a pleasant Easter treat and it reminded me of the renewal of life. We get to celebrate that again on Sunday, and really we should every day!

--
Reconciliation.tougas.net
Saturdaynightwalk.blogspot.com

The Church

This weekend i got to help make maple syrup. Not that store bought stuff that they pass off as maple syrup, but the real deal! We boiled sap down until it came out of the evaporator in the form of yummy, yummy syrup! i think i could get really used to that, just need to get an evaporator. . . and some maple trees.

 

We talked with our new friends Dave and Caren, and of course Clara. We talked about a lot, and maybe we were a bit too philosophical. i was very encouraged by their desire to live sustainably and to share a message with the Church as a whole to live in balance with God's creation rather than destroying it. i think that there is something to be said about the example and testimony that would be seen by those outside of the kingdom if all of Jesus disciples lived in obedience to God and in reverence of all that he has made - living sustainably. Selfishness is the crown prince of all sin, and our consumption, even and especially in the Church, is a billboard to the world that we speak one way, but live another.

 

We also talked a bit about the Church and different styles of meeting. It took a day or so to digest, but in retrospect i realize that we the church spend way too much time thinking about what the church is and how we should meet, and far too little time just living with one another. Even to those in the "house church" or "organic" church movements we still treat the Church as some social club that is separate from life, when in fact the Church is our life. Think less and live more - our lives together will intertwine, we will be built up and build up one another. Whether we live together or apart, the fact is that we should just live, no programs, no meeting agendas, no business models to help administrate the "organization". We should just live together and in Christ - being submissive to one another and faithful in prayer and allow God to impart his gifts on those who he will and allow God to lead. Perhaps if we try less to organize and structure our lives and stop trying to administer so much - God will have the freedom to guide and administer more.

 

"Be still and know that I am God"

- God

--
Reconciliation.tougas.net
Saturdaynightwalk.blogspot.com

Soverenity

A balm of words and fear

Mixed to salve the wound - doubt

We are born sans completion

Our lives are foreign

Unnaturally separated from eternity

The mind overlooks the obvious

But the soul writhes

It swells with angst

We mask it with the speed of life

The vortex spins faster as we

Fall toward the bottom

Calendars grow and blossom

We pack 'em like moving boxes

And eventually time has no room to move

Packed in tight until we can't breathe

Life's portrait seems staged
The pen on the page is replaced

The ink and it's life are lost

To space between the keyboard

And the pixels.

The words on the printed page

Somehow hollow like life stowed tightly away

Like man separate from eternity

In our youth we grapple toward progress

Forward, onward, one step ahead

In age we look back

Wonder at wisdom        

Long for quiet and simplicity

Glassy waters, a graveyard buried in snow

The prairie sky on a cloudless day

Arctic stratum.

Clean, clear, still

Staring into the eyes of God

With no sound

But the color reflected in a still gaze

Eternity still and clear

As the atmosphere on a clear winter night

--
Reconciliation.tougas.net
Saturdaynightwalk.blogspot.com

A walk comes one step at a time

It has been a long time since I have had a proper Saturday night walk. A stroll with old friends talking about our struggles or sharing the things that fill us with excitement – I do miss them. It's been a long time since the old Saturday Night Group got together. We all grew up, got busy, moved in different directions. I have learned a lot since those days.

For so long I have coveted community. Not living in a neighborhood, but community. Shared goods, shared lives – obedience to the life that Jesus led, and commanded us to lead. Living to feed and fill our brothers and sisters, neglecting ourselves knowing that our needs would be filled by those same people that we are pouring ourselves out for.

We have experienced it in short with Georg, Maida and Daniel. God has blessed us again with the Hogans.

The old Saturday night walks were a blessing and perhaps a stepping stone for something better. We all had different expectations. I am hoping that with the many  (and they seem to be more and more all the time) that are coming out of the wood work with a yearning for a life shared that those old strolls and conversations will be reborn fresh and new.

One day at a time. I would rather follow God and be obedient than lead with my own interests at heart.

--
Reconciliation.tougas.net
Saturdaynightwalk.blogspot.com

What about the "IF's"

I have written about our expectations in the past. This weekend I was at Damien and Renee's for a birthday party. One of my favorite parts of staying with them is how we never seem to escape to the moment without falling into a conversation that calls our comfort into question. We talked about community, we talked about our dreams, and we talked about how it is our own short comings that impede our ability to get to the "better" that God often has in store for us.

We acknowledged that our selfishness, our expectations for how we live or where we live, and our inability to give them up prevent us from community. We spent some time considering our "if's".

I will follow you God, "if". I will obey you God, "if".

"If" this happens then I will go and do for God.

We also recognized the need to be willing above all else to sacrifice our "ifs", our expectations, and our selfishness. We are not always asked to give them up, but we are required to be willing to give them up in order to be obedient.

Marriage, of course is a sacred relationship, unique from all others, but community is in many ways similar to marriage, and brother/sisterhood and friendship are in many ways like community. Perhaps we would all benefit by approaching all of our relationships as we *should* approach marriage. We bring to the relationship who we are, and celebrate what the other brings to the relationship, and we both accept that we must and will change. Divorce and division are representative of the ultimate sin – selfishness. In the fellowship of believers we have to resolve to change our thinking . . . the Bible says something about "renewing our minds". . . . we have to resolve to stick it through for better or worse, through thick and thin, till through death are we again brought together.

--
Reconciliation.tougas.net
Saturdaynightwalk.blogspot.com

In the dead of winter. . .

. . . it is warm and comforting to know that there is new life budding up in the family. We are T-minus two weeks and counting before we welcome the Hogan's join us here in the arctic circle, we are going to be spending the weekend with the Lewiston/Auburn fellowship, and plans are in the works to meet with our friends at Bellvale. Also Jerry shared with us last week that there is a fellowship in Biddeford that he has been in communication with.

The snow deepens by the foot at our house. Already, though, we are looking forward to the spring and the planting season and the time of sharing.

All of these signs of life have reminded me how blurred my vision has been and how distracted I have become in the past several months. I am renewed and excited for what God might bring to New England and specifically Maine. I am prayerfully optimistic for the kingdom to grow and flourish and for a community of believers to come together to be truly set apart from a society that is crumbling.

I look forward even more to the day when Jesus returns.

The bride and Spirit say, "Come!"

--
Reconciliation.tougas.net
Saturdaynightwalk.blogspot.com

The state of the union.

My fellow residents of the planet earth:

I can no longer appeal to anyone as "countryman" as our world shrinks with the spread of technology. The days have opened where the fortunes or misfortunes of one country cause a ripple effect throughout the economies of the rest of the world. The tragedies of a genocide in world war two Germany or present day Rwanda are felt half a world away. Our world has become a world where starvation, famine and disease have become the responsibility of those in a country far away from such pains and the victims of such woes will likely never see the promised land of the wealthy. It is a time when technological breakthroughs made by one man can benefit the whole of mankind.

We are in a time that requires delicate attention to the line that we walk. The path we are on is leading us to destruction, but if we deviate too far in the other direction we will fare no better. We have in our country grown into a society of greed and fear. We have lost sight of God and his promise to raise us into life eternal. We are clinging to our bodies as though we really believe that they will last forever. We have substituted trust in he who created us and governs our destiny for momentary comforts and gains. We have oppressed, taken advantage of, killed, stolen from and slandered many, if not all, to give ourselves a sense of stability and safety.

We have edged away from responsibility and replaced common sense with legislation. We have replaced compassion with fear and love with retribution. What has become of Jesus commands to love our enemies? To fear not the ones who can kill the body but not touch the soul? To tend to widows and orphans, and care for the poor? To turn the other cheek and pray for those who persecute us?  

Our economy of consumption must end. The day is dawning when we must live and act in love, not as though the world exists for us, but that we exist for God and to serve one another.

The twentieth century, only a blip on the radar of human existence, was one of the most destructive on mankind of any period in history. Beginning with the industrial revolution we gained comfort and ease, but we lost our connection to the land, our connection to our food, toward the end of our century the connection to our families, our connections to our neighbors, our dependence on our eternal God has been replaced by our momentary ingenuity, until now we are consumed by our new social doctrine of self-reliance and militant individualism. Our foods have to be packaged and processed until we no longer recognize them. We have given up work and renewable resources for convenience and non-recyclables that poison our environment. We have sacrificed family and the struggles of love for the sake of "me and my life". We have sacrificed communion with friends and neighbors for an affair with our televisions and internet connection where we can stay connected to people we will never know.

We talk of solutions but take no steps make them happen. We are the solution. The answer lies with us. We sacrifice liberties, making the government legislate necessary changes, because we do not possess the will to make the changes ourselves, and then we complain when the government robs us of our freedoms.

"All things are permissible, but not all things are beneficial."

Our lives are not even the length and breadth of blink against the backdrop of history. Neither history, nor the universe, nor life revolves around us. In fact in a matter of generations unless by some amazing act we alter history in a profound way, we as individuals will not even be a memory. The time has come to love our brothers and sisters, our descendants, and to honor God and his commandments, to live in community with one another in an economy of equality where no man is more privileged than his brother, and to live in balance with the earth. God commanded us to subdue and tend the earth, not abuse and plunder it. It is the time in history when we should take up the yolk, and set the example for our leaders, making an ever growing government all but obsolete. There will be no need for legislation when we the people abide by a code love, tending to the needy, caring for our brothers and even our enemies before ourselves. We can preserve the environment for our children and their children, and improve our own health and the quality of living, by practicing a policy of consumption of necessity, using only what we need and recognizing and eliminating unnecessary waste and reconnecting with the earth.

The only way to be liberated; to loose our fear of death and sense of self preservation is to acknowledge that we are not separate from creation, but that we are part of creation. We must recognize that we were created with the intent to love and be loved, by a loving God, and that He is good and true, and that we are not confined to these failing bodies, but that we are eternal beings. We have the option of heaven or hell and need only choose. Our death is merely bodily and not eternal. We will continue and we need not fear loss because after the death of the body the spirit, that makes us who we are, will continue to live. With no fear of death we will have nothing to impede our love; we can give of ourselves to the point of death . . . just like Jesus.

--
Reconciliation.tougas.net
Saturdaynightwalk.blogspot.com

When it snows, it snows. . . .

Another solid foot, probably more of snow. i will find out for sure when i get home in the morning. Thirteen inches more slated for Friday.

 

During last week and then into the Sunday lesson i have been constantly reminded that "Jesus' love would rather be struck twice than return a single blow" (Enberhard Arnold).

Amy's work has been doing things that are of questionable ethics lately in just about every realm, and pending the outcome of some actions tomorrow may be in danger in violation of civil law.

As she was relaying to activities of her employers i was immediately incited to act in defense of my wife and other employees and put an end to the business. Part of my frustration is that the organization is affiliated with and run at a church fellowships meeting hall, which instantly brings to mind the image of Jesus and the money changers.

i was think in plotting actions and letters and protest against her employer and that phrase echoed again. i think there is a a weird division where we as disciples should be outspoken for the rights of the oppressed, but i don't see any room to forcefully push our rights. In our passiveness we show our love.
Jesus spoke out for the poor and against the establishment, but when it came to his rights he was soft spoken, submissive, passive - and in that he was powerful.

Perhaps i am wrong. Perhaps we should push our rights, even forcefully. i open myself to correction. But i don't see it Biblically. Our life here should be service, our rewards rests with peace and joy in Christ.

"Vengence is mine, i will repay."

 

Be at peace.

--
Reconciliation.tougas.net
Saturdaynightwalk.blogspot.com

i was driving to pick up Amy from work today. i was thinking about some stuff that i had read in the book "Salt and Light" by Eberhard Arnold. Along the way i passed an older man hitchhiking. i always think about picking up hitchhikers but i seldom have a chance (just enough seats in the car for the family - and barely that). Today i only had two kids and two spare seats. As i passed him i was amazed at the speed of thought, and how quickly i could make reasons not to pick him up: i was already late because of an accident that blocked the end of my road, i had to think about the safety of my kids, i was in a hurry, he was just a little odd looking - a long scraggly beard, a beat up brown leather hat. . .
i also considered that here was a man in need, and that to love him i would need to give him the same comfort of travel as i had - creating an economy of equality. i also noticed that i have a long scruffy beard and a beat up brown leather hat - so much for the odd looking excuse!
So i turned around. i had only gone a half mile or so. As i drove back i thought of Paul's command to make the most of every opportunity and where it was written elsewhere entertain strangers because by doing so some have unknowingly entertained angels.
i had a chance. i hesitated and i blew it. In the two minutes it took me to turn around and go back he was gone.

So i stewed on that for the rest of drive to Amy's work.

Low and behold less than a mile from her work i saw the same man hitchhiking. . . weird! God gives second chances. i didn't hesitate or think twice this time. Forest was a kindly older man who has lived in Gorham for many, many years and has hitch hiked the better part of his adult life. It was really cool. We got him to where he was going and thanked God for second chances!!

Be at peace.

--
Reconciliation.tougas.net
Saturdaynightwalk.blogspot.com

Some thoughts on love

Well,

 

It's been a while. Ups, downs, the usual.

We have been inundated with snow such that the snow banks from shoveling my roof are taller than the eves. The last snow i had to shovel down the snow banks so i could shovel the roof. Jinkies! The good news is that it has been in the forties so far this week. The iffy news is that there has been almost no direct sun. So the snow is melting, but veeeeeery slowly.

All this snow has inspired me to spend more time on the excercise bike. i like the fact that i can ride and read - kills two birds with one stone.

This time has been like a new spring for our family spiritually, and i think also for our fellowship. i am eager to see how things grow. On this note i wanted to share some thoughts that i read (while getting all buff on the bike) from Eberhard Arnold:

 

"If you love your neighbor as yourself, you will wish for hum the same as you have, the same luxury and comfort that is given to you."

 

"The point is not whether we give up or property, but that we do no less in any area of life than what is demanded here: that we surrender our money and our life so completely to God that we will be ready - today or tomorrow - to sell our fields and our goods, to give up our business, our investments, and our bank account, and give everything to the Lord and to the poor."

 

Jesus' love would rather be struck twice than return a single blow."

 

Love that is complete presses on to voluntary poverty, because it cannot keep for itself anything that a neighbor lacks. Love is defenseless because it has given up self-preservation and revenge."

 

"Nonviolence reveals the love that overcomes all."

 

Be at peace friends.

--
Reconciliation.tougas.net
Saturdaynightwalk.blogspot.com

It's beginning to look a lot like . . . snow?!?

Snow blessed snow! I am very thankful to God that this next week is supposed to be warm. I even heard that it will be 55 degrees on Wednesday!! Why, you ask?

Because I have no place to put all of the snow that I have already accumulated.

 

The snow mound that is next to my garage is already taller than the eves, and the more I pull it down the more of the already narrow path to my oil tank I obstruct. The back path is effectively buried. The snow mound is taller than the door to the chicken coop – it makes collecting eggs fun. The poor roof is under tremendous pressure from the weight. Man I can't wait for spring for a new metal roof. The fruit trees spring out of the ground like shrubs. The tops of the once ten foot tall sunflower stalks are at about eye level.

The green house is white, and I haven't seen Dave and Liz's car (which is hibernating at the end of the driveway) in two months. . . . Jinkies!!!!!!!

 

But isn't it beautiful. The water table is going to be soooo happy this year. The trees garnished with white. The days are growing and are brighter. The river, now mostly frozen over still cuts a narrow thread through the fields of white. The animal's tracks jump out at you. Minus the cold, I do love the winter.