Thursday, April 26, 2012

Spring’s Reign

This has been a week of tremendous transition.  Some of it was obvious.  My wife has worked for Sisters for many years and has grown very close to the sisters that own the business.  They have been very kind and generous to us.  It was a fantastic place to work and because of their kindness to us we were able to travel on several mission trips and come home to have that job still there.  Now we learned that the store will be closing it’s doors.  This was a real shock to Lovely.  I haven’t seen her cry that much in a long time.  They will hold final sales next month and that will be it.  It’s not that we won’t still see the sisters or that they won’t be our friends but it’s an end to an era.  Remember them in your prayers and remember Lovely please.  Other changes aren’t as obvious.  We can feel big changes coming.  The Bible mentions baptisms…they often involve great struggle and then a breakthrough to something that’s a higher level where God wants us.  I can feel this in a big way.  This isn’t a feeling that I sometimes have that is a calm before a storm…it’s big change, change is in the wind that I’m convinced will effect us all.  I’d say into the hands of God but reality is we never left.

 

Lovely had a wonderful birthday…I enjoyed it very much as well.  Part of her day was about the flowers we got her.  I don’t know about you but I love Snap Dragons!  Lovely hasn’t been fond of the smell of the blossoming trees around here since her last pregnancy but for me…oh man, it’s the best smell in the world!  It’s been dry and record breaking hot.  The farmers behind us had a field burning the other day…I admit that I look on these with concern sometimes.  My ritual these days has been to start the day off enjoying the sound of Western Meadowlarks and Red Winged Black Birds, catch some grasshoppers and/or crickets for our salamander and soak in the awesome weather and amazing blooms that are everywhere I look.  The path to our mailbox is tunneled in small white blossoms that carry a fragrance that can only come from heaven.  These glory days of spring…when spring reigns supreme I see a lot of white flowers and of course the standard Daffodils and Tulips but there are other colors of the more delicate variety that catch my attention.  This bush is enjoying the weather as much as we are I think…what a delightful cluster of flowers!  Sometimes on the mild evenings there can be a sunset that defies what I would think naturally possible!  This is a celestial pallet far beyond the norm.  Fact is I hate to go inside until the whole spectacle is donebecause just when I think that the best is done something changes that makes it striking in a whole new way!  Our little neighborhood is a spec under the Big Sky but I love it so much!  I’ve been all over the world and have seldom seen any sky to match these!  The new day brings a whole new sky to enjoy.  April is all about the march of the clouds and the endless battles between white and blue.  Sometimes it looks that blue will win the war once and for all and then the cotton ballmanages to turn the tide and get reinforcements.  All in all it’s just another spring day in April here in Montana.

18 comments:

  1. A belated Happy Birthday to Lovely. The flowers and the photos are beautiful.

    I am sorry that the place Lovely works is closing. I am sure it is very upsetting for all of you. You are right, even though you feel change is in the wind things have a way of straightening out. Bless you all.

    ReplyDelete
  2. It is a stressful thing to have change come very unexpectedly but that sad we somehow all knew this day was coming. I believe it will be okay in the long run, thank you so much Beth, I appreciate you.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Happy belated birthday to Lovely. All the flowers are so beautiful,and I loved all of your photos Joe. You are right, those sunsets and sunrises are Spectacular and I wish I had been there to see them for myself and capture them with my camera. Thank you for sharing them. It was a delight to see them, and all those beautiful clouds and blue sky. I really hope they stay and your warm weather is there to stay. We had about a week of summer like weather a few weeks ago but it has been below normal temps since the summer like weather went away. It is suppose to be -6 over night tomorrow and we have been getting a fair amount of rain, but we needed it as we hardly had any snow all winter. I sure hope it warms up soon.
    I am very sorry to hear about the sisters having to close their store and Lovely loosing her job. Sudden change is very stressful.I hope and pray it all works out and God will provide just as the sunsets and the sunrises once again. God Bless you and your family Joe and you are all in my thoughts and prayers and I mean it. I have been thinking of you the last few days and have been praying even as I work which I often do.

    Well hope this isn't too long. I guess I am making up for lost time. Ha! Thank you also for your prayers for my mom and I also.
    I sure appreciate it.
    Dianne :)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh my goodness Dianne, no your comments aren't too long and I appreciate it all. Believe it or not this blog is sort of the last harrah for our good weather for a bit. It gets downright nasty tomorrow so I thought I'd better post my nice weather pics while I could! Love and I really are trusting in God here. I believe that it will lead to another door once this one is closed. Some things have already opened up and we see the hand of the Lord. God bless you my dear friend. I continue to remember you and your mom in prayer.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hello Joe,

    Awesome pictures, God surely is the master artist. Sorry to hear about Lovely's job, change can be so upsetting and unsettling, but God knows the plans He has for each one of us and to that must we cling. I capture some of what you are saying, I too feel big changes are on the way for us all. We will need to cling to God and His Word and support and pray for each other as the battle which is already won, intensifies in the final stages, however long that may be.

    God Bless and thank you for your encouragement to me. Nita

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I know you've had a lot on your plate as well Nita and appreciate your stand through it all. I think you're exactly right about the battle intensifying towards the end. Blessings to you as well my friend.

      Delete
  6. A Happy Belated Birthday to Lovely. Sorry to hear her store is closing. When you have a place that is so nice to work for and enjoy the job it is any even tougher blow when it's gone. As always, your pictures just take my breath away. They are awesome.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. There is some real sorrow with this change lately but I know God's will comes through every single time. Thanks for the comment about the pictures. I posted them on Face Book and nary a word from anyone there...ah yes, gotta love it.

      Delete
  7. I'm so happy that Lovely had a wonderful birthday. Please wish her happy birthday from me. I'm sad though that her store is closing it's doors. I hope the changes you are feeling will be good ones.
    Take care Joe and God bless.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the b-day wishes Sherry. I keep feeling that one door closes but more open with the job situation. Bless you too my friend.

      Delete
  8. Oh gosh, I am so sorry for the awful let down about the store closing. I can imagine how your wife is affected by that after all of this time, and time that she enjyed working there as well.

    Happy belated birthday to her Joe. I wish her many more birthdays and happy ones and things to make her happy and strong.

    Your photos are as always exactly what I enjoy the most..all the beauty that blesses us each day of the year. All are a blessing and all are a miracle we're seeing all day..made just for us.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's one of those things Carole that seems to be connected to something God has in mind. I don't know where this will all go however I do feel that this is something planned by the Lord. I'm grateful to know that the pictures were a blessing. Take care my friend.

      Delete
  9. Im going to keep Lovely in my prayers tonight Joe as this I think is so awful for her. Doors will open for her. She is so gifted in so many ways. Has she thought of having her own store. I would be an internet buyer Im sure. I like her style and taste.
    Your photos are beautiful . Just gorgeous. Im trying had to work on some change and see what happens. Change is so hard and is a challenge. One that we can get thought with grace , guidance and prayer for it all .
    Happy Birthday to Lovely as I know she much read this. Hang in there girl.
    xo to you all

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Your prayers are most welcome Lisa, it's a time of transition for us not unlike the seasons change we see all around us. Even when it appears that things aren't changing we know that they are...we can sense it. As usual your comments about my pictures are appreciated...mine are more rough projections of my heart and not photographic skill but such as it is I'm glad to offer it. Thank you and bless you my friend.

      Delete
  10. INDEED change is part of Spring and Life. I sure hope things go well for you whatever happens. I have been so busy I haven't been visiting many lately but hope to catch up soon. LOVE LOVE all these photos and enjoy the peace here when I come to see you. Prayers to you and the family..until later.. Take care : )

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Many have been absent again for whatever reason...I sometimes wonder if they'll come back or fall off the map. I'm very glad you're still with us Carol Dee! Thank you for the comment about the photos...it's so awful outside right now that these pictures are a true comfort to me as well! Thanks for the prayer, talk about a valuable commodity!

      Delete
  11. HI Joe..
    I am so sorry about Lovely loosing her job.. and that the sisters felt it time to close down their store.. but as everyone else here as stated.. when one door closes another opens..
    as for your gorgeous captures.. they are wonderful to see.. the new life that is springing up everywhere here in Montana is wonderful to see and experience.. the fragrance in the air is breathtaking..the sky is overwhelming.. as your captures portray..
    yes there is a strange feeling in the air.. something is changing.. one can feel it.. can almost taste it.. and yes its unnerving.. to say the least.. but trust we must.. so holding on to your hand.. along with many others.. we will make it through..
    with God's grace..
    prayers are with you and your family.. and thank you for keeping me and my mine in yours.. soft hugs always..

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Montana is really stunning...the sky, the mountains...all of it is amazing. Right now we're on the dark and gloomy side of a Montana April but it's all good, it warms up again next week so I'm going to hold my peace. Prayer really is so powerful in times like these. I'm grateful each and every one. Bless you Hope.

      Delete