Icy Grip

I was hearing all about snow and cold in other places and was beginning to feel some hope.  We’ve avoided much of what others are getting.  Today winter has shown it’s not yet ready to circle down the drain.  Old Man Winter doesn’t ask…he just pulls up a chair, sets the table and sits down when it suits him.  He’s walked these steps before.  Did we really think we’d broken out of his icy prison?  He mocks by sprinkling confectioner’s sugar on everything.  He prepares a cold barbecue nobody wantsand wipes his frosty feet on our welcome mat.  He climbs the steps of our deck to view his handiwork.  No one will eat his frosty treats.  He mischievously powders the evergreens in fact I half expect one of these pinecones to be tossed at the back of my head as I slowly walk back to a far warmer in doors.  The skeletal trees endure another shameful powdering.  My last glimpse is of blue sky peaking out of wintery skies…there’s hope of warmer days out there.

Valley of Dry Bones

Ezekiel 37: 3 – And he said unto me, Son of man, can these bones live?  And I answered, O Lord God, thou knowest.  This verse struck me today as I walked outside.  It was beautiful today…nearly seventy degrees but everywhere I looked the sleeping death of winter still prevails.  Sometimes it’s hard to imagine the green color of life visiting us again.  The shell of season’s past remains.  The warmth breaths hope to these dead bones.  The reflections too are deadbut death’s grip won’t last…these reflections will also live again.  Before long we can all say:  death where’s your sting?  I stand as a prophet heralding life though I stand alone today .  Can these bones live?  Yes!  The ditch’s trickle will swell to strength again.  Let the warmth thaw your faith again though the ground appear cold and dry.  Breath in hopeand let doubt’s shadow fade.  Where once there was life it shall be again.  Who cannot have hope with Montana’s sapphire sky behind and God’s promises ahead?

Another Meltdown

Yep, winter served up another helpingbut now the melting has begun.  Helping along this warm up is the winter Bat signal.  It’s still morning but the constant drip of melting snow is already happening.  The grass is clawing its way out of the snow again.  Rocks have begun to show themselves and are now eye balling anyone outside.  We own no cat but neighborhood felines passing is marked in melting snow.  This melt off is sponsored by winter/spring Betty Crocker who’s presenting a powdered snow sponge cake.  The sun is about to break from its naked branched cage.  There’s hope in this meltdown and I like it!