Beautiful country...

rest stop in Idaho

I was able to go on one of Danny's truck driving runs .

And the country side was absolutely gorgeous!!

As a matter of fact everywhere we went it was breath-taking.

We would stop at rest stops to sleep and I just couldn't believe the beauty.

quiet, peaceful, lush, clean, serene places to rest our weary heads.

At this stop the mood, set by the beauty and atmosphere of the area,

was wonderful displayed by this man who was sitting alone,

 overlooking the mountain side, just playing his guitar.

As the sun was setting for the night there was a stillness,

as we watched the wonderful hand of God at work.

Gorgeous, breath-taking, majestic... 

♫♪ We could sing of your love forever ♪♫ 

**A Moment to Remember**

One BIG heap :)

Julian was soaked from getting caught by a wave and rolled out into the water. We changed his T-shirt with an extra one I had and he still was freezing. I tried to warm him up but instead we fell in a heap. I love this kid!

Our little family; Julian, Dad and I. Went up north to Fort Bragg, CA.

It was a cold, windy, cloudy day, but extremely relaxing!

We drove up on Thursday and found a place to rest than made our trek on the beach the whole next day... It was a day to remember and a wonderful memories for my 8 year old son.

I wore a short skirt and flip flops and a sleeveless hoodie... needless to say a froze my tail off, lol!

Mackerricher State Beach offers a variety of habitats; beach, bluff, headland, dune, forest and wetland. We visited the tide pools that are along the shore and found all sorts of interesting critters. We tried taking many pictures to bring home rather than the critters themselves, lol.

Later we took a walk along the sandy beach and found where the Seals were sunning themselves and nurturing their new born babies... it was very fascinating! There was a kind woman with her telescope who invited Julian to watch the seals on the shore much closer. He exclaimed so many times how he felt he was right next to the seals and their babies.

 *AMAZING*

There were many birds flying low and all around over our heads. We were told more than 90 species of birds visit or live near the beach. We sat for a very long time but did not spot any whales. But we did listen to the wonderful sound of the waves coming into shore... Watching the waves crash and spray the rocks on shore was a beautiful picture I was not so lucky to capture on camera :(

but I will never forget it's sound and the wonderful relaxed state it puts me in...

*sigh*

If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea.
Even there Your hand shall lead me. And Your right hand shall hold me.
- Psalms 139:9-10

It's a very popular park/beach at least with our family and enjoy every minute we have there... in it's complete splendour! to our God be the glory... what else can I say??

I'm always thankful I have times like this to reflect on my LORD and my little family and my wonderful life...

*A moment to remember*  

South Lake Tahoe in BlkNWhte [Nov. 2010]

South Lake Tahoe in Black and White.

Since 2008 we have been going to South Lake Tahoe for Thanksgiving.

It has become our home away from home.

My mother passed away Mother's Day 2008 and I was really struggling with my emotions that year as the holidays came near.

it was very hard for me to get into any holiday spirit that first year. I had this wonderful friend (co-worker) that made a sweet suggestion for me, as I began to grieved my mother's death. She offered her home (they rent out all year around) in South Lake Tahoe, which is about 1hr and 45min away from our home in the Sacramento Valley. 

'I didn't think we could do it, but my husband feeling he needed to make a miracle happen to help me thru all that Iv been thru, made it possible. I was overjoyed and extremely thankful!!' 

This year we were blessed with heavy snow, all the way up the cabin windows. As a matter of fact, we were snowed in, having to wait an extra day for the storm to pass in order to head back down the mountain.  

*SWEET*

It was absolutely gorgeous and amazingly beautiful!! I was in [earthly] heaven! ;) I thought South Lake Tahoe was beautiful when green and lushes, but... the snow... I was speechless!! It was breath-taking...  the view was remarkable!

On our walk to the lake the icicles [from roof top to ground] were thrilling to see on other homes and cabins. I was extremely blessed and didn't want this 5 day vacation to end. It was a...

*HAPPY MOMENT*

A snowy Thanksgiving

A snowy, white Thanksgiving.

I and my family headed up north to South Lake Tahoe.

We were blessed to have 3 to 4 feet of snow waiting for us.

 Of course that ment my men, my son and his father, had to dig out the drive way so that we could park our Ford.

It was the most spectacular scene I ever did see.

We live in the valley and see rain and quite a bit of frost on the ground, but not snow. We have to travel about 1 to 2 hours north into the mountains just to find snow, so this was a wonderful treat for us. 



Beautiful Icicles

The icicles on the houses' were magnificent and beautiful to behold. I've never seen were they formed from the roofs edge all the way to the ground.

My eyes couldn't get enough of the beautiful whiteness all around me... I was spellbound.

I don't much like the cold or being cold, but I was taken by all this beauty the Lord had for us this Thanksgiving week.  

I sat for hours with my Bible (couldn't tell you what I read) in my lap and me staring out the window at the sparkling whiteness. I have to admit, it was absolutely beautiful to see and breath taking to wake up to. 



Ma and Pa kettle

The day we were planning to travel back home, very early, it began to snow. The winds became stronger and the snow came down harder...

we were stuck.

We decided to stay safe and wait another day hoping for a bright sunny day. But were we really stuck?

 No I was only too happy to sit at the window and watch the snow fall, big fluffy flakes. Smell the wonderful aroma of Turkey Soup, from our Thanksgiving leftovers, and sit by the warm fire. I didn't want any of it to end. I was happy and content.

A day or days I do not want to forget.

This is our third Thanksgiving coming to this cabin and the first time we had this much snow. It was a time of warmth, laughter, sledding, crying, loving, and lots of wonderful food to eat...

I'm thankful today for this time...

*this moment, to always remember.*

☂ Beautiful Rainy Day ☂



Beautiful Rainy Day

I'm not usually a rainy day person, but I've really been looking forward for this rain coming to our  Sacramento valley.

Our local news has advised us too...

Expect on and off rain showers today. This evening a band of steady rainfall will move through the Valley and heavy snow will return to the Sierra. Sunday occasional rain showers and Sierra snow will continue lingering into Monday. Our skies will clear for the big get away day on Wednesday. Chain controls are up on all the Sierra passes. Please take it slow and drive safely. 

Britta Merwin

Sacramento Forecaster

 

I'm so happy and jazzed about this because of a few simple reasons...

For one I feel like the world is cleaner after a consistent rainfall, from all it's filth, and I associate that with a spiritual significance that has happened in my life;

 

Being set free or cleansed from all filthiness and becoming white as snow, Psalms 51. 

I have so much to be thankful for and it being Thanksgiving time helps me to reflect on that one simple thing... being free (cleansed) from sin. God in all His mercy and tender love fills me with much gratitude!

 

Another thing about the rain outside, brings us a very cold day. It reminds me of how cold the world can be towards us in so many ways... But with God there is fire shut up in our bones! A warmth feeling of spiritual freedom brings much joy in a cold dark world.

 

I know my ramblings probably don't make much sense to you but my heart knows what drives me today and everyday that I wake up under the wonderful mercies of God.

 

One wonderful thing about this weather is we are headed to the Sierra's (Tahoe) this coming Wednesday and I'm hoping snow will be in the air or at least on the ground. It's a beautiful place beyond words and brings much comfort to my family (we started this tradition the year my mother passed away in 2008)... God has blessed us with many wonderful people in our lives to give us this opportunity to go to such a place as this cabin... We are truly thankful  (thx Melissa)  

*BLESSED*

 

Rain, rain, rain, thank you for coming at such a time as this... to help us be thankful for many things; the love of our families, the warmth of our homes, the love of our God.

I don't know what more I can say but I don't want to forget this moment and feeling that burns deep within my heart... it's a

*JOYOUS MOMENT*

FALL glorious FALL

fall is my favorite time of year...

The cool brisk weather...

the wonderful smells of rain...

but most of all the leaves...

the color changes in foliage...

I could lay for hours under a tree heavy with red, gold, brown leaves

as they fall on my silent, relaxed form... It makes me thankful for the changes that have transpired in my life... the gift of God will always be alive and well within my soul and the soul of man.

If we will but grasp the wonderful promise of change as the trees do, every fall time when change begins within... before they sleep, for when spring arrives there will be newness of life.

Glorious life... living from glory to glory!!

 

Leaves

"How silently they tumble down
And come to rest upon the ground
To lay a carpet, rich and rare,
Beneath the trees without a care,
Content to sleep, their work well done,
Colors gleaming in the sun.

At other times, they wildly fly
Until they nearly reach the sky.
Twisting, turning through the air
Till all the trees stand stark and bare.
Exhausted, drop to earth below
To wait, like children, for the snow."
-   Elsie N. Brady