Cozy, snow and dusty, ashes.

I do not like winter in general, but the weather this winter has been very nice! We have had so few cold days this year and I am very grateful. And even though they were fleeting, we had a couple small snows as well. We unfortunately were not able to build snowmen or go sledding, but we still enjoyed the beauty before it melted into a new round of mud.

Sadly, Isabel, Kieran and Nick were all sick with a yucky cold on Valentines Day. My long list of crafts and decorating ideas were shot because of the cranky baby and the whiny 3-year old. And Nick stayed home from work, sniffling and coughing. We didn't even drink our bottle of prosseco that we bought with a gift card I won. I did however wake up before the sun (which is a miracle in itself) and baked my family some tastey cinnamon rolls, eggs and local bacon. The girls made valentines from doilies and stickers and random paper I had laying around. And I made coffee in my new french press that Nick gave me as a Valentine's gift. I must say, I LOVE my french press and will never brew coffee any other way again!

We also had popcorn and m&m's while watching Charlie Brown's Valentine's Day movie on Hulu. Simple, sweet, and tasty. Like Valentines Day should be. :) And Anastasia drew us a family portrait that melts my heart a hundred times over:

Over the weekend we took a pretty hike near my parents house... before we got snowed in at their house. It was such a pretty day and we ever saw a couple of adorable beavers and some deer!

And now it is Ash Wednesday. Speaking of ashes, Kieran is still obsessed with playing in ashes! It really drives me a little crazy, but this too shall pass. Perhaps he just likes to remember that we all are but made of dust, and to dust we shall return. Somehow covering himself in ashes must make it seem more real. Lent is beginning again and I can't believe it at all. I really feel like last lent was only a few months ago. I am contemplating Easter dresses, my vegetable garden and basket goodies already while remembering the sorrows endured for our redemption. And it is BEAUTIFUL and spring-like outdoors so we will be taking advantage of God's kindness and creation this afternoon. Hope you all have a reflective, beautiful lent.

"To all who mourn in Israel, He will give them a crown of beauty for ashes. a joyous blessing instead of mourning, festive praise instead of despair. In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks that the LORD has planted for His own glory." Isaiah 61:3