Reuse, Recylced Wreath

I love to decorate for the holidays and quite honestly I always check out the newest and latest decorations for each at every store I visit.  I always want to see what they've come up with that might be new compared to last seasons decorations.  Sometimes I find nothing that catches my attention and other times it's as if that new item just jumps off the shelf and says look at me.  One of the new items I noticed this year was a wreath with antlers and feathers on it.  I love nature and being outdoors and so it really caught my attention, so I checked the price tag.  I've become a  little more discerning in what I purchase these days for many reasons.  One I want to make sure I really like what I'm purchasing and that I will use it for a long period of time.  Two I am really trying to be conscientious about purchasing items made in the USA and it is shocking to discover how many things out there are NOT made in the USA.  Third, I am creative and I really enjoy making crafty items such as floral arrangements, wreaths, my own greeting cards, to name a few.  I really believe my creativity is a gift from God and I try to use it to bring happiness and joy to others.  So I decided I could make a wreath that was very similar to what I found and it would be mostly natural from things made in the USA and it would be cheaper.  So I began to gather all the items I knew I had on hand.  Wreath - check, red berry sprigs - check, frosted greenery and pinecones - check, floral wire and wire cutters - check, feathers - check, deer antlers - check.  You may be thinking to yourself - seriously she had feathers and deer antlers already.  (chuckle)  Yes I did, every year early in the spring my husband and I visit my mom's ranch that has a creek running through it.  We scour her acreage looking for deer sheds, especially on the meadow where we hay, so that the antlers don't puncture tractor or equipment tires.  We also have turkey, pheasant, owls, and hawks that consistently drop their feathers and we pick them up.  (We also make our own fishing flies.)  I've heard many times about reduce, reuse, recycle and my husband and I are very diligent in our effort to follow those principles.  So this year I put it to good use making a wreath out of items I already had that adorns the front of our home to welcome guests.  We've received a multitude of compliments on how cool it is and it did turn out very nice, it looks very woodsy and yet festive at the same time.  My mom recently saw it and she was talking about how unique it is and when I told her that the antlers and feathers on it came from her place, she smiled and said "that's a neat way to use all those things we find, good idea!"  She is also very creative and so then she started thinking about ways she could use the things she finds on the ranch to make gifts or decorate with.  Oh the inspiration that came from the most ordinary things - Made both of us realise that one may never know how God will inspire you to do something, but we need to be prepared for his prompting.     

Frosty Kiss

We've had two days of heavy fog and freezing mist/rain.  It really hasn't been to slick out on the streets or roads which is a good thing, but the ice or hoar frost that has accumulated on everything is beautiful.  The ice crystals look all fuzzy and white, almost like snow, but if you look closely you can see each tiny individual ice crystal that binds to the next one to make that effect that looks so cool.  It looks especially feathery on the tips of grass and on evergreen trees and since it is Christmas time and my railing has evergreen garland on it, my front porch is looking especially festive right at the moment.  Once the sun warms up it will be all gone, but not before I make it outside to get some great photographs and images of the pretty white frosty kiss that God planted on the world outside my window.  I'm reminded that if God can create something so beautiful as ice crystals and snow flakes with their intricate patterns, how much more care he's placed in creating each one of us and how beautiful we are to him, because we are his children.  This next time I see God's frosty kiss upon the world I will remind myself of the care he took to make me and all of the people in my life beautiful too.  Thank you God for your touch upon my life. 

Catching a Glimpse

I'm still not sure I appreciate it being dark by about 4:30/5:00 pm, because I have meetings and Bible Studies and various events at night that I sometimes have to drive to and so it seems that most of my driving here lately has been in the dark.  There are some things I like about driving at night - I get to see some great stuff in the dark, like incredible stars on clear nights.  I also get to see all sorts of critters - owls, deer, coyotes, fox, raccoons, etc.  You never know what you might see on any given nighttime drive.  One of the things I always love to see, but don't get to very often are Jack Rabbits - yes they do exist but not in very big numbers and it always makes me smile when I see those great big ears and those great big back feet.  They look a little out of proportion and awkward, and yet they fascinate me.  They represent one more thing that points to God's creativity and diversity.  He is bigger than anything we can ever imagine and what an imagination He has - to create so many different species of animals and plants.  I'm sure there is a purpose for those great big ears and those great big back feet on a jack rabbit.  Hhhhhmmmm, maybe I will have to do some research and see if I can find the reason behind those characteristics.  In the mean time I hope to continue to catch a glimpse of anything God has created, because each discovery makes me smile and reminds me that if God can put that much detail into each of the animals and plants, how much more detail he has put into creating each one of us, his precious children.  Thank you God for your love, grace and mercy and for making each of us just the way you designed us to be.