A wintry Sunday afternoon ...

On the way home from church early this afternoon, I pulled over at Versluis Park to take a little walk in the snow. I don't go to this park during the summer time, even though there is a swimming area and a tiny beach PLUS a pretty nice playground. I don't go there for quite a few reasons ... first, they charge $$ for admission, plus this is an INLAND lake (I don't like them), the beach is teenie-tiny, and it is always too crowded.

However, TODAY, there was not one single person in sight! And there was NO admission fee! And I surely wasn't going to go swimming, inland lake or not! 

Isn't this a perfect verse of Scripture for that beautiful scene above? No matter what happens ... HIS PEACE. Yes! 

I had a wonderful time walking a few pathways that led down to the lake ... and I was surprised by this special treat!

Gorgeous, majestic, pure white swans. They went so nicely with the snow! 

 I took a ton and a half of pictures of them ... lovely birds that they are!

 I was so thankful the swans were close enough to photograph! They were a real gift to me today.

 Aren't winter pictures the BEST?

We are supposed to get quite a bit of snow this week--so perfect for January! I hope to take full advantage of the beauty and photograph to my heart's content. 

Sir Nigel ...

How do I describe Nigel to you? Let's see ... first of all, Nigel teaches our small group at church--our LOGOS group. He is a very able teacher, a gifted communicator, a student of the Bible, a lover of people, and an immense encouragement to me. He also teaches Biology, Origins, MicroBiology and other science-related subjects at Cornerstone University. He has an earned doctorate from a respected university in the UK (where he was born and lived most of his life), so he has a very nice, much-loved British accent.

Every year, on or near his birthday, he invites the LOGOS class (and others) over to celebrate another year of life. We did that just yesterday. There was a house full of happy people, good fellowship, amazing food--Happy Birthday, Nigel! 

I love this picture of Nigel and his beautiful Angela. Just thought I would include it in this post because I liked it so much.

Nigel has written a "primer" on the book of Job, along with an operetta of the same book. He printed out copies of the primer for all of us in class and TODAY we began our study of one of my favorite books of the Bible. I am so excited for this! 

More of Kaity-Girl

Last Monday Kaity came over to play. Nothing at all unusual about that whatsoever ... it is a regular Monday afternoon event. I look forward to it and Kaity does too!

 My good friend, Gail Storey, and I met for lunch the week after Christmas and she gave me this remote control vehicle to share with my grandkids. What a sweet friend! Kaity was just crazy about it.

 We also played with our purple playdoh for a little while, making cut-outs and snakes and other stuff.

 AND we pretended that my laundry basket was a school bus (!!???) and Kaity and all of my stuffed animals took rides to and from school (endlessly) all around my little house. Kaity thought it was great stuff.

 We spent a little bit of time enjoying the snowflakes that were softly falling. I love these pictures of sweet Kaity.

 She has a precious little face ...

And a very precious little heart!

Chauncey Avenue on the second of January ...

As much as I hate being cold (and I do), I love this time of year. I love walking with camera in hand just seeking a beautiful scene. We haven't had much snow, so these pictures are a little bleak looking.

 I love Chauncey Avenue, south of Cannonsburg. The road winds on and there are little farms and fences and gates ...

 ... and lots and lots of woods ...

 I am really glad that when the LORD re-makes the earth some day--when the lion will lie down with the lamb and a little child will lead them, etc.--I am glad there will be NO "Private Property NO Trespassing" signs! They are so annoying. Just when I see a little pathway that is SO alluring and I want to explore it, I am prohibited by these nasty signs.

 I forced myself to obey them today. I don't always!

 I walked for about an hour late this afternoon. Trying to walk off the "fat" of the holidays ... sigh.

Chauncey Avenue is a "Natural Beauty Road."  

 I enjoy walking it during any season of the year because it always has such lovely surprises.

 Today as I walked, a confused flock of geese kept flying overhead, circling about and then coming back. I tried to photograph them, but those pictures were not worth posting.

I think with a little editing, these photos might end up a bit better ... but I am too tired tonight! Another time perhaps.

A sweet start to the new year: Donuts and Brendan!

I spent the night over at Brendan's New Year's Eve in their spare room. Brendan was asleep by about 9:00, and I stayed up until nearly 11:00 and then I was OUT. I do not remember midnight coming or going--I didn't hear a thing! Everyone slept in until after 8:00 AM. Brendan and I played for awhile and then suggested that we go over to Marge's Donut Den and have a little treat!

 Marge's is THE BEST place for donuts in West Michigan. Brendan loves to go there. I would go more often, but I've never met a donut that I didn't love ... and since I do not want to be old AND fat, I try to stay my distance from donuts. But New Year's Day is special. Brendan knew exactly which kind of donut he wanted ...

 But he looked the entire window of donuts over once and then again and then ... chocolate covered it was! It is what he picks every time!

 I got MY favorite too: a chocolate-covered creamy-on-the-inside donut. PLUS, we got a half dozen donuts to take back to Brendan's house too. AND we got some hot chocolate. Brendan picked out a perfect table for us to enjoy our sweet treats.

 My Little Fellow is ... NOT so little anymore. But he has the sweetest little heart. Our hot chocolate was TOO hot and took me a little bit by surprise so that I made my eyes bug out and pounded the table saying: "The was SUPER hot!" Brendan thought it was SO funny that he sipped his hot chocolate and did the same thing ... and then we declared our hot chocolate was "super DUPER hot!"

 I was a little worried that Brendan would burn his tongue, so I went and got him some cold chocolate milk to drink instead. :)

 We met a little friend at Marge's by the name of Xavier. He was a very fun person. He turned four in October, so he was only a little bit older than Brendan (but a LOT bigger). He brought over all of the stuffed animals to our table so that they could share in our joy together.

 Xavier wanted Brendan to get close and personal with the stuffed Robin and kept landing it on Brendan's head--who, by the way, never lost his patience with this new friend--and was quite tolerant.

 I love the expressions on Brendan's face ...

 Isn't he a scream?

 Ah--Brendan!! I could just eat you up, sweetheart.

We spent almost an hour sitting at our table, eating our donuts, drinking our chocolate and enjoying every single minute of it! Happy New Year!