Tuesday Color

The color of a scrap-yarn rug. 

Color of the Sky

Minnesota sunsets and sunrises are one of my favorite things. I have been taking pictures of them for a while. Why not sit back and enjoy the colors I have seen in God's ever-changing beautiful canvas.

August 2017, this sunset was viewed from our neighbor's house across the street. 

September sunset. Even the light colors bring me joy. 

O brilliance! October sunset. 

November sunrise. I went out barefoot to catch this shot. 

Absolutely not Minneapolis, but a wonderful December sunset in NC. 

Also, Staley, NC, a sunset in January.

February sunset, technically in WI, but who cares. 

Sunrise in March. 

Apparently, I didn't see any sunsets in April, so here is a colorful watch I received instead. 

May's sunset in a small town in IN on our way home from MN. 

January 2019, finally, another subtle sunrise out our stair window. 

February's sunrise. I took some more the other day, but these will suffice. 

I hope you get to see a beautiful sun sometime today. 

And may the eternal Son of Glory shine on our hearts with grace and mercy. 

Tuesday Color

I'm thinking of starting a weekly post called "Tuesday Color" that will just be one picture of something colorful, beautiful, strange (as in this case), or just something that is different and stands alone.

 So, here's the first. This is me doing the upside-down bicycle. It's one of my favorite exercises, and my sister Lydia thinks it's hilarious when I do it.

Honestly, it kind of is hilarious. 

Color in My Face

I have been learning some things lately. That is, in the last year, really.

I came to Minneapolis in 2017 to study at Bethlehem College and Seminary I struggled in my first semester. Struggled so much that I became bitter and depressed. Mainly bitter at people who didn't meet my desires. It was stupid, and it dragged me down. I became depressed to the point of being an absolute grump almost all of the time.

I tried to heal the wound during Christmas break, but when I came back to the cities, I realized it was still there. I didn't finish the semester, and I really only began to see the results of healing in the spring time.

God. He was the one who showed me my sin and pointed me back to the cross. Where I had thought someone else had sinned against me, He showed me I had sinned against the other.

So, when I made the decision last fall to try again and restart my spring semester, I had a worry that the same old problems would still be there. They were. But not as much. I could see through different eyes as it were. I came back resolutely pushing aside childish anger, and wanting to stand tall, smiling for the risen Savior.

So, it has been easier. I have seen progress. I still feel like a dumpster sometimes, I still feel miserable sometimes, but I have a resolve:

Smile at people even when I hurt.

Now, with this new attitude, and it goes beyond just literally smiling but also just generally having a happier disposition, I have found it helps me. It's not just for those around me, it's for me almost more so. Yes, I want to please God, I want to be kind to those around me, and so on, but in the end, it really tends to make me a happier person. 

So, that is where the color in my face comes in. I think when I have a bright complexion, I make others happy, and making others happy gives me so much joy. 

Gray is not very happy. A gray, dull face doesn't brighten someone's day. 

Color is cheerful. A colorful face, full of the rainbows of God's promises, can help someone regain strength. 

I don't know if that's a colorful face or a scary face, but that's me. 

But they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

Colorful Family

These are the folks who were able to be together close to Christmas. 

Justus who is my sister Priscilla's Hubby, Priscilla herself with her babe, Lydia, me, Hannah and her hubby Tyler, Bethany, and the parents.

Photo by Dad 

The same crazy looking bunch went to the mountains while the girls and their hubbs were with us in NC, where I am originally from. 

Photo by Dad

These are the folks who made it to Hannah and Tyler's wedding in May. Gabriel and his wife Emily are on the left with their baby Addison who is now 7 months old, and Josiah my second oldest brother is right next to Gabriel. His wife Cindy and daughter Johanna were not able to make it. 

Photo by Elizabeth Painter

Half of the crew on a windy New Jersey Shore at sunset. 

Photo by Dad

Ah, yes, this is us in our entirety and in our natural habits. 

Added to the family is our oldest brother Jesse back row third from the left with his girlfriend Annaliese, and then Josiah's wife Cindy and their girl Johanna at the bottom. This is the last time we were all together, nearly 1 1/2 years ago. Sad times. 

Photo also by Dad

Children are a heritage from the Lord,
    offspring a reward from him.

Psalm 127:3

A Colorful Past

After my last post, I was thinking about some of those old pictures I posted, and I decided it was time to show some more of my colorful past. I am noticing that my whole family is a pretty colorful bunch. Here are just a bunch of pictures that I hope to connect somehow to the colorful life. 

I hope you enjoy this rambunctious group of wowso people. 😊

OK, just look at all the colors we're presenting here! It's wonderful. Our crazy hair adds to the delight. This was actually not too long ago. I think it was August. 

Ah, yeah. An oldy from when my 14 year old sister, Lydia, was born. We girls definitely have the bright colors going. Although, ironically, I'm probably one of the least bright here. Oh, well. 

Actually, my recent past, think December. Oh, well, still had to show it because those bright green pants are totally out of this world. That's my friend Jessica. 

Oh, yeah, the race car shirt. Nice stuff. That's my great aunt Alice. She's a lovely lady. And my pretty cousin (the girl on the right with green hair) 20 times removed or something like that. 

This picture just makes me happy. We're a real ragamuffin group of kin. 

WOW! Yes, that is us. Our close friends and my sister Bethany and I. 

Me, Lydia, and Bethany. Happy kids with a colorful imagination. 

I posted part of this picture in the last post, but now you get to see what is going on around me. The expressions and attitudes going on here are just hilarious. 

Wo, wo, wo! Too much cuteness, Lydia! Wow! I was so skinny. 

Our "cousins" again. We make up a motley group of kids. This was a few years after the picture above. 

Haha! I just love it. 

There's a lot to love here. I have this picture as my screen saver on my computer, so I see it about every day. It makes me happy every time I see it. 

Uhuh, one of my favorite houses on Long Beech Island. 

In order to save you from the whole lot of pictures I could show you, I'll end on a lovely note. Our facial expressions are delightful, our clothes colorful, and our lives at that moment were quite wonderful. 

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."

 2 Corinthians 9:15

❤

I Do Strange Things

There are some interesting things a colorful girl will do. She's usually brave enough to try things that others would forebear. For instance, drinking a cup of hot water with a bunch of cinnamon is a bit much, but she'll do if it's supposed to be good for her. Taking cayenne pepper pills sounds crazy, but once again, if it is for her health, the colorful girl will down those red hot pills and feel quite alive. She also doesn't mind wearing jewelry and such that might be too much for some. She has a long necklace that her sister got from Haiti. It is bold and "revolutionary" and she wears it confidently.

Ok, yeah, that might have been a weird thing to write, but it's true. There are certain things I do that others would be too self-conscious to take part in.

But, I am still pretty self-conscious, unfortunately. I am learning to trust God more and not worry about how others perceive me so much.

Her intoxicating drink. 

Her necklace form Haiti. 

Below are some more pictures that portray more aspects of my love for a colorful life. 

I had the bravery to get some ridiculous bangs. That's one of the things I probably won't be repeating. 

Living among a colorful people was one of the best experiences of my life. They are colorful in their expressions and joy and dress. 

A colorful attitude? Maybe?

Or just an attitude. 

Ah, yeah, LIFE!

Bring on the color, girl! I made this shaw with left over yarns. I love it.

Part of being colorful means you aren't afraid of being a little bit goofy with your friends. 

She also likes other colorful girls out there. However, this is not her picture, she got it off the internet. Cheater!!

Another internet steal. Oh, well, she dreams of meeting this people. 

And we end this tale with this shot of me and my twin. It's one of my favorite pictures of all time. 

I should frame it, but I think he would be embarrassed. 

There's the colorful girl and some of her stranger attributes. 

Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Luke 12:27. 

I Love Butterflies

I have a bit of an obsession with butterflies. As a kid, I was definitely fascinated with them and often tried to catch them when they became abundant in spring.

Later, I became pen-pals with Karise. Karise was a very sick young woman with type 1 diabetes. I quickly learned that she loved butterflies. I think that is when my real obsession began. Earlier it was more just a natural thing; kids love butterflies. But now I had a friend, a sick and very special friend, who had a big love for butterflies. She would often send me letters with butterfly stickers. I loved it.

Thus, I too became a butterfly fanatic.

After Karise died a few years ago, I made it my mission to remember my friend with butterflies and tulips (that's another story for another time). I have a lot of butterfly things. Even being in college without some of my butterfly gear, I have still managed to keep butterflies quite central in my life. Haha!

Also, butterflies really are stunning creatures. The work of change that Christ brings about in our lives when we become saved is often likened to that of a caterpillar changing into a butterfly. I think it is fascinating how God has put Gospel truths in creation.

These are things with butterflies in my room now. 

My little calendar

My beautiful journal. I also love birds. 

Some lovely cards my sister gave me for Christmas. My family is quite aware that I love butterflies.

I made this butterfly before leaving home, and now it hangs nicely on the wall where my purse hangs.

I also made this and I think it looks nice on the window. 

I was excited to discover that the blanket my sister lent me also has many butterflies on it. 

Finally, the little butterfly sticker on my computer, along with my colorful flamingo mouse. 

That's your color for the day. If you're from the north, I hope to have brightened your day a bit through all this snow.