Category: The Light Side

The Colors of Spring

~ Barbara ~ 1 Comment

I love the warmer temperatures of spring, the absence of bulky jackets, and no threat of snow. But I think what I love most are spring’s colors.

It may be an illusion, but the blue skies look brighter against green trees than they did against the shades of gray branches. My favorite color combination has always been blue and green.

And green is everywhere! We seemed to wait so long, eagerly watching for green buds that finally emerged and then darkened to provide rich foliage. The color elevates my spirit and seems to breathe new life into me.

My next favorite color is yellow. The daffodils, the azaleas, and (be still my heart) the goldfinches, all bright and cheerful.

Add pinks and purples to the palette as flowers bloom and color our world with petals of various shapes and sizes. God is amazing!

Even red thrills me, showing off in color-popping flowers and its vibrancy enticing us with luscious strawberries and juicy watermelon.

And don’t get me started on lilac bushes, where color and fragrance blend to stimulate our senses. I love the lavender-blue wild flowers that grow alongside highways. My favorite lavender-ish flowers are hydrangeas.

I hope you’re enjoying your spring. Remember to stop and smell the flowers, and pause to appreciate the colorful beauty of spring.

God created everything in the heavenly realms and on earth…
Everything was created through Him and for Him.
He existed before anything else,
and He holds all creation together. Colossians 1:16-17

I Love the Fall

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

Tonight I will sleep with the window open and the air off. I do believe summer’s heat is finally behind us, and I am free to fully appreciate my favorite season. These are some of the things I love about fall (and yes, I do this almost every year—how can I not?).

  • The dance of leaves falling from trees and swirling on the ground
  • The warm colors of yellow and orange, red and brown displayed in leaves, gourds, and mums
  • Light shining from dining room windows in the earlier darkness
  • Apples in bowls on the counter, or oozing through an apple press to make sauce, or baked into a pie, or on a stick covered in caramel
  • The fragrance and fullness of tartly sweet apple cider
  • Pumpkin muffins and breads, cookies and pies, and seeds toasted in the oven with a dash of salt
  • The cooler weather and the coziness of soft sweaters and sweatshirts
  • The anticipation of Thanksgiving when gratitude swells and family comes home
  • The quietness that comes with the arrival of a new season and its reflection of God’s faithfulness

There is much more than this brief list. What would you add?

I Love Gs

~ Barbara ~ Leave a comment

Let’s take a walk on the light side today and play with the letter G. I love that G has both a hard and a soft sound, a privilege only shared with the letter C.

I love gentleness and grace, goodness and Godliness—virtues God gloriously displays and generously grows in eager hearts.

I love the greens of grass and grasses. I love the green hues of a wide range of trees that each boasts a unique shade. 

I love gentle gardenias, giant gladiolas, glad geraniums, and glowing goldenrod.

I love girlfriends, genuine and gentle, gladly gabbing over multiple cups of coffee.

I love graham crackers and gingerbread, gouda cheese and granola, grapefruit and grapes (green please), but I’m not a fan of guacamole.

I love to play games, like Gin Rummy and Go Fish, but only watch gymnastics and golf (if I must).

I love giraffes and graceful gazelles, gorillas and grizzly bears, goats, guinea pigs and goldfish, but not geese. Aren’t geckos and grasshoppers fascinating?

I love the gift of grandchildren! I love watching them grow, developing their unique personalities and giftings. 

I love gatherings of family & friends, with gales of laughter, great conversation, and good memories.

I love the glitz of gowns and gloves, white and proper. I love the gleam of gold and the down-home goodness of gingham. I love galoshes to stomp in puddles. And I’m thankful to live in an era where my vision is easily improved with glasses.

I saved the best for last—I love God! I’m beyond grateful for His grace. I am awed by a mere glimpse of His glory. I love the gentleness of His guidance. I love the generosity and goodness of His gifts. I love how His presence makes my heart glad. He guards me—body, mind, and soul. He is gracious and altogether glorious.

What Gs would you like to add?

Springtime in Jersey

~ Barbara ~ 1 Comment

I love the coming of spring and its promise of new life. What a wonder to behold!

The tiniest hint of green appeared on tree branches. So tiny, I wondered if my eyes deceived me. But then it happened—the green spread, and deepened, and intensified. Now, New Jersey is swathed in varying shades of green.

Forsythia and daffodils burst out in yellow, bringing spontaneous smiles to our faces. Crocuses and hyacinths complemented them with their pink and purple petals. Trees blossomed into bloom—dogwoods, magnolias, and flowering cherry.

I love the onset of fresh fruit and the promise of backyard barbecues.

I love packing away winter coats and walking out the door without thought of the cold.

I love opening the windows and allowing in fresh breezes.

I love to watch the seemingly synchronized arrival of birds at our feeders, each singing their unique song.

I love seeing people taking walks or out in their yards, especially the children.  

I love living in New Jersey where each season is distinctive.

I love that the seasons are ordained by God. We can do nothing to alter them, slow their arrival, or delay their passing.

I love seeing God’s fingerprints in nature, ever changing but displayed in patterns that never change.