February 2, 2025
“For everything that happens in life—there is a season, a right time for everything under heaven”. Ecclesiastes 3:1 The VOICE Translation
In my first weeks of retirement, I am discovering that I can lean into what is called for at a particular time, rather than forcing something into the present moment.
The Snow Lady that my two youngest granddaughters and I made finished melting last Friday. She didn’t look like something on a Christmas Card, but in our eyes, she was amazing. She was created by us for our own pleasure at just the right time in just the right circumstances. She had branches for arms, was sporting a purple ball cap I wear when I am working in the heat, and an apron sewn for me by a friend years ago to use in the garden. She was missing facial features, but I can assure you her creators had big smiles on their faces, and the bright shiny eyes that reflect love and satisfaction.
Snow Lady Freshly Created
She was made because at just the right time and place, our granddaughters happened to be spending the weekend with us, and it just so happened that we had the best snow of the season, not a regular or frequent occurrence anymore. And I happen to love any excuse to play in the snow! Her patch of yard was decorated with a pinwheel placed with great intention by Marie-Hélène.
Our granddaughters are back to school, settled into their routine, and I’ve had over a week of cold, frigid temperatures which presented me with the opportunity to do so much-needed decluttering. On Friday, I ventured out to the back yard to collect the Snow Lady’s hat and apron which I threw into the washer. I lovingly placed her stick arms back under the maple tree they fell from grateful for the right season for everything. A time to make snow ladies, and a time to clean up the remains. All because I happen to be retired, they happened to be visiting for the long weekend, and it just happened to snow.
She’s Melting!
My prayer today is that I pay attention to today, and what today offers. We are moving the Williamsburg in June. I will never have that particular time or those particular circumstance again. What I do have is a memory of everything working together at just the right time, of little girl smiles and giggles, including hot chocolate with marshmallows when we came inside to warm up.
It is good. Anne
Wayfinding 