Wednesday, April 11, 2012

conquering.


I'm in love with the seasons. And the weather. Around here, we all shake our heads and say "sheesh--the weather has been bizarre lately" and sometimes we glower out the window at the rain-made lakes and the continuous pouring and wish that we didn't live in Oregon.


But God's providential ordering of the weather is really pretty stupendous. I love the variety, even if I whine about the clingy winter. Lately, we've had rainy day after rainy day, and then moody days that flirt with summer. Rain that turns to rainbow that turns to stunning, vivid, never-let-it-end-please sunshine. And rainbows, rainbows are my favorite.








And then, Easter morning was completely, perfectly, beautiful. How perfect that Resurrection Day was the first honest-to-goodness, actually-hot, could-be-nearly-summer kind of day. My thoughts summed up: PRAISE JESUS AND HALLELUJAH. I was resigning myself to a rainy Easter (last year's was pretty bleak) but God decided to prove cynical little me just dead-wrong. I'm very grateful. :)


Christ conquered sin, summer conquered winter, the sun conquered the darkness--so much conquering, all over the place.


This is beautiful, and sums up so much.

“Why yield to gloomy anticipations? Who told you that the night would never end in day?.... Who told you that the winter of your discontent would proceed from frost to frost, from snow and ice and hail to deeper snow and yet more heavy tempest of despair? Don’t you know that day follows night, that flood comes after ebb, that spring and summer succeed winter? Be full of hope! Hope forever! For God does not fail you. Do you know that God loves you in the midst of all this?.... You will yet, midst the splendors of eternity, forget the trials of time, or only remember them to bless the God who led you through them and works your lasting good by them. Come, sing in the midst of tribulation. Rejoice even while passing through the furnace. Cause the desert to ring with your exulting joys, for these light afflictions will soon be over, and then forever with the Lord, your bliss shall never wane.”

- Charles Spurgeon




It was a beautiful day, all-day-long. Beautiful friends, church, church feast, stop at the perfect flowering-tree-lined road for photos, and then the whole clan over for way too much delicious dinner.











My sister and I romping. Because that's what you do on Easter.



Let the specifically-summery photos begin. Open windows and tangly hair forever & ever, amen.



Calvin. I can't even begin to describe all his perfect, long-eyelashed beautiful little boy-ness.


His cousin Victoria is a fan. :)



God is good. Life is big and beautiful and complicated. I'm so thankful for the new beginnings, new life--shameless hope, in everything.

34 comments:

  1. This was one, big, huge, dose of happiness. Your photos are amazing... and I absolutely wish I could trade weather with you. I love rain♥

    xo,
    Jessica @ Diary of a Beautiful Soul

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  2. Lovely! Your posts always make me smile, and your pictures are absolutely stunning every time. Rainbows are the best!

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  3. Super awesome pictures!!! Nice blog too!! You are invited to check out or follow my blog anytime!! God Bless!!

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  4. Thank you for this. :) Your posts always make me smile...they're full of contagious joy and hope, and it feels genuine (not an artificial kind of happiness like some of the other blogs I read).

    I'm excited about my day now, though I don't have anything spectacular planned. And I think I'm going to copy that Charles Spurgeon quote and stick it somewhere where I'll see it often. :)

    ~Kristin

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  5. these pictures are oh oh oh so pretty!!! I just love them all, those strawberries loook sooo inviting. :P and those girls are all so gorgeous.

    and i just love how you wore red shoes. ;)

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  6. I love these pictures... They pretty much radiate happiness. :)

    ~ Abby

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  7. The crazy weather I can totally identify with... we've had snow this week. gahh! Beautiful photos... Easter is my favourite time of year.

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  8. You are such a gifted photographer! This post was amazing and the pictures were even better. And, YES, I am utterly thankful for new beginnings. I recently did an Easter post about how I loved new beginnings.
    Have a lovely day!

    ~Molly~
    mollyslittlecorner.blogspot.com

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  9. lovely pictures! i loveee sticking my head out the window! it's so fun!

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  10. Those are amazingly beautiful pictures. Riding in the car with the windows down? Basically nothing can beat that. =)
    ~Aidyl

    www.aidylewoh.blogspot.com

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  11. Gorgeou pictures! We're finally starting to get some nice weather round my parts too! :)

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  12. love the pictures--amazing. :)

    www.ihavemusings.blogspot.com

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  13. I love mirror photos!! We just got a car with a sunroof and that takes it to an even new level! :)

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  14. *love* the rainbow pictures. sun and spring-ness for easter = winner in my book :) ditto for conquering. even the word conquering is beautiful.

    hugs,
    n.

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  15. I'm totally stealing that Spurgeon quote. :-)

    Random...will you do a review of "The Hunger Games" movie? (If you've seen it yet.) I enjoy reading your movie reviews. :-)

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  16. I completely know what you mean about the rain situation. I live in Oregon too, and the rain doesn't usually bother me much, but I was praying that Easter Sunday was going to be RAIN-FREE. And amazingly, it was! I was so happy to wake up to a sunny, warm Easter day.

    Thanks for sharing these photos! <3
    ~Kate~

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  17. Hi sweet lady! I found your blog via She Smiles, She Writes and am SO GLAD I did! Finding sisters in Christ that blog is like a diamond in the rough. I'm your newest follower! xoxo

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  18. Beautiful photos! So many pretty flowers! :-) Looks like your Easter was fabulous... :-)

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  19. Girl, how is it that all of your posts are so inspiring? No, really! And to add to them, your photos are always beautimous.

    Glad you all had a wonderful Easter as well. So Thankful for Jesus and what He did for us!

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  20. I like the way you put things. Really, I do.

    I love the pic of you girls "romping". =)

    And yes, Oregon is beautiful. <3

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  21. So glad I stopped by here today! What an encouraging post!

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  22. Very beautiful, and very true. You make me long for summer, but what a reminder! Summer, bringing the end of winter, is yet another reminder of Jesus' resurrection.

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  23. wow...ur post and pics are so fresh and rejuvenating!

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  24. Pacific Northwest weather is familiar. I lived Seattle many moons ago and wanted more sun than we were allowed. Your pics are vibrant! thanks for sharing.

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  25. WOW! these pictures are all amazing & beautiful! just lovely. i just found your adorable blog, new follower!

    <3 Kelly

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  26. I def empathize with you there. Here in Washington things are dreary most everyday. But God is good! Easter was bright, sunny, and with a soft wind it was a perfect day. :)
    Thank you for this uplifting post! Love the 4th pic down!
    Madi
    http://helloblueeyesphoto.blogspot.com

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  27. Oh, this post is a definite winner.
    The perfect blend of glorious Easter, Jesus conqueror of all, summery pics, happy smiles, and a dash of the dorky. I like.

    And that last paragraph? So good. Big and beautiful and complicated. That's how I've been feeling lately. Kinda overwhelmed and confused by life, but so thankful for it's massive gloriousness at the same time!

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  28. You are so blessed to live in such a pretty place like this! I wish we had at least some cherry blossoms where I live :)

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  29. Ahh, I love rainbows, but especially your picture!!

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  30. I actually enjoyed reading through this posting.Many thanks.


    Bridal Wear

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