Another Classroom Pet

photo (c) 2007 by DKF

A Bit of God's Artwork

My lover spoke and said to me,

"Arise, my darling,
my beautiful one, and come with me.

See! The winter is past;
the rains are over and gone.

Flowers appear on the earth;
the season of singing has come,
the cooing of doves
is heard in our land.

The fig tree forms its early fruit;
the blossoming vines spread their fragrance.
Arise, come, my darling;
my beautiful one, come with me."

--Song of Solomon 2:10-13 (NIV)

This time of year always brings me extreme amounts of joy. I love the changing of the seasons because God's creativity and love really shine through. The transition from Winter to Spring is my absolute favorite. All of my senses are engaged and ecstatic. I love watching the dull grays and browns of winter transform into so many vibrant colors. I love it when the birds start returning and and their sweet songs become my alarm clock. Granted, I wish the birds slept in a little later, but their songs are so beautiful. I love breathing in the warm air and feeling the sun touch my face. I love the warm breezes that blow past me when I am outdoors. I love smelling the trees budding and the flowers blooming. I could go on and on and on...

It makes me wonder about the depth of God's love. He didn't have to make the world we live in so beautiful. He could have made everything drab and seemingly lifeless, but instead He used His endless creativity to sculpt and paint a place so beautiful that words cannot truly describe it and do it justice. He didn't have to create this awesome place we call home the way that He chose to make it, but He did because He loves us and wants to lavish us with gifts. Not only that, but He is calling out to us, " Arise, come, my darling; my beautiful one, come with me."

Holy Father, thank you for surrounding me with so much beauty. Jesus, thank you for calling me to be with You! Here I am, Lord! I choose to walk with You! No matter what's going on around me, if I'm with You it's all good!

photos (c) 2007 by DKF

Outside

photos (c) 2007 by DKF

Just Waking Up

photo (c) 2007 by DKF

Longings

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me..."
-- Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

This is my buddy, Oreo. He's my friend's dog, but I am his favorite person. He acts like a little puppy when I'm around even though he's about 13 years old. After watching me through the window until I am almost at the door, he comes running to greet me and if I don't immediately turn my attention to him he starts barking. Sometimes he literally runs laps around the house because he's so excited that I'm there. He seems to think that I should be there to visit him and no one else.

As I was studying this photo and thinking about how much Oreo truly seems to enjoy my presence, I started thinking about God's love for his kids. If a dog can have so much passion for someone, how much more must God, the creator of heaven and earth and everything in it, love each and every one of us. How much more must He long to be with us everyday.

I received the following letter at a retreat in high school and still refer back to occasionally:

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Dear Friend,

How are you? I just had to send a note to tell you how much I care about you. I saw you yesterday as you were talking with your friends. I waited all day hoping you would want to talk to me too. I gave you a sunset to close your day and a cool breeze to rest you - and I waited. You never came. It hurt me - but I still love you because you are my friend.

I saw you sleeping last night and longed to touch your brow so I spilled moonlight on your face. Again I waited, wanting to rush down so we could talk. When you woke up, you hurried on with your day. My tears were in the rain.

I have so many gifts for you! I try to tell you in blue skies and in the quiet green grass. I whisper it in the leaves on the trees, breathe it in colors of flowers, shout it to you in mountain streams and give birds love songs to sing. I clothe you with warm sunshine and perfume the air with nature scents. My love for you is deeper than the ocean and bigger than the biggest need in your heart.

Ask me! Talk with me! Please don't forget me. I have so much to share with you! I have chosen you and I will wait for you.

Your friend, Jesus

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Lord, thank you for the blessing of creation, especially in Spring, that reminds me of Your presence. Forgive me for keeping you at a distance. Help me to set time aside to spend with You! I love you, Lord!

photo (c) 2007 by DKF

Tulips

photos (c) 2007 by DKF

OREO

photo (c) 2007 by DKF

Things I Found at a Coffee Shop

photos (c) 2007 by DKF

SNOW Day!!!

This is Spring in Wisconsin!

photo (c) 2007 by DKF

Refining Process

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God's power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, for you are receiving the goal of your faith, the salvation of your souls." -- 1 Peter 1:3-9 (NIV)

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I've been living in a swirling cespool of thoughts and emotions lately but I know it's a refining process for God's glory, and I welcome that. "...we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us." --Romans 5:3-5(NIV)

Lord, thank you for the unspeakable sacrifice you made to save me from my sins! I know that You are always by my side, but sometimes I get caught up in the muck and lose sight of the goal. Please help me to live Psalm 105:4 which says, "Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always." (NIV) and keep refining me into the woman of God that you created me to be!

photo (c) 2007 by DKF

YAAAaaaawn!

photo (c) 2007 by DKF

2 Sides of Bob

photo (c) 2007 by DKF

Gravity HATES Me!

tiny opaque droplets
catapulting
upwards and outwards
drip
on the tip-
py top of my head,
splatter
my hands,
plop
polk-a-dots
on my threads
and suddenly
i'm looking
through
whopping white spots.



















poem and photo (c) 2007 by DKF

True Signs

It must really finally be Spring!!! I spotted this flower along with 2 others like it just outside of the fence at work. YAY!!!! All the recent rain is worth it for a sight like this!

photo (c) 2007 by DKF

Just a Face in the Crowd

1 day old chicks that a coworker hatched in her classroom.

photos (c) 2007 by DKF

Road Kill

photo (c) 2007 by DKF

Out In The Woods

photos (c) 2007 by DKF

Pool Party

Coming up for air...

CANNONBALL!!!

The water's surface

photos (c) 2007 by DKF

Drawing

This is my latest drawing...
I included the real dispenser so that
you can get a feel for the actual size.

Spring ROCKS!!!

Illumination
and sweet simple melodies
awaken my soul.

I LOVE Spring! I know it's not officially Spring yet, but it feels like it right now.
The warm air, bright sun and bird's singing all really rejuvinate me!!

Lord, thank you for changing seasons! You are the master of creativity and beauty!!

photo & haiku (c) 2007 by DKF

The Butterfly Effect

It is thought that something as small as the flutter of a butterfly's wing could ultimately cause a typhoon halfway around the world.

--Chaos Theory

~~~~~

"...I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you." --Matthew 17:20 (NIV)

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It's hard for me to think that I could potentially have such a huge impact in the world... that my actions could make such a big difference, whether it be in the life of one person or the whole planet. I'm not sure I like it. On some level it makes me want to hide myself away so that I can't have any negative impact on anyone or anything. On the other hand, if I could positively effect even one person's life just for a moment, I want to go for it. The problem is that there can be a really fine line between the two and you can't erase your actions once you've walked them out.

Lord, thank you for the ability to move mountains. Please take away my fears and strengthen my faith so that I am not afraid to walk on the path You have laid out for me. I want to effect the world according to Your Will for my life.

"Landscape With Butterflies" by Salvador Dali 1956

A Glimpse of SPRING!!!

photos (c) 2007 by DKF

Catnip

photo (c) 2007 by DKF

Toby

photo (c) 2007 by DKF

Reflections

photos (c) 2007 by DKF

Flames

photos (c) 2007 by DKF