Let it go

I am so grateful to be a mom to two wonderful daughters, but I didn't realize until lately how difficult it can be. I'm sure parenting boys has it's own challenges which I'm blissfully unaware of, but parenting daughters is emotionally draining. Especially as these girls grow up and start to have all those crazy hormones running amok inside them. It seems like lately everything is a big issue that needs to be talked through, cried about or otherwise dealt with. Someday's it's very tiring and it challenges my patience. I know I've been exactly where they are and I remember how it can feel, but having all these years between then and now can skew my perspective.

As I've gotten older I've grown thicker and thicker skin, in that I don't care so much what others think. I mean, I care about others, but I don't stress out (too much) about what people will think of me if I do this or that. I still struggle with insecurity at times, but it use to cause me so much more anxiety. I know whose opinion matters and whose just really doesn't. I know what matters in life and who I am. I know it's something I've learned mainly through the hard knocks of life, and I wish I could just impart that wisdom directly into the tender hearts of my girls. I hate to see them going through the hard stuff in order to learn this.

Unfortunately, that's not the way it goes. And so lately it's come to my attention that both my beautiful girls are struggling with how they look. Kids can be so mean, both have had comments made to them 

at school about it. Now both of them are struggling with what they think of themselves and these particular comments. It seems to bother my eldest daughter more, I've caught her making comments about not liking her hair or that she's ugly. It's heartbreaking when all I see when I look at her is beauty.

And it doesn't matter how many times I tell her she's beautiful, if some kid at school called her ugly, it must be true. That's her logic and it kills me. I know she's not a minority, most girls at this awkward middle school age are struggling with how they look and how they are changing and they have no control over most of it. She's starting to care how her hair looks, what she's wearing, etc, and how she fits in. Some days it's hard for me to watch her go through this.

I just want them both to believe me when I tell them they are perfect just the way they are. And then I think about the times I've been critical of my own self, of my hair that has no body or super round face. And I wonder if my comment here or there about it has contributed to their views. I need to remind myself what I've been telling my girls lately, and that is this:

I am perfectly made. 

No, I'm not perfect, but I was made exactly this way. God intended me to have flat hair, to have a round face, to not be able to hold a note. And I like to ask the girls, "Does God make mistakes?". No, of course not, He's perfect. I love this verse:

For you created my inmost being;

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

your works are wonderful,

I know that full well.

My frame was not hidden from you

when I was made in the secret place.

When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me were written in your book

before one of them came to be.

Psalm 139:13-16

If God created the whole earth and all it's intricacies like the water cycle and weather and seasons and didn't mess up that, don't you think He could handle us? Yep. He did. He made each and every one of us exactly the way He wanted us to be, and like it says in Genesis 1:31, "God saw all that he had made and it was very good." He didn't scrap us and start over, He wanted us exactly the way we are. That's encouraging and refreshing for me to remember, and I hope I can help instill that truth in my own girls' hearts.

Even knowing how God views us, it can be hard to take the mean comments from others or even ourselves. I tried to explain to the girls to just let those mean words go, and not to dwell on them. But I think that's a lesson that's learned the hard way as well. Someone posted this video on Facebook fairly recently and I think it speaks volumes to the whole idea of just letting those things go.

I told the girls about it, but they haven't actually watched it yet. I think I'm going to show them this afternoon, and hopefully it can help them see how important it is to just let it go.

Goal #36 and 67 completed

Goal 36. Get up at 6am for QT consistently for a month M-F. (Weekends I get to sleep in!)

Thanks to the cute furry little boy-dog named Cody, this has pretty much happened nearly everyday for the past year and a half because he can only be in his little dog crate for so long. Sometimes Erik gets up first and then I can sleep in a bit, but usually I'm up at 6am to let him out and feed him. Then I make coffee and read a bit. This school year Lindsay catches the bus at 7:26 am, so I have to wake her up at 6:30, which is another reason for me to be up. 

Another cool thing about having Mr. Cody, is that not only am I up early to read, but I also get a walk in nearly everyday, and my walks are another opportunity to think, meditate and pray which, to me, is part of my "quiet time". And it's also another goal on my list, #67. Try to take a hike/walk once a week even in the winter!

Piano

This past fall Kera began taking piano lessons from a very sweet neighbor lady. She'd expressed an interest in learning how to play piano for awhile, and even got a keyboard for her birthday last year. I was excited to get her into lessons because I've always wanted to know how to play the piano. I also think piano music can be so pretty. Kera has really taken to her piano playing and has just gobbled up her lessons and made her teacher, Miss Jan, just giddy because she loves to play so much. She's still in the beginner book, but she's gotten to the point where she can actually play songs that use both hands, sometimes at the same time. I'm so impressed. I'm also hopeful that she'll want to continue to play and could someday play beautiful, inspiring songs like "My Hope is In you Lord" by Aaron Shust. I heard that song on the radio and immediately fell in love with the opening piano part.

Check it out...


I also like the lyrics, too:


"I meet with You and my soul sings out
As your word throws doubt far away
I sing to you and my heart cries holy
Hallelujah, Father You're near


My hope is in you lord, all the day long
I won't be shaken by drought or storm
A peace that passes understanding is my song and I sing
My hope is in you alone."


Do you play the piano or enjoy the music? Have you gotten your kids into any lessons that you wished you'd have done?

Shepherding My Children

 We've had a pretty rough week around here last week. There were some things that came out in one of our daughter's behavior that we had to deal with. Nothing too serious, but something we couldn't just let slide. And instead of her accepting her punishment and moving forward, she was stuck in a pit of self-pity and woe-is-me.  She'd been given some punishment at school (missed recesses) and we gave her some at home (grounded from the computer for 1 week). But she was not showing any brokenness over her behavior and so we had to take steps to put a little more pressure on her.

I told her if she continued to whine and moan about her life being miserable and how she hated her teacher (totally disrespectful) that she'd get more things taken away. She continued and so she was grounded from playing with friends for a week. It was a rough afternoon of talking to her, sharing scripture (Hebrews 12:11) and calmly, but firmly telling her how it would be if she continued down the road of self-pity and disrespect. At one point she was asking what else I could do to her, (because losing computer and friends was big) and I told her that I'd keep taking things away, like her books, toys, etc until all she had left in her room was her bed. She asked if I cared what people would think if I did that, and I said no. And that's the truth, I don't care what other people think, all I care about is that I'm shepherding the heart of my child, whatever it takes to get through to her heart. I care about what God thinks, since he's the one who has given me (and Erik) this task of raising our children to love and serve him.

Thankfully, it wasn't much later after that conversation that she broke down and apologized to me for being disrespectful and mean. After that she was like a whole different child. I hope that she's taken some things to heart about respect and repentance. 

a get well card L made for K a while back

But dealing with this situation has really re-instilled my convictions about how important this job of parenting is. I've been reading this book, Shepherding a Child's Heart by Tedd Tripp. I've actually read it before when the girls were really young, but I decided that it would be worth reading again. It's a great reminder to me about how to deal with them at the heart level and to not just address their behavior. And that is a tough thing to do! Don't get me wrong, my kids are generally good kids, but "folly is bound up in the heart of a child" (Proverbs 22:15) and God has commanded us to impress his commands onto our children and raise them up to love him. (Deut 6). That's a full time job! Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says, "These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. ⁷ Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up." Raising my kids to see God's love and his plan for their life is seriously a full-time job, I'm to be doing it all.the.time. That can be overwhelming to me, but then I remember that I'm not in this job alone. Obviously, God is here and I've been blessed with an amazingly spiritual husband, but I also have the resource of a wonderful church family. Not only do I have some amazing women in my life who have been in my shoes before that can give me advice, but there are some wonderful examples for my girls' in the younger women in our church.

another side of that get well card. I love that they love each other!

A couple weeks ago we had the great opportunity to attend a wedding of a young couple in our church.   I was excited for my girls to see this wedding because it was going to be a celebration of how God intended relationships to be. This couple had dated/been engaged for a year or so and yet their first kiss would be as husband and wife. They had followed God's word and had remained pure through their whole dating/engagement.  It gave me goosebumps to watch that wedding, and to see the pure joy on the grooms face when he saw his bride for the first time. It was breathtaking. And I'm so excited that my girls can see great examples of purity and integrity like this in a world where those things are rare. I want my girls to be saved from the heartbreak and sorrow of the worldly way of dating. I've experienced the ugliness of what relationships outside of God's plan are like and I have every intention of raising my girls in a way to hopefully save them from that pain.

 I think parenting is probably the toughest job I'll ever have, but I love my girls so much, I wouldn't have it any other way and I'm grateful that God has entrusted these two wonderful girls to our care.

Eleven

Eleven years ago today I married the most wonderful man...

I fell in love with him for various reasons: He's handsome, funny, adventurous, dedicated, forgiving and genuinely cares about others. He works hard and plays even harder. He loves God and strives to live according to the Bible.

Eleven years has brought a variety of ups and downs in our marriage, but through it all he's remained the man I fell in love with. He has changed a little: now he's a great father to the girls, and he lets me use some spices in the kitchen besides "Season All". :)

Being married to Erik is a great blessing. I'm super grateful that we've only gotten closer, had more and more fun and fallen more in love over the past 11 years.  

Happy Anniversary Erik, I love you so much! 

I'm so excited to see what God does in our marriage over the next eleven years!

Looks can be deceiving

So, remember the other day when I mentioned the missing teacher over in Sidney, MT? Well, it doesn't have a happy ending. :( It's been announced that she's dead. Although I didn't know her, my heart breaks for her friends and loved ones, it sounds as if she was an exceptional lady. There hasn't been a lot of details released, so we aren't sure what exactly happened to her, although there are two suspects being questioned, so it sounds as if there was foul play involved. It's troubling to think that something as horrible as this could happen in a small town like Sidney. It might be just me, but I tend to think small town=safety, but that's not exactly the case. It doesn't matter what size a town is, there is no guarantee that evil things won't happen. People are people no matter where they live, and let's be honest, people are capable of evil. We live in the world, and according to the bible, in 1 John 5:19:

"We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one."

That's why bad things happen, because we are currently living in Satan's domain. This is his turf and he's in control down here. The sad truth is there is no guarantee for anyone that bad things won't happen to them or the ones they love. It's just the sad truth.


But there is an uplifting truth, too, and that is this world is not all there is. Satan might be in charge down here, for now, but that is not the end of the story. Psalm 108:13 says:

"With God we will gain the victory, 

   and he will trample down our enemies."

With God, there is victory because we know how the story ends, just like any book, just flip to the end of the Bible. In Revelation 19:20 it tells us, 

"But the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who had performed the signs on its behalf. With these signs he had deluded those who had received the mark of the beast and worshiped its image. The two of them were thrown alive into the fiery lake of burning sulfur."

I don't know about you, but its really nice to know that the good guys ultimately win in the end. It really helps get through the days when it seems like that is not the case. And another thing that helps me, is to remember that I can't see the big picture of life, I have no idea what the grand scheme of things is--all I can see is what is directly in front of me. But God knows, he can see the whole big thing, and even though I may not know why something happens, whether it be something good or something bad, I have faith that there is a greater purpose at work.  

Romans 8:28

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."

One of those days

We woke up this morning to fog. The kind that hangs thickly in the sky, coating the sidewalks and roads to make them icy. It's almost noon and I've yet to see the sun or the mountains that surround our town. I can't even see some of the houses below us on the hill. Looking out my window and not really being able to see is disconcerting.

The weather seems to match my mood pretty well today, however.  I am troubled. I am saddened and I admit I am a bit weepy. I had a dream last night that basically boiled down to Kera being stolen from me in the church bathroom. I realized too late that she'd been taken and ran, screaming down the hall to catch "That lady who stole my kid". But no one was in time. Out we ran to a driveway that was set up like a winding, pretzeling race track to try to run to catch up to the car. I was crying and screaming and  clenching my hands into fists in my dream. I woke up and my hands were asleep, as if I'd been clenching them in real life as well. 

As a mom, that was definitely a nightmare. And yet, there is a family right now living in the sleepy little town that I once called home that is actually living that nightmare. A high school teacher went out for a job Saturday morning and no one has seen her since. Hundreds of folks in the town are searching for her and all that's been found is her shoe. I don't know her because we moved away before I hit high school, I could've had her husband as an English teacher in middle school. But it's still troubling. Sidney is a small town and a majority of my extended family lives there. It's scary to think something like this could happen there. I keep praying that she'll be found and be okay, but part of me doubts that there will be a happy ending to this.

So there's that. Then I also have a dear friend who is struggling with some major health stuff. Stuff that is keeping her from her job, from church, from the things in life she enjoys. She's been hanging in there, though, and has a bit more to hang in before she can see some experts who will hopefully have some answers for her. I have hope and faith that God will heal her, but I realized yesterday how much I miss seeing her and our deep talks about life. So, she's weighing rather heavily on my heart right now.

And then, last but not least, is a conversation that I need to have with another friend. I've put it off for awhile because I just didn't want to do it. I think maybe I hoped the issue would just fade into life and I could move on. But, it hasn't and because I have a conviction about this and because I love her enough to talk to her about it, I'm going to do it. It won't be easy for me and I'm hopeful that she'll take it well, but there's no way to know.

My heart is heavy with all this today, just like the sky is heavy with fog. It's kind of like God is telling me that he knows exactly how I feel, and that in fact, he feels that way too. 

So, let's talk about weight loss and goals...

Weight loss and goals. Two things that generally go together, especially this time of year, right? Well for the first time in a very long time, that is not the case for me! You can be sure I have goals--You know me well enough by now to know that! I'm the goal queen, I mean, c'mon I have a list of 101 goals! So yeah, I have goals for this year, but for the first time, they are different. Instead on fixating on how I can change how I look, I'm looking at all the other aspects of how I can improve.

Obviously I don't care how I look, I'm posting a post-workout picture in all my sweaty and messy hair glory! Oh but check out the shirt--I love it!

But in all seriousness, I do have some goals this year.

1. First of all, I'd like to work on knocking off a few more of my 101 goals, although I'm not sure which ones yet.

2. I want to strive to be more productive during the day with my writing and cleaning/house chores.

3. I want to improve my sleep--possibly purchase black out curtains, cover the alarm clock and hit the hay before 10pm ideally.

4. Complete at least 21 days of strict paleo eating. (I'm currently on Day 6)

Today's breakfast-Baked Eggs.

5. Call the women in my small group more than text them

6. Be more frugal.

7. Really work on learning my bible--memorizing verses and where to look for stuff.

So those are the main goals I came up with for the year in general. I like to look at my whole being, not just health. But what about my title about weight loss and goals? Oh yeah, I've got those too, but because my whole view on health and fitness has completely changed from where I use to stand, my goals are different, too.

I've ditched the scale, so I don't have any number of pounds I'd like to lose. In fact, when folks ask in regards to my lifestyle, "Have you lost any weight?" My answer is "I don't know, but I feel great!". Why do we ask that question, seriously? My view of you isn't going to change based on what the scale says, I won't love you more or less either way. So, no numbers in mind, what about clothes? Do I have a goal for them to fit better, to get into a smaller size?

No. I don't. To be honest, I'd love that, but it's not something I'm focusing on, in fact I've got absolutely ZERO goals based on how I look. That's not why I'm striving to live a healthy lifestyle. My ultimate goal is to be healthy, to be strong, to be fit. To be able to keep up with my kids and do it for a long time. To have a great quality of life.

So what kind of goals can you have besides the scale and clothes? Well, these are the goals I have for myself that I posted over at the forum at EPLifeFit:

1. Advance past the Beginner Modules
2. Be able to do a real pull up
3. Push-ups not on my knees
4. Complete at least 30 days perfect paleo eating
5. Cook the beef tongue (and possibly heart) that's in my freezer
6. Floss everyday (I know it doesn't really fit in here, but I really need to do this!)

My new pumped up kicks.

I made these goals about two weeks ago and I've already made progress.  I've progressed past the Beginner Modules and am doing the heavy lift rotation and workouts. I'm also on day 6 of perfect paleo eating and have flossed almost everyday since then. At the rate I'm going, I'm sure I'll blaze past these goals in no time. And then I'll give myself new goals, how much I'd like to lift on the benchpress, deadlift, squat or shoulder press. Or maybe to be able to do double-unders. Or maybe to be able to do a handstand. Whatever the goals are that I strive for next, they won't be about how I look. I'm done with that. 

Why, you ask? Well, it's not that I don't care, because I do. Oh boy do I. I've always been one of those worried about what others think or how I'm being perceived. It's made me shy, self-conscious and anxious. And none of those are good things and I'm tired of being those things. Worrying about that stuff probably doesn't help me reach my goals. Check out this article for some of what my rational is based on. I'll wait for you to read it, go ahead. It's important.

*drinking my coffee while I wait*

Okay, you're back? Did you read it? Good. I'll go on. For me it's more than that though, it's also about how God views me. This verse particularly hits home:

"Psalm 139 verses 13-14:

For you created my inmost being

you knit me together in my mother's womb.

I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Your works are wonderful, 

I know that full well."

So, here's the kicker: God made me exactly the way he wanted me to be and that is exactly how I am. Me: with my frizzy hair, no waist and big bones. The way I am is the way he "knit me together". And when I complain about how I'm made, I'm criticizing him. How prideful is that? He's the one who created the whole wide world, set up photosynthesis, the water cycle and every other amazing way that this world/earth lives! Like that verse says, his "works are wonderful" and I was "fearfully and wonderfully made". So, God made me and his works are wonderful, which means I am wonderful.  I don't know about you, but knowing that kind of makes me think twice about complaining about any of my physical "flaws".

So, if God made me and I'm wonderful, should I even care about eating right or working out? Most definitely. Here's another verse: 

I Corinthians 10:23

 “I have the right to do anything,” you say—but not everything is beneficial. “I have the right to do anything”—but not everything is constructive."

and then 1 Corinthians 10:31

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

God gave me this body and I'm going to treat it with the respect that it deserves. I'm not going to take it for granted by eating crud and being lazy. I'm going to do my best to treat it "constructively" and live it "for the glory of God." And personally, I think it would encourage God to see me taking good care of what he's given. And so, that's why I'm making different goals this year.

Do you have any goals this year? Are they different than last year or are you stuck in the same ol' rut?

The Atonement Child

The Atonement Child by Francine Rivers

This book tells the story of Dynah, a young woman attending a Christian college, whose life is dramatically changed in one terrible moment. She's raped, and after refusing the morning-after pill, discovers she's pregnant. She's pressured by friends, family and school in different ways to either end and continue the pregnancy, but she doesn't even know what she wants. She's torn and can't understand why God would even allow this to happen to her. But as she realizes his plan for her and moves forward in her life, she not only strengthens her own faith, but helps change those around her as well.

I really enjoy reading anything by Francine Rivers. She's an excellent story-teller and has a wonderful way of bringing God into the story in a way that isn't cheesy or weird. Her exploration of the issue of abortion in this novel is eye-opening and heart-wrenching. It didn't really change my convictions on the subject, but it did open my eyes to the fact that it's probably affects more people than I realized. Also, Dynah's personal and spiritual growth throughout reminded me several times of the story of Job in the Old Testament. It was a great reminder of how God is always there, even when life is at its hardest. 

One aspect of this novel that struck a chord with me, was Dynah's treatment at the hands of supposed Christians. Without giving away too much about the story, I'll say that the folks who should be the most loving, forgiving and (for lack of better word) spiritual, are the ones that treat her the worst and pressure her to get the abortion. It really irked me, yet, I could see it. Her Christian college reminded me in a lot of ways of the one I went to, and how rampant the hypocrisy was. It makes me sad to know that some people's only exposure to Jesus' love is through these religious people. 

Anyway, this novel was excellent--stay up til 11:30 p.m. reading kind of excellent. It would be one of my favorite Francine River's books so far. 

Have you read this book or anything by Francine Rivers? What did you think? Did it change your thoughts on any serious issues, like abortion?

Beautiful and Loved

I had to take a drive today, about an hour south to a smaller town, to pick up the quarter beef we'd recently put some dibs on. That's just where the steer lived his life and where he died, so it's where he was butchered. I had a pretty clear schedule today, so I took the opportunity to spend some time admiring the beautiful valley south of us while I gathered our meat.

I really wish I would've remembered my real camera. It was so beautiful  with the clouds, changing color trees and snow-kissed mountains. What passes for a camera on my cell phone really did not do it justice.

As I drove, I turned on the radio and sang along. I love being in the car alone and being able to sing at the top of my lungs. No one else really likes to hear my singing-if you could call it that. Lately I've been drawn to  the Christian radio station more than any others. It inspires and encourages me, but I also like that I can listen to it with the girls in the car and not have to worry about what lyrics they are singing--they are all good!

It was so refreshing to listen to the encouraging music while admiring the beauty around me--I could almost feel my heart lifting. It made me think that I need to make more time to just be still and think about all the ways God loves us.

This was one of the songs that just spoke to me this morning. How easily we forget that God thinks we're beautiful and his opinion is the only one that matters!

I am reading a book right now about security, which is something that we as women struggle with quite a bit. I am learning about how we need to anchor or feelings of security and acceptance onto God and not all the others things we try to measure ourselves against. It doesn't matter what others think of me or even how I feel about myself. What matters is that God loves and cares for us, and here's the part that gets me--he loves me no matter what I do.

And this song is one of my absolute favorites right now that says just that:

And now I not only do I feel refreshed and ready for the day ahead of me, but I have a freezer full of meat (including the tongue!) to  enjoy!

Crazy Love

I recently read this book, "Crazy Love" by Francis Chan. It seemed liked all the women in my small group at church had read it, or were in the process of reading it, so I figured it had to be sorta good and decided to give it a go. I really got a lot out of this book and it seems like I read it at just the perfect time, too. I love it when God does that.

The author suggests looking at corresponding videos on Youtube with each chapter, but I only actually did that once. The video was good but I felt like it sort of just went on and on and on. I'm also more of a visual learner, so actually reading and taking notes does more for me than hearing someone speaking. So, that's what I did. I would read a chapter, making notes in it as I went (I love marking up a book). Then, once I finished the chapter, I would go back through my marks and take notes in my journal. I really got a lot out of the book by doing this. I have a tendency to read things quickly and not spend a lot of time "digesting" what I'm learning and then it doesn't always stick with me or make a huge impact. So, I'm not sure if it was because I spent more time inmeshed in the lessons here or if they were just that impacting (again with the impacting), but I did really learn a lot with this book.

I think the one thing that stuck out to me the most, though, was this: God loves me more than I can ever comprehend and all he wants is for me to love him back. He wants me to simply, love him and by extension, to love others. How do I express this love? Through my life, and more specifically, my actions. 1 John 3:18 says, "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth."

So, how do I act? What can I do to reflect this love? Well, for me, it was a call to revamp the way I spend my time. Time is one of the things God has blessed me with and I realized that I was being selfish with it. This life I live isn't about me, it's about God and my time needs to reflect that. Practically, I decided that I was wasting too much time on stupid things that really don't matter (like all the random Facebook games or sitting through a dumb movie) and so I cut those out. I also decided I need to make it a priority to utilize the opportunities to serve that our church organizes. Another big one for me was to work on just letting go of my schedule a bit--to be more flexible to the people and/or opportunities God might put in my path in any given day. Instead of being focused on my to-do list, to look around more at the needs that I might be missing.

Reading this book helped to remind me to think about what really matters, which isn't actually whether my house is clean or dinner is on the table. To quote Chan, "The thing that matters most is how we use what we have been given, not how much we make or do compared to someone else." And it's not easy, it's not like floating down the river. Living a life of faith requires swimming against the current--in order to grow close to God we have to deliberately pursue it and pay attention. And these trappings of life that I can get so caught up in, really don't matter, what matters is that I make it to heaven and bring as many of my friends and family with me as I can.Colossians 3:2 says "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things." 

So, if you are looking for a spiritual challenge or need a reminder of just how much God loves you, check out this book, you won't regret it! :-)

God's Ever-changing Masterpiece

We are blessed to live in a house that is not only warm and really low maintenance,

but that also has great views out the large picture windows in the living room and dining room.

Sure, you can see the houses behind us, but if you look up and over those

you can see some of the hills and mountains that surround our little valley.

And sometimes those hills and mountains make for some impressive sunsets.

I love that we have a God who loves us and wants us to enjoy our surroundings. I mean, seriously, he could've created a Earth that was only flat, green prairies or only white, snow covered tundra. But he didn't. He gave us valleys, mountains, rivers, deserts, rain forests and everything in between. And then he covered all that with so many different plants and animals we could never see them all. And then he made the sky with clouds and sun and moon that even if we got tired of what we saw on land, we'd have that ever changing masterpiece to gaze upon. I'm so grateful for God's creativity for us and that he has allowed me to live where I can witness it so vividly.