Day 19: A Picture and a letter

Dear Friend,

I know it has been a long time since I have written but I hope that this letter finds you well.  How are you?  Are you enjoying this warmer weather we have been having. How's the family?

I am so enjoying the warmer weather we have been having and the fact that spring is finally here. I was starting to waver in my positive winter attitude during that last long cold spell.  But the season has changed and it is awesome! I am hoping my back yard doesn't flood too badly though, as I would like to be able to plant a garden again this year.

I haven't really done anything exciting lately, just the regular routine of life. But I did go home to visit my mom and Neil last weekend. As much as I like Winnipeg, it was nice to get out of the city and it was really good to go and see my mom and grandma.  My mom and Neil have about 10 deer living in their yard it was kind of fun to be able to watch them out of the living room window. It freaked me out one night though when I was watching t.v. and I got that creepy someone is watching you feeling. As I looked around I saw a deer about a foot away from me with its nose pressed to the glass of the window staring at me; I yelled and it ran away.  I will attach a picture or two of them so you can see how cute they were.

Oh, and I was able to buy a sewing machine and a new camera just recently so I am excited to get using them and get some creativity flowing again.  It has been a long time since I have done anything kind of artsy or crafty and I have missed it greatly.  I have lots to learn with photography but it is something I have always wanted to do so it will be fun to see how it goes.  As for the sewing I just plan on doing home type projects - curtains, some pillows, and maybe some reusable paper towels, I need to get the pattern for those though.  I will just start off slow as it has been a long time since I used a sewing machine.

Have you read any good books lately?  I would love to hear about what you are reading. I am reading this book called "Tortured for Christ". It is an autobiography written by Richard Wurmbrand.  I know the title sounds heavy, and you might be thinking why would I want to read a book like that, but it has been really good.  It is about his experiences in Communist prisons when Romania was under communist rule.  While the stories he tells are really intense, this book has taught me so much about love. I have encountered a love in this book like the love of Christ as he hung on the cross.  The type of love that allows a person to love their enemies even while their enemies are causing great pain.  As much as I love warm, sentimental feelings that come with love sometimes, I know that they are fleeting and I know that they cannot sustain you. But this other type of love, is a lifestyle choice, it is strong and true and full of substance and I know it can only come from God.  It is making me rethink what Jesus meant when He said "love others as I have loved you".  It is really making me realize that love isn't about fulfilling something in myself it is about pouring yourself out for another, it really is sacrificial, but it isn't burdensome or heavy. It is joyful, and full of freedom and it does cause your heart to be light when you are free to love like that, when you aren't overburdened by getting your due. It doesn't mean that you have to go through the same things that Richard did to really show you are loving with the love of Christ, but it might mean that you will. But it could just mean loving your family, coworkers, neighbours, the guy sitting on the corner asking for change well; pouring your love and life out for them.  I am coming to realize that once you have said yes to the love of Christ, and to walk in His way, you are on an adventure that you have no possibility of knowing what each day will look like or where it will take you. The only sure thing is, that by living a life of love, loving Christ and loving others, your reward is sure. At the end of it all you get Jesus.

Anyway, this letter took a much more serious turn then I meant it to, but those are the thoughts I have been dwelling on lately.  I should let you go though.  I hope you are enjoying the weekend, and I hope that you have many wonderful encounters with Holy Spirit! I pray that He releases an even greater revelation to your heart about how much Father and Jesus really do love you!

Blessings my friend!
I look forward to hearing from you.
Love,
Lanney

P.S. Here is a picture of  a couple of the deer.