I don’t know about you but I get grumpy when I’m cold. Yet, I find that it is when I bundle up and venture out in to “the arctic”, I often am surprised to be greeted by the loveliness of God’s creation. When face to face with undeniable beauty, I can’t help but have a more positive attitude, even if the temperatures are beyond negative.

He gives snow like wool;
He scatters the frost like ashes.
He casts forth His ice as fragments;
Who can stand before His cold?
He sends forth His word and melts them;
He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow.

Psalm 147:16-18

I’m so thankful for good memories, ones that warm my heart and remind me that God has been good to me. These pictures bring a smile to my face so thought I’d share them with you.

This one reminds me of all the work and love that I put into my garden. I love spending time getting my hands dirty, planting the new seedlings, and watching it grow. I look forward every spring to doing it all over again and seeing the fruit of my labor.

This one reminds me of summers gone by, over 12 years ago, when the boys were young and I still carried my youngest around on my hip. Those days were busy, trying to keep two little boys out of trouble, but they were precious years too.

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 15:13 NIV

What does it look like to be filled with all joy and peace? Or to overflow with hope?

Well, that’s what I wish for you this new year. I think you’ll agree with me when I say, we could all use a little more joy, peace, and hope in our lives!

A man’s heart plans his way, But the LORD directs his steps.

Proverbs 16:9-HCSB

Life never turns out quite the way we thought it would. It’s comforting to know that He is the one who, as other translations put it, “decides where we will go“, “guides each step“, or “directs his steps and makes them sure“. If God is the one directing each step I take, then I can more fully enjoy today, knowing that I’m right where He wants me.

Despite the harsh temperatures and cutting wind, the sun still draws me out of my house to capture a few beautiful winter shots.

We were given the opportunity to borrow a friends’ canoe to take out on the Pembina River. The day we choose to head out was warm but windy and it took us an hour and a half to travel up river, a short distance that is just a 10 minute walk. After a short break we then turned back and made the same distance in just 20 minutes.

In Alberta we enjoyed a white water rafting trip down the Athabasca River. The water was very cold, even in late August, and the view was unforgettable.

We drove over to Old Fort Point just before sunset to check out a scenic lookout up a hill that overlooked the Athabasca River, Twin Lakes, and the small town.

Whistler, BC is known for it’s ski hills but we visited in the summer, when the snow is replaced with green and a smattering of wild flowers as well as hikers, exploring the steep trails. We purchased some tickets and rode the Peak 2 Peak Gondola, the world’s longest unsupported span at 3.024km (1.88miles), and enjoyed the view.

My family rented two tandem bicycles and rode them around Stanley Park in Vancouver. Having locked up our bikes, we also ventured inland on foot to walk around Beaver Lake where I took these pictures.

If you’re asking, I rode on the back of the bike and just held on for my life. But when I stopped being afraid of crashing, I found I had a great view riding the seawall bike path.