The Howell Blessings

It is already late fall, where did this year go?  The autumn season is quickly approaching official winter where it is time to rest, to hibernate, and to reflect on what this year has brought into our lives. This year has brought many things in our family to celebrate and many things to pray for. I am thankful for those wonderful things to celebrate as they bring joy and new life. And I am thankful for those things to pray about as it makes fresh to me to be thankful for those I care deeply about and appreciate the time and memories I've shared with them.  Now it is time to follow the bears. It's time to hibernate and recharge. Just like the seasons that come upon us here in the Midwest, we have reason to celebrate the season and to hibernate.   In the fall, I find myself wanting to be outside, putting things in order, and preparing things to brace against the long, cold winter. In my personal life I take time to organize things that have gotten out of co...

Today was the first snow of the season! Facebook was buzzing with folks all over expressing their love or hate of snow. Others were poking fun at the drivers who, every year, act as if they've never driven in snow before. Nov. 12, 2013 - Our back yard Ecclesiastes 3:1 states " There is a time   for everything,  and a season for every activity under the heavens..." I grew up with the changing seasons, but later lived many years in the south where there was seemingly only two seasons, hot and brown or  briefly, cold and brown.  I thank God for the four season. Although cold is hardly my favorite temperature, I have learned to appreciate the good it does. Plant life hibernates to grow stronger in the spring, the insect population dwindles, and the earth rests under blankets of snow.  This is also the season of holidays, snowmen, and a time to catch up on indoor projects! The snow lures me to discover each morning the clues left behi...