Snow!

 Look up....

From bleakening hills
Blows down the light, first breath
Of wintry wind...look up, and scent
The snow!

Adelaide Crapsey

--Carli Nicole                                                                

ps. how do you like the new design??

Echoes of Yesterday (part i)

So I am going to start this irregular series about special memories of growing up, "Echoes of Yesterday". In 'irregular', I mean this will not be a weekly or monthly post, it will be something I will write whenever I remember something special about the 'old days'.

   You could say I grew up in the mountains, because although we lived on flat land, and we had neighbors close by, every way you could look there were mountains.

{via}

I spent many years in that place, before we moved away. That place will always be special to me, however far away I am. There was always something comforting about looking up, and seeing those blue peaks rising above the forest. Some sort of protection, I guess. Whenever I was lonely and afraid, when life was changing so fast I couldn't keep up, I would see 'my mountain' standing there, ever steady, unchanging and it was always comforting. I remember some mornings I would wake to see the mountain covered in fog. Daddy would always tease me that 'a big truck had come and taken the mountain away', but soon the fog would clear, and there would stand my beloved mountain, more beautiful than ever.

Musings

It was one of those mornings. The morning you crawl out of bed, drowsily shower and dress, and step outside into the frozen air. With the camera. 

It was then I started musing, pondering life as we know it. For teens, who like me, have grown up in solid Christian homes, the gospel, and the knowledge of Christ's life is often taken for granted.

We've heard it all our lives, and it becomes something that we pass off without much thought. But have you ever thought what it would be like without the gospel? Without hope?

 

Has it ever occurred to you, that there are people all around you living in darkness without the hope or love or God? That every day--every hour--every minute, thousands of people are dying without Christ?

Have you thought that maybe, just maybe, that cool, confident girl that always bothers you so much is really searching--starving for the love of God, for forgiveness, for peace? Have you ever wondered if there is something you should do about that?

I think that a lot of times we forget that God has called us to be lights in the world around us. We forget that all around us are people that are living in darkness and sin, needy for salvation and forgiveness. We forget that it is our duty to share with the them, the salvation that God has so graciously given to us. 

And so I challenge you, take a minute to remember all that Christ has given you. And remember those around you, lost and broken, some never having heard the saving gospel of Christ...Remember your responsibility to share what God has given you.

--Carli

p.s. Check out the lovely giveaways, here, here, and here!

Christmas lights

'Twas 23 days before Christmas, and I couldn't resist the the urge....

Linking to {A Ray of Sunshine}

{Sereina Charise}

Linking to Emily Grace's Growth photo challenge

Quiet days

Thanksgiving was really quiet, and felt pretty dull. I was feeling kind of down until I stepped outside. 

It was a beautiful day.

The air was crisp and clear. The still bare countryside spread smoothly to meet the cloudless blue sky. Although there is no snow, and most of the fall leaves are a dull brown, the landscape is still dotted with bright colors.

 Sooc shot

sooc shot

 

sooc shot

Check out the amazing giveaways here, and here! and here!

 

 

                    --Carli Nicole