It has been bitterly cold lately! We've been experiencing some "arctic" weather here in Montana! It's been below zero alot of the time. In fact it's been like that over alot of the country! I've been hearing alot of people complaining lately (along with myself!!) I just spent 2 weeks in sunny, 70 degree weather in San Diego and then I came home to 10 degree weather! I found myself saying several times, "Why do I live here!"
The other day it was so cold. I went out to my truck to get it warmed up. I put the key in the door lock and it wouldn't turn. The lock was frozen! I went over to the other side and that lock was frozen also! I went to the back window and tried to open it but that was frozen shut! I went back over to the passenger door and tried the key again. I got it to wiggle a little but was trying to be careful not to break the key off in the lock!! I didn't feel like going in and getting a blow dryer so I was blowing my hot breath on it! (ha ha!!) After almost hyperventilating, I got it to loosen up! Finally the key turned and the lock opened! Ahhhh! Victory!
I then pulled the door handle to open the door and realized that the door was also frozen shut!! Aaaaaugh! I found something to try to pry the door open with. Trying really hard not to put a scratch or dent in it, I got the door open! Yay! I got inside and climbed over to the drivers side to unlock that door. The inside lock was frozen! Unable to get a good grip on the lock with my gloves on, I decided to remove them . . . bad idea. After trying to get the lock up after several minutes my fingers started to feel like they had frostbite! But it actually worked! I got the lock open. Then I went to pull the handle up to open the door and that door was frozen shut!! Is this getting comical yet?!
Instead of getting out and trying to pry that door open I just decided to kick it open from the inside with my feet! It opened!! I finally got the car started to warm it up! Being worn out from just trying to get in the car (ha ha), I decided I would let the defroster try to melt some of the ice on the windows instead of trying to scrape it off!!
Just another typical winter day in Montana! . . . How is this a blessing you ask?
Well, here is how it's a blessing . . . I've finally entered that wonderful stage of life . . . The "hot flash" stage! All I have to say about that is, "WOW!!!!!" I guess every woman is different but for me, it feels like my head is on fire!! Literally! My head and my face get so hot. It feels like I'm burning up! I'm not sure what God was thinking with this one but I'm sure there's a point to it . . . anyway it's going on my list of questions to ask Him when I see Him! (tee hee)
ANYWAY, as my head starts to heat up like a furnace all I have to do is walk outside! The bitterly cold weather cools me off and comforts me!!!!! It takes a good 5 or 10 minutes out in 10 degree weather to help the hot flash subside . . but it works!! I have my own personal hot flash helper and it's free!!
I don't think ANY time is a good time for "hot flashes" but if I'm going to have them, then "winter in Montana" is a good place to get them! (ha ha!) I'm thankful for the arctic chill and the bitterly cold weather and it's my HUGE blessing as I try to ease my way into "old age"!
You can find a blessing in ANYTHING if you look hard enough! God is good!
"When you walk through the fire, you will not be scorched, nor will the flame burn you!" Isaiah 43:2 . . . (tee hee . . I couldn't resist that verse!)
" . . . For the Lord has comforted His people and will have compassion on His afflicted." Isaiah 49:13
Blessings from Patrice!
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
Thursday, January 7, 2010
My Biggest Blessing
There's almost no words to describe the love of a mother for her child! You just do things for them without thinking and you don't know why . . It's an instinct that God gave you to love your child unconditionally! I'd like to think He gave that to us to give us a small idea of His amazing love for us that we can never really fully understand!
A mother's love gives us our first glimpse of heaven . . And my daughter is my biggest blessing and my little piece of heaven on earth . . Thank you Lord for her!
"Children are a gift from the Lord." Psalm 127:3
Blessings from Patrice!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
The Blessing of an Answered Prayer
There's two things you should know about me for this story. I don't like driving long distance and I don't like being a passenger. If I'm going to have to travel a long distance by car, I'd much rather be in control of the vehicle.
Soooo anyway, I just had a lonnnng journey home from San Diego back to Montana after our Christmas vacation. We drove!! . . . 1265 miles to be exact and guess what? . . . I was the passenger!
It was "smooth sailing" all the way through California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Idaho. In fact it was a very beautiful and peaceful drive. Since I wasn't driving the car, I was able to look at the scenery and just bask in the beauty that is this earth that God created. It was really cool to see how the scenery changed from state to state. I was actually enjoying the ride.
Then we got near Montana. It started snowing lightly. Then the roads became very icy. As we crossed the border into Montana, the more snow there was and the more snow-packed and icy the roads became. Then we ran into fog. It was dark anyway because it was about 7:00am, but the visibility got worse and worse. We could only see a few feet in front of us. Okay, did I tell you I also hate icy roads and fog!! As we drove very slowly and were unable to see, I wondered to myself "Why do I actually live here?!?"
So being the neurotic person that I am, I started to become a little anxious . . okay, QUITE anxious! I kept saying to myself, Patrice, you don't need to be anxious because God said He would take care of you. In fact, He promised you! But that didn't seem to be helping. I decided it was time for me to pray.
I closed my eyes and I said "God . . Guess what? Here I am, anxious again, and not trusting that you will take care of me. I know that you always get me through these scary weather/driving situations but I'm still a little anxious, Lord, because I am not in control of the car. The other day a friend of mine told me this cool story about how she was driving in the fog late at night and she was afraid and she prayed for you to part the fog like you did the Red Sea and she said that you did it!! You parted the fog for her and she was able to see and drive home safely! Well, I believe that you did that for her so it's my turn today God. I'm asking you to part the fog and help us to see the road. You're an awesome God and whatever happens I will trust in you to take care of us. In your precious and Holy and wonderful name I ask, and pray, Amen.
You can't even imagine what I saw when I opened my eyes . . . There was a hole in the fog and you could see the road! A few seconds later we came out of the fog like coming out of a tunnel! The sky was blue, the sun was bright, and the roads were clear. I can't even begin to describe the feeling I felt at that moment. Tears just started flowing from my eyes as I was filled with the love of God! He parted the fog just for me, just because I asked Him. And not only did He part the fog, but He cleared the roads and made the sun shine! How awesome is that! I closed my eyes one more time and said "Thank you Lord!"
What a moment that was getting to see and feel the love of God first hand and what a blessing having a prayer answered immediately! I'll most likely become anxious again at some point in my life but I know I can come to Him with any anxieties and He will take care of them and take them away. And needless to say, we made it home safely to beautiful, breath-taking, peaceful, wonderful Montana and now I remember again why I live there!
"When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." Ephesians 3:14-19
Blessings from Patrice!
Soooo anyway, I just had a lonnnng journey home from San Diego back to Montana after our Christmas vacation. We drove!! . . . 1265 miles to be exact and guess what? . . . I was the passenger!
It was "smooth sailing" all the way through California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Idaho. In fact it was a very beautiful and peaceful drive. Since I wasn't driving the car, I was able to look at the scenery and just bask in the beauty that is this earth that God created. It was really cool to see how the scenery changed from state to state. I was actually enjoying the ride.
Then we got near Montana. It started snowing lightly. Then the roads became very icy. As we crossed the border into Montana, the more snow there was and the more snow-packed and icy the roads became. Then we ran into fog. It was dark anyway because it was about 7:00am, but the visibility got worse and worse. We could only see a few feet in front of us. Okay, did I tell you I also hate icy roads and fog!! As we drove very slowly and were unable to see, I wondered to myself "Why do I actually live here?!?"
So being the neurotic person that I am, I started to become a little anxious . . okay, QUITE anxious! I kept saying to myself, Patrice, you don't need to be anxious because God said He would take care of you. In fact, He promised you! But that didn't seem to be helping. I decided it was time for me to pray.
I closed my eyes and I said "God . . Guess what? Here I am, anxious again, and not trusting that you will take care of me. I know that you always get me through these scary weather/driving situations but I'm still a little anxious, Lord, because I am not in control of the car. The other day a friend of mine told me this cool story about how she was driving in the fog late at night and she was afraid and she prayed for you to part the fog like you did the Red Sea and she said that you did it!! You parted the fog for her and she was able to see and drive home safely! Well, I believe that you did that for her so it's my turn today God. I'm asking you to part the fog and help us to see the road. You're an awesome God and whatever happens I will trust in you to take care of us. In your precious and Holy and wonderful name I ask, and pray, Amen.
You can't even imagine what I saw when I opened my eyes . . . There was a hole in the fog and you could see the road! A few seconds later we came out of the fog like coming out of a tunnel! The sky was blue, the sun was bright, and the roads were clear. I can't even begin to describe the feeling I felt at that moment. Tears just started flowing from my eyes as I was filled with the love of God! He parted the fog just for me, just because I asked Him. And not only did He part the fog, but He cleared the roads and made the sun shine! How awesome is that! I closed my eyes one more time and said "Thank you Lord!"
What a moment that was getting to see and feel the love of God first hand and what a blessing having a prayer answered immediately! I'll most likely become anxious again at some point in my life but I know I can come to Him with any anxieties and He will take care of them and take them away. And needless to say, we made it home safely to beautiful, breath-taking, peaceful, wonderful Montana and now I remember again why I live there!
"When I think of all this, I fall to my knees and pray to the Father, the Creator of everything in heaven and on earth. I pray that from His glorious, unlimited resources He will empower you with inner strength through His Spirit. Then Christ will make His home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God's love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God's people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep His love is. May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God." Ephesians 3:14-19
Blessings from Patrice!
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