ORIGINAL ART & POETRY BY PAUL & KATHY BOECHER

Seems like we can’t escape winter so far this year. Our neighborhood has been a winter wonderland for the last couple weeks. Each day begins with a light dusting upon cars and roads, creating a whitewash of sorts. As the days progress we see more accumulation. I’m blessed to have my grandson to take care of these issues. I haven’t had to drive much, because I’m still recovering from pneumonia. i can attend church online. The mad dash to purchase gifts has been limited. More folks are opting to order things online. The world of technology can even make it possible to become a hermit I recall years gone by, when I could still shovel my own driveway in a short time. I could make a snowman with my kids. I could find plenty of chores indoors to keep me occupied. I might even be able to take a trip across the snow on cross country skis. Today, I’ve been consigned to my sweet old house. Because my grandson lives with me, I’m able to keep my little, old house for the time being. As we get older, our bodies hold us back from many of the things we used to do, but we also learn that we need to slow down during this portion of our journey. I have a tough time with that, because I’ve always had a very busy and active life. So, as I look at this amazing sketch in watercolor pencils, I realize just how blessed my life is. I’ve come to the last chapters of this journey. There is still beauty in the aging process. Change isn’t always good, but it’s necessary. Heaven is waiting for me as I wait for God to carry me there. Every change that happens to us, keeps each day an adventure. As we look forward to the birthday of our Savior we take one step closer to Him.

THANK YOU, JESUS, FOR ANOTHER DAY CLOSER TO BEING WITH YOU!

Trees will soon be empty,

Leaving mere skeletal remains until the snow melts,

Still there is beauty in the emptiness,

There is glory in the dead branches,

Like us,

They will be transformed,

Though dormant for a time,

New life returns,

God sends it through His Only Begotten Son,

His own flesh and blood,

Perfect in every way,

To breathe life into us again,

The grave has no dominion,

Death has lost its sting,

Through Jesus, Christ, our Savior,

Eternity without sin awaits us.