Mid Winter in the Northeast

By now the Floridians' jokes are old about the snow in the north ad he sunshine in the south. Actually they crack me up but for different reasons! Like the friend who posted a picture of us shoveling snow and him sitting on the beach. Just so happens that morning in souther Florida it was 39 degrees, hardly beach weather. No doubt what he was shoveling and was not sand!

I know it is warm for the most part in winter in Florida but I have also been there and I want to tell you it is no north east summer! The pool water is cold, not even bearable t the northerners who get stared down as insane by the locals.

This week a dear friend went to central Florida and posted pictures of herself in a winter coat. When someone asked she replied that it was in the 40's. Of course it unusual but again it is not summer there. Go another half hour south to Haiti and you will experience summer like weather. I have been there and am heading back in 5 weeks.

What about those of us who live above the Mason Dixon Line? We wait for the Ground Hog. Punxustany Phil will tell us if we are going to have an early spring or not. Then there is the evidences of spring on the ground and in the air. The birds nesting and the crocus and daffodils breaking through the solidly frozen ground. That is happening right now. So we wait for spring... those who loathe winter. I am not among them. On the contrary I rather enjoy the cold and snow. 

Its a Marshmallow World in the winter, 

Take a walk with your favorite girl,

Its a sugar date,

What if spring is late?

In winter its a marshmallow world!

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=6lPw9hkk3II

A Time To Be Born And A Time To Die

I lost a dear friend yesterday. Bob was my main supporter in the church I have pastored for over 31 yeas now. He was not a "Yes Man". On the contrary he told me when I was wrong and pointed out things that I needed to pay attention to. He did it with a straight forward style that was his alone.

He prayed for me often. We were in three weekly prayer groups together. 

He worked hard at the church, harder and more dedicated than any man I have seen in my 36 plus years of pastoring.

He loved things I love: gardening, fishing, crabbing and eating! He also loved His LORD. We shared many many times together. He taught me how to roof. He listened to my struggles and put them into perspective.

He taught my kids in Sunday School along with hundreds of others over the years. My grandkids knew him and loved him.

He is in heaven today, probably doing yard work up there with a golden lawnmower!

I have one more strong reason to want to go there. I loved him. I miss him. I am so thankful for the honor of being his pastor all these years.