One of my biggest joy's last week was seeing a small flock of hoary redpolls. These tiny birds- no more than 5 1/2" long with a tiny red cap are visiting from the arctic where they live and breed on the tundra. They allowed us- my daughter and I to approach them - we were on our bicycles and come quite close. They were eating dirt on the icy road the sanding truck left behind. The experience reminded me of a bible verse in St. Matthew 10: 29-31. "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows."
On a beautiful spring day my daughter and I saw this green comma in our yard last week. It was the first butterfly of the season. It had overwintered as an adult butterfly. After a cold winter it seems to me a miracle how this little creature survived. I feel encouraged by this butterfly. Since it survived the harsh winter than I too with God's help can survive the harshness of this life. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."Phil. 4:13 kjv 
I was walking with my daughter through the black spruce tree's behind my property. There are no roads in here making it a wild space. I was looking for birds when suddenly large, dark wings dropped down through the tree's and as silently as a feather falls through the air it disappeared ahead. We walked on in breathless anticipation when suddenly I saw the alarmed great gray owl looking uneasily at us with yellow eyes and then it swooped down among the black, inky, green trees and disappeared. I did a victory dance. I had turned 50 and my daughter 13. I was alive, healthy and despite all the heartache, loss and sadness I felt joy. I am thankful to God who sustains not only the owl but me. "He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Matt 5:45 NIV
