In Like a Lion...

March came "In Like a Lion"...

And has only taken breaks to smile at us...

...before leaping in with another heavy snow storm and road-plugging wind. 

The hilltop which we call "The Pass" is now closed completely, and the township had to bring in a snow-blower to open a path for our neighbor to get out the other direction. Plows gave up on pushing the growing walls back.

While spring may look far off, we still have flowers to enjoy indoors.

And outdoors the sunsets, fresh air, and snow continue to provide joy!





~ Hannah

Take a Deep Breath...

Take a Deep Breath! And another...

You may already feel more relaxed!

Studies show how purposely focusing on taking deep breaths can not only reduce stress and anxiety - helping the parasympathetic part of the nervous system to override fight/flight/freeze/fawn reactions of the sympathetic system. But deep breathing is also shown to lower blood pressure and improve the symptoms of COPD!

Why not do it more often?! A couple easy methods are:

- Breathe in fully through the nose (expanding both the gut and chest), then breathe out slowly through the mouth to a count of 8 or more. Repeat for several minutes whenever possible.

- Breathe in 4 seconds, hold 4 seconds, breathe out 4 seconds, hold 4 seconds; Repeat for several minutes.

And let me know how it helps you!

A Note from Amy Carmichael (& picture from home)

I am shut up, and I cannot come forth. (Psalm 88:8)
Rejoice the soul of Thy servant. (Psalm 86:4)

"Very few of you are shut up. For those few who are, these words will be, I think, a great help. The way of joy is the way of release for our spirit, even though the flesh (which is the least part of us) cannot come forth.

"But I write the words for you today because I think perhaps some are shut up in another way: some difficult thing has to be done, and you do not feel you can do it; you are shut up in discouragement, and you think you cannot come forth. Thank God, you can. There is liberty and victory for you. Look up to Him whose joy is your strength. Pray this prayer: 'Rejoice the soul of Thy servant.' For you too the way of joy is the way of release."

~ Amy Carmichael in Edges of His Ways - March 11

Smile!

SMILE!! 😊

Why?!?

Because smiling and laughing (even when they feel fake) sends signals to our brain that all is well. Our brain then releases "happy hormones" that make us feel even better! 

Rather than staying stuck in the stress, pain, fear, anger, anxiety, or whatever tries to steal our joy (and starts a vicious cycle by releasing stress hormones that hurt us even more)...

Let's choose to smile! 😄

If someone catches you with a smile plastered on your face for no reason, just explain that you are practicing to send healing signals to your brain.

And your smile may just be contagious! ☺️

Meanwhile, remember what God's word says in Nehemiah 8:10 — "the joy of the LORD is your strength."