Deep Breaths

Remember bag of accompaniment books. Check.
Remember cough drops. Check.
Remember a bottle of water. Check.
Remember Advil. Check.
Remember a book for the bus ride. Check.
Remember mug of coffee. Check.
Remember to take a photo of snow falling outside of Burrton Schools. NO CHECK.

Snow fell during a good portion of the morning yesterday at Burrton as we rushed from one room to the next at the Heart of the Plains League music festival. The big windows in the school hallways formed frames as big, wet flakes clung to blades of green grass.

Just like that snow fell gently yesterday, I felt the prayers of friends and family gently covering me and "my" students yesterday - just like I'd asked.

Yesterday morning, this was the message from Our Prayer Daily Scripture and Reflection Newsletter from Guideposts, which arrives every day in my email inbox. It felt like it was written especially for me:

A Time to Think

Sometimes the most important thing in a whole day is the rest we take between two deep breaths, or the turning inwards in prayer for five short minutes. –Etty Hillesum

A Time to Act

Relax and accept God's grace in times of stress.

A Time to Pray

Lord, thank You for renewing me and giving me a life that has purpose and meaning.

A dusting of snow on April Fool's Day 2013

While I didn't take time to take a photo outside the school windows yesterday, I did snap a few pictures on April Fool's Day as winter played a joke on the calendar that says that spring has arrived.

It's no joke: Snow and sleet on April Fool's Day 2013.

Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection,

 not in books alone, 

but in every leaf in springtime.

 –Martin Luther

He writes the promise of Resurrection, Love and Grace just as surely in a spring storm as prayers fall as gently as snow - or when a middle school girl gives a heartfelt thank you.