weather – Woman Warrior

church, flower, God, goodness, need, prayer, rain, renew, scripture, season, sin, Spiritual, spring, weather

Newness And Goodness

Posted on May 4, 2026 by deannagreensandgardenart

Spring has been absolutely lovely these past few days. A couple days of shifting winds and storms keep us weather aware and on our toes. Before the wind and rain tore the petals off the blooms I brought in a few blooms from the peony bushes and bed of irises to make a bouquet. The other days the sun shone, and the air has been just a bit cool but refreshing. This day, listening to the thunder rumble and the few raindrops splatter on the spring green foliage is divine. Watching the hummingbirds feed on the sugar water makes my world stop for those few seconds while each take their turn at feeder near my atelier window. The newness and goodness of the season echo how good our God is.

The refreshing nature of spring rains reminds me how I am washed and renewed into a new life with Jesus. The Hebrew word for “good” is “tov”, and it appears well over 500 times in the Old Testament. The Greek word for “good” is “agathos”, and it is in the New Testament over 100 times. “Good” outnumbers “bad” by a long shot in the holy scriptures. The word “bad” is only mentioned 17 times. A similar word “evil” or “wrongdoing” is mentioned over 150 times. The word “sin” appears over 400 times in the Bible. Is not that the nature of good, it outweighs bad every time?

Last week I had a friend ask me if I have done “good” lately. I was thinking, “well, I haven’t done bad as of late.” For that matter the word “bad” isn’t usually in my vocabulary. There is too much good to do, to do bad. Where I fault is what I fail to do out of ignorance, inconvenience, or selfishness. In the Catholic service we make a confessional prayer called the Confiteor (Latin for “I confess”) at the beginning of each Mass which includes these words:

“I confess to almighty God
and to you, my brothers and sisters,
that I have greatly sinned,
in my thoughts and in my words,
in what I have done and in what I have failed to do,
through my fault, through my fault,
through my most grievous fault…”

Next time I am asked if I have done good lately or what is that good I did lately; I will consider this question a prompting. What needs are in the immediate world around me? Then I will act on the need to make good.

baby, flower, God, home, mind, renew, season, spring, weather, words, write

Almost Here

Posted on March 17, 2026 by deannagreensandgardenart

It is almost here! Spring! The spring equinox is three days away! It is the day we have equal time of sunlight and night. The cold front that came in on Sunday was winter’s last “ha-ha”, or we hope anyway. The songbirds have been busy preparing their nests. Hopefully, any eggs laid have been kept warm during this dip in temperatures. Our daffodils came and went. We await the pops of color and fragrance with the red buds, cherry blossoms, and tulips in our backyard. We await rebirth and babes.

“Consider how the wildflowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.” ~ Luke 12:27 NIV

Last week my husband and I steeled away from work and home. While traveling to southern Missouri, Tennessee, and Arkansas the flowering trees such as plum and red buds showed off their colors in the woods. My preoccupation with God’s magnificent craftmanship and restrained screen time, words ran through my mind. The words eventually came out in this poem I wrote.

Spring’s Early Attire

The naked woods are preparing

to be dressed in their finest.

From the earth sprouting green buds,

then lavenders giving passionate kisses.

Soon sunshine yellow is feathered

around buttons on long emerald wands.

Pure white blossoms flutter

soft hallelujahs in the spring breeze.

Lacey veils and green sheaths contrast,

coverlets complete each other.

The periwinkle is gently whispered,

the pinks layered in chiffon ruffles.

Clusters of mauve popping in the trees

like wedding bouquets the branches hold.

Austere reds, oranges, and purples

some scalloped edges, others spray black.

The spectacular fashion show stages

in textured colors for the warming season.

Anna Marie Gall ~ March 2026

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My Hiding Place

Posted on November 19, 2025 by deannagreensandgardenart

These days into mid-autumn have been slow. We all went through the painful federal furlough. It was like walking in the dark bumping into the furniture. And for many not without injury to their budgets and daily necessities. Dean and I buckled down on our spending the past 6 weeks. We cooked from scratch, had the crock out a few times to make that whole chicken stretch for 3 or 4 meals, cheap entertainment like reading books, writing, and a free visit to the art museum with friends. The cooler weather made it easy to stay indoors, but we did manage to get a few walks in the neighborhood and on historic Main Street in our hometown of St. Charles on those warmer days.

“You are my hiding place. You will protect me from trouble, and surround me with songs of deliverance.” ~ Psalm 32:7

Buckling down also made me more aware of those provisions God gives daily, hourly, and every minute of my day. Another morning to wake up to, a warm bed to sleep in, running water, a heating pad for my arthritic joints, hands that still chop and stir for the seniors in our community as well as Dean and I, and other simple pleasures of home. The Almighty’s power and that soft power of home that provides daily. I am surrounded. I am in His hiding place.

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Warmth For Wear And Your Soul

Posted on November 3, 2024November 3, 2024 by deannagreensandgardenart

Yesterday my 5-minute drive to my morning occupation was met with a cold fog. I craved a hot cocoa and anticipated fixing a mug of frothy warmth and comfort when I got into work. No hot cocoa mix in stock at work and its now placed on the order list for next week. All day I was craving that chocolatey comfort which only hot cocoa can provide. After a long, busy week, Friday evening I finally sat down on my living room couch and indulged in a cup of warm cocoa. My daughter’s two dogs, Beatrice and Grimmy joined me for some cuddle time while I cradled the hot mug in my cold hands and my favorite blankie hugged my legs. This is comfort at its best. I am thankful to be given this comfort I craved. Let me not take this privilege for granted.

October’s brisk mornings have led to November’s colder air arrival and the promise to get even colder, prepared or not. By the grace of God, Dean and I have several layers of clothes and warm bedding to prepare for the impeding winter season. Jeans, leggings, long underwear, long sleeve t-shirts, sweatshirts, sweaters, wraps, ponchos, capes, coats, gloves, hats, scarves, socks, boots, slippers, blankets, throws; plenty to layer up in. Most of us go into the cold-weather season equipped to stay warm while about outdoors or living snug in our homes. But some folks have less for one reason or another, so why not share? How many people do not have these garments and blankets, wrought with poverty, calamity, crises, poor health, and a devastating hurricane?

“Know that all things of the heart root for you on this new day…Your heart knows what to do. Trust it.”

~ SC Lourie, Butterflies and Pebbles

My heart has been preparing for the people of Asheville, North Carolina. No way could these people have known what would happen with a tropical storm that started hundreds of miles away from them late in September. Preparations were none. Dean and I are traveling to Asheville in less than 2 weeks. We hope to bring the SUV filled with winter wear for the folks who are recovering from the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. This will be a very long recovery for so many. Their first full winter in the mountains will be a trying one. We have gathered some clothing items and a couple of throws but could use more gloves and hats of all sizes as well as blankets and throws. These provisions are a dent in the great need.

If your warm soul would like to donate, you are in the St. Louis area, and we are FB friends, please send me a personal message. Together we will figure out the best way to get your donation to us before we leave. Also, if you care to directly donate funds to the Asheville folks, I have this donation link to an established non-profit organization called BeLoved Asheville. This faith-based group has provided clothing, housing, food, job training, etc. to the community of Asheville for years. Here is a link to a news article about this wonderful organization. Pray, and let the Holy Spirit guide you.