January always seems like such a long month especially since we are usually caught in the throes of blustery winter weather where I live.
Snow, ice, blasts of frigid temperatures, bleak and often dismal skies. That’s usually the norm here every January. And this first month of 2019 proves no different from years past.
I happened upon this poem one day while gleaning for thoughts on our coldest season of the year and it seemed to perfectly accompany a photo I took in the dead of a January winter a couple of years ago. The poem’s ending also fits well with the ideas of light rolling around in my mind for over a week now.
January Morn
Bare branches of each tree
on this chilly January morn
look so cold so forlorn.
Gray skies dip ever so low
left from yesterday’s dusting of snow.
Yet in the heart of each tree
waiting for each who wait to see
new life as warm sun and breeze will blow,
like magic, unlock springs sap to flow,
buds, new leaves, then blooms will grow.Like heart and soul in every man
who let their light grow ever dim
a spark still burns low within
longing to burst forth, to shine again.
Like bare branches on a January morn
don’t feel cold, don’t feel forlorn.
Our Heavenly Father like warm spring sun
like gentle warm wind when called upon
will make each light burn bright again.By Nelda Hartman
January won’t last forever and neither will winter weather. Soon spring will burst forth in all its glory and winter will be frozen into the past until next year.
What’s January like in the area where you live?
©2019 mamasemptynest.wordpress.com
Mama's Empty Nest 
Our January here in southern Ontario is much like yours. It’s been blisteringly cold and snowy for several days; then well above freezing today with rain; below freezing temps predicted for the rest of the month (which means slippery roads ahead!) I keep telling myself it will soon be over and spring is just around the corner, but I admit to being impatient.
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We’ve had those slippery roads too as it keeps fluctuating between snow and rain. It was rainy and foggy today which melted some of the snow, but our driveway is very icy. Spring will come and we will be so glad for its arrival!
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Yes, January is a bleak month. We have cool temps, maybe a little snow (usually amounting to a couple of inches: all that we can handle!).
I came across a poem yesterday while looking for the handwritten items for my blog post today. I didn’t take it from where I found it, but I memorized the last line years ago: “Oh, that’s the reason a bird can sing: on his darkest day, he believes in spring!”. One of my favorites!
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Yes, spring will come and that will be a reason to sing! 🙂 I think we wouldn’t appreciate spring half as much if we didn’t experience winter. Stay warm!
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Well, here in California “cold” means fiftyish and maybe putting on a coat.
but soon beach wether will be back along shorts and teeshirts.
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Ah yes, I remember those days of 50ish temps in January when we lived in the Portland, OR area. But having grown up with very snowy, cold winter weather, I missed it when we lived there. Just call me crazy.
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Such a purposeful poem for this blustery month. In our area, “gray” is how I would describe January :/.
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Really gray today with dense fog too. ☹️
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We have 31 degrees and icy foggy roads today. I am not going anywhere. Perfect day to just stay inside and find some projects to work on. January seems so long at times and I don’t even live someplace cold or snowy but I tire of it. The poem is lovely.
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We’ve been in the deep freezer for a couple of days with single digit temps at night and wind chill below zero. But weird weather coming today – supposed to be 49 degrees then snow again this weekend. Go figure. I too thought the poem was lovely.
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This year very nasty. Those “angus” wooly bears were right! 😖
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Seems so, huh? But you have had it worse than us.
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