I often think that I’d be happier living in a moderate climate when I could give away my box full of winter hats, gloves and scarves. I mourn for the green picnic groves and rainbowed sails wafting by on the lake, but so far, close family ties have bound me to Pennsylvania.

This winter I’ve been more aware of the seasonal contrasts and have come to appreciate what I used to think of as winter barrenness. The half-frozen lake fascinates me as I watch geese walk gingerly along the icy edge while their buddies ride lapping ripples; seagulls manning the dock where in summer, sunbathers and fishermen place themselves strategically for a bite or a burn.

Like the landscape, I, too, am in a transition; the closing of one chapter and anticipating the next, with some fuzzy idea of where I’m heading. I feel a little like Abraham called out of Ur, away from the familiar, comfortableness of his life. Step-by-step he walked, day-after-day, toward a promise. I, too, have a promise, “…Those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.” (Psalm 34:10)

I've begun an assignment in a writing workbook and the first question I had to answer was, "Who is my hero?" I was surprised how hard it was as I dug through the recesses of my mind at bible characters, relatives, politicians and friends. This status changes over time because of where I am personally.

Tonight I have settled on Phyllis K. Question number one answered.

Question two: "What makes this person a heroine to you?" Phyllis has suffered incredible losses in life, more than any one person should have to bear--more than most COULD bear. But the first time I met her and every time since, she has had a sweet, joyful, and other-centered spirit. She is truly compassionate and kind toward people, and reaches out to those who hurt, offering them comfort.

She is this way not because she is a strong person, but because she has found her own comfort and strength through Jesus Christ. Phyllis claims no glory for herself, but is humble and sometimes seems unsure of herself and her gifts. But God is alive through her, filling her up.

She is my heroine and I'm honored to be a friend of hers.

Today I tried a crazy experiment. Let me go back to yesterday. I was kind of sad all day but went through all the appropriate motions and accomplished the work I needed to get done. Then today I dragged getting out of bed and the house, and while driving to work I realized that my lower face felt like a ten-pound sack. This has got to end, I said to myself.

I’d read an article a few months ago (I forget where) about a study on facial expressions. The research was done on people all over the world and it was discovered, not surprisingly, that no matter what culture we live in, we all use the same facial expressions to show similar emotions.

I also read in that study that it’s nearly impossible to be sad when you are smiling. So, as I drove up Route 113 I forced myself to smile. At first it wasn’t a regular, nice smile, but a Huge, Fake GRIN. I grinned and said “good morning” (no kidding) to a truck going the other way, to a speed limit sign, to a tree.

Then my grin evolved into laughter as I realized how silly I was being. But that was okay because next, I said, “Good morning farm because you give me something beautiful to look at.” "Good morning CVS because I can buy make-up there and medicine when I’m not feeling good.” “Good morning traffic light because you make driving to work safe for me.” And all the while, I was still smiling. The experiment really worked.

But that’s not all…

When I got to my office I smiled my biggest smile to Carol who looked at me sort of askance. After settling in at my desk, I looked out the window to check on my friends, Charlie, Charlotte and Buster who are always in and out of the bird feeder, when my eyes lit upon a bright, pink FLAMINGO inches from the window. In Pennsylvania.

My co-worker just had a feeling today that I might need a little cheering up. God bless her. After a while, though, we realized that Pinky had scared off all of our true feathered friends, but he had done his job and was put away. It turned out to be a great day.