Time to Play

Saturday morning we woke to a good amount of snow....nothing drastic like parts of Long Island, Connecticut or Boston. 

After Dave & Matt along with our neighbor and his teen sons "removed" the snow, we headed out for lunch and then a few small errands. One errand included having to get Emily snow boots. The only boots we had for her were size 3...... we bought her new boots, size 5. The girl is growing like crazy!!

Dave took the kids to another town to go sledding. When they returned home, the kids stayed outside to play some more.  Matt was busy building a fort, Dave pitched in to help him.  Emily, she was busy ringing the doorbell trying to get me to come and answer with no one there.  She then took the time to throw snowballs at me standing at the dining room window. It is something she does every snow fall.  

What shocked me most was that Emily came in from outside first. Usually Matt succumbs to the cold weather first but not this time. Both kid were very happy to find hot chocolate with marshmallows when they came inside.  

A Little Bit of White

Like the majority of the northeast, we had a taste of winter visit us on Friday. When we woke that morning, nothing was happening but by the time the kids were headed out the door for school the flakes started to fall. Because of the predicted deterioration of conditions later in the day, Dave was able to work from home. This was such a relief knowing he would not be making his 40+ minute drive home later in the day. 

Due to his being home, Dave and I were able to have an impromptu lunch date. A nice perk to his working from home. 

Our early snow had turned into a few hours of sleet, which shortly after lunch turned back to snow. When we went to pick up the kids, the streets were getting a little tough to maneuver. Thankfully we made it home safely and spent the rest of the evening indoors.  

This picture was taken around 7 pm Friday evening. Dave had gone out to do a quick shoveling. Overnight is when we were expected to get the majority of our precipitation.  

The kids for reasons unknown to us woke up at 5:30 the next morning and were thrilled with the snow. Thankfully, our neighbor assisted with snow removal with is snow blower. Dave went out to help him and his two teen boys. Of course, when Matt saw all the "boys" outside, he asked to go out and  help.  So, I geared him up and out he went. He helped with the shoveling of a fellow neighbor's driveway. I was so proud when Dave told me of his efforts.  

The sad part for the kids was that they still have not had a "school closed" snow day.  There is still some "winter" left for that to happen!!

We've Had Snow

On Saturday the 29th, we got snow. 

It was beautiful....the kind of snow that clung to the trees and covered everything so nicely. It was like "walking in a winter wonderland" kind of snow, soft & fluffy. 

The kids would have preferred much more snow and it happening on a school day.  I, on the other hand, was happy I had no where to be and could enjoy the snow from the warmth of indoors. 

A Year Ago Tonight

It was just a year ago tonight that we were waiting for an October snow storm to come to our area.  Tonight we sit in our home waiting for Hurricane Sandy to pay us a visit. 

Already school has been cancelled for tomorrow and for many schools Tuesday also. Yes, the kids are excited, me maybe not quite so much.  

We are unsure what will come but we do know what Hurricane Irene brought just over a year ago and those memories make us a little anxious. 

Our family is blessed in that we have not had any flooding in our home but when storms with high winds come I always think of when a portion of our roof was lifted during such a storm. Of course, any flooding means being cut off from the heart of our town and portions of surrounding towns.  

Right now my thoughts and prayers are for many friends who live in flood zones in our town and surrounding towns.  There is anxiety and concern as most of them suffered great loss during Hurricane Irene and reports of this storm say it has the potential of being much worse. Many have just finished getting their homes back in order from that storm only to have it under another "threat".   The majority of these friends know that God holds all things in His hands and that He intends all for good. Many of those families were tremendous testimonies to me of God's comfort and provision to those who fear and love Him.  

It is only natural for any of us in the path of this storm to be anxious for what may come but what we must remember is that everything is for God's glory and our testimonies of His love and our love for Him are most evident in the times we struggle and are pressed.  After all it is in those times, we are to draw upon and lean on Him, "Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you." I Peter 5:7 

 I'm also reminded of something I read this week in my devotions. It said "Every difficulty demands a choice. You can waste your suffering and be miserable, or you can let the Lord use it to transform and equip you to become His valuable and effective servant." It is these times of suffering or moments of being pressed that we are shaped and equipped to be more effective for God. It is in these moments when we go to God and draw from Him.  Our relationship with Him becomes more intimate and we truly "cast all of our cares" on Him and allow Him to carry us through.  After all it is all about God and not about us.......our lives are for His glory not our own. He  will use us to be testimonies of the love and relationship that can be had with Him and sometimes that testimony is most seen in our struggles.

So, as I sit here waiting for the storm all I can pray is God use me whatever may come my way.  You hold the world in Your hand and You hold my future.

My prayers are with all who will be effected by this storm and may God use you in a mighty way....whether it be in praising Him for bringing you through unscathed or through a journey of dependence and provision in the midst of struggle.

Thank you again for allowing me to share with you! 

A Year Ago Today - Irene

It is hard to believe that a year ago today we were dealing with the aftermath of Irene. When the storm came our way, our biggest concern was that the huge oak tree on the property behind our house stay upright. It did and thankfully has since then been removed. The start of school was delayed for the kids due to flooding inside their school. 

Now, we are hearing the reports of Isaac making landfall in the South. 

I'm reminded of the mighty hand of God.  How He is always in control and of all things.  God is mighty and worthy of all praise.  He holds all things in His hands. 

May His hand of protection be on those who are feeling the effects of this storm. 

Gone in One Night

As quickly as the snow Matt predicted came, it went. On the early evening of the 23rd, the rain started to come and by morning this is what was left - just a few very small patches. The weather yesterday was in the 50's so it is safe to say that snow is officially gone.

I have to say it has been a very mild winter so far. We had our freak snow storm at the end of October and this snow was the first we've seen this year. Complaining? I am not. Although snow is good for many fun things, I don't really enjoy driving in it and shoveling has lost its attraction. My main reason for liking snow is that Emily and Matt enjoy playing in it....other than that I can leave it. :)

I have to make sure I ask Matt if he is predicting any more snow. Maybe if we don't use our snow days for school the kids will get out earlier. Now that would be awesome!!!

We Got Our Snow

Earlier in the month Matt kept telling Dave and I that it was going to snow on the 23rd. We kept watching the forecast to see if he would be correct. Well, he was off by 2 days. Early Saturday morning (3 a.m.) it started to snow and it was a welcome "small" amount. Enough for the kids to play in but not too much to shovel or inconvenient. It also helped that the snow came over the weekend when life is a little less busy.

The day was cold. Matt is not fond of the cold so he wasn't out too long. I knew it was cold though when a short time after Matt came in Emily followed....she is our snow bunny.

The kids had fun though and Matt did get snow just not on the day he predicted.