Winter Wonderland

What a surprise to wake up to this winter wonderland! O.K. we did hear that it might snow in the beginning of the week. But I haven't been keeping up with the news or weather reports for a long time.

The only radio that works in the house is the internet radio. I don't have as much time to listening to music like I did before. So I was surprised.

Big flakes were falling, then it stopped a little, after awhile it seemed like it was a misty rain, then it snowed again in fine and big flakes. We had only a couple inches. We didn't have the 7-8 inches like they did in some other places.

I didn't step out of the house for any of these photos except one. I'm kinda a house girl. I don't know why I don't go out more. I guess I like the comforts of inside. But going outside does give lots of fresh air. That's why the walking three times a week averaging 4-5 miles is wonderful.

This was a wet snow that stuck to everything. It must have rained sometime during the night before starting to snow. I don't know. But everything was LOVELY!

I think I am safe to say that winter is one of Zach's favorite seasons. He always loved to go out in the snow, even riding his bike in snow at our house prior to this one.

He is very responsible, taking on this job of shoveling the walks without being told. Today he was a man! He moved all the living room furniture for me and wiped the walls, plus carried the boxes in and out of the shed and house.

It was amazing how the snow stuck to the trees. It must have been snowing slightly from the one direction as the 'shadow' of the tree was in a pear shape.

Done with the sidewalk, Zach started with making a snowman while Braden crawled through the snow.

Love keeps the cold out better than a cloak.

-Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

He rolled this huge heavy ball to the front of the house then proceeded with the second ball.

But alas, it was too heavy for him to set on top of ball one. He asked me to come help, but I can't lift heavy at all right now. And none of the girls were into going out, either.

"Mom, I can't lift this. It's too heavy!"

Braden came inside for a glass of orange juice. Then Landon went outside to join Zach. I looked out the window a few minutes later and they were throwing snowballs at the cars. Oh dear!

And then they threw some snowballs at me or rather at the window where I was standing.

With all three united outside, the boys were able to get the snowman built. I missed watching the whole thing. Yet I was in time to see the sheer joy and pleasure in their faces.

They were off to find some sticks for the arms.

Life is just like this photo. Zach is the leader, being the oldest boy. Braden imitates whatever Zach does, and Landon tags along and mimics Braden and also Zach.

It comes every year and will go on forever.

And along with Christmas belong the keepsakes and the customs.

Those humble, everyday things a mother clings to, and ponders,

like Mary in the secret spaces of her heart.

-Marjorie Holmes

The boys needed a carrot for the nose, a hat, and some eyes and buttons.

When I was a child, we always used coal. That's the way we heated out house.

But we don't have any coal, so we used stones. And Zach found some washers for the buttons.

He/she was a friendly fellow. But tragedy! In one-half hour, the snowman fell and crashed. Zach was extremely disappointed to say the least! By then, no one felt like going out and rebuilding Mr. Frosty.

One thing Merv accomplished was to install a new kitchen window. He had it done in a couple minutes. The cold, frosty, moldy, uninsulated, hard to clean window is finally out a' here.

The new one still needs a bit of installation on the bottom where cold air threatens to come in. For now, we have a towel there.

Amber is GREAT with little ones. She loves to be creative and get the boys started with different projects. They spent a great deal cutting and pasting while the snow continued to fall silently outside.

The four sisters sat knitting away while the December snow fell quietly without, and the fire crackled cheerfully within. It was a comfortable old room, though the carpet was faded and the furniture very plain; for a good picture or two hung on the walls, books filled the recesses, chrysanthemums and Christmas roses bloomed in the windows, and a pleasant atmosphere of home - peace pervaded it.

-from Little Women by Louisa May Alcott

Peace - what a lovely word!

Then Amber went on to art - drawing this sign.

Her Daddy came in and with a teasing voice said,
"What's that doing in here? We don't need that! Get rid of it."    *smile*

By evening around 5:00, this is how it looked outside.

HOME.......

the place you prefer to be when snowed in.

Shut the door.

Not that it lets in the cold but that it lets out the coziness.

-Mark Twain, Notebook, 1898

We love this tree and have often noticed the number "5".

As I noticed these old boots covered in snow, my thoughts were drawn to things that people try to keep hidden in their lives.

Is there unforgiveness, anger, impatience, discouragement, pornography, lust, bad language, sinful habits, or other things creeping in your heart and burying you in the snow of sin? Do you hold a grudge against someone? It may just be a little thing - one little thing you don't like about him or her. But that one thing will lead to another.

How many times have I 'hated' my brother by holding an unloving attitude against him or her? If I have not loved, then I have committed murder. When I don't love my brother, I abide in DEATH. If I hate my brother, I am a murderer; and no murderer has eternal life abiding for him.

When I came across those verses in 1 John 3:14,15 several years ago, I was cut to the heart with shame and conviction. You see, I did not love this one person, couldn't stand his guts, but I read this and prayed to God to forgive me for this sin. Peace came into my soul and I have not hated him to this day. There is no way I could hate him again. Not after reading this passage of Scripture.

I encourage you to pull out your Bible and read those verses for yourself. Keep reading to the end of the chapter. Listen! God wants to change you. He's pleading for you to cleanse your hearts and turn from your wicked ways.

Since that day several years ago, have I held a grudge against someone else? Sadly, I've been guilty. But God has cleansed my from my sin and given me a love that of myself I could not possess.

When God gets ahold of your life, things CHANGE! Praise God. Time and time again, He has given me compassion and love when otherwise my flesh would have hated.

I don't claim to be perfect. There are times we may have misunderstandings between friends, but God's love has a way of forgiving and showing patience and compassion. The best thing that has helped Merv and I is to pray DAILY for those who we may have disagreed with. Prayer is a wonderful tool. And love like you've never been hurt!

Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow! God forgives and remembers no more.

Back to Saturday, the boys were coming in and MUD was everywhere. They had one last fling and that was to throw snow in the mud and watch what happened.
Again, it reminded me that sin muddies our lives. It puts you in a pit of slime and mud deeper than you ever dreamed you'd go.

Zach was in the mood to decorate for Christmas. The girls and I had been busy with laundry and cleaning so we left it to him to get the boxes from the shed and begin the work. The girls never did get in the mood to redecorate. I helped him just so we could get the boxes out of the house again. Somehow evergreens make the holiday seem more real. I'm not sure why.

We totally rearranged the living room. Zach helped to houseclean. I had been thinking of having a corner for a school room. I rather like the arrangement. I'll try to post later.

Pssst - it hasn't been cleaned up enough to show everyone else. In our small quarters, it doesn't take long to have a messy and cluttered house. It seems that's how it is all the time.

That's another bad habit I've got to plow over.

What a lovely evening that God painted for us. And inside, the lights were glowing and we were cozy.

Family


There is something about this time of year that draws family and loved ones together on a pilgrimage to the foot of the old Christmas tree. But Christmas is not in the tree, or the wreath, or the lights, or the cookies... Christmas is an opportunity to put to rest the troubles from throughtout the year and start afresh with a new display of love for one another- because one kind work at Christmastime can warm a soul for three long winter months.