Winter Wonderland

We woke up to a winter wonderland this morning! I tried to take some pictures but they don't do justice to the beauty of what we are actually seeing. It's truly a winter wonderland.

Snow Day

Jerry has finished shoveling the steps and has just started shoveling the sidewalk in this picture. I'm sure he'll plow the driveway soon. We have a snow day...no school! I used to love snow days when our kids were young. They loved them too! We'd almost always go outside to shovel, go sledding (we lived on a hill), and just have fun. I remember one time I was at the bottom of the hill making a snow angel. We had a neighbor, Jack, who had a Michigan loader. Our kids called him Grandpa Jack and his wife was Grandma Jack! Jack would go up and down our road plowing folks out just for the love of doing it. He came up our driveway with his scoop full of snow, saw me making an angel, and drove over to dump the snow on top of me! I never moved so fast in my whole life! I can still see him laughing at me! Ah...sweet memories!

The Weather

Well, the weather outside is frightful...but the snow is so delightful! We're so glad we came home last evening instead of staying another day visiting family on the other side of the state, even though we were having a wonderful time with our two granddaughters. We were invited for another day but we knew this storm was coming. We're so glad to be home in our warm, cozy house. We went to church this morning but everything is cancelled for this evening because of the weather. "Dear Lord, please keep any travelers safe this weekend."

Holiday Inn Express

We have just returned from the west side of the state. We had a really fun time with our granddaughters at the Holiday Inn Express! Picture #1 shows both girls in the pool. #2 is Sydney alone. #3 is in the hot tub, each on a side of the waterfall. Beside Sydney it looks white or frosty...that's an opening to go outside! I tried it! It was great! Kids were not allowed outside. Sorry. #4 shows Sydney in her bed...this tiny girl all alone in a great big bed! Her hair is still wet so she's lying on a towel.

Bella went back to the house for the night. All in all we had a wonderful time with them and got back home before the big storm is supposed to hit! Thank you, Lord, for family!

Respect #2

Well, I guess I need to go a little further with my blogging about respect. Sometimes when a person writes, it's clear to the author what is being said but not to the reader! So, by the response I've gotten I need to clarify what I meant to say. When I said I cringe when I see someone come to church to worship God dressed like they've been working out in the yard, I'm talking about members or regular attenders, not someone off the street! We welcome everyone and are known as a very friendly church. This last Sunday we celebrated with a man who is celebrating two years of sobriety. But here's what I'm talking about: we had a family who were members and leaders in our church, their young son came every week dressed in play clothes, jeans and a tee shirt. But one Sunday he came all dressed up, slacks, white shirt, and necktie! I told him how nice he looked all dressed up. He scowled and said, "Yeah, my dad has to take a colleague out for dinner and the whole family has to go." This is what I'm talking about! We dress up for work or to make an impression on someone in business but we dress down to worship God! I don't get it.
"I will exalt you, my God the King; I will praise your name for ever and ever." Psalm 145:1

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Sean! I hope today will be a good day for you. I know you celebrated on the weekend with the whole family, minus a few (us!), but today can still be a great day for you. By the way, do you have any of that venison summer sausage left? Mmmm, Mmmm, that was good!

Dinner for Eight!

We have just come home from a dinner for eight. Maybe I should explain what this is. People signed up for a dinner and then were assigned to a certain home. Four couples to a home to make up eight. Each couple was assigned a part of the dinner. The hostess made main course, which was pork loin and apples. It was very good! I took salad and dinner rolls. I made the cauliflower and broccoli salad that I learned from my daughters and daughters-in-law and my clover-leaf rolls that our kids love. Doreen, the vegetables and Dee brought peach and lemon pies. We had a really nice time. We knew Dee and Tim but we didn't really know the other two couples so it was nice to get to know them a little bit. There were five other dinners going on at the same time. We didn't know whose house we were at until we drove up and saw the man out shoveling the walk! They all want the recipe for my salad! That was a good sign! So we now have some new friends and that's what makes the world go round!

Yada Yada

This is for any female who reads my blog! I just finished reading Yada Yada book 5 by Neta Jackson. If you haven't read any of this series I highly recommend these books to you but you need to start with book 1 and read them in order. I hope she has written book 6 and that our church library has it, but I don't know. It's about a bunch of women who get together every other week to pray for each other's families. They are from rich, poor, and middle class families, and are black, white, Asian, Central American, etc. and they are bonded together through prayer. You can't imagine the situations they find themselves in. Marian recommended them to me and I could hardly lay the books down once I started reading. The actual name of the series is the yada yada Prayer Group by Neta Jackson. I'll be interested to know if anyone reads them.

Grandson # 4

Two times a week, every other week, I drive Tyler to school in the morning. This is not a chore...it's a privelege! Tyler and I are getting to know each other on a personal level. We talk, laugh, listen, and joke with each other. We're both at the age where we need a good friend, a good listener. He's 14, I'm 68. Thanks, Tyler, for being my grandson and my friend!

Deer

Last evening we arrived home a little after 6:00, it was beginning to get dark. There were at least six deer by our far driveway! We've been seeing lots and lots of deer tracks in the snow but this was our first sighting since the last time I wrote about seeing deer! That was months ago! What a creative Creator God is!

Respect

Where has respect gone to? I don't see very much respect like we used to. There doesn't seem to be any respect for authority, for older persons, for people in leadership, even for God. I must be getting old. To me it's a matter of respect to dress up when we go to church. Respect for God...Respect for His House. Maybe I'm too old to understand but when I see someone coming to church and looking like they've been working out in the yard, I cringe. I hope it doesn't show! I don't mean to be judgemental. But why is it that coaches dress up when coaching a game? Why do newscasters dress up to report the news, even bad news? Why do folks dress up to go to a concert, wedding, funeral, dinner out, party, etc.? I just don't get it! Even pastors often don't dress up. They should be the example, instead they often seem to follow the lazy trend of just being casual even on Sunday morning for worship. Sometimes I think we should have a dress code! Last Sunday I was tempted to wear pants to church, they would have been dress pants. After all, a lot of women are wearing blue jeans to church! But then I picked out a skirt and sweater, I'm not going to follow this trend of casual dress. One Sunday, a few years ago, our conf. superintendent was here to speak in the morning worship service. When I shook hands with him before church started I noticed he was wearing a polo shirt! I made a comment something like, I see you've joined the casual dressers. He looked startled and said, "Oh, I have a jacket out in my car, should I wear it too? I try to dress like I think the people are going to be dressed." I told him a jacket would help! He went out and put it on. I get embarressed when I think about how bold I was. But come on, a person in leadership ought to dress the part! Where has this matter of respect gone to? I've been reading a chapter in the book of Revelation each day. I don't understand most of what I'm reading but I'm determined to finish what I've started. Even though I don't understand it I have a whole new perception of God. He is Mighty, He is Omnipresent, He is Sovereign, He is Majestic, He is Power, He is Love, He is In Control, the list goes on and on. He is Worthy to be Praised. He is worthy of my praise and respect.

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday, Lorraine! I sure wish we were closer so we could celebrate together. Just think, now you're as old as Jerry! I wish you a very good and happy birthday and I'll see you next month!

No Show!

We had gotten a call from Betty that a cousin was coming to town for the weekend and hoped to see all the relatives. He lives on the other side of the state; is on Jerry's dad's side of the family; and we feel it's important to keep in contact with him. We were very happy and eager to visit with him. I decided to invite him for Saturday lunch along with Betty and Marian (my two sisters-in-law) and I wanted everything to be just right, even though it was just lunch. My menu was home made chili, with grated cheese, sour cream and chives; home made bread with butter and apple butter; deviled eggs, and celery sticks with creamed cheese and peanut butter; Saltine crackers and wheat thins; lemon meringue pie and coffee. The house was clean and ready for company. The table was set and we were waiting. Betty called at 11:30 and asked what to do because she hadn't heard from him yet! We decided she should wait until noon, then write him a note saying where he should go, and she should come on alone. So we had a nice lunch and visit with Betty and Marian but the guest of honor didn't show up! In fact, he didn't show up at all the whole weekend! I tried calling him once but he wasn't home. So we'll try again another day! But it was a big disappointment.

Picture wall

I've always wanted to have a family photo wall. Last evening we were watching Extreme Makeover on tv and at the end when they showed the master bedroom there was a family photo wall. I said, "That's what I want." Jerry asked what was holding me up, I just looked at him! So today we put the pictures on the wall in our master bedroom and here is what it looks like! This is right above our bed, you can see one of the bed posts under the picture of Pam. These are our high school graduation pictures so they're old! Jerry graduated in '54, me, '57; Pam, '78; Ted, '80; Christy, '86; Rob, '92; and Tim '83. This is the order they are on the wall, not according to ages! To see them up close and personal you'll have to come and visit! We have another family photo wall in the dining room that shows each family today. I like that wall too.

90+

It's time to go and visit my mom again. I was there last October so it's time again. I've heard plane prices go down in the night so I got up at 3:30 AM last night and booked a flight way less than it was during the day! I'm going March 7. So I have a month to get ready. Mother and I had a really nice visit on the phone last night. There was a tea for all the ladies over 90! I wonder how many 90+ women there are! A teenage girl came to my mom's apartment to get her and walked beside her electric wheelchair down the hall to the lounge. All the tables were decorated and everyone looked so nice. The girl sat with my mom at a round table where two other ladies and girls sat. They visited and shared with each other about their families and home life and school and dreams, etc. I hope all the other ladies enjoyed this time as much as my mom did! It was a lovely time.

This younger generation!

Our schools here didn't close due to the cold weather as most of the other schools in our area did. In a way I understand because the schools are heated, there was no threat to the bus routes, etc. The only bad part was for kids standing outside waiting for the bus to arrive. In most cases parents drive the kids and wait for the bus. There have been complaints about our schools not closing. Here's one I can not believe and just have to write about!!! A young mother came on the news last evening complaining and here is what she said: "What do they want from us? Do they want our kids to wear these?" She held up a pair of snow pants by the straps! I exploded! "Of course your son should wear those! What is wrong with you, Lady?" Of course, no one could hear me except Jerry. But in my opinion she was absolutely ridiculous. Oh, this younger generation!

Cold

It's zero this morning. Brrrrr! We still have school. All the schools around us are closed due to the cold weather. But not ours. With the wind chill factor it's too cold for kids to stand outside waiting for the bus. But...oh well. Yesterday I drove to the next city because of a niece having surgery. It was so cold. I wore my big extra warm imitation leather coat, just in case I had to do some walking outside. The only time I wear this coat is for extreme cold outside use. I didn't know where I was going...the Lord helped me find my way, especially coming home. Somehow I made the right turns and ended up on the right highway! Thank you Lord! By the way, she came through the surgery okay. Thank you again, Lord. We're waiting for the lab reports now. I praise you, God, because You are our Healer.

Temperatures

An interesting comment to a blog said the temperature in Canada is -32C with a wind chill factor of -45C. Here it is 10F with a wind chill factor of below -0 F. Now I'm not smart enough to figure out the difference here. All I know is that it's terribly cold and the wind is bitter. I remember being in Sask. Canada a few years ago to visit during the winter and I made an interesting observation. People in Canada know how to dress for the cold and they do, here in the US we know how to dress for the cold but we don't! Hmmmm, I wonder why that is?! Any ideas?

Back at Burger King!

Here we are at Burger King again! Two weeks ago we were here when the girls came to visit and so here we are again. It's bitter cold outside so I really appreciate the indoor playground here. Aren't they sweet?

Fun with Granddaughters

These are two of my granddaughters. We're at the mall having fun and using up energy!

Snowing, snowing,snowing!

It's snowing out to beat the band! Tiny flakes coming down like rain! It looks like this could be an all day job! We've got our two granddaughters again this weekend!
No pictures as yet. They are over playing with Haleigh at the moment. I'm going to pick all three of them up and take them to Burger King again. I want to make a snow man but it's so cold out we just can't be out that long. So I'd better get going, there's never a dull moment with grandchildren! I love it!!!

Comments

It's snowing this morning. The snowflakes were really big and just floating down, it was so beautiful but now they're smaller and so that warm picturesque feeling is gone. If you have checked on comments you may have noticed I've changed my comment status. I've had a couple of nuisance comments and I just don't need that. So it's the same for the person making a comment, it's just different for me. The comment is e-mailed to me and I decide if it's okay to post it. It's worked fine so far although I've only had two people make comments. I hope it won't discourage any one (except the bad people). Comments are important to me.