The Sad Truth

"Nothing lasts except the grace of God, by which I'm saved." (That's a happy truth)


The sad truth is that these little snow people are fading fast, even their arms are getting droopy. I felt a little bit like this myself this afternoon.



In spite of their droopy arms and failing eyes (and falling noses) these snowmen are still making me smile. I thought they were beautiful on Monday and they're rather cute today too. Ever wonder if this is how God sees us?

Piano Practice

Here's Troy helping Hannah practice her piano.

"My neck hurts." says Hannah, but I think she's really enjoying it.

Personality

Now you know us just a little bit better! Any psychology majors out there? Are we doing okay?

A Little More Snow, Man!

My girls and I had a little fun in the snow this afternoon. We ended up with three very different looking snowmen.


Hannah's snowman reminds me of those Calvin and Hobbes make.
Mine (seen here) looks slightly confused...
... and Bethany's? Well, hers is just too funny! (Visit her page to see.)

Don't Ask!

I know a single woman in her early 30's who is a full time college student. Last night I asked her how school was going. Karen seemed rather frustrated as she explained that everyone asks her the same question. I took a seat next to her and sure enough, along came another woman who sat down and said, "How's school going?" Then a young mom came along and said, "I'm praying for you at school." We laughed about it as I looked at Karen and said "So Karen, how's the weather?" I am determined to find some other topics of conversation before I head back to church but I'm not quite sure where to start. Any great ideas out there?

Meeting of the Minds

The snow people held an emergency meeting. It was to no avail. They could not save themselves from the relentless sun and above freezing temperatures...

Visibly Shakin'

Saturday is our grocery and errand running day, so after cleaning at church, I dropped Nate off at the barber shop and ran to the bank and Wegman's. We returned home very close to noon and proceeded to put the food away and clean up the house. I was washing dishes and warming leftover soup when all of the sudden, it hit me! I had the hungry shakes. I'm not sure why my stomach can't just say, "Hey, you need to have a little bite to eat..." Why does my body wait until it is shaking uncontrollably before I realize I need food? I didn't sleep very well last night and this shaky spell has left me feeling sleepy. I think I'll join Little Cat and take a nap this afternoon. (Yaaaaawwwwwn!)

What To Do?

Snowmen never live long...

A Rare Moment

Listen... do you hear that? It's called silence. Only Nathan and I are at home. James is out installing a job and Ben and Hannah stayed overnight with some friends. Nate and I took a ride out to the music store for guitar strings, Walmart (haven't been there in months!), and Wegman's for milk. I've done a little painting, a little blogging, and I think I'll do a little Bible reading. I'm rarely alone so I have to enjoy the quiet while it lasts.

The Painter

Here is Priscilla painting my birdhouse. This is how the roof looked after I had painted it. When I finished the roof I had no idea what to do with the sides of the house and so it sat unfinished for many years. Priscilla did a beautiful job of painting a lovely flower garden all around but unfortunately, the roof did not match the flowers and so it was reroofed. Neither one of us really wants to take credit for the roof as it is at the moment so stay tuned and you just may get an updated photo with yet another "new" roof.

(PS. How do you like that nifty sweater drier in the background?)

Snowmen!

Priscilla came over today; Sara and Alysa were here too. The girls finally decided to go outside and make some snowmen. The boys decided to go out and snowball the girls.

This one looks like someone familiar...

Snowball Weather

The temperature is 40 degrees. It's perfect weather for building a snowman or having a snowball fight!

A Hard Day's Work

I cleaned the bathroom!

I cleaned my bedroom!

I dusted and vacuumed!

And I made supper too!

Big Things

I have set my mind to accomplish big things today. I'm off to clean the house!

Lazy Sunday Afternoon

It's a lazy Sunday afternoon, sunny but blustery cold. James is playing a game of Life with Jim, Ben, and Hannah.

Sunday seems to be a lazy kind of day here. There is rarely anything much going on. Every Sunday morning we go to church. Sometimes in the afternoon we watch the race or a football game. Often we take a nap. There are Sundays when all of our kids show up and those when we have just a few. Sometimes I need to make a big lunch and sometimes we end up eating leftovers on Monday evening. Today I feel sleepy. I think I need a cup of coffee.

A World of White

It was a beautiful day. Would have been great for sledding if we had the time. After all those bitterly cold days, it is amazing to see the icicles actually dripping again. Winter really is a very pretty time if you can tolerate frozen fingers and toes.

Winter Like I Remember

For the third day in a row Troy has been home with his mom, another snow day in Sodus. They have a large school district to cover with lots of hills and backroads. This morning would have been rough on school bus drivers!

Here in Williamson, there was school so Sara and Alysa came off the bus bus this afternoon. They found the forts my kids dug earlier to be fun and inviting so they are out there now playing in the snow.

Sometimes I think I have grown up way too fast and should be out there on my belly digging a snowfort. This is how I remember winter, cold with lots and lots of snow!

That's S'no Tree

The maple tree on the east side of our house is constantly amazing us with it's ability to dress in differing outfits.

Where Did I Come From?

My father's grandparents came to America from Europe in 1903. They were just nineteen years old and newly married. It must have been a long exhausting trip, full of excitement as well as much trepidation. Their destination was Rochester, NY where an uncle awaited their arrival.

Grandma (Bertha) and Grandpa (Emil) arrived in NY City on September 27, 1903. Grandma was three months pregant with her first child. I don't really know much about these grandparents. It was said that they were German. Grandma cooked German and spoke German and I've been told that Grandpa spoke four languages fluently. The couple eventually settled in Penfield, owned a small farm and raised six children. Grandpa died long before I was born, Grandma when I was about seven or eight years old.

Several years ago I decided to look up the record of their arrival at Ellis Island and found that they did not come from Germany as we had always believed, but smack dab in the middle of what is now Poland. Their ethnicity is listed as Russian, and their name we have discovered is Jewish. Who were these ancestors of mine? Where did they come from and what did they leave behind? So many unanswered questions...

S'no Fun

It's another cold and blustery day out there. Wonders never cease and local schools were closed for the second day in a row. Troy stayed home with his mom (she's a teacher) so things were quiet here. James and I went up town for lunch, a late Valentine outing. When we came home we found Ben and Hannah outside. Ben said his face was frozen and they were just ready to head back inside. There isn't much to take pictures of as everything turns out mostly black and white anyway.

Sweetheart's Day

It's a cold and snowy day, perfect for Valentine's Day. A good day to snuggle up together and stay warm. In honor of my sweetheart here are a few things you may not know about him...
1. He loves cookies and ice cream.
2. He's pretty good at driving a Bobcat.
3. He doesn't wear a watch.
4. He has a mustache and beard in the winter.
5. He usually shaves his beard for the summer.
6. He can find mint chocolate no matter where I hide it.
7. He has four older sisters and one younger brother.
8. He likes babies but not their noisy crying.
9. He always buys new clothes for a wedding.
10. He doesn't like snow.
11. He doesn't know where I hide my candy.
12. He will be looking for it.
13. He likes to have control of the remote.
14. He cries at Cinderella.
15. He cooks great breakfasts.
16. He was born in Japan.
15. He is Canadian and American.
16. He is not Japanese.
17. He used to live in Albuquerque.
18. He loves green and red chiles.
19. He also likes seaweed.
20. He has a 6 year old step sister.
21. He likes cats.
22. He does not like loud noises.
23. He doesn't like lima beans or liver.
24. He has muscles like Popeye.
25. He does not smoke a pipe.
26. He wears glasses to see far away and takes them off to read.
27. He is not a grandfather.
28. He owns a sawmill.
29. He's looking forward to summer.
30. He climbs trees.
31. He has a monkey suit which he wears outside when it's really, really cold.
32. He doesn't ski.
33. He could if he wanted to.
34. He has blue eyes.
35. He never wrote a book.
36. He needs a new wedding band.
37. He doesn't own a pogo stick.
38. He drives a big white van.

Okay, that's enough for today. Love you, Sweetheart!

Forsaken

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." Hebrews 13:5

I don't know if these little buildings have purpose. They look rather forlorn to me, but at least they have each another. I'm so glad Jesus has promised never to leave us alone. Even in those utterly lonely moments, He is still there.

Sunday evening at church we watched a DVD of Heather Mercer, who was captured along with several others and held prisoner in Afghanistan back in 2001. What an amazing testimony of the love and grace of God! We are never alone.

Snow Fall

When I woke up this morning the skies were gray but the roads were clear. Now a few hours later it's snowing and blowing. Of course, it's nothing unusual and in a few minutes the snow may be gone (or it may fall for hours). From the warmth of my home I can enjoy the wonder of winter without too much worry. I can stay home today. For those who are out trying to drive around or work, it is a different story.

For those who live just an hour farther east, the sight of more snow falling would be more than frustrating. Parts of Oswego county have seen up to ten feet of snow. Try figuring out where to put all that white stuff! It sounds somewhat fun and exciting until you actually have to deal with it. Even snowmobiles get stuck in snow that deep. In order to clear the roads and make them passable the snow has to be loaded into dump trucks and either carted off or dumped into the river where it will return to the lake from whence it came. Good thing spring is just around the corner. In another couple of months this winter will be little more than a memory.

Ice Sculptures

Yesterday morning we stopped down by the lake to see if there was anything new and interesting after the cold spell. Most likely this ice sculpture God created isn't anything special to those who see them every winter, but I thought it was amazing. I wish I had been able to get out of the van and get some better shots but we didn't have much time to spend taking pictures. Maybe Shelly can take her camera down and capture something wonderful...

The Igloo

This morning we made our Saturday trip to clean the Sunday school rooms and do some grocery shopping. While Ben, Hannah and I were out in Webster, we decided to stop at Rachel's house and check out the igloo. Believe it or not my kids have never seen one of Uncle Dave's igloos before. The kids had a lot of fun out there climbing, sliding, and playing King (of was it Queen?) of the Hill. Hannah provides some pretty stiff competion for the boys. She has always been a competitor and doesn't give up without a fight. Somehow I also have to believe that whoever gets to the top first already has somewhat of an advantage. Whatever the case, she did a good job of fending off three boys. She better enjoy it while she can because it won't last long. Next year they'll all likely be as big as her or bigger.

Snow Filled Driveways

The wind blew all night long and along with the blowing wind comes a driveway full of snow. We have, in years past, cleared our drive a number of different ways. While living in town we had a rather short driveway which was somewhat protected by both the house and a nice stockade fence. We normally got a good running start and drove right on through. Once the snow accumulates too much, the good old fashioned way to clear a driveway is to purchase a quality snow shovel, get out there and set your mind on exercise. (With an ample supply of snow, who needs a gym membership?) Children are, or can be, helpful in this venture. (Buy them a reliable snow shovel too. My kids are out there right now.) A third way to clear a path is to purchase a snowblower. The advantage of owning one of these machines is that you can also use it to blow all the snow in your backyard into one big pile. This pile makes a great snowfort for your kids and all the neighbors will be jealous. (Right, Rachel?) If you are not into moving snow and slush yourself, you can hire someone to plow your driveway for you. This will normally be someone who lives nearby and they will come to clear your driveway in the wee hours of the morning even when there is less than one inch of snow on the ground. You must be willing to pay for this service whether needed or not. Finally, you may want to consider purchasing a multipurpose piece of equipment, like say, a Bobcat. With this dandy machine you can not only clear the snow but push your car right out of the driveway too. And... they do come in rather handy if your vehicle should happen to get stuck in your own yard!

The Mailbox

Going out to check the mail is not the coveted job in winter that it becomes nicer weather. The temperature has been creeping upward daily, but the windchill still makes it feel subzero. I much prefer waiting for someone else to retrieve the bills and junkmail rather than venture outside myself. Often a week-old Pennysaver is patiently wating in the tube out by the road, but as I have a tendancy to check the news online, the newspaper box remains perpetually empty and forlorn. The mailbox this year has thus far remained on it's perch. We have learned from previous winters that it must have the ability to spin on its post as snowplow blades otherwise have a tendency to toss it, not so gently, into the front yard. No longer unsuspecting, it now spins freely, hopefully keeping the contents inside rather than spewing magazines and envelopes out into the snow. These days the best kind of mail usually comes via the computer anyway, so I check the mail inside and send the kids out to get the bills.

Mission Accomplished

Yeah, it looks like it's totaled to me.

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070208/NEWS01/70208008

Losing My Marbles

The other day I was looking on line for marbles, not because I am really losing mine, but because I was considering making a Chinese checkers game. I found some rather interesting, not to mention very expensive, marbles.

This "blue spotty" is rather inexpensive at $20,

the "rainbow swirl a slightly more expensive $90 marble .

If you'd like something a little more affordable, say about $45, you might like this "purple swirl". (I think it's really cool!)

Of course, If the sky's the limit and price is no object, maybe you would consider the "circus tent". For just $350 it's a real bargain!

Oops!

Ice fishing anyone?

http://www.democratandchronicle.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070207/NEWS01/702070332

A New Day

What a beautiful winter day! It's 14 degrees with wind chill that makes it feel more like -6°F (-21°C), but the sky is clear and the sun is shining. The icicles are evaporating quickly in the wind and the sun makes what is left of them sparkle. They're also starting to point in an easterly direction. This morning trees and plants on the east side of the house were encased in snow, kind of like they had been in the ice a few weeks ago. There is a new beauty in each and every morning.

Blustery Cold

It's a blustery cold day. I should have two rather rambunctious little boys playing here today but since school has been cancelled in Sodus their mom doesn't have to go to work. I think it's a great day to stay home myself. The snow outside my window is blowing straight across rather than fluttering to the ground. Kind of makes me wonder where it's landing or even if it ever does... This is not a day for outdoor activities like sledding, skiing, or snowball fights. It's much too cold to build a snowman and going for a walk is out of the question. If my lips get chapped just eating ice cream then I definitely need to stay out of this wind!

Too Cold

It's so cold that even the icicles are shivering!

It feels like 20 below!