Holiday Happenings

Wow, hard to believe it has been over a week since I have had time to even sit down and catch up on everyones blogs. And come to find out many are just like me and haven't written for quite some time. I have been working a lot of overtime so it seems I can't even find time to sleep, since most of my shifts have been from 10pm -6:30 am. But it has been great having the boys here, Amy and Tim were here for Christmas with their pets. The cats loved climbing the tree so I ended up taking it down the day after Christmas because they had shaken so many of the ornaments off. Ashley and Jen have arrived now so in celebration I am hosting a New Year's Eve party( even though I have to go to work at 10pm. We may have to toast the New Year in early). The kids gave me a digital camera for Christmas so I am hoping to be able to add some pictures, like the rest of you do so well. And of course there is our upcoming Hawaiin cruise!! I'll definately have some pictures for you all then. We got about 6 inches of snow today so everything is beautiful! And not much wind which makes it all that much better. This is actually more like an e-mail than a blog but I just hate not having something new on my blog and I'm not feeling real inspired to write something thought provoking.

A Frosty Wonderland

Today I was awakened at 3 a.m. by a phone call from Jeremy, stranded beside the interstate 17 miles from Bismarck. So I drove over to save him from freezing and so I could use my AAA to tow his car. Jen met us also and we all went out to breakfast after the car was towed to the Car Wizard. Jeremy went with Jen to Minot and I started my drive back home alone. Tiredness overtook me despite the caffeine I had ingested and I was going all over the road so finally pulled over at the rest stop to rest. Upon parking I immediately fell asleep with my head resting on my hand. I awakened to the most beautiful display of Jack Frost's handiwork I have ever seen! If it was there before I fell asleep I must have been too tired to notice. But it was one of the most beautiful sights I have ever seen as I drove down the highway. Every blade of grass, every weed, fencepost, tree branch, was laden with thick white crystals! Truely a winter wonderland. As I drove closer to home the frost was there but not thick and beautiful as it was earlier. God is so awesome to provide me with such a glorious sight!!

The meltdown

This morning when I got off work there was the most beautiful snow falling. I determined then and there that today I would build a snowman when I got up this afternoon. So true to my word after delivering Meal on Wheels, Curt and I made our snowman. It has been so long since I've made one I wasn't sure I would remember the technical aspects of making the perfect snowman. Well, we completed the project and even have a picture to prove it but when I came out an hour later to go to "Narnia", my snowman had already fallen over! I'm not sure if it was due to the unusually warm 40 degree day or poor workmanship. None the less he is no more:( I guess I will have to work on my snowman building skills this winter.

Amazing sights

There are times when not having 20/20 vision is a blessing, and looking at the Christmas tree without your glasses on is one of them. Each light becomes a faceted colored orb and it is even more beautiful than it is otherwise. Another amazing sight was the sunset tonight. I envy those of you with digital cameras so you can add the beauty to your blog because I can't begin to describe the sky...it was like an aquamarine color and the clouds were blue-grey all outlined with orange and then a deep pinkish-orange as the sun set lower. It was so awesome. I've just never seen the sky such a strange color blue...it was glorious! Thank you God for your gift of colors.

Pearl Harbor remembered

Yesterday I actually remembered that it was the anniversary of the bombing of Pearl Harbor and yes, Gary's birthday. Happy Birthday Gary! if you are reading this. So to commemorate the day we rented "Pearl Harbor". Whenever I watch a war movie I am reminded of the amazing job that the men and women in the military do to defend our freedoms. I sometimes wonder if I could be so brave. I would like to take this moment to thank those in the armed services who risk their lives everyday in the name of freedom. I pray for them daily.
I also realized that a month from now I will be at the very spot on Oahu where the battle took place and will probably visit the memorial there. I can't believe it will be so soon!

This is the day that the Lord has made...

Let us rejoice and be glad in it! I can't say that today has been anything exceptional but I was just reading in Psalms and it just makes me want to rejoice and sing!
When I start thinking of all I have to be grateful for I just can't be unhappy. God has blessed me in so many ways. But it is so easy to get caught up with our every day cares and concerns that at times I get downright depressed and that is when God gives me the Psalms to lift my spirts, especially starting at Psalm 90 and on (that's what I was reading today). I hope you all have a blessed day!
It's definately winter here now. But the wind has not been too strong so I can handle it a lot better. It is beautiful with everything covered in white. Can't wait for the kids to be home. I still have much to do to get ready so I guess I shouldn't linger much longer here. Just had to jot a line since I've been quiet for quite some time.