Breaking Up is Hard to Do

Dear Snow,
Thank you so much for coming just in time to give me a lovely picture-postcard Christmas. So festive! So thoughtful! The after Christmas visit was fun--perfect for sledding and hey! who's going to complain about a few extra days of Christmas break? You are the life of the party!

So, here's the thing. To be honest--you have overstayed your welcome. Now you are just getting on my nerves. I have places to go, things to do and there you are--blocking the driveway, causing hazardous road conditions. Piling up in mountainous heaps. 

Oh, there was a time when you were so picturesque. 

So breath-taking.

 Full of wonder and beauty.

But you know, the dog would like to get a potty break without freezing his paws. 

He's a California pup and is a little baffled by the never ending white stuff. 

You've just about reached the top of our fountain now. 

Aren't you satisfied yet?

There is no place left for the snow plows to pile you! 

And you know, it pains me to have to tell you, but you are starting to look grubby and dirty.

The wood pile! Come on! 

We need that wood to stay warm.

 Your Arctic embrace is chilling us all to the bone. 

Seriously, pack your bags and go. Give me some space. 

It really isn't attractive to be so clingy and desperate. 

Maybe by next Christmas I will be ready to welcome you back with open arms.

For now, let me soften the blow with 'It's not you it's me'.

No, it's you.

Sincerely,

Connecticut

The View From My Window

Today it is a Winter Wonderland!

Hello Snow!

The new view from my kitchen window...

snow.

Dad's beloved BYU Cougar sporting a snow coat.

Gunner plunged right in and enjoyed the sudden change of scenery

in his territory.

Eight and a half inches of snowfall overnight made

a beautiful Winter Wonderland.

In the Heart of Winter

Several years ago, I signed Siara up for voice lessons at her request. She had dreams of a future in the theatre after she and Shanna did a stint as children in the local high school production of "The King and I". She had a natural flair for the dramatic so I thought singing would round out her talents. I drove her each week to an old church that smelled like "old, mildewy basement", and hung out with the younger siblings while she sang "HIPPOPOTAMUS" and other funny phrases over and over.

After several months of lessons, it was time for the recital. Her voice teacher had a lot of students --most of them ranged from elementary to high school age. We all gathered in a large auditorium in an old Vancouver church. As is usually the case, some were better than others. I admired the courage of each one to stand in front of an audience and sing. Siara sang a sweet song: "The Colors of the Wind" from Pocahontas. And in my unbiased opinion, I think she was fantastic. After everyone had sung, the voice teacher announced that she had one last student- he was the one who had done all of the technical/sound work for the recital. And he was going to sing a song he had written himself.

A rather frightening-looking guy walked onto the stage. He had long, greasy, stringy hair. He was wearing battered jeans and a ratty shirt. He grabbed the microphone like he was Mick Jagger and started wailing a creepy love song so off-key it was like fingernails on a chalkboard--but it had a lovely repeating phrase: "In the heart of winter" which he belted out much louder than the rest of the song ( that's why it stands out in my mind all these years later). This he punctuated with a dramatic flip of his stringy locks and a cringe-inducing hip swivel. The audience full of parents, grandparents and assorted relatives of the sweet children who had sung that evening sat in stunned silence.

I thought of it yesterday because when I was heading home from subbing in seminary Friday morning, the roads were frosted over and it was 26 degrees. I saw a poor woman skid down the road and crash into a wall. I pulled over and ran to see if she was ok. She was shaking and crying but she said she was fine. A police car arrived shortly after that, so I went on my way. I was thinking: "I'm tired of this cold, frosty weather. When is winter going to be over? Oh darn, we're only about half-way through it...we are IN THE HEART OF WINTER!"

Winter Wonderland

Gentle Reader,

I have been a little distracted of late because of a certain little someone who arrived last Wednesday night. Scott, Nicole, Bailey and Spencer got here safe and sound after a few delays and I have been busy holding Bailey at every opportunity. But I did take a moment to get some pictures of the snow here. It feels like we are living in a picture postcard! "Stopping By Woods on a Snowy Evening"

"He will not mind me stopping here
To watch his woods fill up with snow...
The woods are lovely, dark and deep.
But I have promises to keep...

The youngsters were very enterprising-- most of our winter stuff is packed away in long-term storage--but Seth found my rubber gloves handy for keeping his hands dry!

Sam taking advantage of the snow and a perfect hill.

It's hard to get a good night picture of the cabin--but you can see how Dad risked life and limb to get lights all around.

We can't wait for everyone else to get here for Christmas!

I feel like I live inside a snow globe--and someone keeps shaking it!