10 things the snow has given me...

Since I have been frustrated and a little down about the weather, I was thinking this morning of all the positive things that has occurred because of the snowy weather.
1. I have saved money on gas and wear and tear on my vehicle.  I think I have only filled our 20 gallon tank 3 or 4 times since Christmas.
2. When I do get busy again and am not at home as much, I will not grumble that if I were home more the house would be cleaner.  The past month has proven that being home does not necessarily equate to clean house.
3. I have saved money on water and electric and laundry supplies.  Since we haven't been leaving the house, there have been many days that we stayed in our pjs or I let my kids dress in whatever crazy thing they wanted.
4. I was reminded that I can still be absent in my kids' lives even when I am home with them all day, if I don't choose to connect.
5. I appreciate my home even more.  One reason is that we are hardly ever really stuck in our house, since we live just a minute from the main road, and we are hardly ever without electric.
6. I have appreciated that I am a stay-at-home mom and can stay home when it is really bad and I don't have to worry about my pay getting cut if I don't show up for work.
7. I have improved my scrabble skills and can now beat the computer almost every time on my iTouch and my son has discovered the joy of listening to chapter books being read to him.
8. I was reminded how freeing having the ability to drive can be.  I forget how amazing it is that we manuever these 2 ton machines (give or take some weight, depending if you drive a hummer or a prius) , with just a little wheel and two pedals.
9. I got to do some hearty, stick-to-your-ribs cooking.  We had homemade chicken noodle soup, beef stew, steak and mashed potatoes, pot roast, and chili - just to name a few.  We have these things, just not so much of it all together.  Between my down-home cooking and my lack of gym visits, all my pants are just a bit too snug!
10. Even though we drove each other crazy at times, I am so blessed to have my kids to fill my days with love, laughter, tears, and even fighting.  The time I got to spend with them is time I was able to invest into their hearts and minds.  I am also blessed to have a husband who braved the roads to get to work, get groceries, and to get us where we needed to go and then relieved me when he got home.  Also, for listening over and over when I told him how crazy I was getting from not leaving the house.

Most of all, God has shown me his power through a little crystallized drop of precipitation.  It has stopped people in the midst of busy lives and even collapsed buildings.  It reminds me of when Elijah is on the mountaintop and he thinks God will be in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but he speaks to him in a whisper.  Have you ever went outside at night after a snow storm has ended and no cars or people are out.  All you can see is a sparkling white blanket and your frosty breath?  In those moments it feels like the breath of God is blowing on my face and rushing through my senses.

The pictures on this post were taken in my hometown, where they have received over 20 feet of snow this winter.  There have been at least 3 businesses with collapsed roofs and they have had to call the national guard in to assist in snow removal.  They have received up to 3 feet of snow in one night on more than one occasion.  If you would like to view the entire album, you can visit the link below.
SNOW February 2010

Job 37:1-12 (NLT)

 ¹ “My heart pounds as I think of this.
     It trembles within me.
 ² Listen carefully to the thunder of God’s voice
      as it rolls from his mouth.
 ³ It rolls across the heavens,
      and his lightning flashes in every direction.
 ⁴ Then comes the roaring of the thunder—
      the tremendous voice of his majesty.
      He does not restrain it when he speaks.
 ⁵ God’s voice is glorious in the thunder.
      We can’t even imagine the greatness of his power.
 ⁶ “He directs the snow to fall on the earth
      and tells the rain to pour down.
 ⁷ Then everyone stops working
      so they can watch his power.

 ⁸ The wild animals take cover
      and stay inside their dens.
 ⁹ The stormy wind comes from its chamber,
      and the driving winds bring the cold.
 ¹⁰ God’s breath sends the ice,
      freezing wide expanses of water.
 ¹¹ He loads the clouds with moisture,
      and they flash with his lightning.
 ¹² The clouds churn about at his direction.
      They do whatever he commands throughout the earth.