It seems that one day you wake up and look in the mirror and everything has changed.  Things sag that once was firm and tight... like the skin around your eyes.  Come on - what did you think I was talking about?!  There are wrinkles that weren't there before, missing hair that was once full and let's not even mention the fact that we avoid the bathroom scale at all cost - and it all seems to happen over night!  

Believe it or not, that is what happened to Dawn's snowman after we got pelted with snow for the last 24 hours (my last post had a picture of what it looked like before aging and gaining weight).  We happen to live just south of the snowbelt which means that if the winds are coming off of Lake Erie just right, we get tons of snow!  It just happens that the winds are just right because this storm has dumped about 12 inches so far and it looks like we are in for another 12"-18" by Sunday night.  

I stopped in the middle of plowing my driveway this morning to take this picture, and yes, there is a plow behind that pile of snow!  What is more, I am planning to go out in another hour or so and plow another 4"-5".  That cycle will continue as long as the storm keeps on dumping that beautiful white stuff.  Some people complain about it, but that comes with living in this area.  We happen to think that it is just another great part of living in Northwestern PA!

The one down side to all this snow is the driving aspect.  Not that it bothers me, in fact, I see driving in snow as another form of an adventure.   But today, Jackie is driving home from Pittsburgh alone.  Today was the sad day that Will caught his flight back to California and Jackie chose to drop him off at the airport.

That brought back many memories for Dawn and I from the days when I was stationed in California and we corresponded for nearly three years!  That meant we only saw each other once or twice a year for a couple weeks at a time.  No e-mail, no cell phones, no computers to skype with - only telephones (that cost a fortune so we only called every other week or so) and old-fashioned US Mail.  So when it came time to get dropped off at the airport, the deep felt grief and pain of separation was excruciating!

Sadly, that is what Jackie and Will are experiencing right now and Jackie has to drive home in this crazy snowstorm!  Lord, please stay near her and help her return home safely.

The distance and time spent apart definitely builds strength into the relationship and the reunion brings greater joy.  There is no replacing that deep sense of anticipation!

We are already missing you, Will.  It has been remarkable to see how well you fit right into our family - it is as if you have been part of the family all along!  Godspeed as you return to CA and get back into the normal day to day routine and may He bless all that you do out there.  We certainly look forward to seeing you again soon (although, not nearly as much as Jackie is looking forward to it!).

An interesting aside... This past Wednesday we went to see Emily and on the way home coming across the Fort Pitt Bridge in Pittsburgh, believe it or not, a motorcycle passed us!  Snow all over the place and that knuckle-head was out riding!  Granted, the roads were clear BUT IT WAS FREEZING!  Some people are simply CRAZY!!!!!