Winter Wonderland

After the holidays, have you ever felt a bit bloated from all the fantastic food?  Kind of like Dawn's snowman, after all that food our body shape changes a bit then we spend most of the new year trying to shed that unwanted side effect of the Christmas season!  By the way, that is the same snowman that I posted the last two days and you can see how much snow we have been pounded with - although it looks much shorter, I can assure you that it is just an optical illusion with the 28"+ of snow piled around it!

In fact, here is the same Nativity that I shared with you last week.  On Saturday, I pulled it all up out of the snow thinking that maybe Jesus was getting a bit chilly from the three inch blanket of snow he had covering him up.  Now they must be igloo dwellers because all they look like is a little bump in the snow!  Even the really tall wooden (plastic) soldiers in the background are up to their chests in the chilly white stuff!

Remember the 25" piece of cornerbead I put in the snow on this table?  All covered up by this morning when I took this picture, after which it continued to snow all day!  The mushroom top on the table is now smooth showing no sign of the cornerbead at all and the sides of the snow are now almost touching the snow piled up on the deck!

And here is Bear's mansion.  Of course, the doorway is under the left dormer totally covered in snow!  Guess he won't be using that any time soon!  I could dig it out, but truth be told, he is a baby and spends all of his time inside leaving hair all over the house and sucking up heat from the fireplace whenever he can.

This is the first time I can remember having to plow six times in three days since we moved here in 1992.  True, last year we had a ton of snow throughout the winter months, but we couldn't remember as much snow falling in such a short time as we have received from this storm.  CRAZY!  Hopefully they will let us go back to school tomorrow (they called off today)!

Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

It has been one of those weekends in Northwestern Pennsylvania when the crystalized H2O swirls and twirls, blows and accumulates in piles and drifts across the beautiful white blanketed landscape.  In other words, it has been snowing like crazy!  Nearly two feet in 48 hours and it is still falling like crazy!

In the next picture, you will notice our lawn table under 21" of that wonderful white stuff!  The drywall cornerbead is 25" long and you can see the leftover 4" sticking out of the snow.  When it all started, the table had just a couple inches on it - I know, crazy!!!!  But that is one reason why we have chosen to live in this area - there is a true sense of adventure when we have to try surviving the tundra!

Not only have we had piles of snow, but that means moving the snow from the driveways!  Four times I have plowed in two days.  Today a bit of my dad's luck hit - the winch cable broke in the middle of my neighbor's driveway so I had to run the repair in the middle of the snow bank.  Yes, there really is a driveway just beyond my 4-wheeler.  Crazy snow, eh?

It just happened that Dawn was nervous as all get out over the Steelers' game as they were once again trying to give it away in the 4th quarter.  When she gets nervous, she cannot stay in the room and watch so instead paces the house, plugs her ears, hums like there is no tomorrow and only checks in with the game when I cheer and tell her to come see the replay of a great play!

This time, since I was not there to let her know it was okay to watch, Dawn came out to see what was going on and her timing couldn't have been better.  She helped me fix the cable and kept me company while chattering on about how a 3rd string quarterback was going to turn another sure win  for the Steelers into a huge disappointment!

It didn't take long to fix the wheeler up and I was off and running again.  After finishing the job, we watched a movie.  Then at 7pm I went to plow again.  Another 4"-6" had accumulated in that brief time. I'm tellin' ya, CRAZY!  (But I'm not gonna lie, it is FUN!!!)

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!!!!!

Kids?

Just when you think the kids are gone, a snowman pops up in the middle of the yard!  This of course, is Dawn's creation - you can tell by the hair!  It seems that we all have a little kid inside of us that comes out to play sometimes.

New Years Eve already.  Can you believe that another year has come and gone?  They slip by when we aren't watching then taunt us from our memory banks, teasing that we cannot go back - no reset button, no opportunity to reboot, not even a chance to reload, just some pictures and memories.

But that is okay.  We have today to celebrate and we have a hope in our hearts that says tomorrow holds as much promise as it did yesterday. In some ways, it even holds greater hope because our faith has grown, and with it a confidence that all will turn out for good somehow in the hands of our Creator.  He is good and only allows those things that will bless and/or strengthen us in order to prepare for the road ahead.

Some things we simply cannot know.  Emily is going through a second bout with leukemia and who can say why?  Once again, we traveled to Pittsburgh to see her yesterday and thoroughly enjoyed our visit.  She was joking and talking up a storm.  Other than the fact that she was nauseous and couldn't keep her food down [due to the chemo treatments] she was ready to come home.  In fact, she is scheduled to come home later today just in time for the new year!  She will be home for about a month (maybe two) while they finalize the plans for a donor, then she will return for the toughest part of the treatment - a bone marrow transplant.  The transplant will have her in the hospital/recovery for 4-6 weeks.  We are praying that she will stay strong and that her blood counts will remain in the healthy range so all will go well with the transplant!

We also heard some other great news yesterday concerning Jim.  The tumor they found is isolated and has not spread to any other areas or organs!  They are putting a treatment plan together and are very confident that all will go well.  We will continue praying for him as well because we know that cancer can be very unpredictable, but this is good news indeed!

Mom had a pretty rough day yesterday and was feeling "icky".  That is how she describes how she feels sometimes because she can't put into words what is going on.  Her breathing is good, she is somewhat alert, but simply feels... well, "icky"!

All of that being said, I must say that this has been a fantastic Christmas season with countless blessings! Bringing Will into the family has been a very natural and easy transition, kind of like he has been in the family forever!  We continue to enjoy the time spent with him [and Jackie, too] and find ourselves laughing a lot!  [And not just at Jackie, either!  Haha]  In fact, we have been able to spend a great deal of time with Adam and all of our other family members too, and it has simply been... well, I can't overstate it - it has been a HUGE BLESSING!  It seems like the stars are all in line and the Lord has been filling our little family with His presence and that has brought tremendous peace and satisfaction.

So, another year behind us and one more before us; but that is okay because if it is anything like the others we have seen, let's point our wheels toward tomorrow and press on into another fantastic Great Adventure!

The Little Ones

Christmas and kids... what a fantastic combination!  Many of you know that Emily is my niece who is in the midst of a major battle with leukemia, but I haven't really taken the time to properly introduce her little sister, Tori.

Being the youngest in the family is not always easy.  The hustle and bustle of a teenager or two in a household can absorb a lot of attention leaving the little ones tagging along wondering where they really belong.  Add into the mix a major, life threatening illness and the young ones can be left with feelings of total insignificance.

Tori is a very special young girl to be around, full of joy, bouncy, and very active.  One of her favorite pastimes happens to be, "walking on the ceiling"!  That's right, you heard me, walking on the ceiling!  She makes me flip her upside down and hold her up to the ceiling to let her walk around.  That is, of course, until Grandpa (Mel) catches us and growls out, "Hey, what are you doing up there?  You're leaving footprints all over my ceiling!"  Then he quickly flashes a bright smile my way.  Tori and I look at each other in mock fear, sneak around the corner and quickly begin our trek on the ceiling once more.  She giggles and never wants to stop, it only ends when my arms (or my back) finally give out.

And talk about great hugs?!  She can almost pop my head off!  But oh, I love those hugs and cannot get enough of them.

Tori loves her sister so very much and simply can't spend enough time with her.  This season has been a struggle for Tori for that very reason and Emily's time at home was very quick and limited.  When I told Tori I was so very proud of her - she has been very brave and really good for her mom through all of this, especially considering that it is the Christmas season, her eyes welled up and I got one of those hugs.  My heart swelled and my chest tightened.

Tori, you are a very special young lady and you are loved deeply by all of us.

I'm reminded of the story of Jesus sitting on the hillside talking to a group of people and some children tried to run up to him, but the disciples wouldn't let them.  Do you know what Jesus did?  He scolded the disciples and told them to let the little ones run up to him and join him.  Can you see him scooping them up in his arms, tickling them, or flipping them upside down to walk on the clouds in the sky as he enjoyed their time together?  I can.  He loves children.  He loves you, Tori, and so do we!  Keep being brave and talk often to him because he listens and will help you and Emily (and the rest of your family) through this really tough time. Why?  Because he really loves you guys!

Blessings Abound

Meet Leah, Emily's older sis'.  We had a wonderful time on Christmas Eve and Christmas day with our all kinds of people in our family.  Those two days always equate to running here and running there, like, "Over the river and through the woods to Grandmother's house we go..."  But the running and time are well worth it since it gives us an opportunity to catch up on all that is happening in each others lives and also gives us a chance to get to know newer family members better.

This year we spent Christmas Eve with Will's family and had a wonderful time meeting many of his family members for the first time and visiting with others we had met over the summer.  It is always interesting learning how others celebrate various occasions, and we continue to find that we have so much in common.  Many of our traditions involving family and activities are cut from the same Norman Rockwell collection!  Gathering with family, playing in the snow, eating, laughing, hugging, eating, sharing of gifts, trees, eating... did I mention eating?

Christmas day with Dawn's parents turned out to be a treat as well.  We broke our normal routine this year and decided to go up a bit earlier, take some food to make breakfast and spend most of the late morning and early afternoon with them (which is usually Mom's best time of the day).  She was really tired though because the day before she felt pretty good and wouldn't catch a nap.  The day after is usually when it catches up with her and Christmas day was no exception, but we still had the chance to cook some breakfast and enjoy the day together.

It was especially nice to have Candy and the girls stop in.  Emily was very tired, but she said, "There was no way they were keeping me in there [Pittsburgh Children's Hospital]!  I was coming home for Christmas and they couldn't stop me."  Of course, most every visit with Em involves the traditional, "Here, rub my feet."

It was great to see all of the girls - including Tori.  She has been a real trooper through this whole endeavor.  Check out my next blog... I am going to dedicate it to her.  Tori, if you read this, I want you know how proud I am of you.  Love ya!

Adam loves books.  He takes right after his mother.  Both of them have this thing about fanning the pages under their nose, then giving a very satisfied sigh, "I love the smell of a new book."  Go figure.

It has been really nice spending more time with Will.  He came home from California on the 22nd and will be going back soon, but we have had a great time together.  Last night we played Catch Phrase for a couple hours and ended up laughing till we cried!  Nothing like sitting around a table, playing games face to face, talking, fellowshipping, laughing, and yes, even crying together!

I pray that you thoroughly enjoy the rest of this wonderful Christmas season with those that you love.

Miracles

Merry Christmas eve!!!

We got some great news today - a small miracle, really.  Candy was able to bring Emily home for Christmas!  She is going to be able to spend the night at home, but needs to get back to the hospital by 9pm tomorrow for a chemo treatment.  That is all very good news because her ammonia level has been running too high to be able to leave the hospital and it also kept her from receiving any of her treatments.

You see, God is good and answers our prayers!

Here is my Christmas gift to all of you - a fantastic video I put together from a skit we did in our church last Sunday demonstrating the powerful and all-encompassing love of Christ!  Truly, the greatest gift ever given!  If you click on the link below (You are my everything!), you can go to Youtube, then click on the maximize button to view it in full screen.  If you are a bit patient, you can click on the HD button to view it with better clarity (it just takes a little longer to load up).  Watch it a couple times to capture some of the nuances of the skit.  I am simply blown away by the unending love of our Lord - He never, ever gives up on us!

You are my everything!

I pray that you will be richly blessed and encouraged by seeing this, feel free to share it with your friends as a Christmas present to them.  We never know how much encouragement we can be to our friends with a simple gift like this.

Merry Christmas!