A Day of Rest - really!

With busy callings and a busy toddler, Sundays aren't usually a day of rest - as in, sit around and do not much. We love our branch and it is awesome to be involved in something that is growing and progressing, even when that requires some work. But, it is NOT restful.

Today, Phil got up at 5:00 and left around 6:30 for his meetings which begin at 7:00. I woke up when he left and did some things for my calling. Eden awoke at 7:45. So far, it was a very normal Sunday. Eden and I planned to leave for church at 10:30 so we'd be there when Sacrament began at 11:00.

But then...

It began to snow...
and snow...
and snow.

Now, my friends in Michigan or New Hampshire or Utah or Idaho will laugh at this next part but keep in mind that we don't have snow removal equipment in 'bama. Most drivers don't have much experience driving in it. Also, it had rained all night and then frozen so there was slush and ice underneath the snow. Also remember that most people drive from 30 to 60 minutes to get to church.

So...

Phil called about 8:30 and informed me that church was being canceled. He stayed and met more with the branch presidency and then got home about 10:30.

Phil and Eden each had a nap.
I worked on Personal Progress.
We read scriptures.
I fasted. They ate (Phil can't fast because of his health stuff).
Phil wrote in his journal.
I wrote in my other blog and in my Personal Progress journal.
We watched a movie as a family.
We read stories and played.
We took pictures of the snow before it melted at 4:00.
I crocheted.
I phoned my mom.
Phil's mom phoned him.

What a lovely, lovely day of REST!

She has needs, ya know...

While we were in Utah Eden became very vocal about her needs. She would say,
"I need mom."
or
"I need outside."
or
"I need cracker (or cookie, or cooker - which obviously is a cracker-cookie)"

but two of my favorites were these:

While driving from Alpine (south of SLC) to Cache Valley (north of SLC) there was a bad accident and the interstate was shut down. We had to travel on a slower highway (with everyone else) and so the trip that usually takes two hours took four. Eden was frustrated, tired, and eventually just mad. It was snowing and we were creeping along at about five miles an hour. I could only show her the cattle truck we kept passing so many times before she had just had it. Finally about a half hour from grandma's house she began to cry huge, fat, wet tears. In the middle of her sobs she repeated,
"I need grandma, I need grandma."
It was so sweet and sad.

A few days later at grandma's house (actually I think it was at aunt Heather's) we had just finished a big meal. Everyone was sitting around talking. There was a plate of my mother's hand dipped chocolates on the table. Eden walked up to the group of women sitting around talking and proclaimed,
"I need chocolate!"

It was classic.

This just in...

I just had to share this winter storm watch. We have a little NOAA weather radio that broadcasts all weather warnings (we got it for tornado warnings). Anyway, this is what we hear in a deep, automated voice. Since we're from Utah, this one just made us laugh. I've highlighted a few things in red and included my comments in brackets. Enjoy...

THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN BIRMINGHAM HAS ISSUED A WINTER STORM WATCH...WHICH IS IN EFFECT FROM SATURDAY MORNING THROUGH SATURDAY EVENING.

WINTRY PRECIPITATION...PREDOMINATELY SNOW...IS EXPECTED TO FALL ACROSS PORTIONS OF CENTRAL ALABAMA BEGINNING SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE SUNRISE FRIDAY NIGHT [sunrise at night???] LASTING INTO THE AFTERNOON HOURS ON SATURDAY. ACCUMULATIONS UP TO TWO INCHES ARE POSSIBLE [wo, two inches!]. AT THIS TIME THE HIGHEST ACCUMULATIONS ARE EXPECTED TO OCCUR ALONG OR JUST SOUTH OF THE INTERSTATE 20 CORRIDOR BETWEEN TUSCALOOSA AND MOUNT CHEAHA. SURFACE TEMPERATURES ARE EXPECTED TO BE BETWEEN 30 AND 34 DEGREES [brrrrrr] LATE FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH MIDDAY SATURDAY. WITH THESE EXPECTED TEMPERATURES SNOW ACCUMULATION WILL BE POSSIBLE... ESPECIALLY ON ELEVATED AND GRASSY SURFACES. ROADWAYS MAY BECOME SLICK IN SPOTS...ESPECIALLY BRIDGES OVERPASSES AND OTHER ELEVATED ROADS. VISIBILITY MAY BECOME LIMITED AS WELL. DRIVERS ARE URGED TO EXERCISE CAUTION.

A WINTER STORM WATCH MEANS THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR SIGNIFICANT SNOW... SLEET...OR ICE ACCUMULATIONS THAT MAY IMPACT TRAVEL. CONTINUE TO MONITOR THE LATEST FORECASTS.

SNOW!

Yes, here in Alabama! It has been snowing for about an hour - big, fat flakes. How fun!

Seasons

It is actually finally starting to appear and feel like fall around here. Some of the leaves are changing (last fall was absolutely beautiful - rivaled New England) and the temperatures are cooler (although we are still hitting the 80s in the late afternoon). I LOVE fall. I actually really enjoy each of the seasons but there is something magical for me about both fall and spring.

This is a picture of our backyard a couple of weeks ago. Many of the leaves have since dropped. This makes our deck a big heap'o leaves, twigs, acorns, and pecan shells. Of course the squirrels love it.

This morning I watched as a squirrel tried to wrestle a twig - about 2 feet long - up the tree to add to her nest. She did quite the dance with the twig and for a moment I thought she had won but alas, the twig remains on the deck. The squirrels are fat from all the nuts they've eaten (as evidenced by the shells carelessly tossed onto our deck). They are such funny little critters.

In the spring (which came at the end of January last year), the daffodils will greet me. The former owners of our house must have loved bulbs because we have daffodils and irises and day lilies galore! Summer is a little less wonderful to me but I still love the magic of summer with the kids that suddenly appear as if from nowhere. I love the sounds of children playing in the streets (I wish more kids did that these days - I wish it was more safe for them to do that).

Of course winter is wonderful and I'm so grateful that we get to experience a few weeks of winter in Utah each year. I love the feeling of sitting by a fire, sipping hot chocolate, and reading or snuggling as the snow falls outside. Cozy is just the right word for it! (this is actually a picture of the snowstorm we got stuck in on our way home to 'bama last December - I think this is Albuquerque)

I've been thinking about other seasons lately too. The seasons of my life. Sometimes when I read about the lives of some of my single friends like this one or my friends who don't have kids yet, like this one, I think, "what am I doing with my life?" I wonder if I am developing my skills and talents. Then I recall that I am changing diapers, singing songs, loving and (I hope) encouraging my husband, making meals, buying groceries, cleaning the house (although not often enough), and so forth. I am also learning some new things along the way. Most significantly, I'm learning about faith, service (on the receiving end as well as the giving), and friendship. I enjoy this season of my life. I hope that I utilized my time in prior seasons in a good way. I hope I served and developed talents and enjoyed unique experiences. I don't think I wasted too much time pining away for another season. I hope not. Now another season is upon me and I hope I don't long for those days of "self development" too much and instead enjoy this season.

Of course, the real miracle of the seasons is that without the buds you would never have the blooms and if the leaves didn't fall new buds couldn't develop. Each season depends on the ones before. They also prepare the way for the ones to come. Enjoy the seasons - Eccl. 3: 1 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven."