Snow storm Number 1

Our corner of the world has been blessed with lovely snowfalls this year. I can remember the blizzard of 1993 and 1996, but I think this tops it all. This time though, I live on a street in the "city" instead of way back in the woods. Ok, ok it's not a city, but with the firehall only 2 doors down and a school across the street from us, we didn't really get to feel "snowed in". The snow started falling Friday night and by Saturday we had over a foot of snow. We measured about 14 inches. It was absolutely beautiful. There is something about snow covering everything around, and slowing things down, that is so beautiful.

On Saturday morning, my hubby plowed the driveway and kept piling the snow at one spot. His plan was to build an igloo! It turned into more of a cave dug into the snow. He went into work for a few hours on Saturday morning to help clear snow at jobs and when he came home, we worked on it for a while. He made it soo cozy! It was about 7 feet wide and 9 feet long. We spread out a sleeping bag on the bottom and that kept some of the moisture from coming up through. Then we piled a bunch of blankets on that. Brad had dug a shelf out on either end so we set our lantern and flashlight on them. We got it finished around dark and decided maybe we would try sleeping out there. It was actually pretty warm inside, if you stayed away from the door! After being out there for about an hour we decided our bed would be more comfy so we went inside to sleep. I was sure I would "feel" drips all night from melting snow!

On Sunday we went back out with

hot chocolate and sticky buns and our favorite game...checkers.

We both enjoy playing checkers. There was a game in the cottage we stayed in for part one of our honeymoon and for some reason, we just started playing. Then on our way down to Tennessee for part 2 of our honeymoon, we stopped at a Cracker Barrel for breakfast and bought a checker rug. Now it is our game of choice. Perfect for 2 people.

The igloo is now covered in another foot or 2 of snow. We thought of adding on and expanding it, but decided not to. It was fun while it lasted though!

The Empty Crib

7 months ago, my husband and I thought we would be parents by now. I was due with our first child on February 2. We were so excited, and spent those first few weeks dreaming of how things would be. Tomorrow is February 2. The day I was supposed to become a mother. Yet, in our "spare room", there sits an empty crib.

Today as I sat on the bed, staring at the crib, I let the tears fall. Tears of loss and grief. Tears of shattered dreams. Tears of what could have been. The loss we experienced was repeated a few months later when I lost our second baby. After the second loss, I felt numb. I felt an anger I had never felt before. It scared me. All of my life I had been taught that God is good and everything he does is good. Yet, how can a good God, think it is in my best interest to have us experience not one, but 2 miscarriages? It didn't make any sense to me and is something I still struggle with.

We buried our Baby Grace in our flower bed. A few months later we buried her sister Faith there too. Faith was named by her daddy. I didn't want anything to do with naming this child and it was even hard for me to acknowledge that it happened. Had I been able to erase the physical pain and the endless flow of bright red blood that told me it was over, I would've chosen to ignore the fact that I had even been pregnant again. Time does bring healing in a way, and yet, the pain is so real. Especially now.

Yesterday, my husband held me as I cried out my grief. I told him that for the first time since my 2nd miscarriage, I feel at peace. Peace in knowing that God is in control and will grant us the desires of our heart in HIS time. My Sunday School class is studying the book "Lies Women Believe". Yesterday was a breakthrough for me in realizing the lie I have believed that God is NOT good. Here is an excerpt that I've been clinging too. "We want God to fix all of our problems. God says instead, "I have a purpose for your problems. I want to use your problems to change and to reveal My grace and power to the world. That is the Truth and the Truth WILL set you free."

So yes, there is an empty crib in my house, but I choose to rest in God's plan for it and for My life.

Bosom Buddies

You've probably heard of the term "Bosom Buddies" before. I first heard it in the Anne of Green Gables movies of which I am a huge fan. There's just something about being with friends you've known for years and can still connect. I am blessed with many friends in my life, and many "bosom buddies". These 2 gals and I go WAY back. Back to the pre cell phone days of puffed up hair and piling 3 in the front seat to cruising around town. Seriously, that's what we did to enterain ourselves. Cruise around town. Do kids even do that nowdays?

We were all pretty independent and could get around just fine on our own! There are many stories I could tell that have me blushing just thinking of how immature we were! We also grew spiritually together. Some of my favorite memories are of praying in the car when something was bugging one or all of us.

Life had a way of separating us. I went to New York to teach school, Lorene was the first to get married, Suz spent a year at Hillcrest and we all made different friends. But every now and then we would still get together and it was as if the years had disappeared! We could pick up right where we left off and share our gut. Even though we've been in different phases of life the past 10 years, we could still relate.

This week we spent a day together again. It felt like the clock had turned back 10 years, other than having to get sitters and get home to the kiddos! We went to see a movie, but this time we didn't have to sneak in! : ) After the movie we went to a cafe to sit and chat. I love how open I can be with these 2 and I don't feel judged by them. In a world that is always changing, I am so thankful that some things never do!

Love you guys!

Birthday Girl!

9 years ago, I became an aunt for the first time. I was teaching school in New York at the time and couldn't wait till the weekend came so I could scuttle home to Lancaster and meet my new neice. She was born on a Monday so you can only imagine how long and torturous the week was for me! I cried when I first held her and dreamed of all of the things we would do together.

A few years ago, I stopped getting my neices and nephews "gifts" for their birthdays. Instead I take them out for a treat. After all, a child can only use so many toys and I love the quality time it gives me with them. They seem to enjoy it too. Before I was married, I spent lots of time with the kiddos and now that I'm married and live further away, it doesn't happen as often.

We had planned to go to the tea room in Intercourse, but they closed early the day we went. Instead Breanne wanted to go to Angela's Cafe. How fun to go with my neice to a coffee shop! We chatted and drank our coffee and then browsed the books upstairs. Breanne is swiftly becoming a little lady and I seriously enjoyed our time together.

Happy Birthday Breezy! I love you!!!

"I'll Pray For You"

You're in my prayers...
I'll be praying for you...

How many times have we said these words or something similar to hurting people? I've been so convicted of this lately. It's so easy for me to say this to someone and then "forget" about it. Sure, I pray for them when they come to mind but I don't intercede for them like I should. Because of technology, many people (me included) share their lives with the world. It's so easy to drop someone a comment on facebook or twitter or whatever saying I'll pray for them. It just seems like the thing to do. But will I really pray for them?

I've started to stop and say a prayer for them in that instant, yet, I feel like God is calling me into something deeper. Prayer has always been a struggle for me. I struggle to stay awake or my mind goes a million different directions (it's called multi-tasking!!!).

The thought came to me that I should journal about my prayers. I had been thinking about this for a long time and last week at our ladies tea, our speaker brought it up again. I thought, Ok God, I get the hint! So I stopped at Walmart on my way home from work a few days ago with the sole purpose of getting a notebook. I could have used an old notebook from home but it feels better to start clean and fresh.

I would love to hear from any of you...do you journal your prayers and how do you remember who all to pray for?

Not really knowing how or where to start, I labeled different pages with different people who I want to pray for. It's amazing how many people you can think of or who need prayer. My plan is to keep adding to the list. I have a section in the back labeled "ANSWERS" and want to remember to write specific answers to prayer.

So I'm at the start of my journey into prayer. I'm excited to see who God lays on my heart.

First Post

It's been on my "to do list" to start a blog this year. I love reading other peoples blogs and have been inspired by many. The main purpose of my blog is to just archive everyday happenings. My life is full of many bright spots and some not so bright! But my desire is to learn from each of them. Life is a journey and we (my husband and I) have had our share of "detours", but we've learned so much from lifes little side roads and have learned to enjoy the scenery along the way.