The blessings of a blizzard

I was sitting in front of my fireplace, listening to the wind howl and studying my Sunday school lesson for Sunday. I came across this quote:

"The problem we face today needs very little time for its statement. Our lives in a modern city grow too complex and overcrowded. Even the necessary obligations which we feel we must meet grow like Jack's beanstalk, and before we know it we are bowed down with burdens, crushed under committees, strained, breathless, and hurried, panting through a never ending program of appointments." Thomas R. Kelly, A Testament of Devotion (Harper & Row, 1941)

Sometimes it takes an act of nature to force us to STOP and breathe. I think it is a reason that we like and enjoy snow days...when we can look outside and not see a single car on the road. And we feel the freedom to just sit, interact with others and catch our breath. May God teach us through these moments that we can have this freedom outside of a blizzard.

The blizzard is coming

Here's what is planned for our snow day today (and possibly the next day as well)...

• 600 piece world puzzle
• Uno!
• Skipbo!
• meatloaf with crock pot mac & cheese (mmmm, comfort food in the midst of the storm)
• snow ice cream...I found a recipe. Here's hoping it turns out.
• reading, reading and more reading...Joe took the kids to the library yesterday so we are all stalked up with books
• cookies...to go with the ice cream, of course.
• Wii...hmmm, which game to play first.
• movies...Groundhog Day will definitely be on the play list at some because of the timing of the storm.

And, on a sad note, lots of prayers for a tragedy in our community...town community and church community. Pray for Joe today as he travels in the blizzard to meet with a grieving family.