Snowed In

The Cincinnati Enquirer, January 15, 1918, p. 8, cartoon of an "old timer."


I guess they've been making jokes about Ohio weather for a long time. Personally, I love being snowed in. It provides a perfect opportunity to get all of those annoying tasks done that I've been putting off for so long. It also provides for a great learning experience. Here's a list of the few things I've learned during the great blizzard of 2008:

1) Even if I have 500+ channels, nothing is as entertaining as Mindy and Marshall on channel 4 mis-reporting snow emergencies every 5 minutes, defending their drive into work and wondering what Tacoma is going to buy from Panera to measure the snow. (FYI, the snow was one baguette deep in the Panera parking lot on 23).

2) I have 9 cake mixes in my pantry including pineapple, angel food, pound, spice, carrot and pumpkin. Hmmmm.....

3) Uggs are not drift proof.

4) 1 Hot shower + 2 Alleve = 3 hour nap.

5) I have a king size bed, a full size bed, 6 dining room chairs, a couch, an ottoman, an overstuffed chair and 4 baskets of laundry. The cats favorite place to sleep? Whatever pillow my head is laying on.

6) Reading "The Long Winter" during the Long Winter is extremely gratifying.

7) It IS possible for my backroom to be organized.

8) Linus loves to shovel snow. He likes to rear back, stiff-legged onto the shovel as I scoop, then bury his head into the shovel and spill the contents. I didn't attempt the drive, but I did manage to clear the sump pump outlet.

9) 5 cans of Diet Dr. Pepper is my limit before my tongue starts cramping from the acid.

10) I am so thankful for family with snow plows.

Hopefully, Spring will arrive soon...like Buckeye Chuck said.

Happy New Year!

For those of you who don't know Sara T. personally, I will let you in on something that most of the inner circle finds very disagreeable. I am a morning person. It is a rare gift that was given to me by my mother.

I remember one time, my mother shaking me awake to go to the grocery store with her. She promised breakfast as a post-shopping treat. So I got up, got dressed, got in the car and rode along. We walked around Meijer's, looking in all the departments. We pondered future meals and groceries and selected new books for breakfast (our favorite thing is to go out to eat and not talk, just read our books). Breakfast at Bob E's was leisurely...enough time for three cups of coffee. On the way home, I had a hard time keeping my eyes open. The sun was just coming up and was so bright. Yes, young grasshopper. We went shopping and had breakfast and still made it home in time to watch the sun come up.

Recently, the first conversation of the day I had was with Cartman. I greeted him with a grin and a Good Morning. I got a scowling response. He said that "Good Morning" was an oxymoron. Hmph.

I love the morning...and New Years...and the first day of school...meeting new friends for the first time. I love beginnings. They are exciting, full of promise and hope. For one brief second, I feel as though I am perfect -- just as I am. It's heavenly.

When we've been there ten thousand years,
Bright shining as the sun,
We've no less days to sing God's praise,
Then when we've first begun.
Last verse to "Amazing Grace"

Maybe that is part of why Heaven is Heaven. We've no less days...then when we've first begun. In other words, every day we are there is like the first day -- the beginning of eternity. Full of promise, hope and excitement. And we will be perfect.

Like today...the beginning of a new year.

Happy New Year my perfect friend.

Cross the pond...

Someone said that once you cross the pond, you are never at home on either side. Someone was right. You don't. When I fill up the Jeep with gas, I long for living in a pedestrian environment with accessible public transportation. Then I remember being in England and lugging my groceries home in the rain, tripping on the cobblestones. Oh, how I would have given anything for my Jeep then. This is just one of many examples that I think about almost daily.

I have similar musings about giving up the producing position at my church. I thought that I would have a sense of relief and fulfillment. I didn't expect to feel lonely or without purpose. It's like I am standing on the edge of the pond, looking over at what used to be and wishing I was there and still not wanting to leave the shore I am on.

It's kinda like I don't fit -- no matter what I do or where I go. Peter writes that we are strangers in this world -- temporary residents whose real home resides in heaven. It makes sense. I love this world -- blue skies, friends and family, my garden, the way Linus lays his head on my lap when he's tired -- I could easily be seduced by the goodness around me. Then I turn on the news or the radio, or pick up the paper and quickly realize that I am not at home. I don't fit here and I'm not supposed to. I'm so thankful that God provided us with a purpose...something to occupy our time until we can make a final crossing, stand on the opposite shore, and not look back with longing.

Invitacion Fountain

All who are weak, all who are weary
Come to the rock, come to the fountain
All who have sailed, on the rivers of heartache
Come to the sea, come on and be set free.

All who are weak, all who are weary
Come to the rock, come to the fountain
All who have climbed, on the mountains of heartache
Reach to the stars, come on and give your life.

All who are weak, all who are weary
All who are tired, all who are thirsty
All who have failed, all who have broken
Come to the rock, come to the fountain

If you lead me Lord, I will follow
Where You lead me Lord, I will go.
Come and heal me Lord, I will follow,
Where You lead me Lord, I will go.
I will go.