by 9am, the snow was starting to stack up
a view out our basement window -- the snow is 3/4 of the way up!
I took the pictures when we had about 12 inches on the ground and it was still snowing. Wow! I haven’t seen snow like this in a LONG time!
December 9, 2009
A Snow Day was called by 8:30 last night. (Thank goodness!) I love the new automated district-wide phone calling system that can ring everyone’s phone at once and let us know about things like snow days, other emergencies, etc.
However, I have started to notice a strange pattern with Christian so far in this short “snowy” season. When it starts snowing overnight, he wakes by 3am. Granted we’ve only had two such nights so far, but it seems like a trend. (Feeling the change in atmospheric pressure perhaps???) Because it had been snowing here most of the day yesterday, he just couldn’t go to bed last night. I tried SO many times to get him to lay down with me, but it was like I was touching a live nerve with him. He would scream until Olivia woke-up. I would go to tend to her and he would head back to the basement. Sigh. I finally just thought, He’ll eventually fall asleep on his own, so I might as well lay down for awhile. Mistake.
I was awaken an hour+ later (1am-ish) by Christian asking for movies and pulling at my hand. As I opened my eyes and rolled over to look at him, I noticed he had no clothes on. Absolutely not a thing. I immediately knew what that meant. Another lesson in humility. He had it on his hands and feet, so I walked him into the bathroom, pulled back the shower curtain, only to find my lesson hiding in there. Sigh. So I carefully carried him to the bathroom off of our bathroom (thankful that we have two bathrooms) and started up the shower, which in turn woke Brian.
Christian in the shower. In the middle of the night. Brian knew what that meant. He got up to see what he could do to help. Upon walking into the other bathroom, he was bowled over by the smell. Yes, my husband, the dairy farmer, who is around cow poo all day, just about gagged at the stench. Thankfully, he powered through by breathing through a towel and helped me clean out the shower while I went to work cleaning the carpet in the living room/hallway where it was tracked. Nothing beats the romance of doing that kind of cleaning with your husband in the middle of the night. 
By then, Christian had been thoroughly soaked, so I toweled him off and put him back into his beloved jammies. Brian informed Christian that he needed to go to bed. To which (of course), Christian screamed, “NO!” and ran off to the basement. Brian turned back in, while I finished sanitizing the tub, less than five minutes later I walked downstairs to find Christian curled up in a ball sleeping on a cushion. What a relief!
With his snow day, I hope that he sleeps in. (I also hope that Olivia will sleep in a bit, too! Mama needs her “beauty” sleep. ) Time for me to turn back in now, too…
December 8, 2009
Our state is in a Winter Storm Blizzard Warning. We are forecasted to get about 9″ of snow between now and tomorrow noon with lots of blowing and drifting snow. I am hoping for a snow day.
Normally I’m not a big fan of having our rut routine broken by missing days of school, but I am not prepared to shovel out our 100+ foot driveway by 7:15 tomorrow morning for the bus while getting the backpack/lunchbox together and a little man fed, dressed, and bathroomed while helping the princess accomplish her morning demands.
I just don’t see how I can make that happen without cloning and/or a snowblower. Without either of those, I will just settle for a snow day. I stocked up on movies, books, bananas, and snacks, so I’m ready to be stuck in the house for the day.
December 7, 2009
Olivia is busy building a contraption. Yep, that’s exactly what she’s calling it.
My hubby gets to attend his very first season Packer game in Green Bay. For free (minus the cost of gas).
Christian loves to dance, and I love to watch him.
Therapist, WD, brought me a Starbucks drink when she came to work with Christian this afternoon. Yum!
I got a workout (and tired out Olivia) by shoveling our driveway/sidewalk for an hour+ this morning. I’m thankful that it was only 3″ of snow.
December 7, 2009
I’ve been feeling overwhelmed and undermotivated lately. Just blah and then some.
Reading through Matthew the story of Peter trying to walk on water came to mind…
Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them, “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him, “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshipped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” — Matthew 14:22-33
I know that God is in total control of my life, but I keep trying to trust in myself. Then I get overwhelmed. I feel like I’m sinking under the weight of my responsibilities and problems. I need to join Peter in crying out, “Lord, save me!”
December 1, 2009
Olivia and I had an interesting morning at the library.
I am no longer parking in the metered library lot and adjoining metered streets. (Take that, Parking Nazi!) We are parking a couple of blocks away, where there are no meters so that we can just enjoy our time at the library and not have to keep strict tabs on our time. Now instead of just getting movies and books, we are coloring and playing with the library toys and puppets. (And taking our sweet time doing so.)
This morning when we were wrapping up our visit, a preschool-aged boy and his uncle came into the very empty Children’s section. The uncle told the boy that he needed to get something from the car, that the boy should stay in the “play area,” and that if he had any questions he should talk to the librarians sitting at the desk on the other side of the section.
I watched this boy. He seemed so alone. He asked for some trucks to play with on the “street rug.” I helped him find them on the shelf. Then he just wanted to talk and be by us, so I didn’t feel like we could leave. And Olivia, who is normally extremely shy at the library, hiding behind me or hanging her head any time someone tries to talk with her, just started immediately playing with this boy. (After watching and talking with him for a few minutes, I am pretty sure that he is on the autism spectrum somewhere — running an ever-familiar circle around me as we talked, repeating questions asked, etc.) I was amazed just watching them play together. They seemed to understand each other without having to say many words. Laughter was their dominating communication. So, we just could NOT leave.
After being gone for quite some time, the uncle came back. We left then. I think with a new friend.
December 1, 2009
Dear Santa,
I am Olivia. I am 3. Do you want to come and play with me? Do you want to swing with me at my house? Do you have toys for all the kids?
Love, Olivia
Olivia was SO excited to be able to send a letter to Santa. She ran over to the “mailbox” in the library this morning and danced while dropping it in. I can’t wait to see what Santa’s helpers write back to her. 
(Yes, these were her very own words. I just acted as her scribe!)
November 30, 2009
I am finding this post very hard to write, but hoping that it will be cathartic so here I go…
I love Christmas. I love rejoicing in the birth of our Savior. I love thinking of gifts to give to those who mean so much to our family. I love the hymns. I love the lights and decorations. I love hearing favorite Bible passages repeated again. I love to get the yearly updates from family and friends. I love the unmaterialistic Christmas. I love the Christmas that is focused on Christ Jesus.
But every year, as Christmas approaches, I find myself struggling. Failing in and out of a deep sadness. You see, almost 20 years ago on Christmas Day, I was dealt an emotionally devastating blow. An unexpected betrayal of sorts. A loss of all innocence. An event that still shakes me to my core and is just so incomprehenible in my mind. And I wish that it didn’t cut me as much as it did that Christmas Day so long ago, but it still does. Reliving it makes me want to just curl up in a ball and sob until the tears will no longer come.
This time of year sends me on an emotional rollercoaster ride, from the highest of highs to some pretty low lows. I’m praying for many more highs than lows this year. If that’s all I would get for Christmas, that would be enough by me.
November 30, 2009
…Olivia slept all the way through the night all by herself. Yes, I am serious. And TOTALLY rejoicing!
