Our Snow Angels!

Well, we finally got the girls outside! Pete worked so hard today to get all the snow cleared so we can head to work tomorrow (hooray?)Here are some fun pictures of the snow angels out and about.

snow days

cold . . . white . . . quiet . . . beauty

snow

(double click to see photos full size)

Close Your Eyes, Mom, I Found the Beef.

An early view from Sunday's crockpot - the beginning of beef stew. Why? Well, despite growing up in a household with Mom, who is fiercely and fearsomely allergic to beef, (sorry mom) I still love it from time to time. Enough that I 'went in' with eight other families to buy a grass fed cow and after much anticipation the freezer is full of beef. Steaks, roasts, stew, and ground meats adorn all three shelves. It's lean and has beautiful color. So on Sunday friends came over for a double feature. A Charlie Brown Christmas (LOVE LOVE LOVE) captured the hearts of kids and adults followed by Love, Actually (not for the kids). Friends brought roasted potatoes, garlic bread, and cupcakes. I made a gingerbread trifle as well. We were stuffed and quite content.

The beef was quite a deal - under $2 a pound.

Blizzard Fun?

This picture sums up our day. We were in the middle of the blizzard that swept across Wisconsin. It rained last night before the snow, so all our trees are covered with ice. I'm thankful our trees faired fairly well. We lost power last night at 11:00 -- a nearby transformer blew and that was scary! There were huge flashes of bright blue light that lit up the night. We woke up a bit chilly but the power came back around 9:00. Some communites are still without power tonight. All the neighbor kids and men were out in force this morning playing in the snow. I loved seeing everyone rallying together to help out with the snowblowing. I had a house full of neighborhood boys playing with Legos, watching the movie Elf and eating mac & cheese for lunch. I kept my clothes dryer busy getting their snow gear dry for their afternoon adventure. Ryan grilled steaks for dinner and it felt so wonderful to be safe, warm and together.
Looking forward to seeing everyone soon!
Love, Joy

Ice fascination

Adam loved walking on and breaking with a stick the ice on the pond. He saved this beautiful ice speciman in our freezer. He is so interested in everything.

Tis the season

We went as a family to get our tree! It was a lot of fun!

Faith said we had to have an angel for the top of our tree. (I think she may have gotten it from all of the christmas movies we have been watching) So we went to Walmart and got an angel. So Faith goes, well Joe has to put it on top. It was so cute!! So we started a new tradition!

Faith was so excited to listen to music and decorate the tree!

We love our tree~!

I think it looks so much better in person.

In the midst of our relaxing day, we decided it was time to make christmas cookies. Faith had a blast and loved using the sprinkles.

She took her time to make sure "They're perfect mom"

Our masterpiece

Yum yum they turned out so good. Hope you all had a wonderful holiday weekend and got to enjoy friends and family around them.

Lots going on

Hi Everyone,
Thanks for all of the wonderful comments on the pictures.  Aren't the girls beautiful?  I have lots more photos but I am going to only post a few each evening.  I'll be visiting Pete and Emily mid-January so I'll be able to shoot a new batch then!

I hope to write a longer post in the very near future about another something exciting!  My church has moved into its "new to us" permanent location in downtown Royal Oak.  It has been very exciting and I can't wait to fill you in on all the details - they are extraordinary in my opinion.  That will be for another post though.  Also, I will be recording one new song on our church's next cd in just a couple of weeks.  I was hoping to record two songs but I just wasn't able to finish all the details yet on a song from Ezekiel 37.   If you haven't read this passage I would encourage you to do so - it has become one of my favorites.  The song I am recording is titled Cry Out Of Romans.  I think this might be one of the best songs that I have written yet.  My friend Jonathan is playing the guitar and Carol will be adding in piano.  I'll be posting about the process as we move toward January 29th.

On a totally separate note, we had our first decent snow here in Detroit and I was thrilled to use my yooper scooper.  I was able to clear the entire drive without breaking a sweat in about 10 minutes.  I love my scooper.  Even better, a neighbor down the street hooked up a plow to the front of his ATV and plowed the sidewalks up and down our entire block - it was such a gift to come home to after a long day at work!  Oh and my Dad was telling me today that there might be snow in Atlanta tomorrow.  Since there "might" be snow accumulation up to 1 inch they have cancelled school - of course, he said, there are all of about 10 snow plows in the entire state of Georgia.  He he he - Ha ha ha!  My students are dying for a snow day but I have assured them - we will have school tomorrow!

SnowGirl

Alaina played in the snow today. She was so bundled up she waddled like a duck!

She made a snow angel, helped with the shovel, and took a ride in the orange sled. It was so much fun.

Prayers Needed

Hi Family,

This past weekend Susie and Paul came to visit Mom{Grandma}. We had a nice visit with them and they are doing well. They did inform us on their children which could use our prayers. Michelle and Jim are both out of work and looking for new jobs. Heather is at a community center following a program their to get her life back on track. At present she does not want to see her family but Sue did go and see her and said she looked better then she had.

Kirsten broke bones in her legs several weeks ago after falling on ice. She had another surgery a couple of weeks ago and has had complications. She got an infection in her leg where they had put screws in and these had to be removed, leaving an open hole the size of a golf ball. She was sent to a nursing home for treatment and drainage of the wound. She now has seen another doctor who will be performing more surgery soon. Kirsten is now at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital awaiting her next surgery. She may have to have a series of surgeries to repair her leg. The doctor says it will be at least a year of healing. All of them could use our prayers. If you would like to send Kirsten a get well the address to the hospital is: Advocate Lutheran General Hospital
1775 W. Dempster Ave.
Park Ridge, IL 60068

Winter also has had a bit of bad luck lately. She lost her job a couple of months ago and recently had a fire in her apartment. She is now homeless and jobless. She is on the job hunt and living with us and friends.

Sorry to bring so much bad news in one post but that's the way life is sometimes. I hope that life is going well for the rest of you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Love, Debbie

MidWinter Break

It's Sunday Evening which marks the end of an overall wonderful midwinter break. I am fortunate and still have an entire week's time off in February. Tim had Wed-Fri off and Carrie had Mon-Tuesday. But I had the entire glorious week. Thank you Lord.

I rested the first weekend and had fun with friends at a pizza party on Saturday evening and a Chili party for Sunday Night Dinners (a once a month event my friends and I partake in). I lead our church in musical worship on Sunday morning in which the message concentrated on God's Knowledge. He knows EVERYTHING - even the things we wish He didn't know - He knows. He still covers us in His grace. I am so thankful. This is one of the messages in our latest series called Your God Is Too Small. After church and before chili dinner, Flat Adam and I had a great time with my friend Alli exploring some of Detroit. We even took a ride through the tunnel to Canada. It was a lot of fun.

Monday through Wednesday I spent most of my time working on my taxes (still not done yet), preparing for my trip to Africa, and getting things in order at the house. Housework never seems to stay put. I also had the opportunity to see Tim's new house in Troy - he placed a bid on the house and it was accepted. Hopefully he will soon tell us all about it here at the blog!

On Thursday, Flat Adam and I took the train from Detroit to Chicago to visit Pete, Emily, and Alaina. It was so much fun. We relaxed and enjoyed each other's company the entire time. Alaina is growing so fast!! She is really starting to get all over the place. You should see that way that Alaina looks at Emily - it's precious - she knows that she loved - what a secure little girl. Pete made homemade baby food: carrots and apples. Pete told us how Alaina started crawling into their room to find him and that it just made his day! I had such a wonderful time and I can't wait to get back again.

I hope you are all well - Miss you lots - Tracy

Snow

Job 37:5-7 (New International Version)
God's voice thunders in marvelous
ways; he does great things beyond our understanding.
He says to the snow,
'Fall on the earth,' and to the rain shower,
'Be a mighty downpour.' So that
all men he has made may know his work,
he stops every man from his labor.

We ushered in the snow today.
I've been praying for snow.
Tim - our hero - shoveled the entire driveway and the sidewalks.
He even distributed salt around the slippery areas.

I sat on the couch and watched local coverage of the snowfall and the auto bailout.
Thanks, Lord, for the snow.
Thanks, Lord, for the loans. I pray we use them wisely.
Thanks,Tim, for shoveling.
Thanks, Tim, for shoveling without me even asking.

So far we've had 5 inches fall and it is still coming down.
It's beautiful.
Did I mention Tim is beautiful? He shoveled.
Did I mention I ate challah french toast for breakfast?
Did I mention I am still in my pajamas?
I love the snow.

Psalm 51:6-8 (New International Version)
Surely you desire truth in the inner parts;
you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.
Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Snow Day!!

Tim felt his blood pump'n when he did the 5:45 am snow shoveling. It must have been a lot of snow because it was the first time he has ever come in to take a break!








I am SOOOOOOooooooo glad that Tim and Pete gave me a new snow scoop for Christmas this year. I had no idea how many times I would get to use it Tim would shovel the driveway for me.













The best part about the Snow Day - God answered my prayers for a little bit of rest today!!!

Bitter Cold Sets In. . .

Yesterday morning when I woke up (late) I was greeted by melting snow, traces of sunshine, and 45 degree weather. Everything looked like spring. I knew what was on the horizon, however; Bitter Cold forecasted for Sunday. I took out my snow scoop and swished all of the slush and water toward the lawn in order to prevent the ice rink that was about to form on my driveway. I noticed, in the process, footprints leading underneath my deck again. Were the skunk's relatives back? Oh No! I can't have a skunk under my deck - I will for certain get sprayed. So I took a beautiful heap of slushy snow and blocked up the hole and left it to freeze into an icy boulder. This morning when I brought the trash out, I noticed it had done just as a wished - but . . . buT . . . bUT . . . BUT now there were a whole series of frantic footsteps leading up to the hole and around it. My icy boulder worked - but my heart sank into my feet. I can't believe that I blocked the only shelter for my dear little skunk, or bunny, or possum, or whatever it is. I am now responsible for the life of one of God's creatures. UGgghhhh . . . . the horror. I am going to remove the boulder today and hope for the best.

appended 7:10 pm - Carrie removed the icy boulder before church this morning.  No sightings of the critters yet today.  I am hoping the critter found a warm spot.  It is currently 3 degrees 

F.

A 1/2 Inch Short!

We just experienced another winter blast in the metro Detroit Area. The snow was falling in a way that reminded me of the lake effect snow in the U.P. Big - Fluffy - Driving - Wet Flakes. It piled up really quickly on everything. Tim & I have been loving the snow scoop! He's truly a lot better at it than me - but we are both just loving the new blue scoop. The snow glides off like a well buttered egg!

Last night Carrie measured our final snowfall at 5.5 inches which put me a 1/2 inch under the "snow day" mark! Tim's school, however, had a great deal more school and so he was able to enjoy the "sleep in"!

Have a super day eveyone.
Love, Tracy

Well It Snowed Again!!!!!!!!!

Well It Snowed Again!!!!!!!!!

I think that our friends in Georgia are about to send us back to Michigan with our weather. It is snowing again. This time the snow is a lot more than before. I knew something was up when we went to our local ACE Hardware store this morning and they had sleds, saucers, and salt all out at the front door. I though to myself “Yeah right someone really going to need those saucers”. Then on the way out there was a woman on her cell phone talking to someone saying “Yes they have those saucer things. Yes do you really think I should pick it up for the hill out back? Well you know the kids will love it.” I gave her a look like any good Michigander would to say are you crazy lady this isn’t real snow you know. Well I think she was right! It is beautiful and snow covered.

We were going out tonight with Super Club. I arranged a dinner at a really neat old restaurant in Newnan called 10 East Washington. It is a delightful old Georgia restaurant. Well I started getting calls from the group saying that they know I wouldn’t think this is much snow but they can’t get out of their driveways because of the hill and one said her church called and canceled all their services for tomorrow. Well I figure if it is good enough for God then it is good enough for me! I canceled. I figured the church had inside knowledge about the freezing roads and more snow that the weather man said would come tonight. We will just have to go in a couple of weeks.

I am just going to spend my time working on the Welcome bags for the Wedding. They are for those who will be staying in the hotel. They will get one as they check in.

Take care, stay warm, and go sledding

It Snowed in Peachtree City

It snowed in Peachtree City Georgia!

I have been told that is has not snowed in Peachtree in nine years. The last big snow storm was in 1993 fifteen years ago but the last time snow fell and stuck to the ground was 1999.


They kept telling us on the weather reports that it was going to snow. They called it frozen precipitation (AKA SNOW). There were reports every half hour and weather warnings running on the bottom of the TV all day. It may stay on the ground was the warning. No one I talked to believe them. The answer was: “Oh they mean up in the Northern Mountains. It snows up there. We never snow here.” So I went about my day believing my neighbors and friends who have lived here longer than me. Besides I just got back from the being with all of you and we had snow (real snow not frozen percipitation) all the time I was up there. I was not to excited to see more. I get my fill with my Christmas visit just fine!


I was working in my craft room when Paul called me from Detroit where he was at the auto show. He wanted to tell me someone texted them a picture of the parking lot at work in Peachtree City and there was snow on the cars. He then told me to go out and take pictures. I thought he was nuts but just as I open the front door to look out the school bus with all the elementary kids was unloading out front and all I could hear was squeals of joy as they saw the snow coming down. I knew it was true. There really wasn’t much there but boy were they excited to see it come down.


Luckily it did not last but the kids had a wonderful time. Plus I get to say that I was around when it snowed in the Atlanta metro area. Everyone got on boots and hats and gloves it was a site. I put on a sweater laughed and went back in the house. But I must say it was a joy to hear the kids and a joy not to have to shovel it away.

The Vedict: It snowed!

It sure did! Tim and I shoveled this morning and Carrie tried out her snow shoes (she's been waiting two years). Tim is a master at the snow scoop! He made perfect mounds just the way that Dad always does!
Thanks for your help Tim.

Love, Tracy