Moving up to 4000 feet, we knew that we would encounter a new experience - snow.  But God had been very merciful to me and we hadn't had any real snow since moving here...until this week.  It started Saturday morning.  I needed to drive into town, and since the temps were still fairly warm, I drove in snow for the first time!  BW called because he needed to know where I had hid the snow pants - supposed to be Christmas presents for the kids, but they needed them.  My brother came to visit on his way home from college just after the snow stopped.  This allowed him to get into our community without chains(which he didn't have).  The whole family was out throwing snowballs. 

Sunday morning, I came into the kitchen where I found Boy8 sitting in front of our sliding glass door just staring at the snow.  I whispered to BW, "I think he's worshipping it".  We went to church and on the way home I looked in my rearview mirror.  He had a very worried look on his face as the sun was out and he was just sure that the snow was melting.  He was right.  We got home, he ran in to put on his snowboots and got into the backyard to find a slushy mess.  But the timing was perfect so that my brother was able to get home.  We also were able to attend our church's Advent service which was so much fun!

Monday morning, we awoke to Boy8 yelling, "Wake up everyone!  It snowed!".  Sure enough, overnight, about half a foot of snow had fallen and we were in the middle of a winter wonderland.  It was amazing!  I couldn't believe how quietly it had fallen.  We are used to rains or storms where you know they are there.  It also muffles all other noise so that there is such a quietness.  I felt like a kid myself as I ran with the kids from room to room looking at the views and watching the snow come down. 

There was a huge difference in this snow.  Our neighbor next door showed us how to roll the snow into a snowman.  We also pulled out some other Christmas presents - a snowball maker and a mold to make blocks for snow forts.  We all had lots of fun outside and inside watching movies and playing games together. 

The public schools had been closed for a snow day so our school followed their example.  On Tuesday, BW and I attended his staff Christmas party and the kids had a great time sledding at a friends' house.  Then we got the call that Boy8 had a bad spill and we should come back right away.   Turned out he had the wind knocked out of him pretty bad, but God protected him. 

Wednesday it snowed and snowed and snowed.  It really didn't stop all day.  We are not used to this - that everything just shuts down and people just stay home for days.  But it was so cozy to read books and watch movies(even opened another Christmas present) and do some baking.  What a blessing to have a God ordained vacation! 

This morning we woke up to blue skies, but temps down to 10 degrees.  After being cooped up the day before, we went on a family walk.  The kids had fun sliding on the icy roads under the powder, but it confirmed for us that we weren't to go anywhere again...and maybe need to start thinking about getting a 4WD vehicle in the future. 

Overall, I love it!  I love that my kids have 4 seasons to experience.  I love the cozy feel.  I'm learning to love the lack of control in my planning and accept that God has other plans for our family sometimes. 

You can get a taste of it by watching my new slideshow. 

Blessings!

-J