[/caption]The kids and I had a wonderful surprise this morning when Daddy returned home from work at 9:30! Yes, that's what happens when you get snow in the south. Haha, just a couple of inches and the whole community literally shuts down. In their defense, the rarity of such weather makes it quite bit more challenging to handle it well, and no one here is comfortable driving in it. Still, being from MI, we can't help but laugh at the panic that ensues whenever we get the faintest dusting of snow...or even talk of it.
[caption id="attachment_39" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Trying to get kids dressed and outside!"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_49" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Three peas in a pod... :)"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_44" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Now he's lovin' it!"]
[/caption]The kids were unbelievably excited about the weather. Ellie woke up and came running to find me, "Mommy! Can I show you sumpin'?" ... and proceeded to whip back the blinds and show me the "SNOW!!!!" :-) Since we aren't around snow much, I'll be the first to admit I'm not very efficient at getting all of the kids (and myself) bundled up to head out there, but we made it happen and spent a good chunk of time out there this morning. Since we don't own a sled, we used trash can lids (you gotta improvise!), and Brandon and I took turns pulling the kids around while they sat in the back yelling, "Go, Rudolph!" :-) I noticed some neighbors pulling their kids around in laundry baskets, so at least we aren't the only house on the block without actual sleds! haha. :-) We closed out the morning outdoors with some yummy hot chocolate. The whole morning took me back to so many fun, snowy outings I had as a kid. I often say I don't miss the cold living down here, and most of the time I don't, but having a snowfall every now and then really is a lot of fun. :-)
[caption id="attachment_47" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="No sled? Use trash can lids!"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_46" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="He has no problem driving in the snow! ;)"]
[/caption][caption id="attachment_45" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Me 'n my girl"]
[/caption]While looking out this afternoon on the world of white, I was amazed at how different our yard looks now that it’s covered in fluffy, white snow. I have to be honest, before today, the yard was beginning to look like quite an eyesore. It was covered with sticks and dead leaves just begging to be removed! To make matters worse, our neighbors are very diligent with their landscaping, and their yards always look picture perfect. In comparison with their yards, ours looked hideous! Not today, though. The snow served as the great equalizer – now all of our lawns look the same – peaceful, serene, and lovely.
[caption id="attachment_42" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Making letters in the snow"]
[/caption]As I looked out at our neighborhood today, I was reminded that God does the same thing in our lives. While some of us may look more lovely or put together on the outside than others, deep down all of our lives are much like our poor lawn – full of grime and junk that needs to be removed and cleansed. How thankful I am for the blood of Christ that covers us, cleanses us, and allows us to come before the Father without blemish or spot. In that sense, His blood serves as the equalizer – no matter who we are, where we’ve been, our how dirty we’ve become, there is nothing His blood cannot cover, nothing His sacrifice is insufficient to pay, nothing beyond the reach of His grace.
[caption id="attachment_40" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="I told Ethan..."smile!" :)"]
[/caption]The Bible often uses snow as a reference to purity and cleanness. Watching the snowfall today reminded me again of how thankful I am that the precious blood of Christ washes me whiter than snow. I’m thankful that it’s not my own efforts that purify me, but that I find grace in Christ alone.
[caption id="attachment_43" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="snow angels!"]
[/caption]I also made it my prayer today that God would give me a heart tender to following Him so that my life would be pure, clean, and refreshing; that when others see me, they would see I am covered by Christ. And that, like today's snowfall, is nothing short of beautiful.
Ps. 51:7…wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
[caption id="attachment_41" align="aligncenter" width="225" caption="Ellie in her eskimo hat! :)"]
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