What an incredible change the last couple of days have been from the trend of the last month! Think of this: Last Friday, we were still above freezing during the day. The drop Friday night was crazy, and then this wild storm started. Grand Rapids got 18″ of snow! We only got 6″ or so, but the c-c-c-c-cold!
I got up around 4 a.m. on Saturday to let the dogs out (don’t ask), and the door was frozen shut. I worked with it for close to 45 minutes, but still couldn’t make it budge. My fingers were frozen, and so I took a break to warm them up, and turned around to see the way Mr Darcy was standing. He was holding his tail low and wagging it, with that sheepish look in his eye as if to say, “I’m really trying, but when you gotta go, you gotta go!”
So I gave in and got some help. Tony pushed while I was pulling, and the door quickly broke free. Darcy shot out the open door, and a minute or so later, he ran right back in, happy and shivering. How luxurious it is to have indoor plumbing!
Anyway, the thought of having to go outside for such things made me consider all those wild animals that are struggling to get used to the sudden temperature change. My next thought was for the human beings who have to be outside: The first responders, the medical personnel, fire fighters, police, road commission workers (Kevin and Dave: Stay warm guys!) and those who have to plow or shovel. It has been bitter, and it humbles me to remember those who suffer the cold so that the rest of us can go on with things.
Thank you, if you are one of those people! God bless you!
And then I thought about the homeless, and shuddered at the knowledge that human beings may be out in this terrible cold as well, with nowhere else to go. We have a warming center in Hillsdale city, but our county is huge, and I know there are many homeless folks out there. If you don’t see them, pray for their protection; and if you do see them, please consider helping if you can. God bless the homeless. It could be any one of us, but for the grace of God.
I celebrated this morning for it was the first day of the year with a real, cloud-enhanced, colorful sunrise! Unfortunately, I couldn’t leave the house to get a picture, but I’ll share this little glimpse of what tiny square I could see.
Our yard was lit with the reflected light from the east, and looked like a color carnival on the snow! I was fired up to get outside, but didn’t make it until afternoon. Turns out that it was the perfect time to see another wonderful solar phenomenon.
We loved the dreamy look of the landscape. (Yes, “we.” The guys wouldn’t let me go by myself today. So sweet!)
These kind of scenes jump-start my imagination!
We had better enjoy it–the above-freezing temps are forecast to reappear in about a week. Who knows when we will get the chance to see these beautiful views again?
And when you come inside, grab a hot cuppa (coffee, hot chocolate, tea) and snuggle up in a warm blanket. And if you have a wood stove, feel incredibly blessed!
The Fullers Four 