Wordless Wednesday: Iowa Weather

Yes, that was a funnel. It did go back up and David and the kids were in a safe place. But I love tornado season.

Have You Ever Stopped to Look at a Snowflake?

To be honest, I don't know if I ever have. Until today. It was a comment from a friend of mine in Atlanta who made a comment about how it was snowing and she then realized why the snowflake cut outs in paper were the way they were.

Growing up in Iowa and trudging through the snow year after year, you probably think it's strange that I've never stopped to actually look at a snowflake.

Maybe it's a "forest for the trees" thing.

But in the craziness of the day, husband off to work, no school for Liam because of President's Day, three busy boys vs. one tired mom, blog posts to write, book reviews to do....I looked outside.

And it was snowing. So I ventured out on the deck and looked. With a school board meeting looming a few hours away and the barn on the brain, I took a deep breath of the cold crisp air and I looked at the snowflakes.

Different shapes, different sizes. Unique. It helped to clear my mind of all of the clutter I had in there...all of the thoughts, deadlines, things that needed to be done....

And just took time to look at the snowflakes.

Wordless Wednesday: Winter Travel

Doesn't look good for Iowans today...

Surviving the Holidays...With Help From God

I can just about hear it now...I say it on my birthday to my kids, so why wouldn't He? I know the Holidays can be a stressful time, but I'm sure Jesus would say, "Hey guys, no fighting on my birthday, please?"

Even though we were snowed in and Mass was canceled, I made sure to pull up my Mass Readings app (yes, there is an app for that) and read the First Reading, Responsorial Psalm, Second Reading and the Gospel.

It was the Second Reading that really spoke to me. It is the Third Sunday in Advent and we must prepare our hearts for Jesus. The reading is from James 5: 7-10.

The following reading was taken from our Catholic Bible. James 5: 7-10
"Be patient, brothers and sisters,
until the coming of the Lord.
See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth,
being patient with it
until it receives the early and the late rains.
You too must be patient.
Make your hearts firm,
because the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another,
that you may not be judged.
Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.
Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters,
the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord."

I like "Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged." Play nice with each other this Holiday season. And no fighting on Jesus' birthday.

First Snow...2010

This morning we woke up to large snowflakes falling. While none of it stuck, the kids were really excited to see the snow.