Snowflakes are...

kisses from heaven!

Wow!  What an amazing weekend!  Jonathan and I were supposed to have a Date Night on Friday night.  This was going to be the first time since our Anniversary in May 2008 that we have had a date night out of the house, and I was really looking forward to it.  But the Lord had different plans, and they far exceeded mine!  What a sweet reminder that His plans are always better than ours and that He is going to provide exactly what we need.  Oh how He loves us!  As the snow started to fall on Friday afternoon and I heard my sweet children squealing, cheering and thanking God for the snow, I was quickly reminded how blessed I am.  Jonathan and I spent Friday evening with our precious blessings and just enjoying our family.  Saturday morning we awoke to a gorgeous blanket of white!  We got the kids all bundled up for a day full of fun.  My awesome hubby made sure Parker's mittens were going to stay on this time, so he used tape to secure them in place! 

Parker wasn't too happy about getting bundled up,

but that all changed once we got outside: 

Little P was determined to get down to the road and play in the messy slush: 

He loved stomping in it and splashing the wet snow everywhere!

Boy how his smiles make me smile! 

Katy was also very happy to be out in the "smow":

Lily enjoyed making snowballs:

Then Jonathan and I took the kids on a sled ride through the neighborhood:

Our house sits on a mini hill, and it is difficult for parking in the driveway. But the hill was perfect for sledding!

Lily and Maddy wanted to give Katy a big push,

and of course she would be the one to wipe out! 

She was the one who flipped off of the sled the last time it snowed!  Krazy Katy! 

After several hours of fun, Little P was ready to go in:

Poor baby! 

We enjoyed all of our snow adventures, but my favorite moment of the whole weekend was finding all of my babies in Katy's bed reading books together!

The girls started bringing Parker books after books and he was so excited when he got a Thomas the Train book:

You can tell that he is saying "choo choo" here!:

Thank you Lord Jesus for all the many ways you show your love to us.  YOU couldn't have planned a better weekend for me! 

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth:  It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 

Isaiah 55:10-11

A Winter Wonderland

School was closed on Friday, January 8 because of snow covered roads, and kids and adults of all ages came out for some sledding fun down Cider Lane!

The girls were begging to join in the fun, so after some sweet talking, my awesome hubby left work early in search of a sled, and he will tell you that it was the best $14 he has spent!  It was hard getting good pictures because I was laughing at their squeals and laughters and because they were going so fast down the hill!  Here are my snow angels enjoying their first sledding experience:

Here comes Maddy!:

And Katybugs!:

Parker watching and waiting patiently for his turn:

 Maddy being a sweet big sister and holding on tight to Little P:

Love this one!

Lily and her sweet friend, Elayna:

Lily's turn!:

3 Giggly Girls!:

Going back up for more!:

Not sure who had the most fun!: 

This will be something that our whole family will always remember!  Thank you, dear Lord for giving us winter, the beautiful white snow and fellowship with my family!  I am praying we will get to enjoy it again soon!

The day is yours, and yours also the night;

you established the sun and moon.

It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth;

you made both summer and winter.

Psalm 74:16-17

On Cider Lane, Snow is Glistening!

On Saturday, December 5th, we woke up to our first snowfall and it was amazing!  The kids were so excited that they wanted to go out immediately since we rarely see any snow here in East Tennessee!  We made them wait until 9:00am before going out so we wouldn't bother the neighbors with all of the squealing from excitement!  Here are my snow princesses: 

And my snow prince:

Maddy and Katy both loved eating the snow: 

Parker loved exploring since this was the first time he was big enough to play out in the snow: 

Lily and Maddy had a snowball fight: 

Jonathan and the girls tried to make a snowman, but the snow didn't cooperate! 

Oh well...hopefully we will get another chance this winter! 

And Maddy made a snow angel just for me! 

Thank you, Lord for the beautiful white snow!  I loved seeing my children's eyes light up and hearing their laughter as they enjoyed playing together out in the snow!  But most of all...what an amazing reminder at this time of year as we prepare to celebrate Christmas.  We are celebrating Jesus, the One born to live, die and come again for us!  He is the Word made flesh and was sent to take away OUR sins and make us white as snow!  Through believing in Him, we are saved and given new life! 

Praise the LORD from the earth,

you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

lightning and hail, snow and clouds,

stormy winds that do his bidding...

Let them praise the name of the LORD,

for his name alone is exalted;

his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

Psalm 148:7-13

Snow Much Fun!

We had our first "SNOW" day home from school yesterday! The girls were so excited to play out in the snow, even though we had very little! We waited until Parker took his morning nap and got all bundled up to go outside:

Katy kept looking around at the white grass in amazement and started running back and forth from the top to the bottom of our backyard: Then she wanted to play in our sand and water table, (where SOMEONE left the lid off!), but the sand was covered in snow, and the water was frozen solid! When she figured out that she wasn't going to be able to play in it, she thought she would try the swing set, but it was too icy: Lily wanted to make snowballs, but when she couldn't she decided to just throw some snow at her Mommy!:

Then Lily suggested that they make snow angels. Here are my Snow Princesses trying to make snow angels: I took the girls to the front of the house where I thought our steep driveway would be fun to slide down, but it was too powdery. Maddy was fascinated that she could make footprints in the snow and she said that was her favorite part: Katy tried to do what Maddy was doing: but she got running too fast and fell. Lily was so sweet to her, and went to check on her: I'm so glad we had a "SNOW" day so the girls could see what it was like to play in the snow. I am praying for more next time so we can build a snowman and make better snow angels!

...wash me, and I will be whiter than snow. Psalm 51:7b