Walking in a Winter Wonderland and other tales

I'll get to the Ice in a minute. First a word from . . . well, some other stuff.

While I was at a meeting last Friday, the Daddy took all the children to our homeschool group's Valentine party. He was the only Daddy there and stayed with the little boys to help them. 

Last Thursday, the children and I took paper products and whatnot to the A New Walk, a homeless center in Gainesville. Homeless in Gainsville
They had posted a need on Facebook and we felt lead to go meet a little of it. They were open all weekend and will probably be opened all week as a warming shelter for homeless. They aren't a shelter but the city allows them to shelter people when it gets really cold. They feed them and love them and share God's Word with them. 
This little church is makeing a BIG, eternal difference in their community. Many of their friends now attend church regularly and are beginning a New Walk in their lives.

I didn't get any pictures. 
I'm not bragging. 
Just hope to show how easy it was to give. 
It was a blessing!

We had just learned that week that when David heard Goliath speak he got a little passionate that someone would defy the God of Israel. How dare they!!!
When it got time to fight the giant, David went out, as a shepherd, with his staff and sling - the equipment he was familiar with. That big fella got up, amused at this twerp with a stick coming to fight him and lumbered toward the battle line. 

David RAN.

He ran toward the battle line. He ran toward the giant. He ran at the enemy. He ran with the intent to kill the one who defied the Lord of Host. 
He RAN.
He didn't stop to pray about what God would have him do. It was apparent to him that itt is not God's will that evil prevail. 
He boldly volunteered to get the job done. 
He knew that if the Lord could save him from pesky lions and bears (oh my!) He could certainly save him from this beastly man.

"David ran quickly toward the battle line"

1 Samuel 17:48b

So, we took what God had blessed us with and ran to throw our little rock at the giant of homelessness.

Sometimes war is fought on our knees, and sometimes its fought in motion.

Now for the icy part.

Weatherman should feel blessed that they aren't stoned for falsely predicting the weather - or continuously changing their mind. 

We knew a storm was a'comin!

It it rained ice Monday afternoon and most of the night. And when we got up it was lovely except for the tree that split in twain and fell down in two directions (East and West).

Most winters when it snows (or we get the crunchy white stuff) I make the children line up near "the tree" to take a picture before they go play in the wetness (aka "frozen mud")

Top: The Downed Tree - fluffy
Bottom: the part the fell West fell on the phone line - we still have phone service.
It knocked a board off the house where the phone line connected.
The downed boards.

 The Daddy and some kids cleaned up the tree and fixed the boards.

I tried unsuccessfully to keep a fire going and write on this blog (well, that last part's success is objective).

After assessing the damage (minimal) we walked in our winter wonderland

Nature in Ice

We took a walk through the woods - the still stinking dogs went too.
(the dogs got Skunked on Sunday afternoon - it's too cold to bathe them outside and Gene doesn't want them in the house - so when he goes back to work, they will get a warm bath. Shhhhh..... I really am a good wife - mildly opinionated - this isn't the best example of submission. Let's move on.)

cold can be pretty - but warm is prettier

And now, just for fun. Tales from Jacob and Josiah.

Josiah's Train - turn your head to the Left

Jacob's Racetrack -
I don't think it matters which way you turn your head.

And last but not least - those baby weirdos! (aka "Gene's kids")

Yes, Josiah is wearing a grocery bag.
No, there is no good reason. Just part of being a boy.