We continue to survive the winter weather here in WV. The weeks continue to bring cold temperatures and more snow days and delays. We went the entire month of January without going for one full week. In February it has been much of the same with only one more week left, it is possible to have gone for two months without a full week of school (year around school anyone?) However, after having snow in the yard for over almost two months, the weather began to warm up over the last few days. With the warm up and some rain, we had quite the puddle in the backyard.
I don't think you can tell, but the water is moving quickly in this picture
Notice my neighbor's shed...he has it stacked on two cinderblocks
and that is not even the deepest part
Does anyone have an Ark?
After playing on the deck for 30 minutes, the water was just too tempting
It didn't take long for them to realize that the water was really cold...
Finally. This is the year where the girls have finally started to love sledding. It excites me like when I was finally able to throw them around the pool. It just makes playing in the snow that much better. After this past summer, I knew it would not take much to get Charlotte on a sled. When we were at the beach she loved the log ride, so I figured going down a hill on a sled would be no problem. She did not disappoint.
I knew it might take a little work to get Drea on the sled. However, before this last round of winter storms, she kept wanting to get the sleds out and try sledding down the small hill next to the house. I thought just maybe if we could find the right hill she might try it. As luck would have it, we found one. To be honest with you, I don't know how I didn't realize it was there before. I guess it took my neighbors moving for me to realize it. Either way it is a perfect hill for the girls and it is a 20 second walk out our front door. So when the temperature hasn't been below zero we have been able to go sledding. We have already been five times and with another snow day tomorrow we will be hitting the slopes again.
This is from one of the first times we went sledding two weeks ago
Notice the road in the background...this was not an issue until
the snow got really packed down, then the road became an issue, I
built a wall of snow to prevent going into the road and so far so good
Drea just finishing her first run of the day
Charlotte getting ready for her turn
Both girls at the top of the mountain
Finishing another run
I have noticed as the snow gets packed down the less and less the girls want to go. It gets really fast. I have managed to go several times as well and it is really a lot of fun for me too. The funny thing is when we went for the first time two weeks ago, I couldn't figure out why my body hurt so much one morning. Then I remembered, we were sledding. The next step is to take them to WISP for tubing, but for now, we will enjoy our little hill and our 20 second walk.
This first clip is only like 10 seconds of Drea coming down the hill
We sang this old hymn last Sunday at church. It made me think. I have been though a lot in the last couple of years. And those that know me and know my story...well, know. I don't know what it was about it, but it sunk in. Maybe it was the small crowd and the intimate feel because of the bad weather. Maybe it was just time. Or maybe, just maybe it was God. But it hit me that day at church. Smack dab in the face. IT is well with my Soul. That's it. Nothing more than that. IT is well with my Soul.
Sunday also marked the last trip for the girls and I at HealthPlex. Well, HealthPlus, now. Anyway, I was able to join though my health insurance for the last two years at a discounted rate of $20 a month. The program was only a two year program and my two years are up on Friday. So for awhile, that was our last family swim. Perhaps, I'll join the gym again, but maybe, just maybe that was it. I know this might sound corny, but as the girls jumped and played and our time was winding down, I thought about the last two years and how much fun we have had there. Drea really learned to swim there. She started swimming a little bit before we went, but before you know it she was swimming like a fish. Charlotte is now right at that point. She is constantly wanting to take off her puddle jumper and swim around. So as I watched the final minutes tick away, I got a little emotional because that chapter is closing. But IT too is well with my Soul.
As I move forward with the next chapter in my story, I encourage you to press on and focus on God. Whatever IT is that you are dealing or struggling with, let IT be well with your Soul. God is there and is listening, just start talking.
