It's been a lovely "snow" day

We were all home again today.  I think my boss had decided last night that she was going to close this morning, but she hated to make it official the night before.  The text came at 5:30 this morning that I'd be joining Andrew and Catherine here at home.

Of course, it didn't actually snow at all!  This is all still from Saturday's storm.  The issue is the temps have been so frigid that they can't get the roads clear.  There are even already some schools delaying for tomorrow, and it is very possible our public schools will be among them.  I'm certain my school will be in and on time, and since it will only be a three day week at this point, I don't mind at all.

I was able to get a couple of loads of laundry done, clean out a few things, and begin to wrap gifts.  Andrew has to work at the basketball game tonight, so it's a great time to get his gifts wrapped.  I've enjoyed my foresty candle, my lights, and the coziness of my warm home (for which I'm so grateful) as I've enjoyed the gorgeous views outside my windows.  This has really been a delightful and productive day!

I've loved this weekend

I have absolutely loved this weekend...and it may not be over yet!  It's really been special.

On Friday, my school had a two-hour delay and the public schools were closed.  Two-hour delays always make the days go by faster, especially on a Friday.  It wasn't a lot of snow, but it was just at the right amount, especially for the public schools that start busing at 5:30, meaning even a delay has the buses out at 7:30.

After I got off work, Andrew and I headed north to BGSU where the oldest daughter of our best friend was graduating from college.  It was about a three hour drive, and it was a blast to share a later dinner with them.  Yesterday we were thrilled to share their celebration by being at the ceremony, but as soon as the ceremony ended, we were ready to hit the road.  We were expecting a fairly major winter storm, and were hoping we could get ahead of things.  We most certainly did not.

It started snowing 1/2  hour into the trip, and it ended up taking an extra hour.  Even on the interstate and state routes, we were going 15-20 mph below the speed limit.  Andrew is an incredibly safe driver, and I never felt concerned or unsafe.  It was an absolutely gorgeous trip.  Since Andrew was driving, I took a lot of pictures.  There are a lot of evergreens along the drive and it was really beautiful.  We got home about 4:00 and were able to get things situated for a cozy night at home.  We watched a cute Christmas movie.  I kept checking the snow totals, and we ended up with over 6" when all was said and done.  And then it got COLD.  We are talking negative overnight lows.  Our pastor decided yesterday to go ahead and cancel services this morning, so we got to sleep in.

Things are still incredibly frozen here and very white.  The public schools have closed for tomorrow, and most neighboring districts around here have done the same.  My school is on a two-hour delay, but I expect we will close as well.  That means I'll only have a three-day work week as we are done on Thursday this week.  By Thursday though, there may not be much snow left as it will be in the upper 50's.  Good grief.  There is even a possibility of severe thunderstorms.  Crazy!  But for right now, it is cozy, and lovely, and a beautiful weekend in December!

Twenty years of parenting

Twenty years ago Andrew and I learned we were going to be parents.  I've purposely never written about it, but my kiddos are an adopted sibling group.  It was 20 years ago today that Andrew and I received the phone call that we were going to become parents.  It was, without a doubt, the greatest gift we ever received.  I can't believe that 20 years have gone by.  It has absolutely flown by.

Seventeen years of blogging

I started this blog 17 years ago!  I'm so grateful for each memory recorded here.  I especially love the December memories.  Eight more school days for me this calendar year.  I know that tomorrow is never promised, and I plan to soak up the holiday memories as much as I can this year...and hopefully I'll write about them here!

The first weekend of December

There is something so magical about this time of year.  It's hard to have a bad day when decorations are so festive.  Right now, I'm enjoying the coziness of our back room with the Christmas tree and our candle.  Back to work in ten hours, but only nine more school days until we are off for two+ weeks!

Last week continued to have challenges at work.  We received an deranged rant from a parent, specifically "calling out" certain people, including me.  It's really a whole new level of ridiculousness.

Our weekend started with a staff gathering for Andrew.  I always enjoy getting to see his co-workers who are my former co-workers as well!  The best part was being home by 8pm.  Yesterday was another day spent at my mom's.  We are making progress, but we are definitely starting to feel a bit of crunch time because she insists on hosting Christmas.  I was home in time to watch the Big Ten title game last night.  What a great game!  The Buckeyes lost to the Hoosiers, but I can live with it.  Leaving the Irish out of the playoffs?  Nope, not a bit okay with that.  Today, we had to be at church early as I was in charge of altar prep.  Then we hit the store and when we got home, I was home for the day.  the Steelers beat the Ravens, we had hot soup for dinner, and now we are ready to start another week.  But December weeks have just a little more magic than the rest of the year!

Enjoying the view of a winter wonderland from inside my cozy home

It is a gorgeous winter wonderland outside.  We were forecasted to receive 1-3" of snow overnight, but as someone stated, this was an "overachiever" and there is 3-5" throughout the area.  I would guess we are somewhere between 3-4" and it is absolutely gorgeous.  Because it was going to be snowing through the early morning hours, we were certain the public schools would be closed, although I had thought with the lower numbers that we might be in session, and I was planning to go in regardless.  However, we closed by 6am, and I just texted my coworkers and said that with the larger amount, I am going to just stay home. I'm currently in my front room, having finished my morning coffee, wrapped in a Christmas throw next to our lit Christmas tree, enjoying the view out our large bay window.  I'm so grateful for this morning of peace.

All things come to an end, no matter how fabulous it's been

In 12 hours, I'll be double checking attendance and getting started on what will be a very busy day.  When the first work day of the month is also a Monday AND it follows a break, it's always quite a day.

I'm ready for it though.  This break was a perfect combination of exactly what I needed.  We had the right amount of quiet/down time and the right amount of all-in family time.  Three weeks from today, I'll be sitting here, hopefully with my MIL here again, and we'll be looking at two full weeks off.

I don't take any of this past week for granted.  None of us are guaranteed anything, including tomorrow.  I'm so grateful that we had the family time that we had.  I don't know how many more years my kids will want to help with the Christmas trees.  I don't know how many more holidays my MIL has left.  I do know that regardless of what happens today, tomorrow, next week, or next month, my family had an absolutely wonderful Thanksgiving break, and I'm more full of gratitude than I can even put into words.

And I'm happy to head back to work.  Can't get a paycheck if I'm not there!  I'm also very grateful that I have a job I enjoy so very much!