A Blizzard! (Updated Report - January 10th, 2010)

We are having a blizzard!   Supposed to snow for three days.  So far we have at least 6 to 8 inches.  I am hurrying to get this posted before the satellite dish is covered (again).  My husband has to keep going out and sweeping it off!

Our daughter is a few hours north of us and is currently stuck in traffic in the snow!

Until the spring thaw! :-/

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It was cold enough for me.  Too cold really!

Somewhere between 6 to 10 inches of snow fell in this blizzard.

The day the power was off most of the night and most of the next day.  Not fun!  The local power company worked around the clock to get everyone on our mountain back online.  Trees were so loaded with snow that their limbs broke and fell, some across the lines breaking them.  It got worse before it got better.

Rusty helping Santa shovel a walk way down to the mail box.

The snow beginning to melt. We had ice cycles over two feet long and pointing toward the doors and windows.  They fell and it sounded like glass being thrown at the house!

The cabin across the road.

Across the road the first morning the sun tried to shine.

The first day the clouds started to clear away.

The cabin across the road on the frist day the clouds started to clear.

Rusty doesn't mind the cold and snow.

Some pretty little clouds in clearing skies.  Wonderful sight.  We were ready for the snow to stop falling.

And in a couple of days the snow was nearly gone.  Christmas came.

Mr n Mrs Santa

Santa and the grand daughters.

Son and his wife.

Daughter and Daughter-in-law or the Susies.

All the girls.

Grand daughter and grandson-in-law.

All snow from two days before is gone!  Grand daughter got a really cool camera for Christmas!

And a few days after Christmas we packed up the decorations, cleaned up the house, packed the camper and made our way across the USA before the next snow storm started on the mountain. 

We are now sitting out west, warm, relaxed and with family out here.  We are listening to the weather reports and remembering the blizzard of mid December, and feeling a little guilty, and sorry for our family and friends who are back there in freezing temps with tons of snow!

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year

May you have peace, love and joy

All year long

Love ‘n’ Prayers
2009

LUKE 2



The Birth of Jesus
1In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world...4So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David....6While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, 7and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger...
The Shepherds and the Angels
8And there were shepherds ...keeping watch over their flocks at night. 9An angel of the Lord appeared to them...and they were terrified. 10But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid...11Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ[a] the Lord. 12This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger." 13Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,
 14"Glory to God in the highest,
      and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."
Although December 25th probably wasn’t Jesus’ BD, still the world thinks of His birth at this time, & we remember how great is God’s love & Jesus’ sacrifice for us!

Toys for Tots - Toys for Children

     My husband is Santa.

Believe me now?
     Yesterday, Saturday, he participated in a toy run for our community.  A local motor cycle shop collected toys and organized a run.  It was coordinated with "Toys for Tots" and a local group, simply called, "Toys for children".

     The shop owners began the sign up and collecting toys at about nine thirty in the morning and stayed out in the cold and the snow until the run started at one in the afternoon.  They had donuts, coffee and hot chocolate for the people who donated and who participated in the run.  They'd set up a little tent and had one small heater, but there was no stopping the cold dampness from seeping in.  We were all cold.

     Most of the bikers came early and
stood in the snow waiting for the ride.  It was nearer one thirty before a local policeman led them for a short but very cold ride to the warehouse where the toys were being collected. 

     A couple young marines arrived shortly after Santa and the motorcycles.  The local group had a light lunch of finger foods ready.

There was also a birthday cake for a local child who is confined to a wheel chair, and is the poster child for this year. It actually was his birthday. He had quite a party! He smiled through our singing and reached for his father's hand.

     A cute little helper chose the tickets  to award the door prizes. Santa and I each won something. His was a hooded sweatshirt donated by K & S Concrete, and mine was a t-shirt donated byK & S Concrete! And, they fit, which was a meant-to-be since the shirts were in a stack and were awarded off the top so each one just got the shirt that came next in the stack.

     This is the owner of K & S Concrete.  His company laid the concrete on which our camper is sitting. Much nicer than the muddy home it had at first.


There were several motorcycle clubs represented.

     Pictured here are some of the toys in this warehouse, waiting to make many children happy in our area this Christmas.

     These two were some of the hardy folks out in the snow for hours, and then taking a cold ride to be a part of the toy run.

     The motorcycle shop's name is Custom Cycle and is located in the small town of Mosheim, Tennessee. The toys are for the less fortunate, except this Christmas!, children of our little piece of East Tennessee.

     Santa had a wonderful time.  He and I went to our favorite local restaurant on our way home.  It was three in the afternoon by then, so not many people there.   This meant more time for Santa to talk and tease the waitresses! Of course the entire staff of the restaurant was happy to see Santa.  Several had to have their pictures taken with him. 

     (Sometimes I feel so left out! Sigh. ;-)  )

     The burgers, which are always great in this place were the thickest I've ever seen and more than delicious, and our plates were piled high with french fries. (There are some perks being Mrs. Santa.)

     We were glad to be warm, enjoyed attention from the restaurant staff and were comfortably full, and Santa felt good to have added what he could to the toys for youngsters where we live.  It was a nice beginning to the season.