This morning I rolled out of bed around 7:30, jumped in the shower, dressed, gathered my things and jumped in the car. Once at work I sat, looked at some books, talked, read Winnie-the-Pooh (!!), held M., and ate dinner. Nothing out of the ordinary, just the typical things I've come to love and long for at the J. house.
However, little did I know that today God had something very different in mind. After dinner the oldest J., J. (yes, I did mean to type J twice) decided it was the perfect time for a walk in the woods next to the house, to see "the clearing" in the somewhat softly falling, somewhat large, snowflakes. (And as some of you just read, I love big, slow falling snowflakes.) J. informed me that it was beautiful when it snowed. It would be a very large, over sized understatement to say I was thrilled! Walk, in the woods, in the snow? Seriously!!?? Yes!! (Actually, as we were walking through the woods, and I was observing the barley-snow-covered ground, the not-too-close-together trees, and the lack of large obtrusive plants, I was thinking the only thing (at least that I can mention) that would have made the moment better would have been if I had been dressed in a long, maroon, velvet dress with a long, black, hooded velvet cape (like elves wear) ... simply perfect.)
So after some minutes of bundling various little ones up, waiting for various older ones to bundle up and making sure everything was ready, we headed out. They almost convinced me to wear a pair of their old boots, but they didn't have any that would fit me ... ha ... so I was able to wear my right-sized, more desirable tennies. :)
Out we went, into the snow, complete with a soft wind that blew my loose hair around (two steps out the back door I regretted not putting my hair up ... and about fifty million times of flinging it
over my shoulders (which was hard to do with M. in my arms) I regretted it even more, but chose to look on the bright side, I love the wind in my hair ... just not my face). The walk was absolute bliss!! I couldn't have planned it better. Surrounded by the family I've come to love, by the snow, by the openness of the country, by the woods ... yes, pure, complete bliss. (Picture: us starting our woodland bound adventure. There is one little person you can't see, he's at the very front of the "line" but he got behind someone as I snapped the picture.)
(Below: the "woods")
However, little did I know that today God had something very different in mind. After dinner the oldest J., J. (yes, I did mean to type J twice) decided it was the perfect time for a walk in the woods next to the house, to see "the clearing" in the somewhat softly falling, somewhat large, snowflakes. (And as some of you just read, I love big, slow falling snowflakes.) J. informed me that it was beautiful when it snowed. It would be a very large, over sized understatement to say I was thrilled! Walk, in the woods, in the snow? Seriously!!?? Yes!! (Actually, as we were walking through the woods, and I was observing the barley-snow-covered ground, the not-too-close-together trees, and the lack of large obtrusive plants, I was thinking the only thing (at least that I can mention) that would have made the moment better would have been if I had been dressed in a long, maroon, velvet dress with a long, black, hooded velvet cape (like elves wear) ... simply perfect.)
So after some minutes of bundling various little ones up, waiting for various older ones to bundle up and making sure everything was ready, we headed out. They almost convinced me to wear a pair of their old boots, but they didn't have any that would fit me ... ha ... so I was able to wear my right-sized, more desirable tennies. :)
Out we went, into the snow, complete with a soft wind that blew my loose hair around (two steps out the back door I regretted not putting my hair up ... and about fifty million times of flinging it
over my shoulders (which was hard to do with M. in my arms) I regretted it even more, but chose to look on the bright side, I love the wind in my hair ... just not my face). The walk was absolute bliss!! I couldn't have planned it better. Surrounded by the family I've come to love, by the snow, by the openness of the country, by the woods ... yes, pure, complete bliss. (Picture: us starting our woodland bound adventure. There is one little person you can't see, he's at the very front of the "line" but he got behind someone as I snapped the picture.)(Below: the "woods")
(Below: "Traveling" Buddy)
We walked some time until we came to "the clearing", but as I was contentedly happy to walk in the snow and woods I didn't take much note of time. It was gorgeous! Just as J. said it would be. A beautiful clearing of trees in the trees. Snow covered the ground,
snow blew gently in the air and stuck to your hair, eye lashes, face and anything else, the weather wasn't overly cold ... it was just right. (Pictures left and right: "the clearing")
Walking around to different fallen trees, observing icicles on tree branches, looking at tree trunks that had (according to J) developed a "defense 
mechanism" (the tree had actually grown around the barbed wire that had been put on it at sometime), leaning my head back and closing my eyes to feel little snowflake fingers on my face, I couldn't help but smile. I was thoroughly enjoying myself to say the very least! (Pictures: (left) a fallen tree ... obviously (right) eating snow? ... looking at the sky? ... enjoying snowflake "fingers" on the face? ... who can say. It just totally pictures what I felt like doing (and did do) ... notice also, little pink bundle of baby in his arms :)(Below: same fallen tree as above)
(Below: said icicles)
(Below: "defense mechanism" tree trunk. Notice, on the left side of the trunk, the barbed wire coming out, yes, o-u-t of the tree.)
As we turned to leave "the clearing", J, who was leading us on our delightful journey, decided to take us for a longer walk in the woods ... or he had until the little ones were getting cold and ready to head for home. So home we headed.
Back in the house we unbundled little ones, and big ones :), cuddled under blankets with little ones, and sat around on the couch and love seat. To add to the wonderfulness and to my great delight, at my request we were able to listen to "A Charlie Brown Christmas". It did require some work, some messing around with cords, some changing position of speakers, some "Okay, don't move" time, but we were able to enjoy (or at least I did) a short time of Charlie Brown ... until the kids tired of it and we moved on to something more desirable. But while it played it was such a delight and added such joy to the moment (to the day really) of "thawing" after such a wonderful walk in the woods, that I couldn't help but smile and thank the one who worked so hard to make it work (even though after I found out how much work it was going to be to make it work and I insisted it wasn't necessary he was determined to make it work ... and did). Yes, you know who you are :) ... thank you ever so much!
And, if that wasn't bliss, joy and delight enough, homemade (much labored over) hot chocolate was produced ... complete with a hat of whipped cream! It was delicious!! Just the thing. You know how 
something just "hits the spot" ... yeah, that's what it was. (Again, you know who you are ... thank you.) (Pictures: (left and right) need I say anything ... but yum!)
As I was on a time schedule I had to drink my hot chocolate in a quick (but not too quick) manner. Upon seeing I had drained my cup L. came to inquire about my having a second cup. I responded that I would love another cup, but had not the time. She then vanished into the kitchen. On my way out of the house I walked through the kitchen and was informed that I was to take a travel mug of hot chocolate with me. :) (Sweet "kitchen help"!) It almost lasted me all the way home, but not quite. How very kind and thoughtful they are to and of me! I'm so spoiled over there!
The ride home was just as beautiful and wonderful. A soft snow fell, making things white-ish, gray and almost foggy looking. I also slowed down (actually stopped) to take some pictures of some buildings that I see every day. They are very happy with snow on them. Don't you agree? A wonderful end to a wonderful day.
But after all that, I think I've officially said all I dare say. There were many more things that made my day the most wonderful and perfect ... but they are un-shareable. So I keep them in my mind, pray over them and surrender them to Christ.
Thank you all (both bloggie peeps and J.'s) for sharing this wonderful, memorable day with me! It truly was perfect! I hope in spite of my rambling, un-logical, unintelligent, overly wordy, rather confusing way of telling you that you got most of it. :)
To see pictures better click to enlarge them.
