The weather man's one to three inches turned into about nine! In thirteen years of living in western NC, I don't recall such a big, early snow.
Advent is a wonderful time of waiting for the celebration of Christ's birth. Here are two books we look forward to year after year during this season:
I'm rereading my Advent book from last year, Bonhoeffer's God is in the Manger: "Celebrating Advent means being able to wait. Waiting is an art that our impatient age has forgotten. It wants to break open the ripe fruit when it has hardly finished planting the shoot. But all too often the greedy eyes are only deceived; the fruit that seemed so precious is still green on the inside and disrespectful hands ungratefully toss aside what has so disappointed them. Whoever does not know the austere blessedness of waiting--that is, of hopefully doing without--will never experience the full blessing of fulfillment."
There is a lot of fun in Advent waiting. Here was something fun:
The "ugly sweater cooky" kit was a gift from Aunt Susan when she visited shortly after Thanksgiving. It was a joyful way to spend an afternoon we had free. There is delight in big, fat, sugary, gooey cookies that my kids will never forget!
This year my girls got to participate in a nursing home visit. They sang carols, made a Christmas tree craft with some residents, and enjoyed more thick, rich cookies with them. One man was ninety-nine, and another lady, ninety-eight. It was another joyful experience I know they won't forget.
I have to include my jello, something I usually have on hand, but don't always remember to make. There's nothing like good old-fashioned peach jello with pears and strawberries dotted throughout!
And simply because she's becoming a regular in my posts...
...what joy it is to snuggle a sweet piggy, any time of year!
Back to the snow...it has been a wonder to behold! What a privilege to gaze out at its beauty in awe of God's power and miracles. To think that each snowflake is individual, and some still question God's existence! What a gift He gives to the eyes able to see its beauty, and to the heart that trusts in His might!
In the early hours of the snow
Front yard at beginning of snowfall
Hemlock outside school room window. We looked out and used this for our nature study.
Same front yard area as above, a few hours later. Taken from Abue's room window.
The area between our yard and our neighbors', late afternoon
Kids and neighbor pal worked all afternoon on the snowman and igloo
Around five p.m. Snow had been falling since morning.
Another backyard angle around five p.m.
The next morning, after all-night snowfall; back yard
Dining room tree looking out at a snowy pond scene in early morning
The same early morning pond scene from another window
It may be in the evening,
When the work of the day is done,
And you have time to sit in the twilight
And watch the sinking sun,
While the long bright day dies slowly
Over the sea,
And the hour grows quiet and holy
With thoughts of Me;
While you hear the village children
Passing along the street,
Among those thronging footsteps
May come the sound of My feet.
Therefore I tell you: Watch!
By the light of the evening star,
When the room is growing dusky
As clouds afar;
Let the door be on the latch
In your home,
For it may be through the gloaming
I will come.
---------------------
So I am watching quietly
Every day.
Whenever the sun shines brightly,
I rise and say,
"Surely it is the shining of His face!"
And look unto the gates of His high place
Beyond the sea;
For I know He is coming shortly
To summon me.
And when a shadow falls across the window
Of my room,
Where I am working my appointed task,
I lift my head to watch the door, and ask
If He is come;
And the angel answers sweetly
In my home:
"Only a few more shadows,
And He will come."
--Barbara Miller MacAndrew
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