We Are Pacing Ourselves
Much like a large portion of the Southeast, we were blanketed with about 8 inches of snow late Sunday night and it doesn’t appear to be melting anytime soon. In the countdown to the Severe Weather Event I became convinced of at least one thing: If Luke were to ever lose his job as a preacher he could become a weather man with very little stress making the transition. When we were watching the snow pour out of the sky I made the mistake of remarking that it seemed a switch had been flipped and we now have weather totally uncharacteristic of our region. He patiently explained to me the reason it now snows in Alabama is that we are in the path of a dipping jet stream. ( I have no idea what I just said. I hope I quoted him correctly.) I had an epiphany in that moment: We are officially old. Want to know how I know this? Because he was talking about weather anomalies and I was actually interested. Fascinated, even. Next we’ll start reading the Almanac for devotions.
I don’t know about you but I love a snow-in but that was back when they consisted of one inch accumulation and the kids went back to school the next day. In that one day, we would pack all the fun of rolling up a few snowballs that would have as many leaves, sticks, and mud in them as snow, cooking a pot of warm soup to warm cold bellies, and any other games/special requests the kids had that our typical lack of time would deem impossible. This snow-in isn’t looking like one of those.
In fact, we were told this morning that school is out for tomorrow and I’m hearing rumors it may be the end of the week before they go back at all. Much to Sydney’s disappointment, I decided early on I wasn’t going to wear myself out doing all the snow-day activities in 24 hours since it’s likely we can spread them out over five. Today was cook chicken soup and roast pecans and watch Ramona and Beezus day. Sydney wanted it to also be Mommy and Me build an igloo and then bake another cake in the Cake Boss decorating set she got for Christmas day. She isn’t understanding the concept of pacing ourselves or that her mother hates being wet and cold. So I’m back and forth between feeling like a terrible parent for not making her snow day wishes come true and standing my ground because OH MY HECK WE POTENTIALLY HAVE FOUR MORE DAYS OF THIS and have I mentioned I am old?
(The all-cap desperation in that last sentence may or may not be a sign of impending cabin fever.)
Are y’all pacing yourselves too? Please tell me yes or else I’ll be guilted in to rolling out kiddie fondant to decorate a miniscule, microwaved cake. Why do these new-fangled toys make it so messy and complicated to spend quality time with our kids? Oh my stars. I just had another epiphany. I sound like Kate Gosselin on Sarah Palin’s Alaska whining about being cold and miserable and making her poor kids go home when they were having a blast with SARAH no less. If that ain’t motivation to bake baby cakes and go outside and play igloo I don’t know what is.
Stay Warm! Stay Sane!
HaHa! I love this post because I, too, was motivated to play in the cold because I didn’t want to sound like Kate. :) Snow days were much more fun before kids. :)
Oh yes…pacing ourselves as well…that’s exactly what I would call it in GA too! When I heard it might be late in the week, I said Whoa Nelly, not ever game must be played today. ;) we didn’t even turn on the Wii, which I am sure is first request in the AM!!
Staying warm!!
Mine will most likely go back to school tomorrow, but if we were in for the long haul, I would pace myself for sure!
We don’t have snow in my part of CA, but lately plenty of cold, rain and fog. If it were snowing here and we would be in it for days, I would DEFINITELY pace ourselves! But maybe I am getting old, too. :)
I dug out my ski suit to see if i could get into it with all my other clothes. I did…Jump for joy…Went outside to take a few pics. Since only one of my kids was home and he was off at his buds house all i had was my horses to play with. they were all lined up at the fence line wondering what i was gonna do. Well I threw a snow ball and my dogs went to get it but couldn’t find it. So much for that. So I went and talk to the horses…they are good listeners. One of my kittens couldnt walk in the snow cause it was to deep…all it could do was meow. My mule was making faces at me by doing the lip thing. dont know if that meant ewww or what.
So I also am ready for the snow to go away. Called Adrian and congratulated on his accolades of being on the principal and superintendents honor roll and ask if he had snow. No he didnt. No snow in Oklahoma…they are enjoying Homecoming for the basketball season can you believe. His team is still undefeated. On the other hand my other gs Phoenix made a sled out of half a 50 gallon barrel and was sledding somewhere at his buds house. At least he was having fun.
you are lucky yu have four kids to occupy yu. Enjoy.
Except for the make-up days in June, we would love a snow day or two. Today it was 44 and drizzly all day. Yuck.
Amen and amen.
Love the snow. Notsomuch a fan of making up snow days at the end of May when we’re OVER school. But love the snow.
And Kate Gosselin is a whiny baby. The end.
Snow? What’s that???? School? What’s that???? Fondant? THAT one I know!!! Just wondering how that Kid play fondant tastes? Perhaps I’ll send the girl some customers!
I was getting kind of jealous of all my Southern friends and their snow days, but thanks to everyone for reminding me how EXHAUSTING they can be! ;)
I dont even know what snow day we are on now. It feels like its in the triple digits. (hehe). It has actually been so cold here that my kids have not gone out every day of the weeks (months?) we’ve been snowed in. They did however get their American Girls out and that thrilled my mama’s heart. Maybe they are not growing up as fast as they lead me to believe :)
Pace yourself …… at the very least spread out all that extra laundry.
Seriously, I think my kids have gone to school 2 days since Dec. 10th. I dont think they’ll go a day this week either.
Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife Reply:
January 11th, 2011 at 11:11 am
Oh bless you, sister. Where do you live?? I need to know so that I never move there. :)
Kelly S. Reply:
January 12th, 2011 at 4:27 pm
I live in the mountains of ETN. Hillbillies all the way :) I actually live about 15min. from Lora O. I was with her at the Dots party in Atlanta and met you briefly. You are absolutley precious!! I always read your blog, but don’t always have time to comment. However, I am fasting from FB this month and seem to be still on the computer too much (grin). However, I didnt know I would be stuck in the house for days on end. BTW we got more snow last night.
Im praying for Joanne, thank you for your ministry.
Love~
On Jan. 22 our church is hosting its 3rd annual “Blizzards to Blessings” Women’s Conference. Now that the “blizzard” is over praying that God gives us a “blessing” with some nice weather for this event. I grew up in Wisconsin and we hardly ever had snow days … oh to be a kid again. Praying you stay warm and you stay sane!
Had the most fun I have had in a long time in the snow. Something about a 22 year old and a 17 year old makes you want to prove that the 51 years you have had on earth are not so old. Went sliding down the driveway hill, the road and then raced the boy to the bottom of the hill on the skim boards, crashed, hit my head on the road, and decided it was time to retreat to the fireplace for an afternoon of reading. God has given us great blessings during this time.
Hahaha!!! YES, well said lady!
I’ve done several “important” things today. But have also neglected others. I’m not sure how many more days we’ll have…..but I agree, it’s important to pace yourself!
Up next for me?
WASH THE VERY STINKY DOG!!! Grrrr
I’d rather bake mini cakes to decorate! :)
I paced myself so well that I pretty much ignored all the dire forecasts and thereby had little or nothing in the pantry for four hungry boys home from school for three days (and counting!). I did make it to the store today, much to everyone’s relief, and will actually be cooking supper. Chili.
I was planning on pacing myself until the pastor hubs stayed home because of ice and nasty roads: His plan of pacing is much different than mine. In a matter of minutes after breakfast I found myself on a frigid family walk outisde which led to sledding, snow angels, and sliding down the snow covered swirly slide at the park. I had snow up my pant legs, frozen toes from wearing hubs thin sunday black church socks (not sure how that happened really) and converse tennis shoes. I drew the line when he and the kids tried to convince me to walk on the frozen pond near the park. I looked like a heap of party pooperness waiting on the fam while they played around on the pond. I love my man and my chilrens but can I just say I’ve never found myself praying for sunshine more than now. Wow, I feel better now that I got that off my thawing out chest.
Hi – I saw your comment on ‘Queen B’s’ blog and came over to read yours and I see that you are from ‘Bama too. You must be at least 50 miles from me though, because all I got was ice! A good half inch of it pretty much everywhere. Our schools were out Monday and went in late yesterday and today. I noticed a few counties in the NE corner of the state are out again tomorrow.
(And you do NOT sound like Kate G!)
Lisa @ The Preacher's Wife Reply:
January 13th, 2011 at 11:36 am
Thank you so much for that encouragement..lol We’ve not gotten official word, but I would be surprised if we went back tomorrow. The secondary roads are still horrible because it hasn’t been warm enough to melt them off. And believe me, where we live most of the roads are secondary. It’s great to connect with another alabama girl – especially by way of Arkansas I think is B’s home?