Winter Wonderland!

Sat/Sun we got over 6 inches of snow!! Official blizzard - roads closed, schools closed (yes even here in the land of plows!) even church was cancelled! So of course I had to drag my friends from the warmth of our heated apartments into still falling snow for some sledding! The adventure began with me and Cat putting on every item of clothing we own (as thin-blooded southerners!) and then starting out on foot in search of sleds. We trudged (the only word to describe trying to walk through 6+ inches of un-plowed sidewalk) to Kroger, and then to CVS with no luck. Now determined, we had to put the 4-Runner in 4 wheel drive and try our luck at the roads. Cat the more experienced snow driver behind the wheel, we barrelled over the drift beside the curb and picked up Megan on the side of the road. We made it to Dunhams sporting goods (conveniently located across from the biggest sledding hill in town) with minimal fishtailing. $20 later we had 3 sleds! And across the street we went to joint the kids on the hill. We learned that the $5 dishes are faster than the $10 long sled, even with 2 people on the big one. And that the most fun can be had with a spinning start. And that running back up the hill adds a hell of a workout. And that some adults never learned that you should walk back up the side of the hill, not up the middle where people are coming down. One guy certainly learned the hard way when I barrelled him over. oops

winter wonderland or icy wasteland?

on Friday, I had a lovely walk to work - all bright, fresh air, snow crunching under my boots. I was thinking maybe winter isn't so bad! Actually its great!

I had this whole blog going in my head. It was going to be about how I try to walk on the untouched snow and pretend like I'm walking on a fresh field of snow. I walk into work all pink cheeked, excited to start my day. Should have written it then, when I was young and naive, nearly 50 hours ago.

Then the temperature climbed about 5 deg, to that terrible point where it's waffling back and forth right at freezing. This point, I now know, is the danger zone! Last night I was driving home from church - going a mere approximately 15 miles/hour - when I made a gentle left hand turn. Before I knew it, I was sliding down the road sideways! Literally careening into a pole, braking with no result, thinking there is absolutely nothing i can do! Then miraculously, I stopped, less than a foot from the pole! Car and Leigh unscathed.

Then again! This morning, starting my walk to work - on time, cereal in a cup in hand, ipod tuned to my Buckhead church podcast. Then I took the step out onto the rocks. Very slippery. Picture me, arms waving like in a cartoon. Terrifically, with balance and poise like a lemur, I regain my balance, only to take my first firm step onto the parking lot. A sheet of ice awaited me. Now arms are really going - around in circles - cereal flying everywhere. Just like a cartoon. Saying, "whoa, whoa, WHOA" until I find myself flat on my side - sprawled in the parking lot, lying in my cereal. Not a good start to the day.

Don't worry, though, Liz says that soon things will be much better - the temperature will never rise above freezing, so I won't have to worry so much about ice.

credit where credit is due

yesterday at church, I got a check from the Spirit. It seems so obvious now (as hindset tends to, i guess). it's regarding due credit, and pride that prevents that credit from being offered. You see...
Jesus said, "apart from Me, you can do nothing!" John 15:5.

I've accepted praise for so many things in my life, most of which I had obviously nothing to do with. The most obvious/recent one is my reading at Cara's wedding. So many people told me what a great job I did, how lovely my words. and I replied with Thank you. Knowing in my heart that I did nothing. I offered my mouth, and God spoke His words clearly through it. So many other examples. People ask me how things are going with the people around me I am trying to introduce Christ to. And I tell them of milestones and setbacks and questions, etc. My attitude here, though, is pride at what I have accomplished, or guilt about what I have failed to do. However, I have done nothing! Any seeking sparked has been the direct result of God's calling in their hearts. He graciously lets me be part of the plan because He loves me and knows I love them and Him, not at all because He needs me! Even things that the world would say are my accomplishments are nothing without His gifts. I would never have a BS or a master's without the mind He gave me. I did nothing to earn or deserve it - God chose me to give intelligence(friends - you can decide for yourself how much He gave...)
I don't love out of the goodness of my own heart, but because I feel God's endless love for me! I don't serve because I feel like it - it's obvious to me that if I followed my own selfish desires, I'd just watch TV or take a nap. I serve because God asks me to in His word and gives me the push to do so when He wants me too.
I am nothing without Him, and I want to make this more known in my interactions. Not to me - but to HIS name goes the glory. The cool thing is that although I am nothing on my own, I have offered my life to God and it is, "God working in [me], giving [me] the desire and the power to do His good purpose" Phil 2:13 and, as we so famously know, "I can do ALL things through Christ, who gives me strength" Phil 4:13.