The First Snow

I don't care how old I get. There is something magical about the first snow of the season. This morning, I woke up to a world covered in white. Albeit, short-lived as I now stare out at brown branches and the last decaying leaves of Fall. But in the wee morning hours, it was still cold enough for those white flakes to cover the trees in a thick blanket all over my back yard. The gray dawn of the morning combined with the layer of white made the world look a little more clean, even pure.

I stood looking out the window just amazed at the sight of it. I tried taking pictures, but they just don't do justice to what I got to see with my own eyes. I can never look at the first snow of the season without a little skip of the heart or more of a spring in my step. It makes me feel like a kid inside. I can hardly wait for the moment that I can wake up the kids to the sweet sound of "It snowed last night!" What usually takes them moments to wake up takes only seconds on a morning like this. Their eyes pop open as they run to the window in disbelief. It's that moment of pure joy that I would love to bottle up! The sheer wonder of seeing everything clean.

And it never fails on a day like today for the verse to come to mind . . . "Wash me and I will be whiter than snow." What more could we ask than a morning like today to get a small glimpse of what God has done for us for eternity.

Elvis is in the HOUSE!

Wow, it's been over a month since my last blog. And what momentous event brings me back to the incredible, information-sharing tool? A new addition to our household! Now before most of you freak out and think that another Arnold is soon to join the crew (or worse yet, another dog!), let me explain.

After a year of waiting his arrival, Elvis is in the house. Elvis the elk, that is! James got a beautiful elk last year in Colorado, a trophy worth putting on the wall. He actually drove over 48 hours to Colorado and back just to pick him up. Of course, there were a few days of hunting involved in that trip as well!

Now, I wasn't sure that decorating around a giant elk head in the middle of my family room was the look that I was going for. Fortunately for Elvis, his coat coordinates beautifully with the warm hues chosen throughout the house. What was once considered homespun traditional decor has now turned into a cozy European hunting lodge theme! At least, that's what we're telling ourselves! Even so, it is thrilling to see such a beautiful animal. Now if I could just get over that disconcerting feeling during dinner that he's watching us as we eat our elk roast!!

Never fear. I have put my limitations on the dead animals which can be displayed in any one room. With this room filled with pheasant, duck and elk, I think that's enough extra sets of eyes watching us. If James gets any more, he's going to have to start decorating the garage!