Road Trip

We took a road trip today.  We traveled over this

and two counties to reach our destination.  We traveled about an hour away from home.  You might be asking yourself, "Where would they have gone that would have taken such great lengths?"  Maybe a museum, art gallery, or place of historical significance.  And all of those would have been great guesses.  But no, my sweet friends and family, we were on a mission.  We were traveling to a place that is quite numerous in the South, but quite scarce in the Mid-Atlantic. 

Yes, we traveled to Easton, Maryland to the nearest Sonic for lunch.  The boys were so excited!  Luke ordered a root beer float and a corndog.  Nathan wanted a vanilla coke, hamburger, and fries.  Jarrell and I ordered the Brown Bag Special with tator tots.  He ordered a Dr. Pepper and I ordered a cherry limeade.  Ahhh, love that Sonic ice! 

We didn't just visit Sonic, however.  We visited an Amish Farmer's Market, where we purchased a homemade cherry pie and walnut sticky buns (for breakfast in the morning!)

We drove past Frederick Douglass' birthplace in Talbot County, Maryland.  We also visited Adkins Arboretum.  It was a beautiful day with highs in the 50's, plenty of sunshine and not a cloud in the sky.  It was a great day spending it together! 

Luke was picking up rocks along the trail.

Nathan was holding up a rock he had found.

It was a great day!

The MVA and Heaven

Not much exciting has happened lately.  Nathan and I are getting over colds.  It has been cold and rainy, but no more snow, thank goodness.  We can finally see the grass again!  

Last Friday, we went to get my Maryland driver's license (at the MVA).  It was not a pleasant experience to say the least.  In a nutshell,  it involved a man of Middle Eastern descent, a thick accent, the aforementioned man not using  complete sentences while giving directions and the questioning of my documentation.  The whole experience left me feeling like an illegal immigrant and frustrated that this is now life post 9/11.  However, it is now official; we are Marylanders.  

Jarrell had met us there from work.  So after the horrible experience, I let him take my car with the boys.  I took his car, so I could have just a few minutes to process my frustration (cry).  When I started the car, I automatically turned on the radio, but being in Jarrell's car, it wasn't on the station I have programmed in my car.  But it didn't matter, because God used the song on the radio that day to remind me of a wonderful truth.  The song was Carrie Underwood's Temporary Home and the chorus says: 
This is my temporary home.  It's not where I belong.  Windows and rooms that I'm passing through.  This is just a stop on the way to where I'm going.  I'm not afraid because I know, this is my temporary home. 

I'm so thankful that this old Earth isn't it!  We have the hope of Heaven and I am so grateful! 

Philippians 3:20 "But our citizenship is in Heaven.  And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ"

Secrets of the Persimmon Seed

I just had to share this.  My family has done this for years and the persimmon seed has never been wrong.  If you cut open a persimmon seed, you will find the shape of one of three things:  a spoon, a fork, or a knife.  I guess some would consider this an old wive's tale, but for as long as we have opened up a persimmon seed it has never been wrong.  If there is the shape of a knife, it means a bitter cold winter; winds that cut through you like a knife.  If there is the shape of a fork, it means a hay-pitching winter, a mild winter.  If there is the shape of a spoon, it means a snow-shoveling winter.  Any guesses as to what was in the persimmon seed this year?  If you said spoon, then you would be right!  Isn't that amazing!  I love it when God shows Himself in creation!  If you don't believe me, google images of persimmon seeds and see for yourself.  Blessings!

Digging Out

Today we have sunshine, a beautiful blue sky, and 31.8 inches of snow.  That is the official total for our city.  I haven't seen this much snow since I went snow skiing in Colorado back in my high school days.                             
                                      Our street sign and fire hydrant.

Jarrell pushing snow off my car.

Jarrell had dug out snow from behind my car.

Luke playing in the backyard.  They had packed some of this snow down.  In most places the snow came to the boys' knees.

Jarrell's car is one of these cars buried in the parking lot. 

The boys have enjoyed playing in the snow this morning.  The sky is so blue and it is just beautiful, but cold. 

Blizzard of 2010

"He sends the snow like white wool..." Psalm 147:16

I think God decided to clean out his snow storehouses and send it all to Maryland.  My pictures are not going to do it justice!  It is beautiful and amazing!  One of the christian radio station dj's made this statement and I thought it was awesome, "God is going to show off in this storm!"  I think He has definitely shown Himself!
This is looking out the front door.
 

This is looking out the back door.

Someone had made a snowman in the common area Friday night.  Saturday morning his whole bottom half was almost covered completely. 

This is our street sign and fire hydrant on the corner. 

It is still snowing!  It is supposed to snow all day today!  So we are eating cookies, playing wii and staying warm.  I am hoping to complete some craft projects!  Here are some pictures of Luke helping me make cookies last night.

Snow Day

We woke up to about 3 more inches this morning.  People keep saying that the novelty of snow will wear off, but I don't think so.  I really enjoy watching it fall and seeing it blanket everything.  It is so beautiful!  The shoveling is another thing.  However, I think Luke enjoys it, as you will see in the pictures below.  Now before you go calling the authorities on us, Luke insisted that he wanted to help! 

The trees surrounding our neighborhood.  I just thought they were so beautiful!

Nathan with his miniature snowman family.

Our attempt at a real snowman.  We tried to make him Texan with the cowboy hat.  Unfortunately, he only lasted a few hours.  It warmed up enough that he fell apart.  Oh well, we had a great time making him. 

Field Trips to the Maryland Science Center and the National Aquarium in Baltimore