Several Sundays ago as I was busy playing with the 2 year olds I teach one little girl named Rose caught sight of me, stopped dead in her tracks and started gawking. This isn’t particularly abnormal behavior for a toddler so I didn’t think anything of it until she came running across the room and started grabbing at my chest repeating “where’s the baby?” over and over again. She was pretty disspointed to discover nothing but my shirt.

It turns out that here in Portland 99% of moms wear the baby slings where an infant can nestle up close to your body. I happened to be wearing a cool new shirt with an extra big collar that can turn into a hood or get pulled down in front to create extra folds of fabric. Rose took one look at the half-mooned shaped material on my chest and put two and two together (which in this case is supposed to equal a tiny newborn). It took her several minutes of running her hands through the material to be convinced that I was baby-less and it took me even longer to stop howling with laughter.

Kids are so priceless.

The snow in our garden.

Our front stoop

Bryan had to start the car to make sure it could still run since we haven’t turned it on for several days.

I want good old Portland weather back. The first day or two of snow was fun and exciting. We invited our neighbors over for dinner, made hot chocolate, and felt very wintery. Now I’m just bored, frustrated, and lethargic. I have watched more movies than I care to admit. I haven’t been to the gym in over a week. Last night was the first time getting out of the house in four days. How is that possible?!!! Please dear Lord, move the snow to where it belongs…on the eastern side of the state.

As I sit here watching the snow gusts blow past my window I am struck by how many of the things around me that bring happiness are a result of my friends. I have comfy flannel sheets on my bed. A warm, fuzzy blanket around my shoulders. Really cute jeans and shirt. Lit candles on the piano in beautiful crystal holders. All of these were gifts. I am so thankful for the blessings God has given me in this life.