Before and After Bragging Rights

I truly believe that people only live in Winnipeg because they have

Bragging rights!

This was taken a week ago. We "thought" we were dumped on then with snow.

This is yesterday. After 2 days of snow and Jim shoveling the driveway.

This was taken in August. We were inudated with Mosquitos and complaining that we could hardly use our deck because of them.

This was last week.

And yesterday!!!

Nope, won't be using the deck for probably 6-7 months!

And my point about bragging rights! You could live in Russia and be warmer!!!! Here are the temps today around the world and where my family lives:

Quito Ecuador +12 C (or 54 F)

Sarajevo + 6C (or 43 F)

Moscow, Russia -1C (or 29F)

Arvada, Colorado +1C (or 34 F)

Omaha, Nebraska -6C (or 20 F)

Yucaipa, California +7C (or 45 F)

Las Vegas, Nevada -2C (or 27 F)

Abbotsford, BC +1C (or 34 F)

And the winner is!!!!

Winnipeg -12 C (or 9 F) Feels like -19C ( or -2 F)

Just the beginning, for sure!

They told us it was going to happen. And it's not like we didn't expect it to, or that we have never experienced such a thing before. But when it happens for the first time in, oh, lets say 5 months, you have this false sense of security, like , maybe it won't snow?

How Naive!

So, we woke up at 5:30 ( as per normal in our household) to this:

Beautiful? For sure! Not a track or a footprint in the snow! So peaceful! I would welcome being snowed in for a few days, not able to go anywhere!
But it has that ominous look, also. I knew we both had to work today, and what that meant. We couldn't sit in our warm snuggly home under a blanket reading a book. NO! We had to venture out into this-in cars!
My hubby's commute was at 6:30 and I asked him to phone me to let me know what it was like. Give me the official warning. His call would usually be , "No worries, not that bad!" But today he said, "Give yourself PLENTY of time!" OH NO! That is really bad news.

I live about 25 minutes from work. Well, that was 75 minutes today! VERY VERY SLOW.
The drive home, the same. Except to add one more thing. Had a flat tire in the snow!

Welcome to Winter in Winterpeg!!!

Wild week of fun

It went by so fast, but it was an awesome week with some new friends. We learned so much from them. I learned that it doesn't pay not to volunteer because I ended up in front of the service groups 2 days doing the 10 plague game in sign language.

This gives you and idea of the week-ASL week and he is trying to figure out what to do with the microphone. Obviously not used all week.

Our pioneer meeting included a huge box of chocolates that he insisted had to be emptied. he wanted to keep us hyped up on chocolate for sure! He said the pioneer meeting was his favorite. He didn't pass out chocolates at the elders meeting.

And of course, this was his idea for the picture.

It always amazes me how you can spend one week with people, actually 5 days and end up loving them and missing them! Only Jehovah could do that.
Omaha--your next on his list. Enjoy!

She's up and away.

This is my baby girl. Well, not my babiest, but still one of my babies. She is off to Ecuador.

I remember a lot of steps in her life........

Off to school I watched her the entire way. So tiny!

I watched her learn to ride a bike, both times!

We lived on a farm and she walked to the one room school-past the cows!

I took her to many doctor appointments and hospital tests that she was terrified of.

I watched her go to high school, take the bus alone to gain some independence.

Driving by herself-I always watched the until I couldn't see her anymore.

I watched her pioneer, knowing this kid was petrified of dogs, but loved Jehovah more.

I felt the pain when her engagement broke off, and wanted so bad to heal it for her.

The first time she left for Ecuador I was so nervous! But this was her dream!

She left Denver, flew to San Francisco. Got off the plane and on a train to the consolate to get her visa. Then back on the train to get her plane by 5PM that day. Then off to LA over nite and then to Panama, then to Guayquil. Yep, you bet I was a nervous wreck! I made her call me every step of the way. A long way away from her momma!!

I always watched over her when she was growing up. She is such a tiny thing and I never wanted her hurt or anyone to hurt her. I have watched her go through many trials in her life from the time she was born. Sometimes I wanted her to learn to do things so that she would be more independent.

Now she is off to another adventure. A totally new life awaits her.

I would love to be with her to start this life, to help her with her plans, to watch over her. But I have had to learn to let her go... alone. I so want this to be one of the happiest times of her life and I'm sure it will be.

She is a very strong woman now.

I know she relies heavily on Jehovah, so she is not really alone, ever.