Tuesday, January 10, 2017

There's No Business Like Snow Business


Psalm 147:16
He spreads the snow like wool and scatters the frost like ashes.

All last week, we stay tuned in to any change in the news of the winter storm slated to hit the Southeast by Friday night.  The computer models, it appears, swing wildly from one end of the spectrum to the other, leaving meteorologists grasping at straws and changing their predictions as to when the storm will hit, and more critically, how much "white stuff" we'll see or not see when all is said and done.

Nonetheless, we, like all seasoned Southerners facing potentially icy weather, make sure our fridge and pantry are well stocked just in case we are snowed in for any length of time.


The post storm temperatures, predicted to drop into the teens, will freeze any moisture that has accumulated, making our steep driveway impassable.  And who wants to walk to the grocery store in below freezing temps?  Really!

Friday evening arrives at last, and my husband, Danny, and I are expecting, according to the latest forecast, anywhere between two to four inches of snow in our neck of the woods.  Imagine our dismay when the precipitation begins as sleet!  Nothing worse in the South, with all our towering pines with their pliant, vulnerable branches, than an ice storm.  

We are relieved when at last the snow appears.


But we know there is already a sheet of slick and treacherous ice lurking beneath it.

Again, it sleets.  Again, it snows.  And this is the scenery that greets us the next day.










Yes,that's the ice-coated Driveway of Doom!

As folks begin sharing their snow pictures on Facebook, we realize, with not little surprise, that some locations in Georgia got walloped with snow, much more than we got, and others, nary a flake!  Was this storm a hit or miss event, or what?

My daughter, Sarah, and son-in-law, John, live about sixteen miles northeast of us.  Their snowfall, as you can tell from the photos, is much deeper than ours, and provides some chilly entertainment for the grand-girls.


Alexandra with Daddy


Looking a bit confused by the snow and bitter cold


Savannah exploring her new surroundings



And Virginia hamming it up!


And as I ponder this grand diversity of winter precipitation, I think that with all our computer technology, even the experts cannot accurately predict the weather.  Let alone control it.

That's God's business.  He spreads the snow and scatters the frost, however and wherever He wills.

As humans, we can prepare all we want for a storm's outcome.

But what we should prepare ourselves for is to be surprised by God.

Amen!

~

Do you have a favorite snow memory?  Please share in the comments.

38 comments:

  1. My favorite snow memory is living in Germany and romping around in the snow with Erin. She would chase other dogs while the snow continued to fall heavily all around us. It was definitely a winter wonderland and a time I remember fondly!! Have a blessed day!!

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    Replies
    1. Oh, David, what a precious and poignant memory! I still miss your blog, Erin is Love, because she truly was and always will be.
      Know you are prayed for daily after having lost beautiful Cody, too. My heart is with you; I've had to say good-bye to so many beloved pets/best friends.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  2. Martha, I'm so glad God knows about the literal and metaphorical storms that sweep through our lives. We finite humans really don't have a clue. Even living where I do, amounts of precipitation can vary widely, even in a short distance. And yes, we tend to stock up like we'll never get out again!

    Favorite snow memory? Hmm... There's one that I was around for but too young to remember (I was 18 months or so). In April of 1973 Iowa (and possibly other states?) received a huge amount of snow and high winds. Everything came to a halt; people were stranded.

    Love and blessings!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. People stranded in the North? Not what we down here in the South ever expect, but I do know it happens. My cousins in New England just got hit hard with the same storm that visited us, but I think they "dug out" successfully.
      And yes, as humans, we can only guess. God knows it all, and He wants us to trust in Him for all the unknowns in our lives. I'm praying to place huge trust in Him this year for all my needs, my wants, and my goals. Oh, and I'll look forward to His surprises, too! :)
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  3. I so enjoyed the pictures of the girls. They are precious. I just made a new snow memory with my oldest son and his new bride when they came for Christmas holiday. We all took a trip the local mountains here in southern Calif. What a fun-filled day, watching my oldest baby who is now a man, with his new wife. Also my 50 year old hubby never seems to grow old. We all laughed and took videos of him sledding, missing a tree by a centimeter! You can watch the video on my FB page. Happy New Year to you and yours, Martha!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Oh, I will definitely go to your Facebook page, Beckie, to see this close call. Are we friends yet? I'll be sure to send you a friend request, if not.
      Glad you liked the photos of the grands. They are my heart, that's for sure! Just got to babysit for all three today as Virginia's school district was still closed - the roads take forever here to clear up if the temps are low. Such joy!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  4. I love snow...but now that I live in Florida my chances of seeing it are pretty small. But we have lived in the north and have had many harrowing experiences in the snow...and many fun times too. My first driving experiences were comical, and thankfully, ended up OK...but one I remember...my hubby told me to take the long way around to take our youngest son to preschool because of a bad hill on the usual shorter route. I disobeyed due to running late and took the shorter route, but when I got to the hill my car spun totally around and headed me back in the opposite direction. Thankfully the car that was coming toward me was able to stop in time. Then I proceeded to go back the correct way that my hubby had told me to go and arrived at the preschool safely, albeit a few minutes late. I learned to listen to my hubby after that!

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    Replies
    1. What an experience, Pamela! That's enough to frighten even the snow-seasoned crowd. And it certainly supports the old saying: "Better late than never." :)
      Glad all turned out okay in the end. Enjoy your sunny, warm days in Florida!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  5. Living in Northern Wisconsin (aka the frozen tundra) I smiled as I read your story Martha. We call 2-4 inches of snow here flurries (and wish we were down south when it's more than that!) I had an old pastor friend who has since gone to glory. He would always come into the office after a fresh snowfall and sing, "Whiter than snow, yes whiter than snow, now wash me and I will be whiter than snow". His song was always a reminder to be thankful that because of Jesus, our 'life-slate' is whiter than snow. B Blessed today and stay warm! (BTW,it's 5 degrees above zero and snowing as I write this!)

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    Replies
    1. Wow, Mike, calling 2 - 4 inches flurries is something no one in the South would ever do. Heck, if we get one inch, it's a disaster. :)
      And I love the story about your pastor friend. It is a great reminder to be thankful for all Jesus has done for us, and continues to do day by day.
      Love and blessings and stay warm!

      Delete
  6. Ah, yes, the snow ...

    And your emphasis on trusting the One who orchestrates every aspect of our lives and intervenes in those circumstances that cause us angst.

    Amen.

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    Replies
    1. So glad the post spoke to you today, Linda. God does orchestrate our lives in ways we sometimes don't even see until much later down the road. Such comfort!
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  7. Hi Martha! I LOVE your meme of the harried shopper/baby when the weather report says snow. So cute! Up here in the north, we have the same thing happen, so don't feel like you're alone. We have runs on road salt and snowblowers.
    I'm glad you and your husband were safe. And that the grandchildren enjoyed their romp (or were mystified) in it. (I love to see the snow come down, but I don't have a sloped driveway.)
    Hope all is back to normal now,
    Ceil

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    Replies
    1. All is back to normal, Ceil, as our temperatures took a sudden turn for the warmer. All the snow and ice are but distant memories, and I, for one, am truly grateful.
      Glad you thought that meme was cute - it so humorously captures how Southerners react at the first flake. Lol!
      And living in Georgia, that could be the one and only winter storm we see this season, though I do hope we get at least one more. I love the snow, even when it means being snowed in.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  8. Hi Martha! My favorite trilogy of movies in Back to the Future. one of the lines says, "since when can the weather man predict the weather?" Love your pictures. Meanwhile, back in Indiana we got barely a drop.

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    1. Lol! That's a great line, Bill. Yes, I'm beginning to fully believe that.
      No snow in Indiana??? I'm sure you'll get your fair share later on down the winter road.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  9. I love God surprises. I just shared with my spiritual direction group today my surprises when i reviewed my 2016 journal. God surprises are the best! Will be traveling through Georgia on our way to Florida in Feb - I don't want snow then there! I plan on leaving snow in Ohio and not take it with me. LOL

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    Replies
    1. Yes, Jean, God surprises are always the best! And as regarding your travel through GA in February, chances are great for smooth sailing. Snow storms are so rare around here, and usually the interstates are the first routes cleared for travel.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
  10. I live in the South, too, and, yes, it's crazy when snow is in the forecast. Our local news station recently announced the GROCERY STORE was sponsoring the snow watch. Considering people have long joked that grocery stores pay the news stations to forecast snow to boost sales, that's kinda funny, but I know there's no connection. Just a laugh!

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    Replies
    1. That is too funny, Stephanie! When I was looking for snow panic photos, there were so many depicting the grocery store shelves picked clean, especially the bread aisle. Yes, snow in the South is always, always a huge event.
      Love and blessings!

      Delete
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