Stac’s Place

It’s been a week since we returned from China, and we’re almost back to normal in terms of our sleep schedule. I say “we” meaning “me,” because I’ve been the one struggling. Most nights of the week I’ve ended up crashing on the couch about 7:30, waking up around 11, and staying awake until 4 or 5. This was the scene at the Sublett ranch last night about 8.

The snow fell hard and long all night, and we woke to more than 14″ of the powdery white stuff on the ground.  Sadie and Annabelle were up first, and after a bite to eat, it was out into the snow.  This is what I was hoping for.  It only seemed right that Annabelle’s first experience with snow should be monumental.  Did she like it?  Look at her face!

The first order of business was to get Annabelle outfitted in proper snow gear.  She was a little reluctant to have anything cover her mouth/nose, but I think that next time she’ll be a little more willing.  She and Sadie trudged out into the snow, and headed for the swings.  It was all they could do to keep their feet and knees from dragging in the snow, but that didn’t stop them from having a good time trying!

We’ve got a little hill between our house and Kimmy/Delma’s house, just about right for a newbie’s initiation into the sledrider’s guild.  It took a couple of runs down the hill before the snow was packed enough to cruise on, but the girls had a blast sliding with each other.  You should have heard Annabelle squealing with laughter as the plunged down the hill.

Levi was more interested in building snow forts.  I didn’t get pictures of the bigger one he managed to burrow, but if there’s ever a call for us to go underground, I think we’ll be set.  He’s pretty handy, don’t you think?  Sadie could take a nap in this one.  His second effort was even bigger, with room for a grown up to hole up in it.

After the fun wore off and the cold got to them, the little girls moved inside.  Kim had hot chocolate waiting for them.  It looks like Annabelle likes hot chocolate, but then again, who doesn’t?

The big kids and I transitioned into snow-removal once the sledding ended.  We were making a go of it with shovels, but neighbor Mike stopped by with his snow blower, and then things got busy.  I shudder to think of how long it would have taken us without Mike’s intervention.  The coolest part was Mike giving Levi a lesson on how to run the snowblower.  I’m not sure why Mike didn’t let me give the lesson…oh, wait…nevermind.  I guess a missing finger might have something to do with that.  (Yes, I still have flashbacks to the snowblower incident that cost me my shot at touring with an acoustic jam band.)  While I was taking a turn with the blower (get back on the horse that throwed ya) Kim snapped this pic of the kids.  Those snow shovels make nice props, don’t they?

I headed to church tonight while the kids relaxed at home.  We commissioned Calvary’s new youth team, and I got to introduce Jeremiah Kingshipp as the middle school director, Sara Pensyl as the high school director, Aaron Hart as the ministry apprentice, and Kim Dick as the admin assistant.  What a great team!  I also begged my way into the worship team tonight as the bass player.

I am excited about tomorrow’s gatherings at midtown.  Dan’s message (like always) is a solid one, and I believe that the Lord is going to speak to people tomorrow morning.  I’ve missed leading worship over the past couple of weeks, too.  So excited…