I live in a beautiful part of the State of Utah, down in the South West corner in a little town called St. George. We get snow about once a year, for a day :). Just enough to know that it's winter time and that we should be grateful for our beautiful blue sky and sunshine! This week we have had snow twice! In the 15 years we have lived here, we have never seen this much snow here in our home town! I grew up in the snow belt at the mouth of Little Cottonwood Canyon in the Salt Lake valley. We had snow there usually by Halloween until May! St. George is very different! I know how to drive in snow, and love the clean beautiful blanket of love it brings! Usually I travel North and hope that it will snow while we are up there. This year, that snow came to St. George. We don't have snow removal equipment here in St. George - not a plow to be found! We own a few four wheelers, and when we purchased one of them used came with a snow plow blade. We have used it over the years to push sand, gravel, rocks, etc. but never snow before! Last night S and B were out for several hours clearing walks! One of the neighbors, a cute friendly one came out and said "Where in the Blue Blazes did you get a snow plow!" It made our night! We are grateful to be prepared and able to help and be self sufficient.This morning all of church was cancelled for all but one ward in our stake. Our great stake president left it up to the Bishops of each ward, and one by one they all cancelled. We learned while out helping that there was one ward holding meetings today and so we got dressed and went for the one hour of Sacrament meeting that was held. We are grateful for the opportunity to partake of the sacrament.
Last week while on our trip (it was beautiful by the way - I'll post photos later, but it was picture perfect!) I misplaced my purse. I am almost certain that it is sitting off the side of the road at an obscure exit on the other side of Vegas a couple of hours (or I would jump in my car and go retrieve it!) We pulled off to adjust our green tomato carrier that was on the trailer that contained a special treat (mistletoe) that we found while on our way to the redwoods. Anyway, I believe that while at that stop, we lifted a couple of bags out of the back of the Excursion to put on the trailer and I think my bag got lifted out and not replaced. We got home Tuesday evening, and the unloading was quick as the kids were sooo excited to put up Christmas! I got up Wednesday morning early to go to my usual temple session, I got all dressed, and searched and searched for my purse to no avail. I didn't find it, and hoped that when everyone got up someone would know where it had been unloaded, but we haven't found it now several days later! Ugh! So I hope to renew my temple recommend today, but all the priesthood holders are out shoveling snow and I don't know if I will get to meet with them or not. 
In the meantime, memories are in the making as we sip hot chocolate and smell the cinnamon bread in the oven. Heavenly!Friday was our office Christmas party. It was a beautiful evening together! We held it a the Old County Courthouse in the chambers! It was a fun place to hold a law office party! There were no kitchen facilities which made it a bit more difficult, but we managed! :) I am grateful for such an outstanding office family we have and for their love, kindness and energy! I wanted to share hugs with all of them this year, but how? In the courthouse, there are several large quilts on display in the courtroom as historical memorabilia. It tied in perfectly to the beautiful quilts that we gave our employees. I found homemade quilts from Etsy shops online and they were the perfect gift to share with a simple little tag ironed in wishing them a Merry Christmas 2013. I hope they get to cuddle under a beautiful blanket and in several years it will still remain as a reminder of the love and appreciation we have for them!
We found these reindeer at the Dixie Center in the snow! They are getting ready for their big night coming soon! The kids thought it was sooo cool!
Oh to have love and appreciation. I hope that always abounds in my family! I pray we always link arms and show kindness and help to those around us. I know that it can't happen without communication and understanding. That's what this life is for us to learn. I know those are qualities we will need for eternity! Laus Deo! This beautiful blanket of white is a symbol to me of His love for us and His understanding of all that is happening in our lives!
Today the sunshine is out shining bright. Every place that has been touched, even if not completely cleared, the sun is melting the under layers of snow off. It takes effort and work on our part. Life is not just a sit through and expect all to be taken care of. But when we put for effort, then Christ and our Father step in beautifully to help the progress far faster and more beautifully than we could ever have done on our own, in a masterful unimaginable way! Thank you Father and Savior!