Winter Memory Verse

 Once each month,

I get to help in the bus kids' class during the morning worship service.

Typically, I teach the memory verse.

This week was no exception.

Since we were expecting some kind of winter weather,

I decided to build the verse review around snow, specifically snowman building.

Here is the verse:

I love my pocket chart.  It is great for memory work!

We recited the verse and then removed words of the verse.

This is nothing new.

But ... on the back of each piece is the name of a "part" of a snowman.

The boys and girls competed to build their snowmen.

They could earn an eye, a stick arm, a hat ...

If the boys were working harder,

they got to remove a word and get a snowman piece.

If the girls were more attentive,

they got to remove a word and get a snowman piece.

I could even let both teams go on the same turn - if they were working hard enough.

The idea worked great with full participation and good spirits.

The girls won, but not by too much.

Winter Snow

 In our last move,

one of the deciding factors in a move

was to avoid snow country.

After years of Arctic life (hubby) and NY life (me),

we were content to avoid months of snow.

This morning, I shoveled for the first time in years,

not because we haven't had snow, but because I either didn't have a shovel, or I had a gravel driveway :)

You can see that our wild winter snow gave me quite the workout - a whopping 2 inches.

I will enjoy looking at the snow for a few days,

but I am glad that our "big storms" can be shoveled away in 30 minutes or less.

Flashbacks

 This past week was like a "flashback" for me.

About this time last year, I joined hubby in Orlando, FL while he had training.

When his plans were being made this year,

there were some events in my future that had not found a place on the calendar yet so I stayed home.

So for 4 1/2 days, I was reminded of my days as a military wife.

The days were long and quiet.

I did get a lot of cleaning, sorting, and "pitching" done.

I could be thankful for more communication than the "good ol' days."

I am so glad for cell phones!

And to greet hubby on his return this afternoon - 

a batch of cookies.

The blogger who gave me the recipe labels these the "Healthiest Cookies Ever!"

The ingredients were simple :

walnuts, dates, flax seed, water, vanilla, salt, baking soda, apple cider vinegar, and chocolate chips

Healthy fats, unprocessed sweeteners, fiber ... Wow!

I halved the chocolate chips (using only a 1/4 cup) as well as grinding them a bit in the food processor.

And I used "cocoa nibs" for missing half of the chocolate chips.

Hubby ate 4 as soon as he walked in the door.

Score one for wifey!

Now it is time to serve up the "Eat the Rainbow" Soup for dinner.

If you haven't tried it yet,

this might be a great week with the plunging temperatures!

When You Can't Let Go of the Christmas Lights ...

 I spent the past week spring cleaning and putting away Christmas decorations.

There was only one small problem ...

it was such a dark, grey week and the Christmas lights sure brighten the house.

We have not purchased a Christmas tree here in KY,

but we do hang a lit garland and put ornaments on it.

I took the Christmas ornaments off of the garland

but left the hearts (for Valentine's Day) and the pine cones (for winter).

It still needed just a little something ...

How about some red ribbon?

How about some heart "berries"?

There - now I can have Christmas lights through February!

I did put the rest of the Christmas decorations away -

and if we do get a winter storm early next week,

my lights will continue to be "cozy."

When You Long For Spring ...

 ... YOU SPRING CLEAN!

The weather has been cold ...

and wet ...

and somewhat miserable  ...

... so I decided to spring clean early.

In the process,

I realized that the timing was perfect.

The Christmas decorations come down and make a mess.

There is less laundry because the clothes can be worn for more than one day so the washer can run with linens, pillows, and curtains.

My days will be free when spring actually arrives, the days warm up, and I want to be outside with the flowers, trees, and grass.

It feels good to clean after a little "bout" with some bug or another.

And who doesn't like the smell of "clean" when the house is all closed up.

So that's what I have been doing -

Just the kitchen and garage left!

Maybe it is not spring,

but I can pretend.