The Weather

It's snowing. Again. Normally, I'd be thrilled because I love the snow. I love how a blanket of snow (not a dusting mind you, but a blanket!) makes the world look clean and fresh. I enjoy seeing the evidence of all the random animals that live around us, but are rarely seen, by their tracks that are left behind when they walk across the fields. And, honestly, I do not mind driving in it.
That being said, I'm a little put off by the snow today. I'm just tired of it. Yesterday the sun was out (finally) and the snow was melting! There were streams of water flowing from the mountains (I am not exaggerating) of snow left by the snowplows. Hope was in the air that we might be done with the cold, snow and ice. Guess not. After 2 months of consistent 30-ish degrees or below, snow in random phases of freshness, and running paths covered in ice, I'm a little bored with the snow now. I'm ready for the crocus, the green grass and the budding trees.
The boys aren't!

Adventure Family

Really, we are not the adventure family, but we went on a great adventure this weekend. (I miss the TRUE Adventure Fam greatly already! We had to say our good-byes on Friday and there were lots of tears shed. I didn't stop crying until we were well on our way on the autobahn. John was going a little crazy;) I miss my Battle Buddy and snuggles from little M!)
Here are some pictures from our weekend. Bryan was unbelievable with all the great things he got to do. I was able to get one rapel run in...but only after storming the tower! The weekend was at a castle a couple hours from home.

Exciting!

Something exciting is going on in the Smith house! After many (and I won't say HOW many!) years, this mom is going back to school! I just filled out my admissions paperwork. Well, not paperwork really. Computer fill-in the blank screens. It's amazing the amount of information required to apply to take classes. You know the drill, last name of the second cousin of the carpenter who put in the cabinets of the house down the road from where you grew up. Most I can understand, maiden name, name of the high school I graduated from, other institutions of higher learning that I have attended, and (important) my address. But, seriously, do they really verify who put the cabinets in?!
All that being said, I am thrilled (and a bit terrified) to finally be working towards something again. Thrilled to find a school that will allow me to stay on track with my lifelong dream and the ability to do it via distance/online learning. I'm pouring over course catalogs and schedules trying to decide just how get it all in, which classes should I take first, last. Sort of like having a food that I'm not so keen about. "Do I eat it first and get it over with or take in all the good stuff and keep the other until last?" Lots of choices and decisions to be made. No matter. All I can say is
Hooray!

Good-byes

Same old story, told once again. We live a great life with wonderful opportunities to meet new people. We create friendships and make memories. Those experiences come with the regrettable downside of, eventually, saying good-bye. It's unusual to see more than one person off in a short period of time. To say good-bye to three people in one day....CRAZY! That was my day. Tears shed, hugs given, good-byes said. And it's a scene that will replay several more times in the months to come. There are many dear friends who will be making their way back across the pond during a sort of mass exodus. The reverse of our mass arrival! Gonna miss 'em all! Truly blessed to have them as friends. I'm already scheming for reunions:)

New Obsession

I have a lot of addictions. Coffee, chocolate, good books, laughter. Some I have learned to control. Like, I don't buy Sudoku books (unless I'm traveling) anymore as I can't put them down until all the puzzles are done. Instead, I have found a great website that has a new daily puzzle so I do it in the morning and get my little "fix". I try really, really hard to only make cookies when I can take the majority of them somewhere away from my house to keep me from eating every last one. Now, how to curb the latest obsession.
Facebook! The addiction has slowly been growing since September when an old HS friend "found" me. You see, I started an account last spring when a friend moved and sent out pictures of her new home via her FB account. The only way to view them was, you guessed it, to start an account of my own. So I did, saw the pictures, and then forgot about it! Enter aforementioned friend and, after reconnecting, I was directed to our 20-year reunion group. It's been a wild ride since then.
I love reconnecting with people I haven't seen in years! I love "chatting" with my friends next door. I really don't know exactly what it is, but I am slowly becoming more and more obsessed. I even come back to check any updates every 5 minutes or so when I'm online doing other things! There is something to be said about a friend request showing up that lifts your spirits. Oh, what is a girl to do?!!
Step One: admitting that one cannot control one's addiction or compulsion.....

Another Incredible Loss

We've just received word that baby Sarah Abigail, born 16 weeks early, passed away today in her parents arms. I cannot even begin to imagine what our dear friends are going through. I know that in the week she was in this world, she brought people together from all over the world to pray for her and her parents. The power of prayer is an amazing thing. There is faith in trusting that, even if the answer is not what we wanted, the Lord is still in control.
My heart is broken for them and for the fact that we will never get to hold this sweet baby girl. All I know to do is lift her parents up in prayer. Praying for strength to get through the coming days, peace in their hearts and comfort from the Lord. I ask that you join me in lifting this family up in prayer.

Chinese Laundry

So my dryer is, as the technician said, total gebrochen (oder Kaput!). Now, those who know the story, know that I've had dryer issues since nearly day one in this house. The fact that the current said kaput dryer is the third one since we've lived here proves that.
They've replaced the dryer (yes, twice so far), cleaned the air ducts (although I am convinced that there is where the problem lies, so I don't trust the thoroughness of their job), and still I am left with another gebrochen machine.
Those close to me have heard my sob stories far too many times. How I've only been able to do 2 loads a day because each load took 6 hours to dry. How the laundry never actually got caught up....how could it at that rate?
Anyhow, since it doesn't dry any longer at all, I've given up. I'll get another machine one day next week (or the week after, it depends on their overly busy schedule!) but in the meantime, I'm left with mountains of clothing, linens and all manner of material that needs cleaning. What's a girl to do? Wash....and find somewhere to hang all of the wet laundry. I've done (not kidding here) 20 loads over the last two days. Can't hang anything outside (where would I do that?!) so it is all over the laundry room, door jams and staircase! Hubby announced this afternoon that he was glad that my inventive Chinese laundry theme was working so well. Out of necessity.....
One thing I have found, everything dries incredibly FAST! True, I have a bit of a warped perspective since I typically wait 6 hours, but it is fast. I strung a line on the third floor staircase and hooked up Log's fan to blow. I am nearly done...woohoo! I have even become incredibly in tune to the washer as I am diligently adding fabric softener to the rinse cycle. Something I have never done in nearly 19 years of marriage. (Can we say fabric sheets!)
One day soon I'll have my fourth dryer to burn-up. One day further down the road, I'll have my own dryer back. The one that takes huge loads of laundry and dries them lickety-split. I'll dream of that day. Until then, I'll duck going through the doorways to avoid the gauntlet of wet clothing.