Record-breaking, Fun-making SNOW!!

Yes, we truly have been plowed under here in Virginia!

Recently, we experienced four snowstorms in less than two weeks. Two of the storms weren't so significant with accumulations of just 6-7". But one storm dumped 26" or so on us! The storm that followed that one brought just another 7" to us, but the city got far more. The whole metro area was paralyzed for days.  It was rather nice that Stephen had nearly a week off work due to the federal government shut-down.

The crazy thing is that during our first winter in Concord, NH, we had a record-breaking seasonal snowfall total (something like 84" if my memory serves me correctly). And now, although this is not our first year here, we are having a record-breaking seasonal snowfall total here! Of course, the number is significantly less than that of NH, but the folks here certainly aren't used to big snows like the New Englanders are.

In any case, it made for great sledding and fun forts!

Boo-Boo tries out the new sled on the nearby driving range.

Better yet, Boo-Boo gets a ride with Dad...and they FLY!!

Mr. Blue-Eyes takes a tumble as he climbs back up the hill.

Cupcake loves her little "sleigh", but she can't manage to hang onto her mittens. Poor kitten!

We woke to this scene in the backyard.  The wet snow clung to the trees and wrapped the backyard in a magical spell.

Later, the snow made for easy packing.  Thanks to the tractor who dumped several buckets of snow into our backyard while clearing the golf-cart path, we were able to make a nifty fort!

The neighbors' house is so pretty in the snow!

Unfortunately, this beauty didn't last too long as the temperatures rose and it dropped off the trees.  But I suppose it was for the best as it could have turned to ice and caused a power-outage nightmare for us!

 This is what our deck looked like after we had 26" of snow dumped on us.  This picture is after I shovelled a path to the patio table to push the snow off the glass-topped table.

Check out the "walls" of snow on the side of the driveway.  Our neighbors were kind enough to remove the snow from our driveway since Stephen was in NYC for the weekend. It was a little much for our snowblower, so they had to break out the lawn-tractor plow.  What a blessing their kindness is to us! 

The snowplows sure were busy!  But if it weren't for a neighbor who owns a construction/excavating business and his plow-truck as well as a few skid-loaders and excavators, our street would probably still be snow-covered.

Pretty trees in the neighbors' yard.

What a great reminder this snowy season has been to us of how the Lord Jesus washes our sins whiter than snow!  Can you imagine anything whiter than new-fallen snow?  But when we're trusting in His accomplished work on the cross, our hearts are washed even whiter than this beautiful snow.