Do You Like Winter?

The winter is a hard season. The weather is cold, wet, and windy. People stay inside all day, children (and Stephanie) longing to PLAY outside. I just wanted to go for a walk yesterday, that should be easy, right? So Chris, Cooper, and I all loaded up in the car and went to the park by the river. Only to find that the path was covered with ice and snow, like everything else. The ice was so thick that when we stepped on it we could see the water moving underneath. I don't know why I thought they would clear that path when they don't even plow the residential streets, but I was really hoping they would. Needless to say our walk was short and cold. Despite the fact that it is cold during the winter I also find such beauty to go along with it. I love the white blanket of snow it really does bring joy to my heart.

I also like storms, one of my favorite memories from when Chris and I were getting to know eachother occured during a storm. We were in Pullman at Dan's and there was a lot of people over watching Eight Below, during this movie is when Chris first held my hand. Then after the movie everyone else went home, it was a pretty stormy night. Him and I sat talking and cuddling (no kissing though) for a long time and watched the storm through the windows , then the power went out, so we sat there longer not wanting to end the evening. Anyways we eventually decided that I needed to get home before the weather got even worse.

So, even though winter can be hard, and depressing. It can also be exhillerating and fun. It means sledding, snowmen, snowdays, and storms. It means camping in the livingroom, playing games with family, it means holidays and good food. I have decided that the good really does outweigh the bad even though I can't go for my walk. Spring and summer will be here before we know it.

We Will Miss You President Hinkley!

SALT LAKE CITY 27 January 2008 President Gordon B. Hinckley, who led The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints through twelve years of global expansion, has died at the age of 97.
President Hinckley was the 15th president in the 177-year history of the Church and had served as its president since 12 March 1995.
The Church president died at his apartment in downtown Salt Lake City at 7:00 p.m. Sunday night from causes incident to age. Members of his family were at his bedside. A successor is not expected to be formally chosen by the Church’s Quorum of the Twelve Apostles until after President Hinckley’s funeral within the next few days.

Continued...

Snow Day in Richland

Snow in Richland. We woke up this morning to snow on the ground, and it is still snowing right now. The Tri-Cities area rarely gets this much snow and when it happens people just stay home. For the first time in years they canceled church, so no one needed to travel on the icy roads. It was reported to me that last night because of the ice there was a City of Richland Plow truck overturned in a ditch. This becuase all of Saturday there was freezing rain/hail and reported up to two inches of ice on the roads. We are having quite the winter storm over here. It is not all bad though in fact it gave Chris, Cooper, and I the chance to play in the snow. We tried to have a snowball fight and make a snowman, however the snow was a little too dry. It was still fun, we made some snow angels and had a great time.
Pictures taken by: Stephanie Appel