Let it Snow! Let it Snow!! Let it Snow!!!

Hi! Laura here. I am here to take you on a little tour of our yard in North Idaho in the winter. You see, yesterday morning I woke up to find snow on the ground -- nothing too bad, but it didn't look like it was letting up any time soon. Last night I left work and my car, after being parked in one place for about 9 hours, had about 10-inches (or more!) of snow on it. Needless to say, it took me awhile to clean it off! The snow continued to fall, but I wasn't sure how bad it would be.

This morning I was awakened by my dad who informed me that my chances of getting to work this morning were slim. I couldn't believe my eyes when I looked outside to see an additional foot or more of snow in our yard. And it hasn't stopped since. Schools (even the colleges!) are closed and "they" (law enforcement people, TV broadcasters, etc.) are saying to stay home if you don't have somewhere you HAVE to be. So, after talking to my boss, I am taking a snow day today.

Granted, I love snow days. . .but today I am slightly bored. You see, I don't have any homework to do, and I would love to be outside playing, but I can't seem to find my snow pants! Plus, I wasn't expecting to have nothing to do today. Too bad we aren't getting this major white-ness on Christmas. Oh well, we're going to have a White Christmas -- this stuff isn't going anywhere anytime soon.

Don't believe me? Let me take you on a little tour of our yard (all pictures were taken from the comfort of the house).This was taken early this morning -- a picture of our deck.


There was almost 22 inches of snow this morning. I haven't measured since, but I know there is now a lot more.The beehives were buried in snow, and my dad had to dig some space around them so that the bees wouldn't suffocate. I think it looks like the hives are wearing little hats. :-)

Looking out one of the windows in my parents' room. This is the air conditioner, and it, too, is wearing a little hat.
Looking out my brother's window, to the right.
And looking out his window to the left.Some trees in our front yard -- all covered in snow!
Isn't our backyard beautiful?It just keeps on falling. Stay tuned -- chances are there will be more pictures later!!

Just For the Record. . .

Just for the record:

I am now 7/8 of the way through college.

(not to brag, or anything *grin*) Yep, that's right. I am done with my 7th semester of college (not including summer classes) and I have only one more to go. In less than 5 months I should be receiving my degree.

Yippee!!

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

This is what our thermometer showed when I checked it a few minutes ago. I'm pretty sure the temperature has since dropped as the wind is howling outside and looking on the internet I see that the windchill is at about -5.

Yes, it's cold.

I am curled up under my down comforter (I finally gave in and put it on my bed this morning after freezing last night! I wanted to wait until it actually got cold to use it!), trying to stay warm. It's so cold that the dogs don't even want to go outside. When they are taken outside they just stand there staring, wondering why they have to go out in such conditions.

My work was supposed to have a Christmas party tonight. It was postponed because my boss didn't want all of us out on the roads late at night. They were predicting white-out conditions with blowing snow earlier -- I wouldn't be at all surprised if the prairie was a mess with the wind and the snow.

At this point, all I can say is brrrrr. You know it is cold when the predicted high for the next few days is about 5-degrees or less, and the predicted lows for the next three days range from -6 to -14 (with windchill, of course, making it seem much colder).

I am *seriously* contemplating skipping church and staying in my warm house tomorrow. . .

Let it be Christmas!

I can't say that I really feel like it is Christmas time yet (I know, I know!), but regardless, Let it be Christmas!



Let it be Christmas
Alan Jackson

Let it be Christmas everywhere
In the hearts of all people both near and afar
Christmas everywhere
Feel the love of the season wherever you are
On the small country roads lined with green mistletoe
Big city streets where a thousand lights glow

Let it be Christmas everywhere
Let heavenly music fill the air
Let every heart sing let every bell ring
The story of hope and joy and peace
And let it be Christmas everywhere
Let heavenly music fill the air
Let anger and fear and hate disappear
Let there be love that lasts through the year
And let it be Christmas
Christmas everywhere

Let it be Christmas everywhere
With the gold and the silver, the green and the red
Christmas everywhere
In the smiles of all children asleep in their beds
In the eyes of young babies their first fallen snow
Elderlys' memories that never grow old

Let it be Christmas everywhere
Let heavenly music fill the air
Let every heart sing let every bell ring
The story of hope and joy and peace
And let it be Christmas everywhere
Let heavenly music fill the air
Let anger and fear and hate disappear
Let there be love that lasts through the year
And let it be Christmas
Christmas everywhere

Let it be Christmas everywhere
In the songs that we sing and the gifts that we bring
Christmas everywhere
In what this day means and what we believe
From the sandy white beaches where blue water rolls
Snow covered mountains and valleys below

Let it be Christmas everywhere
Let heavenly music fill the air
Let every heart sing let every bell ring
The story of hope and joy and peace
And let it be Christmas everywhere
Let heavenly music fill the air
Let anger and fear and hate disappear
Let there be love that lasts through the year
And let it be Christmas
Christmas everywhere
Christmas everywhere
Christmas everywhere

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day (Casting Crowns)

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
Casting Crowns

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet their songs repeat
Of peace on earth good will to men

And the bells are ringing
Like a choir they're singing
In my heart I hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men

And in despair I bowed my head
There is no peace on earth I said
For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men

But the bells are ringing
Like a choir singing
Does anybody hear them?
Peace on earth, good will to men

Then rang the bells more loud and deep
God is not dead, nor doth He sleep
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men

Then ringing singing on its way
The world revolved from night to day
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good will to men

And the bells they're ringing
Like a choir they're singing
And with our hearts we'll hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men

Do you hear the bells they're ringing?
The life the angels singing
Open up your heart and hear them
Peace on earth, good will to men

Peace on earth, Peace on earth
Peace on earth, Good will to men

Merry Christmas, Coeur d'Alene!

Every year on the day after Thanksgiving, people from all over the Inland Northwest gather in front of the Coeur d'Alene Resort to watch the Holiday Lighting Ceremony. It's a big deal -- there is a parade an hour beforehand, and then at precisely 6:00 (no sooner!) a few speeches are made, candles are lit, and the whole town joins in singing Silent Night. It's pretty awesome. As soon as the singing is done, the countdown begins and BOOM! The BEST fireworks show EVER begins. After the fireworks are over, the switch is flipped and all the lights around town come alive.

This year it snowed for the first time on the day after Thanksgiving. So, the fireworks show was cut short by a little because it was cloudy and hard to see anything. But it was still awesome.

I found a video of the 2007 fireworks show and I thought I'd share it with all of you. As you can see, the fireworks show is close to 8-minutes (I think it's slightly over) and it is accompanied by an upbeat mix of Mannheim Steamroller and Trans-Siberian Orchestra music, which makes it even more awesome!

Merry Christmas!!!!

This is SO Funny!

Just watch this. It's hilarious!

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

Now ElfYourself!

Enjoy Christmas Music?

Plain and simple, I love Christmas music. I listen to it often before Thanksgiving, and then I listen to it all the way through Christmas day. Yes, some of the songs get a little old by the end of it all, but overall, I love it. So, expect to see some posts throughout the next month with some of my favorite Christmas songs -- I'll try to find my favorite arrangements on YouTube and share them with you all.

But also, if you want some random Christmas music to listen to, scroll to the bottom of this page. I have had a music player at the bottom of my blog for awhile, but I just updated it with a Christmas playlist. Unfortunately it won't start (at least on my computer!) unless you scroll down to it, but once it starts it will keep playing until you leave the page.

So. . .if you want some random, and awesome, Christmas music to listen to this holiday season, just visit my blog. I'll try to update the playlist every now and then, but for now you'll hear Christmas music by Josh Groban, Michael Buble, MercyMe, and, of course, Mannheim Steamroller. . .among others. Check it out. . .enjoy. . .and Merry Christmas!

The Christmas Shoes (Newsong)

I love listening to Christmas music. One of my favorite Christmas songs is "The Christmas Shoes" which also has a movie by the same name. I watched the movie last Christmas season and, yes, it made me cry.



The Christmas Shoes
Newsong
It was almost Christmas time,
There I stood in another line
Trying to buy that last gift or two,
Not really in the Christmas mood.
Standing right in front of me
Was a little boy waiting anxiously,
Pacing round like little boys do,
And in his hands, he held a pair of shoes.
And his clothes were worn and old.
He was dirty from head to toe,
And when it came his time to pay,
I couldnt believe what I heard him say.

Chorus:

Sir, I wanna buy these shoes for my momma please.
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size.
Could you hurry, Sir?
Daddy says there's not much time.
You see, she's been sick for quite a while;
Know these shoes will make her smile.
Want her to look beautiful if Momma meets Jesus tonight.


He counted pennies for what seemed like years
Then the cashier said Theres not enough here.
He searched his pockets frantically
Then he turned and he looked at me.
He said Momma made Christmas good at our house
Though most years she just did without.
Tell me, Sir, what am I gonna do?
Somehow Ive got to buy these Christmas shoes!
So I laid the money down;
I just had to help him out.
And Ill never forget the look on his face
When he said Mommas gonna look so great!

Chorus

I knew that I got a glimpse of heavens love
As he thanked me and ran out.
I knew that God had sent that little boy to remind me
What Christmas is all about.
Chorus in childrens voices

Young boy:
I want her to look beautiful
If Momma meets Jesus tonight.