Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow!

By MAD21

As most of you know, the east has been hit with several inches (feet) of snow in the last 24 hours. Our area is only about 13 hours into it with at least another 16-17 hours to go and we already have over a foot. It's so much fun!  It's all powder, so no snowmen or forts yet (that will be tomorrow!). But we've already done one round of shoveling and a few hours of sledding down our hill. I thought I would share some of what it looks like so far. The pictures look a little fuzzy, but that's because the snow is still coming down like crazy.

Blessings to all. Enjoy!

Before and After

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Fingerprint Friday: Second Families

By MAD21

During this week for being thankful, there were several opportunities to see God's fingerprints. Probably the most important one for me is the one that appears as family and friends. I am so blessed to have married into such a wonderful group of people. It's been over nine years, and they still haven't kicked me out! That should say something about their character (either crazy or just very accepting of terribly imperfect people).

Thank you God, for loving me through others. And for using me to show your love for them.

Fellow blogger Beki at Pampering You has a really great weekly post she does every Friday called "Fingerprint Friday." We are to look around and see where we can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Anywhere? Go find out where Beki saw God this week, and be sure to check out the other bloggers who linked their stories as well.

Life is Funny: Thump In The Night

By MAD21

I had gone to bed early that evening. I was tired from a long day, and not much sleep the night before. I had been asleep for almost two hours when something woke me up. Something was making a loud thumping noise.  It would stop for a second, and then a rustling noise, then thump again. I thought it was my hubby doing something out in the living room, but no. <sigh> So I get out of my cozy warm bed and stomped out into the hallway.

What, or who, do I find?? You'll never guess... My cat, KC, had found something to play with. But this item wasn't any of her usual toys, not even the things she usually steals off the kitchen counters or tables when we aren't looking. No. This evening my cat doesn't steel away with small toys, or toy parts, or even her usual thievery of my daughter's small stuffed animals... No. That night, my cat decided she wanted to play with an AVOCADO. Yes. I have a crazy cat who likes to play. And makes a toy out of anything. Including fruits and veggies... Never a dull moment in my house. I think I've seen it all now.

My friend and fellow blogger Wendy at Weight..What? has a fun carnival at her blog called "Life is Funny." Every Monday we talk about something in life that we find funny. Be sure to go visit her blog to read her post along with links to other blogs who are participating.

Fingerprint Friday: Nurses, Friends And Horses

By MAD21

My family had a pretty rough week last week. Our youngest had to have a medical procedure that left her feeling pretty traumatized. This week I have at least three 'fingerprints' I want to write about. The first is Nurse Erin who worked so hard with us through the night, she not only kept things going, she was so sweet with my daughter. The second are my dear Twitter friends who stayed up to chat with me when I could get away for a few minutes. The third was a few days later. A long-awaited family ride at the farm my oldest daughter takes riding lessons.

We had gone on a family ride in the spring which coincidentally was the same day as my youngest's birthday. So that was our big gift to her. She's been asking for months to go again. I was so thankful of the timing for the fall ride. It fell on the exact weekend we really needed it to. It gave us something to look forward to. I was a little nervous, though. The weather had been really rainy and gray for days (and weeks it seemed). But on the day of the ride, it was a perfect, note PERFECT fall day. Beautiful sunshine. Upper 60s. (And the bees left us alone!)

After such a stressful week full of tears and pain, it made my heart sing to see the absolute joy on my youngest's face as we rode our horses and ponies through the fields and forests. It was yet another experience that shows me how much God loves us. And how he is always right were we need him to be.

Fellow blogger Beki at Pampering You has a really great weekly post she does every Friday called "Fingerprint Friday." We are to look around and see where we can see God's fingerprints. Is it in nature? Kids? Animals? Anywhere? Go find out where Beki saw God this week, and be sure to check out the other bloggers who linked their stories as well.

YOB: #17. Try To Get Something Published

By Lara

The Obvious Item

I am a writer. It's my job. I write technical manuals for the United States Army. However, I also like to write for fun. I would love to write books for children at some point (and get them published). I have a couple of drafts in the works. You know how it goes.

When I was in the eighth grade, I was co-editor of the Wissahickon Middle School 1992-93 yearbook. I wrote articles for my high school newspaper as well as the prestigious Harford Owl. I had a couple of poems published in the Harford County Community College Literary Magazine. I think it was called "The Feather and Talon." The magazine... not the poem. I have a blog. It's mostly friends-locked these days. You know. Things get complicated.

Other than that, I have never officially had one of my stories published. I think this was the root of "Try to Get Something Published" item on the Year of the Birthday list.

So... When my friend Ginny asked me to contribute to her website content, I thought it might be a good opportunity for Beth and I to work on a publication project together. BOOM. That's what you're reading right now. Thanks for being a part of this...