Snowy Sundays

It was 82 degrees yesterday!  Apparently the snowflakes didn't really care about that, though, because as the temperature dropped rapidly this morning, down they came.  

Craig stayed home sick with a cold, and Emma had a singing engagement at a charity event at the PAC, so three kids and I went to church completely underdressed for the cold front.  I really thought I could get away with heels instead of boots today.  Church was awesome.  I played the organ, which I always love.  I'm so happy that the regular organist lets me sub for her once a month.  And then the testimonies that everyone bore were just really amazing.  Some Sundays are like that, every talk, every connection, every song is just exactly perfect.  I taught our Sunday School class by myself on the Atonement...eek!  But, as usual, I launched them and then those amazing kids actually taught most of the class themselves.  (For a second, I considered taking a quick picture of them teaching each other and posting it on Instagram because they were so dang amazing, but then I thought they might be creeped out by that, so I didn't.)  The Relief Society lesson was awesome, too.  It was entirely based on my favorite General Conference talk of all time and the only quote I have memorized:  "The ability to qualify for, receive, and act on personal revelation is the greatest skill we can acquire in this life." - Julie B Beck (oh, I love that so much!)

After church, I looked outside and realized that the snow was coming down harder and people looked like they were heavily bundled to go outside.  As usual, I did not even bring a coat with me.  So I lingered and talked to as many people as I could before committing to walk outside in the Texas blizzard.  And then, the most amazing thing happened (I totally overuse that word, I know, but the day really was THAT amazing!)  I walked to the foyer with McKay (the girls had already driven themselves home) and the nicest boy was standing there at the door waiting for me.  He said, "Sister Thunell, can I walk you to your car?"  Hallelujah!  I enthusiastically said, "Yes, please!" because I knew that I had parked my car at the farthest end of the church parking lot, and that my choice was either to take my life in my own hands and walk across the icy lot in my spiky heels, or to take off my shoes and risk frostbitten feet. Neither sounded very appealing.  Matt let me hold his arm all the way across the parking lot.  And when we arrived at the Jeep, he pulled out his handy ice scraper (why does he even own one of those in Texas?) and scraped all the ice off my windshield.  Have I mentioned how much I love the youth in our ward?  Well, I do.  They are extraordinary kids who continue to surprise me every time I am with them.  

I made a mental note while I was sitting in my frozen car to: 
1) throw a jacket or a blanket in the trunk in case of future unexpected inclement weather 
AND 
2) to make sure to teach my little McKay to be as courteous and thoughtful as Matthew Collins was today.  

I am so grateful for perfect snowy Sundays, for wonderful youth, and to come home to blankets, heat, hot chocolate, and kids who like to snuggle.  

Winter Weather

It is seriously COLD today!  Even two hours after the sun has come up, it's still only in the 20s out there.  I have to get dressed and leave the house today, but I REALLY don't want to.  

Here's where Craig is this week…

Winter Storm Leon came in yesterday about 11am and continued to dump snow on Birmingham throughout the day.  When did we start naming winter storms??  Schools closed, businesses closed, traffic sat.  Craig sent me this picture yesterday afternoon after a long day of meetings...  

His office stayed open for any employees who were stranded because of the weather.  And amazingly there were a LOT of them who stayed.  Craig's hotel happened to be just across the parking lot so he and his other traveling companions were able to walk.  

This is Craig's business associate, Joe, who flew in from the McAllen office and that's a car on fire in the background that they saw as they walked across the parking lot to their hotel.  Crazy…

Since all their late afternoon meetings fell apart early because of the weather, Craig and Joe decided to grab some dinner.  Thank goodness for lots of restaurants within walking distance.  Their group of two quickly turned into a group of four and then 16, and they found a sushi place with a limited menu that was still open and serving dinner.  It took them over four hours to eat and get back out to their hotel.  What a crazy trip!  

People slept in their cars last night on the freeway because they could not get home.  Traffic all over Birmingham was just stopped for hours and hours.  I cannot imagine spending a night in my car in freezing temperatures.  Sometimes I don't even wear a coat (ok, I never wear a coat.)  I would be toast in that situation, for sure…a small, brown, frozen piece of toast.   

It's 12 degrees in Birmingham right now and people have been advised to stay inside for one more day.  Craig is supposed to fly home tonight at 6:00, but all flights into and out of Birmingham have been cancelled.  No one is thrilled about that.

I hate that he's stuck in a place that's not with us, but I'm grateful he's not sleeping in his car.  I'm grateful that he has food, a toothbrush and a hotel room, and companions who are in the same boat.  And I'm especially grateful today for heated homes and electric blankets and fuzzy slippers in weather like this.  

...maybe if I wait a little longer to leave, it'll get up to 45.   

January Mornings

I just love these crispy, cool mid winter mornings.  The leaves haven't quite come back on any of the trees yet, so you can see so much more of that brilliant blue sky.  I love to watch all the morning activity outside my window once all the school commotion dies down.   As soon as the kids and the busses disappear, the squirrels start to dash around and the birds begin their socializing.  Everything seems anxious to be in motion and get started with the day.   

I love the weather in Dallas.  There are days that are frigid and days that are unbearably hot, but fortunately none of them lasts very long.  The constant weather variety gives us all something to appreciate, to talk about, and to look forward to.  I'm grateful for an entire week of sunny, clear skies and temperatures in the 50s and 60s.  

I might even wander outside later and make a portable nest outside in the sun.