You couldn’t have paid me to wear shorts in Virginia this
winter! We have had a total of 14 snow days, some even in late March. Now I
must admit, part of the reason I wanted to work in the school system is for
this sweet treat, but we have all been ready for some warm temps. Thankfully,
the warm weather rolled in the last few weeks, giving Tyler and I time to run
or ride the bike on the trail in Lynchburg and enjoy some sunshine. It has
indeed been shorts weather, finally.
Here is a recap from our winter adventures:
My sister Sami came to visit Virginia! And she flew in on the day the biggest snow storm in 5 years hit our town. Tyler and I ventured out to the airport in over a foot of snow, with more flakes still falling. I was grippng the door handle as Tyler navigated the truck to Greensboro, NC to pick up Sami. My phone kept ringing as my Mom called to make sure things were going safely. I refused to call her back until we were all home in one piece. :) Sami arrived on practically the ONLY flight that actually landed in Greensboro that day- and we had an AWESOME weekend of sledding, snowman making, and movies.
My go to winter treat is below- Coffee and Cinnamon Popcorn. The popcorn recipe I use is from 100 Days of Real Food. Such a yummy homemade snack for any season!
Click here to try it yourself! Cinnamon Glazed Popcorn
My cousin Danae got married a few weekends ago, so we had the opportunity to visit with the Sommers family- And meet my new nephew Asher!!
A closing thought: Remember, our lives cycle in and out seasons, just like the trees. Sometimes there is winter... brokenness and heartache and uncertainty. But often out of our brokenness comes the most beautiful stories. Stories of how God used something that we thought was ugly for good. Jesus said this to his disciples before He was arrested to be cruicified. "So also you have sorrow now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you." John 16:22
Today we remember Good Friday, the day that Jesus sacrificed His life by dying on the cross. He lived a perfect life, free from sin. He was arrested and flogged and nailed to a cross as a sacrifice, a payment for sin... my sin. Your sin. His body was broken and he breathed His last breath. He was buried in a tomb and His friends and family and followers mourned. It was their winter.
But Sunday was coming! Three days later those friends visited the tomb of Jesus and the stone had been rolled away. And they saw Jesus, alive again! They saw his scars and his new body. His words are true- "your hearts will rejoice."
"Weeping may last for the night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5
