Winter Wonderland

It's been snowing constantly since early yesterday morning, and it's really been adding up! This morning we woke up and looked outside and the entire landscape was changed. I think this is the most snow this Portland-grown girl has every seen- 16 inches and still falling! You couldn't tell where the sidewalk ended and where the street began, let alone where the sidewalk was!

After breakfast this morning, Bob and I bundled up and went outside. I had fun taking a walk in the knee-deep snow, while Bob diligently shoveled first our sidewalk, and then all of our neighbor's sidewalks on our block. Later today, we're planning on making a trip into "town" to get stuff for the next few days- looks like we won't be going too far in the next few days! Hope all of you are staying safe and warm as well. :)

Snow at Hayden Lake

Thursday afternoon, Bob and I drove up to Michael and Tonia's for a long weekend. We've had a wonderful time up here relaxing away from the business of every day life. It's taken me a couple days, but my stress level is finally lowered, and I've been able to relax after finals.

Friday it began snowing, as I know it has in many places. It was fun to watch the snow fall as I looked out the window at the lake. Although it hasn't snowed a lot (about an inch), it's very cold outside! It's about 2-3 degrees right now, and it's supposed to get even colder tonight!

Here are some pictures that Michael took for us on Sabbath:

Our First Christmas Tree

On Saturday night, Bob and I went with his parents to pick out Christmas trees. Bob's family has a tradition of purchasing trees from "Jim and Carla's Christmas Trees". They go out every year and bring back fresh trees from Montana to sell. They're really nice because they're not groomed like most trees you would find on a Christmas Tree farm. We chose a tree that was a little too big, so Bob had to cut it down to size. After we had finished decorating our tree, we sat down and watched "It's a Wonderful Life" together next to the tree. It was so much fun!

Thanksgiving

It's hard for me to believe that it's already December! The last couple of months have really flown by. Today I realized that I hadn't posted any pictures from our Thanksgiving festivities. Unfortunately, Eric and Kandice were not able to come home, but we're looking forward to later this month when we'll all be together. :)
These pictures are from our family's Thanksgiving meal on Thursday before the big family meal at Matt and Judy's house in McMinneville on Sabbath.

Unfortunately, I don't have any pictures from church, but it was a very special Sabbath. The family went to Hopewell SDA Church. Mom, Laura, Bob, and I led the song service, and Laura gave a sermon on her mission trip last spring to the Philippines. Afterwards we went to Matt and Judy's and had a wonderful Thanksgiving meal. Following the meal, we took a walk and then played charades. The following picture is from the charade that Grandpa, Laura, and I did when King Solomon threatened to divide the baby the two women were fighting over to see who the real mother was. Later today, I'll post a blog on our Christmas tree adventure. :)