Snow & Ice

 Serious snow and ice storm happened on Sunday, January 25th. 

I went out on Monday several times to chop the ice and then shovel the snow. That first day after the snow I was able to clear most of the payments, from the porch door to the steps, up the steps and then the payment to the driveway. I also cleared the payment from the porch door to the trash can. I worked some on the driveway before I called it a day. I've always parked my car at the top of my driveway whenever snow or ice is predicted. Since my driveway is huge, I want to remove as little snow as possible. Also, I have problems getting up the hill at times, especially with ice.

Tuesday, I worked on the payment in front of my driveway, the street and a little of the actual driveway. The snowplow had created a wall of ice in the street in front of my driveway. I had been able the day before to clear about a twelve-inch width of the ice wall but was unable to get any further taking it down. I finished by clearing the ice and snow from one side of my car. Clearing means breaking the ice and then tossing the huge chucks, then shoveling the snow. A tiring job for a 76-year-old woman for sure.

Wednesday, I notified the church I work for that I wouldn't be in. The office had been closed Monday and Tuesday. I only work on Wednesday and Friday. I couldn't get out of my driveway because of the ice wall. So, on Wednesday I cleared most of the other side of my car, worked at clearing the ice and snow off of my car, cleared some more of the driveway and street but failed with the ice wall.

Thursday, I planned to have everything completed so I would be able to go to work on Friday. Sometimes our plans don't always come together. I finished clearing the other side of my car and clearing it off. I must have been a sight using the broom handle to break up the ice on the roof of the SUV. But it accomplished the purpose, broke up the ice and I was able to clean the car off of most of the snow. However, the ice wall still stood strong. Stronger than me.

I had plans on Friday to work outside shoveling more snow, but when I put an envelope in my mailbox for pick up, I decided it was too cold to be outside and truth be known, I was exhausted!

Every day I talked with Pam. She was having her own issues. Pam cleared all her ice and snow with the help of her neighbors, however, the temperature in her house was only 50 to 55 degrees. She had a scheduled appointment made prior to the storm, but they would not be there until the following week.  She did have a problem with ice under her truck's tires, so she couldn't leave to help her brother with their mother.

I work from home with a couple of other churches and my printer was not working. I needed a printer so I ordered an inexpensive one, which arrived a little before seven Saturday morning. I struggled to get it onto my porch and then into my house. It was frigid outside! I was exhausted and fell into bed, laying there for almost 2 hours. The only thing I did was email my youth group parents to let them know that I would not be in Sunday school or church the next day. It was going to take a chainsaw, an axe, a sledgehammer (none of which I had) or a heatwave (which was not in the forecast) to remove the ice wall in front of my driveway!

On Sunday, Josh sent me a text and then came over and demolished the ice wall. He did it with such ease. Of course he had a pick axe. Earlier in the week he had shoveled snow at Anthony's house. Anthony recently had surgery. Sunday afternoon he went over to Pam's house and helped her with the ice under her truck's tires. Thank you so much, Josh, you have such a sweet servant heart!

The temps are going to be above freezing in a few days, not much, but it may feel like a spring day. Then they are going back to below freezing. At the beginning of the year, I always count down to April because that's when it starts to warm up. Two more months to go!

He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.

He gives snow like wool; he scatters frost like ashes.

He hurls down his crystals of ice like crumbs; who can stand before his cold?

Psalm 147:15-17