Welcoming A Snowy New Year

 The days between the holidays, in theory, represent a time

of relaxation and renewal, continuation of visits with

family and friends, and a vague gesture of peeking

toward the new year that looms 'just around the corner'.

I borrowed this fun image from new friend Tamar C.

from the Canterbury Ward: it makes me think of Jack Frost

indulging in a leisurely afternoon of 'horizontal'.

 I also wanted to share a winter view of my favorite 

Goffstown, NH red barn (on Mountain Base Road)

with a little bit of snow. 

(Now I have captured it in three different seasons.) 

Winter weather actually 'hijacked'

our New Year's Day office holiday, with freezing rain and other

advisory forecasts prompting Pres. Beck to move

the Mission Leadership Conference from the 'Eve to the Day.

We did actually experience freezing rain, and for me it was

a new experience. I have heard or read that description

and struggled with it: of course RAIN freezes . . .

and becomes SNOW!

But what we encountered as we drove to the office

was the tinkling sound of tiny, frozen raindrops pinging

off the windshield. Made for slippery walking!

Above, I want to share what the NH residents do to prepare

their out-in-the-weather parked car for imminent snow:

They flip the wipers into the 'up' position, to keep them

from freezing stuck to the glass or buried under snow! Smart.

* * * * *

Continuing the theme of snowflakes, I want to document

a filling of my lamp experience that surprised me back in 

November. A small package arrived from an unrecognized
 address and I was curious to see its contents.

Once opened, I remembered a brief email conversation I had

where permission was requested (I just LOVE honest crafters!)

to use one of my 2014 winter digital designs in 

a Silhouette America-sponsored teaching event. 

I agreed (usually do when principled folks ask) and begged

to see the finished product she would be demonstrating.

Pictured above is the plastic disc 

with etched design using my "Wonder of A Snowflake"

poem, made into ornaments. She had kept her promise to

send me a few following the event. Since we are celebrating

things snow-y, I share my original verse that was etched:

wonder of a snowflake

crystalized near heaven

each one like no other

dancing on a downdraft

knitting with it's neighbors

weaving winter's blanket

Thanks, Elly, for making me feel important, and

that my designs have interest and merit!

Meanwhile . . .

 Vince was pleased that more snow had arrived,

and tested it on the back lawn of the apartment complex

(as seen from my workroom apartment window).

 Following two pics were from a post-Christmas Day

XC skiing outing that we enjoyed on the rail trail

in Goffstown. A little icy, but wonderful scenery

and fun to be out of doors and active!

(Can you smell the wood stove smoke wafting?)

I handed the camera off to him for a rare shot of me, too.

We are "collecting" rail trail cross country 

skiing experiences - more about that next week.

In addition to the MLC event at the Mission Office/

Manchester Chapel keeping us busy, Vince organized 

an 'outing' with the Canterbury sisters 

(whose area is 25 minutes away)

to follow a request by a ward member to visit

a physical therapy client of hers living in a nursing home.

(We snapped this pic later, at the wardhouse:

Sister Linford, Sister Parry, and us.)

 The lady we visited was Bernice, a 96 year old

resident in the Merrimack County Nursing Home

in Boscawen, near Canterbury. Unannounced,

we traveled and met up, and were directed to her room,

introduced ourselves, chatted about lightly interesting

things, and were thoroughly delighted by her friendliness,

her beautiful appearance, and her seeming well-being.

(Below is a summer-time picture of the facility.)

 When we deemed it time to leave, Elder Warner offered

to say a prayer for her, and she agreed.

(Vince says that people rarely deny that request.)

Then we got ready to depart, and the young sisters

asked if they could stop in again to visit.

We each shared a hand-shake, but when these

two wonderful and spiritually-radiant young women

reached out to her, she was visibly touched

and became slightly emotional. The change from 
superficial to deep feelings was like a Mission miracle.

* * * * *

Two days later, on Saturday, we attended a baptism

in Plymouth, NH, where young Sister Bell is serving

with companion Sister Smith. (Sister Bell had 

served previously in the Canterbury Ward where we

came to love, cherish and respect her.)

We took them out to dinner as we like to do,

and asked the cute young university student Eric

who was our server to snap this picture.

NOTE: I'm once again wearing my favorite blue sweater,

even though the pictures in this post were NOT captured

the same day; funny commentary on my limited wardrobe!)

So I began this new year and decade having my lamp

filled and my heart touched, by many people,

and in many ways. Blessings are abundant!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

And now a parting shot of Pogo the cat at home in Lehi

taking to bed with him his favorite catnip pillow Christmas gift.

Thanks to Cory for sharing this heart-warmer with me.