Icy Birthday to me

The weather reports started last weekend, saying this would be a mega storm, and I was secretly hoping it would really happen this time but only if it was severe enough to keep Drew home from work on my birthday. On Sunday night it was starting to look like it might actually happen. Drew called on his way home from work Monday to say that it was really bad outside. We had the weather channel turned on and realized if this continued overnight, he would not have to go to work in the morning. Tuesday morning we got up and checked outside to see that everything was a solid sheet of ice.

Drew's car covered in ice

Drew called the courts to learn they were closed and his office would soon follow. So we decided to go back to sleep for a few hours and it was the best way to start my 32nd year! I got my birthday wish and spent the day with Drew. I heard from friends & loved ones and it was one of the best birthdays I've had, even if I was freezing the majority of the day.

Later that morning  afternoon we spent time catching up on our dvr shows before we headed across the street to see "The Kings Speech" where we had the theater to ourselves. When we came out of the movie it was pouring ice sideways. We ran to the car and were covered in what looked like rabbit pellet ice from a pop machine. I quickly got in the car and cuddled under my blanket while Drew scraped the windows. As we drove home we passed over the usually jam-packed I-69 highway that had {ZERO} cars on it at 6:30 at night. Only 3 semi-trucks were on the road and barely moving. We were thankful our drive home was a mile down the street.

On Wednesday morning it was almost the same routine as the day prior. Drew got up to check the weather, more ice overnight and now some snow was coming down on top of it. He called the courts, called his office and all were closed. A little nap, catch up on a few tv shows, then to start the day. Somewhere mid-morning we headed outside to tackle the front sidewalk... ya know, just in case the paramedics or fire dept has to rescue us they should have a clear path to our front door.

Drew vs sidewalk ice

Today we were back in business with Drew going to work and Nicole applying for jobs, following up on prospects, running errands, running at the gym & fighting with driveway ice. There's something to be said for having a routine and I'm certainly someone who benefits from having a daily routine in place. Sometimes I think God has a way of reminding me that regardless of how hard I try to have my own routine, I need to stay focused that His plan must be the focus of my routine.
I had reminders of this throughout my day when this morning I got a call that a former coworker passed away suddenly overnight. This afternoon I got a call that a friend/former coworker got laid off. This evening I got a call that my cousins will have a baby girl this Spring. God knew I needed that baby news to lift my spirit and more importantly, to refocus my thoughts: God is in control of all situations, including these three that impacted my heart today.

After I came home from the gym and realized I still hadn't let go of all of my stress, I figured I should try to tackle some of the ice on our driveway day-by-day. One hour into the process, I thought the ice on our driveway would get the best of me {and my back}. As I stood up to let the blood rush around my body I then realized I hadn't prayed to ask God for some guidance with this daunting process. I stopped and asked for patience as I chipped away at the solid blocks. I gave thanks for Stan, my former coworker in SC, who I believe is in Heaven tonight with His Savior. I asked that God would bless Sharra, my friend in Fishers, who is now looking for a new job, to provide for her family. I gave thanks for my little girl cousin, growing in utero, that I cannot wait to meet. I savored how excited I am for her and two other little girls to join our family this Spring. God is good and I'm going to be a super-terrific-wonderful Auntie/Cousin to all six of these little girls! Bring on the toenail polish and hair bows! :)

Driveway chunk I dominated

So tomorrow is another day and it's Friday. Everyone loves Friday and it's a day to rejoice and be glad! This weekend we'll go to Xavier, we'll watch the Superbowl, we'll eat some food and hug some friends. It sounds like we'll shovel some snow in there, too but I can handle it.