We’ve had snow for over a week here in Wichita, which has been uh-MAZ-ing. It started last Monday morning and piled up a fair bit. It was cold enough that it stuck around all week long–and then we got another spate on Sunday to keep it up. Since Sunday’s snowfall, it’s warmed to above freezing every day–so the streets are now mostly dry, but the yards remain a winter wonderland.

I’m loving it.

This week I’m thankful…

…for a winter song
Why is it that we only hear Winter Wonderland before Christmas? It’s totally sad, because it isn’t a Christmas song at all–it’s a winter song, and a snowy winter song to boot. ‘Round here, and even in Nebraska, the chances of enjoying a winter wonderland are definitely better AFTER Christmas. I really enjoyed singing “Winter Wonderland” with gusto while traveling hither and yon through Wichita’s Winter Wonderland.

…for the opportunity to wear my snowsuit
Years ago, before I left Lincoln, I purchased a bright red full body snowsuit at a garage sale in Lincoln. Since moving to Wichita, it has hung forelorn in my coat closet, never seeing the light of day. Even though there was snow last winter, it really didn’t stick around enough for me to be out in it. This year, I bundled up in it to take my weekly trip to the Braums down the street to get our milk (Of course I walk, even if there’s six inches of snow–it’s only a twenty minute round trip.) Then I wore it again for an Olympics opening party my friend Ruth hosted. That’s twice in one week!

…for a strong husband who shovels, scrapes, and sweeps
More than once, over the last couple of weeks, I have arrived home to find my husband hard at work shoveling the driveway. More than once, I’ve come out to my car in the morning to find it already swept free of snow and scraped free of frost. So far, I haven’t done any shoveling this winter–my husband has done it without a complaint.

…for hope for an allergy-free spring
Well, probably not allergy-free. But the week of temps below freezing have me hopeful that my allergies will be a little less severe this year-especially since I’m experimenting with minimal medications for them after years of taking at least three daily allergy meds :-/

…for brightness to cover February’s drear
February has always struck me as the dreariest month of the year. The holidays are over, winter is in full force, and it seems like it’s been ages since we saw the sun. The sky is gray, the days are still short, and everything seems dingy. The regular snowfall of the past couple of weeks has kept this February bright and shiny. The sides of the streets start to get dingy with spray, but then a new little snowfall covered it all up again with fresh white.

…for a reminder
When the snow falls and covers the land, I am reminded…

of God’s power

“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 147:16-17 (ESV)

of His sovereignty over creation

“For to the snow he says, ‘Fall on the earth,’
likewise to the downpour, his mighty downpour.”
~Job 37:6 (ESV)

of my littleness in light of His greatness

“Have you entered the storehouses of the snow,
or have you seen the storehouses of the hail,
which I have reserved for the time of trouble,
for the day of battle and war?”
~Job 38:22-23 (ESV)

of the One who invites His people to reason together

“Come now, let us reason together, says the Lord:
though your sins are like scarlet,
they shall be as white as snow;
though they are red like crimson,
they shall become like wool.”
~Isaiah 1:18 (ESV)

of the cry I daily make

“Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean;
wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.”
~Psalm 51:7 (ESV)

And then I join with the snow in singing the praises of the One who makes me like snow.

“Praise the Lord from the earth,
you great sea creatures and all deeps,
fire and hail, snow and mist,
stormy wind fulfilling his word!”
~Psalm 148:7-8 (ESV)

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As a bonus: Because I know you’re dying to know how much snow the Menter Dynasty’s locations get before and after Christmas, I’ve prepared a chart for you :-)

Average Snowfall Before and After the Holidays

	Before January 1st	After January 1st
Columbus, NE	8.9″	22″
Lincoln, NE	8.6″	17.2″
Madison, WI	17.6″	33.3″
Okinawa, Japan	0″	0″
Wichita, KS	5.6″	9.3″