Friday Favorites – Let it Snow
Tis the season we tend to let the hustle and bustle carry us away and we become just a little caught up in the rush of things. This week was a little crazy to say the least but then something utterly unexpected happened. As I drove home from work Thursday, I realized the drizzle I was seeing was in fact snowflakes and not rain. By the time I rushed the kids off to baseball and dance it was really coming down. Y’all, nowhere did I see snow in our forecast this week! We were literally running our a/c on Tuesday! It was an unexpected gift and we were practically screaming let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!
While the actual snowfall was beautiful, I think what is most amazing is how our entire little town, children and adults, stopped whatever we were doing and embraced this gift. Homework was excused, bedtimes were modified and those dirty dishes in the sink were able to sit just one more day so everyone could experience, some for the very first time, this wonder.
Lesson learned, we are utterly unprepared for cold weather and there was not a hat or a pair of gloves to be found. I have zero clue where I’ve packed these things away but I definitely need to keep the stash a little more organized. We also learned if you drop a cell phone while making snowballs while it is still snowing, the chances of finding it are slim to none. Pour Keith raked the entire backyard looking for Dillon’s phone! Carly worked her hardest to make a snowman while we searched for the phone and we definitely need to watch a you tube video on snowman making it appears.
So here’s what else I learned from the snow. Sometimes our unexpected gifts are big and bold and so obvious we have no choice but to stop and embrace the moment. Some days these unexpected gifts are not so bold but they are there every single day. I challenge you, heck I’m challenging myself, to find the unexpected gifts. Embrace it, find joy in it, cherish it, praise it! The one way to combat the hard in this world is to see all the gifts and we just get so busy at times we fail to open our eyes.
I mentioned in one of my prior Friday favorites the book, The Greatest Gift, and I am reading the daily devotional again right now. Here are some of my favorite quotes from the book through day 7 by Ann Voskamp.
The greatest gift we can give God is to let His love make us glad.
You will be experienced as a blessing to the extent you have first experienced yourself as a blessing. You must fill the fullness of your own pitcher before you trust the pouring out of yourself.
Laughter – it’s all oxygenated grace.
God provides grace in the gaps of our lives.
I hope one of these hits a chord for you today and offers a little extra peace as we head into this weekend where many of us will be scurrying around working to tie up our Christmas shopping, decorating or other holiday planning.
Happy Friday friends! Wherever you are I hope you find an unexpected gift today!
And if you loved the Anthropologie sweater I showed off last Friday, it’s 30% off today and still available in black and a beautiful green!
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Linking with||Friday Favorites with Erika, Andrea & Narci, Oh Hey Friday, High Five for Friday, Awesome Life Friday
Hi Shelly! Being in the South, we don’t get much if any snow. i do love to see it and am happy when it snows on Christmas day. looks so pretty in your pic. Love the snowman your daughter made! I love the daily devotion and certainly appreciate my family and what i have. i am more mindful. Love your sweater with the twist, looks great!
Have a great weekend!
jess xx
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This was only the 2nd time we have had snow in the 27 years I’ve lived here! It was such a sweet surprise Jess. In the hustle and bustle I definitely need the daily reminders to slooooow down and be thankful.
I love how excited y’all are about the snow. I will admit that a little snow from time to time is so beautiful and exciting. I say this because after living in MN for 3 loooong winters it changed our view on snow. LOL When you don’t see the ground from November to April (or longer) it’s not so fun. Maybe you need to check Carly’s snow man for Dillon’s phone??? Surely it didn’t get trapped in there😳 Love that pic you took in the parking deck. Super cool my artsy friend!!! Happy Friday! and enjoy the luster of the snow (it’s probably gone by now, that’s the best kind😉)
Yeah…now way could I handle that much snow! We did find Dillon’s phone but not until the next morning…thankfully throwing it in a bag of rice did the trick and he was back in business!
SNOW!!!!! I love snow!!!! Looks so pretty
Isn’t it just the best?! I mean…maybe I would feel differently if I was snowed in for days or months but this was perfect!
I love that poncho you’re wearing! Sometimes people who’ve experienced snow take it for granted compared to people who rarely get it! Great snow angel and little snowman! And finding a phone in the snow is never fun!
We seriously need some lessons in snowman building….but we did find the phone the next morning, threw it in a bag of rice and all is good so yea!
I knew it snowed in Texas because guys at the building site couldn’t stop talking about it. How pretty. We are set to get 8 inches tomorrow on out first moving day with a Uhaul. Freakin out a bit, lol. You look incredible in that sweater!
Oh my goodness….moving today!! So praying it goes well!! Super excited for you friend.
The snow totally took us by surprise too. What a great surprise, and I guess we’ll be waiting another 5-10 years for the next snow zone!
Wasn’t it just amazing? It has been since 2008 here and honestly it was just so not on the radar for me at all that it was a possibility. Fun times!
That shot of you is amazing. All of those quotes from the book hit home. I’m glad you got some snow – we also did unexpectedly! xo
Seriously…I need ALL the inspirational quotes right now!! The snow was a fun change!
That snow is wonderful! We’re all excited here in FL because it’s cold I can’t even imagine what we’d do if it actually snowed! So true about the unexpected gifts. And boy do I love that sweater on you, that outfit is so flattering on you in every sense! Gorgeous you Shelly!
xo,
Kellyann
Well snow is definitely not a usual occurrence here either and it was so nice while the cold lasted. We are sunny and 74 again today! Haha I’m pretty happy I snagged this poncho….I’m not always a fan but really think it will be a favorite.
I can’t believe y’all got so much snow! We haven’t had that much snow in 3 years! I woke up Friday to 15 degree temps and not a drop of snow #bummer Maybe we’ll get some at some point. I hope y’all had an awesome weekend.
It was amazing Beth! This was only the 2nd time it’s snowed in CS in the 27 years I’ve lived here!! It was so beautiful and I think the best was how unexpected it was.
These photos all encompass the colder months, especially the lighting in the first one! We have less snow over here in Aberystwyth, and yet it still looks really lovely, can’t help but like the snow!
Amy;
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It really is true Amy….so hard to feel anything but joy with a snowfall.
Wasn’t that Texas snow crazy? I love snow. And do snow dances with all of my students hoping to make some magic happen. But this time I was in Ohio while it was snowing in Texas and missed the whole thing. Hope there will be more. In the meantime, I need to find my gloves and hat, too!
It was so amazing Leslie! Such a nice surprise…just so magical. So sorry you missed it!
I love watching your wonder with the snow fall!
I love that poncho on you! I’m short in the torso for ponchos… I look downright silly in them!
Girl….I’m as short waisted as they come….all legs! It’s definitely hit or miss for me.