A Snowy March for Life

Praising God that I am home from a whirlwind trip to Washington, DC, for the annual March for Life with some American Heritage Girls during the biggest storm of the century!

Our girls have wanted to make this trip for over a year, and it has been in the plans since October. The weather can always be unpredictable in January, but you can imagine the alarm at the dire weather forecasts for the past week or so!

Thankfully, our departure was scheduled for Thursday, the day before the storm started in DC, and we were on a charter bus with a church group, so we had no ability to cancel and get our money back. Individuals may have backed out, but the bus was going.  We arrived in Washington in good time to take the Metro to the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception for a beautiful Mass for Life. We didn't lose ourselves or any girls on the subway thanks to our experienced host and matching red hats!

Well-bundled and excited girls headed out Friday morning to meet with Senate staffers at the Senate building before a brief walking tour on the way to the rally at the Washington Monument. It was awesome to see so many religious sisters and priests and brothers in their habits on the way to the rally!

The snow began precisely at one with the beginning of the March, and it was snowing heavily by the time we reached the Supreme Court. No one cared about the snow; the atmosphere was joyful and determined to end the scourge of abortion in our country because life is truly beautiful in all its forms.

Saturday we awoke to about 20" of snow, closed Metro, and no sightseeing to do. That was sad, but our snow-starved Georgia girls did play in the snow for a while before taking a walk through Georgetown. Fortunately, blizzard force winds didn't begin until around three, so we had all the time outside that we wanted! We had a couple of group meetings in the lobby that were very beneficial, discussing the March and our impressions, and then meeting the founder of PATH (Post abortion Treatment and Healing). That was very informative for the girls---and her, too, since she didn't know about AHG!

Leaving on time on Sunday was very much in the air, and we ended up leaving at noon instead of 8 a.m. giving us a verrry long day! It was a great trip and I am so happy and proud that we didn't cancel and we were part of the smaller-than-usual, but determined crowd. There were approximately 50,000 marchers while there are normally 500,000-800,000! (Not that you would know that from watching network, mainstream news. They steadfastly ignore the March or show tight shots without giving any hint of the true size of the peaceful, loving demonstration!)

I hope you know that marching and hoping to repeal Roe v. Wade is not an indictment of post-abortive women. We love them and want the best for them, and we want to create a culture where life (and the amazing, unique ability of women to GIVE life) is respected. We don't want more women to experience the pain of abortion and its aftermath; we want them to give life to their children, and if they can't raise them, to give them to one of the millions of loving couples experiencing infertility.

A couple of other good reads for you: The Remedy for Legal Abortion at Like Mother, Like Daughter, and what to do if you Can't Make the #Marchforlife

^And this girl is beautiful! She was so excited about the snow and spent her 14th birthday on a bus. Bless her little heart! 

Porthos Socks & Ice Jam Yarn Along

~ Two of my favorite things are knitting and reading, and the evidence of this often shows up in my photographs. I love seeing what other people are knitting and reading as well. So, what are you knitting or crocheting right now? What are you reading? Take a photo and share it either on your blog or on Flickr. Leave a link at Ginny's to share your photo with the rest of us! ~

I finished my Porthos Socks, or my son's Porthos Socks, I should say, on Friday, just in time to give them to him for Meg's birthday.  ;-)  I hope he enjoys them!  They're really beautiful, soft & warm socks, which is thanks to the Sweet Georgia yarn more than my knitting.  It was great to work with.  I'll be making another pair out of the variegated toe yarn quite soon. 

I posted my book list for the year yesterday, but I hardly did any reading.  When I came home from dropping the kids at school in the morning, the whole day stretched before me, full of possibilities.  There was no nagging chore that had to be done, so I wrote my blog post.  Then I realized it was snowing, so I left early to pick up my kids---who were getting out 2 hours early---so I could swing by Target on the way to see if there were boots of any kind to protect their feet in the snow.  We were less prepared than usual for inclement weather.  Everyone had grown or their footwear had fallen apart!

Luckily, I found Meg & Pip each a pair of boots on clearance ($10.48!) that fit perfectly, and I drove through the blowing snow to their school.  Tom was supposed to get out at the same time (on the other side of town), and my husband and I were debating who would do that duty, when Tom called to say they were suddenly released at 12:15 instead of 1:15!  Fortunately, he could catch a ride with his girlfriend and her sister, and I would pick him up at her house, or she'd bring him to ours.

Most of my drive home was fine except for the last mile where we slowed to a 5 mph crawl.  The roads didn't seem that slick to me, but it was fine.  The 15 min. drive took 45 mins., but that was okay.  I kept getting texts from Tom that they were coming, but slowly.  The main road we live off has some big hills, and once they got to that road, they slowed to a crawl also.  Their 20 min. drive took 2 hours!  And then the girls had another "15 minutes" to their home which took 45 minutes.  In retrospect, we were extremely fortunate yesterday that the kids and I all made it home in a few hours!

I'm sure it's been on the news, but we have friends from school who didn't get home at all, and had to stay with friends after 8 hours on the road!  Another friend spent 11 hours trying to get home from 1 hour away.  He's a great guy and was helping lots of other drivers out of slick spots over the course of the day.  Others drove for 3 hours or more and then opted to walk the last 3 or 5 miles home in 17 degree weather.  I'm thrilled that my husband agreed to stay at the office where he is safe and warm, if not exactly well-fed.  It's possible he may not even make it back today unless the big hill outside his office becomes passable!

That said, all I read yesterday was Facebook and the news reports.  I knit all of 2 rows of the poncho I'm making.  I hope you read something better and got some knitting done!  I plan to do better today while the kids play in the snow.

52 Weeks--Vol. 2 "Snowpocalypse"

I'm linking up with sweet Barbara over at Praying for Grace today.

After 6 days

Ready to go play!

This has been an amazing week. After only 4 days of school in January, we got hit with a rare snowstorm here in Georgia that has paralyzed most of the state, and kept the kids out of school for a full week!

Card playing when they're tired of snow.

The snow itself was on the high end for us(4-5 inches here), but it wouldn't have been such a big deal if it hadn't been topped with ice.  That, combined with the fact that the temperatures have stayed below freezing for the whole week, means that pretty much everything has been shut down all week.  If temps had risen the way they normally do, this would have been all over in a day or two!

Doesn't everyone have a slinky in the midst of their baking?

It's been great.  We've relaxed, and played, and baked, and read.  Only Pete, who sleeps most of the days away,and stays in his lair bedroom the rest of the time, is a little stir crazy.  Dh is a tiny bit stressed because he needs to work to pay the bills, but I think he has enjoyed being around more and getting extra sleep.

Home work and a snack.

We're turning into such lazy folks.  Sleeping until we awaken naturally.  Going to bed early, or late, as we choose.  Not so governed by the clock.   The children have spent hours and hours playing outside with their friends.

Decorating with all my white stuff after putting away Christmas.

Wii Wipeout

I got out with the young'uns yesterday for our weekly milk and egg run and a visit to Trader Joe's.  The roads were both better and worse than I had imagined.  Some places were great; others were very dangerous.

Pip's 12 birthday on Monday.

Baking biscuits.  You have to have lots of carbs, right?

We had to cancel our long-awaited Mother/Daughter sleepover with the American Heritage Girls.  It was going to be such fun! 


Our ten-day weekend should be over on Tuesday after MLK Day.  It will be a harsh new reality!  Of course, getting back to routine has it's benefits; I'm just trying to enjoy it as it comes along!

Snow Day(book)

 Outside my window...

4-5 inches of snow!  Snow-pocalypse...as my Dear Husband keeps intoning.  We were up very late last night watching it snow, running from window to window, jumping up and down, and watching a movie because no one could sleep.

I am thinking...

about what to do today.  Play in the snow?  Knit and read to my heart's content?  Put more grades into the computer?  (Not bloody likely, that one!)  

I am thankful for...

snow that arrives on Sunday night after we are all safely home from our many, many activities yesterday.  Dh's office is closed and no worries about his going in and being out on the roads.

From the  learning rooms  kitchen table...

Snow Day!

From the kitchen...

Another birthday cake for Pipster's 12th birthday today! And probably chili in my new dutch oven.

I am wearing...

Sweat pants and a fleece I inherited from my 17 year-old son.  Actually, it's Dh's now, but I'm borrowing it.  Slippers.  Contemplating boots and snow gear, but with the sound of sleet hitting the windows, I'm not so sure!

I am creating...

A new scarf out of sock yarn:  Lacy Baktus.  I like the  stripes in the yarn, and I'm using a larger needle so it's not as tight.  I'm pretty sure I'm going to get some Madelintosh Sock after this to make another, and I might even attempt some beading.  I first saw this pattern on the hips of a lady at a yarn store. She had used beads on the edge every few inches and it was gorgeous.

I am going...

Nowhere!  Unless it's outside to play!  I probably won't be going anywhere tomorrow either because I think the massive amounts of ice we're to get will keep us homebound for another day.

I am hoping and praying...

...For a friend who has been out of work for about a year now and is about to lose her home

...for healing for lots of people with cancer, especially this little boy. 

I am hearing...

Nothing but the sound of water in the pipes.  The young 'uns have all left the immediate vicinity to find other kids to play with.

Around the house...

I got the tree down on Saturday, all by myself as I listened to podcasts on my new ipod dock.  It made the work, which is usually such drudgery, much more pleasant.  Do you hate taking down your Christmas tree?  It brings me such joy while it's up, and then I'm the only one doing the work of taking down all that joy.  Not my favorite, but this was good.  My mind was on other things.  

In case you're wondering, and I know you are, I was listening to  The Catholic Laboratory.  Can't remember the name of the gentleman who does the show, Ian, maybe, but he's wonderful.  He's got a terrific British accent and the show is very well done.  Excellent explanations of complicated subjects and lots of variety in the show.  There is quite a bit that's over my head, but I enjoy it anyway.  It's a great source for science information and Catholic truths.

Anyway, the Jesse tree is still up along with nativities and Saint Nicholases (Nicholai?  Nicholi?).  Maybe I'll get to those tomorrow.  Or next weekend.

One of my favorite things...

Sugar.  It's one of those love/hate things.  If I had a New Year's Resolution, it would be to give it up forever.

Yes, that's a repeat from last week.  We struggle with sugar a lot during January with the bad habits acquired between T-day and New Year's coupled with 3 birthdays.  I abstained from the first 2 cakes, and the cake yesterday at a reception, but I'm feeling weak today.  

And feeling the siren song of my mother's delicious fudge frosting that I'll be putting on Pipster's cake today.  yum.

A few plans for the rest of the week...

Snow, snow, snow.  I imagine it will have eased up enough to allow travel to our first American Heritage Girl's meeting of the year on Thursday.  And we're having a huge Mother-Daughter sleepover on Friday!

 A Photo thought...

Sweet Mom.  She stays because it's a snow day!

Huge flakes last night!

After only 30 mins. of heavy snow.

The Cupcake

This morning!