Down here in Alabama, we dont get much snow.  Maybe along the TN/AL border there are some flurries or a dusting or two throughout the winter, but that's about it. 

This winter has been particulater harsh (and snowy) for the NE.  DC is currently shut down .... and that never happens.  For the second day in a row schools and Federal offices are closed, from a storm that dumped 36 inches Friday and Saturday.  They are expecting another 18-20 inches tonight or tomorrow.

My son is currently at Ft Dix in NJ.  He has seen more snow this week than ever in his lifetime, and he's tired of it already.  Although they didnt get nearly what DC got, they still got quite a bit, and are expecting more tonight.  They are currently operational, he is in class today (as he was yesterday) but if they get more, they may get a day off tomorrow as well. 

Here in good old 'Bama, "they" are predicting snow for Friday.  Of course this is the third time in this new year that snow has been predicted for our area.  So far, no snow.  There have been some dustings a little north of us, but nothing here in the south/central region (between Mtgy and Bham). 

Yesterday morning however, North AL (Shoals, Huntsville) got quite a bit.  It was totally unpredicited.  Nobody, and I mean nobody, expected it.  They just woke up and there it was! 

That happend here in my tiny patch of the world in April of 1982.  Just woke up one morning with about four inches on the ground and still coming down hard.  Nobody saw it coming, it was just 'there'. 

The weather 'models' dont have a clue about snow in the south.  It just happens or it doesnt.  You cant predict it.  Right now 'they' are trying to predict a snow event that is almost four days away.  First the moisture is going south ... snow in Mobile.  Then it's inching northward, snow in Mtgy.  Then it's drying up ... maybe just flurries.  'They' dont know, and I dont either.  But ... I went to the grocery store last night.  Not for bread and milk ... but for steaks, and chicken, and soup fixin's - and ok, I did get milk, but it is for hot chocolate! :-)

As long as we dont get ice, I'm ok with it.  Ice means no power.  And I live at 'the end of the line' so mine is the last to get fixed.  The line I'm on affects only about five families so it's not a priority.  My dad on the otherhand is on a commercial line, so he rarely loses power, and if he does it's back on in half an hour or so, because the gas stations and grocery store, and pharmacy are all on the same line he is on. 

The only thing I'd like to request ... if we are gonna get snow, could we at least get it on a mid-week day ... not Friday .... so we can have some extra time off work? ;-)

I'll let ya know how it all works out.  I'm guessing, no snow - or a dusting at best. 

Here's a pic of Justin and his buddies walking to class yesterday in the snow.

This year is going to bring lots of new challenges - especially to my son - but to the entire family.  You can keep up with how we are doing at www.songwriterville.com/justin

I got Natty a camo hoodie so she could be just like her daddy. ;-)

Christmas Day 2009.  Gabbie Gurl and her Great Great Aunt Velera.  Gabbie is one, Aunt Velera is 89.
 

I decided to start a new blog just for Justin's deployment.  It seemed the easiest way to keep ALL friends and family informed equally. 

www.songwriterville.com/justin

I'm not sure if anybody actually still reads this blog .... but if so, here's an email I recently sent out to friends .....

My dear friends,

Those of you who have known me for a while and know me well, know that I am for the most part a very private person, preferring to deal with my problems and issues quietly and keeping to myself, not letting anyone know what goes on in my life and in my mind and heart  (I know, at least a couple of you are laughing at that description of the shy quiet me).

Today I come to you with a request … as I know I can among friends.  I ask that you put myself and my son Justin on your prayer lists as we plan to face a mountain in these coming months.  

Justin has been in Army National Guard since early this year, and after six months of intense BCT and AIT training, has been to his regular weekend drills with his current unit.  He returned home from his most recent drill just this past evening, with the news that in January he will be going to Fort Dix NJ for approximately ten weeks of intensive training with his unit before shipping out to Iraq. 

There aren’t a lot of other details available at this time, but as more information becomes available I will share it with you so that you can keep your prayers specific for Justin’s needs …. and for the needs of this Momma who will need all the help she can get in the feat of being “Army Strong”.  He may be 24 years old, but he’s my baby boy and he always will be.  

I am looking forward to this Christmas with him, and I know the next four weeks will be an intense time and an emotional one for both of us, and I cant imagine the emotions I will be facing when mid-March comes and he actually heads off to a foreign land, and the inherent dangers that await him there.  I will take great comfort in knowing that I have the support of such a great network of friends who care about me. 

I love you all very much. 

Paula

"Dont worry about anything; instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need, and thank Him for all He has done."  (Phil 4:6)

Just got a new Christmas CD.  I highly recommend it.  I saw the Christmas Special on the Gospel Music Channel last week and ordered the CD right afterward.  Though not on this cd, a friend of mine has written some songs that have been recorded by Ernie Haase and Signature Sound.

This is from last year .... I dont think I'll get around to doing much this year ... the house is packed to the brim with "stuff" including the footlocker and all the Army stuff my son brought in when he returned from BCT/ AIT in October.  He's in the process of getting his own place, but it's not going to be in time to rescue my house from all stuff (I seem to like that word) that I am using as an excuse not to drag out all the Christmas stuff - of which I have entirely too much!!

So here are a few pics from last year.  As you can tell .. I am addicted to snowpeople!

The End. :-)

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