Snow... what a winter we have had!

It looks like it has caught up to us. Every year we talk about how when we were kids it snowed so much more. Well, this year, we got all that snow and then some! Yesterday we got about 8 inches of snow on top of 2 inches of sleet on top of rain. Last night I shoveled and I'm sure the people accross the street turned off their T.V.s and watched me for entertainment. When I talked to Adam, I told him it was like I was on an ice rink that was on a hill. I was sliding along. As I slid down the driveway in the first strip, I was shoveling as fast as I could to keep up with me sliding. Then when I got near the bottom I would pick some up, and kinda scoot over the the side and heft it up over the mountain that is now on the sides of our driveway more than shoulder high. Then I would work my way back to the other side to pick up another shover of snow.

As I worked away, I started feeling sorry for myself.(Hard to believe that I do that, I know) Thinking about how we are one of the few people without a snow blower and how I used to always shovel the sidewalks on both sides of us as well as the bottom of the driveway attached to us. There were times I would shovel the sidewalk over to my parents house 4 houses over. And how they all have teenagers now that could easily help out and they know we have 4 young kids, it wouldn't hurt them to help us out from time to time. Then I was reminded that It was good exersize for me, and I really need to focus on me and not on others. Then someone pulled up in a run down car with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth and a young child in the back seat and he asked if I needed help shoveling. ... Boy, I didn't want to do it, but I didn't have the money to pay someone else. I thanked him, and told him I could finish it.

As he pulled away I felt like I had been slapped accross the face. I don't know his situation, but I could tell it wasn't great. Here I am complaining about stuff that so isn't important, and then I get a reminder that it can be so much worse.So I thought about in the next few years when our kids will all be out there and it will go fast. Then we will be able to help out by shoveling the sidewalks around us again. So I happily work away.

I got the bottom finished (the heavy stuff) and moved on to the sidewalk before finishing the driveway. I thought I could use some level ground for a while. I got about half way finished with one strip of the sidewalk when I notice a man with a large snowblower that is heading my way.(on clean sidewalk) He gets over to me and asks "Can I get this for you?". Wow, sure, thank you. So I go start working on the hill again. Then he tells me he is going to take a few quick swipes over the drive and get the part on the worst incline. I started on the sidewalk from the house to the public sidewalk and by the time I was half way finished he was done and heading away. I waved and called out thanks again, but he didn't even look up. He didn't do it for the thanks, he simply did it.

Wow, I was glad I had to finish the steps and around the car. I really needed the time to reflect on the leasson God had just taught me...

I am so blessed, If I only look outward, I will see them far more clearly then when I look inwardly.