#413. Things I never thought I’d see on the World Race:
S N O W
This month in China was enjoyable in the fact that, despite the ridiculously cold temperatures, it snowed!
Several mornings in a row we woke up to flurries dancing their way from the sky to the ground, lightly coating the sidewalks and tops of vehicles. As soon as the midday sun touched the thinly fallen white stuff, it was history. This was rather disappointing because all we wanted to do was play in the snow – one time!
When I was a little girl, I LOVED snow days. There was no feeling
as exciting as the anticipation that filled your heart as you stood in
the living room – teeth brushed, pajamas on, ready for bedtime,
watching the news with your parents to see if school would be
cancelled. Likewise, there’s nothing as surprising and exciting as
dashing out of your bed the morning after a giant storm to flick on the
radio and see of there would be a SNOW DAY.
as exciting as the anticipation that filled your heart as you stood in
the living room – teeth brushed, pajamas on, ready for bedtime,
watching the news with your parents to see if school would be
cancelled. Likewise, there’s nothing as surprising and exciting as
dashing out of your bed the morning after a giant storm to flick on the
radio and see of there would be a SNOW DAY.
Snow
days are the most perfect days for playing outside, curling up by the
fire, drinking hot chocolate, sledding, shoveling, watching movies,
building snowmen and forts. We even had a snow day in college
once…and everyone reverted back to middle-school practices. Forts
sprung up across campus – people piled on lunch trays and inner tubes
to conquer Prez’s hill, and there was plenty of hot cocoa to go
around…
days are the most perfect days for playing outside, curling up by the
fire, drinking hot chocolate, sledding, shoveling, watching movies,
building snowmen and forts. We even had a snow day in college
once…and everyone reverted back to middle-school practices. Forts
sprung up across campus – people piled on lunch trays and inner tubes
to conquer Prez’s hill, and there was plenty of hot cocoa to go
around…
Living in summer the last year of my life has made me miss one thing…the wintry moments I’ve had my whole life growing up as a girl from Northern Maine…and other miscellaneous cold places. China was the perfect venue to reignite my thankfulness for the good ol’ fashioned “snow day”…
You know the verse in the Bible that talks about how “God knows the desires of your heart”…and in John 16 how it talks about “asking anything in His name”…so naturally, Shawndell and I set to work in praying that we would have snow – real snow – and be able to play in it.
I love that God shows up BIG in even the smallest of things.
I read in a book this month that “grace, even in the small things of life, is never small grace.”
I think it’s the same for surprises, daily happenings, and adventures.
No adventure is a small adventure.
No surprise is a small surprise.
No happening we delight in is considered less than or small.
We would more than likely choose to define them as great, unexpected, extraordinary, fanstinkintastic!
This March in China…snow was a small, yet absolutely extraordinary blessing for us.
The family we had a privilege of living with and being a part of this month also loved the snow.
These kiddos taught me a lot about love, JOY, and delighting in the small things.
With them every craft is extraordinary.
Every homemade cookie is super delicious.
Every drawing is first class.
Every moment is the best ever.
Every snow fortress requires deep, careful consideration.
Every project requires the most skillful construction + passion.
Being in the snow with these kiddos brought playing in the snow to a whole new level.
Scooping up giant heaps in their mittens.
Pounding handfuls into cups to make towers for the fortress.
Eating the white snow + smiling to show everyone.
Clumping wet snow into giant balls to throw at Auntie Shawndell + Auntie Megan.
Every moment of playing in the snow was made extraordinary.
Why? We serve an extraordinary God.
He made these extraordinary kids as a reflection of His amazing design.
He loved me and Shawndell enough to answer our week of prayers for something so simple – SNOW!
We serve a God who is BIG even in the “small” things!
Love, love from the frosty winter-wonderland!
