These pictures are from the very ice-covered, eastern side of Michigan. The drive on the highway was absolutely gorgeous! It is impossible to describe the beauty of forests of ice-covered trees when the sun catches every individual branch at once.
Although it’s beautiful, the ice made for an interesting Christmas. My sympathies with the thousands who lived without power (including my family back home).
The first noticeable effect driving into a city was that the stoplights were out. At every intersection the cars just sort of did…whatever, in as organized a way as possible. I don’t think there were many accidents, though, so that’s good. Soon people just learned to avoid intersections. Also, the streetlights were out. That wasn’t so bad, though. The enhanced darkness just made all of the ice look a little more…haunting. In the best kind of way. At least I thought so.
My entire family (or everyone willing to stay in town) camped out by the fireplace for what turned out to be almost a week. I wasn’t there for much of it, but I definitely think my parents were having more fun than they were willing to admit.
Also, my complete gratitude to the people who left their families during Christmas to work on the power outage over this week.
Other than that, oh my goodness! God is so wonderful! This Christmas our family was the largest it has ever been, thanks to my aunt’s recent marriage, my mom’s mother moving in with us, and Grace, my newly adopted cousin. And it was wonderful to have two toddlers running around! Grace and her brother were both adopted from Uganda, and they are so sweet and so fun and absolutely adored!
During this week I have been able so spend so much time with God, and he has helped me to have confidence in Him and what He is doing in every aspect of my life. It is incredible. I can’t describe it, but it is reason for praise. Also, I have had the opportunity to continue sharing the gospel with some friends of mine. It is such a good reminder that it is God working through me and not myself.
Whatever God is doing, with the weather this Christmas or with other trials, I know that it is all so beautiful.
