Aww! Spring!

Aww! Spring! A word I love the sound of, especially during the end of Winter. I love the white fluffiness and all, but when you have a long winter you can get pretty tired of it. Now I am ready for that lovely smell that floods through your nose as you step outside. Aww! The smell of Spring! Breathe it in! In case you haven’t noticed yet, Spring is my favorite season. It’s when all the little flowers pop out of the ground, aching for air. When the birds sing their morning delight. The sun warms the air. And pollen flies through the clear air! AWW! SPRING! HURRY SPRING HURRY!

Flurries and Films

It seems to me that we are getting more constant snow this year than other years. Most everyday the weather is spitting out the white stuff, either in a storm or snow globe-like quality.

But on this frigid Saturday in January, our family spent some significant time reminiscing and anticipating summer youth camp. From ideas beginning to brew in Vinson's mind at the breakfast table for 2011 videos, to revisiting prior years' films as we are all gathered together in the living room (except for Erin, who is working his Saturday job), we spent some time just enjoying God's goodness in the relationships of our church and family.

It was fun to check out the Youth Camp video series from 2009 and 2010, each consisting of 5 installments (click the links to view all 10). I'd like to dig up earlier years' videos too. The one from 2009 plays off of 2008's "vinsonade," and 2008 also includes John Haughery's epic bike tackle victim scene.

But even as we think of warmer days, there is much to be enjoyed and reaped from this cold wintry season.

Since we're on the video topic, check out the below wintry piece by Nathaniel Millen for the 2009 Doxa Holiday party at Prince Street Cafe. I enjoy this video because I get to see my younger siblings enjoy Lancaster City with friends, like I have so many times.

No School!

Because of that snow you saw in the video, we have no school!!!

Dayspring Christian Academy

Lancaster County

Thursday: Closed

Submitted at: 6:58 AM EST on Thursday, Jan 27

and 

Conestoga Valley Sch Dist

Lancaster County

Thursday: Now Closed

Submitted at: 7:11 AM EST on Thursday, Jan 27

Yippie!

Snowed In

Last evening our whole family was home because of snow storm cancellations, and Margaret took some footage.

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Imagine, sitting at a stop light, on your way back from shopping, and snow begins to fall before your eyes! The first snow fall! (That you have seen, at least).

Yesterday, December 4th, my mom and I were out Christmas shopping and shoe shopping when on our way back my mom said, "Look, see the snow?"

And sure enough there was little snow flakes flying through the winter air. The the snow began to fall faster, and more snow fell.

But the first sign of winter faded from our eyes as the red light turned yellow, then green. We had to leave that beautiful fluffy precipitation behind us as we drove off. Either the snow stopped, or we could no longer see it since they were falling so slow and we were driving fast.

Later when we got home, we saw that there was some flakes falling from the sky. Joy said, "The snow doesn't count unless it lands."

I agree with her, but that still doesn't stop that excitement off seeing snow fly through the air, proof for the cold air.

Oh the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful,
And since we've no place to go,
Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

This is a picture of the snow last year. I am hoping the snow doesn't fall this much, but just enough to go sledding and to be cooped up inside with hot chocolate or coffee in hand, by the fire place.

Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!

Done posting everyday

Ok, I'm going to stop posting every day. I'm running out of things to post. I will still try to post a lot, but not every day. Today we had a Tornado warning around our area. Nothing big happened, only some rain, dark sky and thunder. My dad got a bunch of pictures of the tornado forming. You can look at it on his facebook. At: http://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=421461422290
Good night!

Fire

This past Saturday there was a fire at our Amish neighbor's house. Apparently it started from their stove and reached the ceiling, but it wasn't too serious and nobody was hurt. I guess they are near two fire department "territories," so maybe that explains why 9 fire engines came. It drew the neighbors out to have so many sirens, to say the least.

I took a few shots from a distance with my dad's zoom lense. I didn't want to be an annoying news hungry photographer, so I didn't get too close. I got what looked like a good shot, framed by Joy and Margaret walking down the street and out of focus with the road behind them filled with 5 or so fire engines. I was looking forward to seeing it on my computer screen to see how it turned out, and what did I see when I went for the memory card? Nothing! I was quite disappointed. Why the camera acted normal and showed the shots after I took them, I do not know. I sacrificed my self image and it wasn't kind enough to give me a return! That deceptive little thing, trying to teach me a lesson. :-) My dad has since changed the setting, which is nice of him.

Melanie Millen sent us photos that she took, and I actually got a shot of one of the last engines driving away.

You can see that they had two ladders extended to the roof. I think they'd be ok with just 3 fire engines and not the 5 extra along the road, but I guess better safe than sorry.

spring is here

The weather has been so nice, and our family was able to work outside yesterday - the first day of spring and free Rita's! Dad and the girls were around during the day to work outside, but Erin was working at Sharp Shopper and Vinson went to Go Saturday, an outreach with our church. We planted a few seeds, did some weeding, and pruned and picked up sticks. Dad was able to burn a lot of brush, use our new-to-us riding mower for the first time, clean out the gutters, put the chimney cap back on, pull out an old invisible fence cable, and do other such things. It was nice to be outside during the day and get fresh air and sun, although my shoulders did get sun burnt (which happens very easily for me, especially in spring).

Here is a shot from Cori Bitterman's bridal shower this afternoon. The girls from Sola (our young adult ministry) organized the shower and brought the food/desserts. I have enjoyed going to bridal showers in our church with my mom since before I was even a teenager, and it's even more special for me now because it is my close friends who we are gathering around to encourage as they enter into marriage.

Both of these events, working in the yard and celebrating Cori's upcoming marriage, are evidences of God's grace and faithfulness. Spring is a wonderful time to celebrate new beginnings and praise God for his mercy that is new every morning.

Moving shadows on the snow

Ok I’ve been wanting to make time lapse photography for a long time. One day I was browsing the web and found a “cheaters” way of making a controller for my camera for free if I had the things around the house. So I started to gather the needed peripherals; a graphing calculator from my kids and the right cable from a “friend” (boy did that one cost me!). So I ran a test and have posted it here. The results are less than amazing, but none the less worthwhile. Enjoy!
Geoff

SNOW FUN!

The Millen girls, Ruth Anne, Melanie and Elisabeth (a.k.a. Dolly) and I (Margaret) went down to Fritz, (my school that is really close to our house) to go sledding. When we got there, the snow was up to our knees. As we got farther down the hill, it began to get higher on us. It was up to about our waists. It was hard to sled in the snow because it was so fluffy and high. So we just made a fort. As we ventured out into the snow, Elisabeth always had to be second to last. If she was first, she would have been swallowed up by the snow. And if she was last, she might have fallen and we might not notice she was gone. It was so fun that we decided that we should play there again later. So yesterday, (2/10/2010) we got the whole gang to go with us. When Joy and I got to the Millen's house, they couldn't find their sleds! We thought they were hidden somewhere under the snow. So we were digging for them for about 20 minutes. Then Ruth Anne found them leaning against the garage. Finally we could go to Fritz. Joy, Vinson, Zachary, Ruth Anne, Melanie, Elisabeth, and I all struggled through the snow. As we walked down to the hill, snow blew into our faces and made it hard to see. I had my glasses on, so the snow stuck to them like magnets and all I could see was the person in front of me. When we finally got there I had snow in my boots and up my pant legs. I personally only sled down the hill three times. The first time I got snow all in me. The other two were better. Vinson and Elisabeth were trying to make a fort most of the time. Zachary made a tunnel, Joy and Ruth Anne talked together for most of the time. Melanie and I sled, talked and I sort of made a fort. After about a hour and a half we all returned home. Later that evening, the Millens joined us for a movie, "Akeelah and the Bee." After we watched that we decided to watch the movie, "Enchanted." We stayed up till 12:00! I fell asleep for some of that movie.

Here are some pictures that the Millens took of us having fun in the snow! Enjoy:

More Snow, Snow, Snow!

Here is some footage of the cold snow that is still falling. Have fun in the white fluffy, really deep snow!

Here it is, have fun:

Snow, Snow, Snow!

UPDATE! At noon Wednesday we had 15" in our driveway!

Well we are enjoying another Winter Wonderland. Everyone has the day off. We are expecting about 18 inches of snow, later on, it is supposed to start blowing all that snow around. We all are hanging out in the house. Karla is making Biscotti, Geoff is helping clean up (a little…) and taking pictures, Sarah is organizing her new bookcase/dresser. Vinson is moving furniture and reading, Erin is also moving furniture and browsing his iTouch, Joy is video-ing and relaxing, and Margaret is video-ing and making short movies… I have uploaded some pictures. Enjoy Gods storehouse of snow and stay safe and warm.
Geoff

progress

Here is a shot of my dad painting yesterday.

After dinner, which Margaret did an excellent job of making (baked chicken, potatoes, and green beans), our whole family went over to my mom's parents' place to help them set up their living room. They had new carpet installed (by Edwin Miranda) and a new bookcase/small entertainment center that my dad put together. The new set-up is easier for my grandpa. We moved their couch, tables, and chairs back into the room in a new format. Dad and Erin spent a lot of time setting up the TV and wiring. Erin is definitely the go-to guy around our house for anything tech related, and Dad is a pretty close second.