{"id":2029,"date":"2015-02-21T20:10:03","date_gmt":"2015-02-22T01:10:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=2029"},"modified":"2015-02-21T22:54:57","modified_gmt":"2015-02-22T03:54:57","slug":"snow-days-so-much-more-than-sledding-snowcream","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=2029","title":{"rendered":"Snow Days &#8211; Sledding &#038; Snowcream &#038; So Much More"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-Phone-Pics-215.jpg\">\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-16-Winter-Storm-Octavia-Snow-014.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2041\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-16-Winter-Storm-Octavia-Snow-014.jpg\" alt=\"2015 Feb 16 Winter Storm Octavia - Snow 014\" width=\"3767\" height=\"2671\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-16-Winter-Storm-Octavia-Snow-014.jpg 3767w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-16-Winter-Storm-Octavia-Snow-014-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-16-Winter-Storm-Octavia-Snow-014-1024x726.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3767px) 100vw, 3767px\" \/><\/a> &#8220;Come now, and let us reason together,&#8221; Says the LORD, &#8220;Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.&#8221; &#8211; Isaiah 1:18<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without watering the earth And making it bear and sprout, And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, Without accomplishing what I desire, And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.&#8221; &#8211; Isaiah 55:10-11<\/p>\n<p>The one great snow storm of 2015 in eastern Virginia has run its course. What a fine run it was, too. No school all week.<a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-Teachers.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2060\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-Teachers.jpg\" alt=\"Snow Days - Teachers\" width=\"2688\" height=\"1520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-Teachers.jpg 2688w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-Teachers-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-Teachers-1024x579.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2688px) 100vw, 2688px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I love the snow&#8230;and the snow days it brings. Maybe if I endured it for months on end and had to slip and slide through it to work all winter, I wouldn&#8217;t love it. For all of us, though, there is something wondrous about fresh-fallen snow, sparkling in the morning sun, or brightening the colors of a gray winter world. Sledding and snow cream* were made for this kind of snow&#8230;new and unmarked.<\/p>\n<p>My husband says shoveling snow is the adult version of playing in the snow.<a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Dave-Shoveling-Snow-Feb-2015.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2043\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Dave-Shoveling-Snow-Feb-2015.jpg\" alt=\"Dave Shoveling Snow Feb 2015\" width=\"1520\" height=\"2688\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Dave-Shoveling-Snow-Feb-2015.jpg 1520w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Dave-Shoveling-Snow-Feb-2015-170x300.jpg 170w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Dave-Shoveling-Snow-Feb-2015-579x1024.jpg 579w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1520px) 100vw, 1520px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>I&#8217;m not sure\u00a0our sons would agree.<a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2010-January-011.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2035\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2010-January-011.jpg\" alt=\"2010 January 011\" width=\"1704\" height=\"2272\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2010-January-011.jpg 1704w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2010-January-011-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2010-January-011-768x1024.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1704px) 100vw, 1704px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2010-January-116.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2072\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2010-January-116.jpg\" alt=\"2010 January 116\" width=\"2272\" height=\"1704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2010-January-116.jpg 2272w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2010-January-116-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2010-January-116-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2272px) 100vw, 2272px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Because of our Southern US family roots and our years living in Africa, we haven&#8217;t had many snow days. Once while we were back in the US with my husband doing graduate studies, we had a huge ice storm in North Carolina. Our youngest son had prayed for snow&#8230;and he got more than he prayed for. <a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Fuji002-024.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2044\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Fuji002-024.jpg\" alt=\"Fuji002 024\" width=\"1280\" height=\"960\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Fuji002-024.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Fuji002-024-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Fuji002-024-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Pine trees heavy with ice dropped limbs all over the yard. One actually pierced through our roof on its way down. We heard the hit and searched out the damage. Opening our daughter&#8217;s closet door, the branches from that limb whooshed out with that beautiful scent of pine and the wet cling of ice melting on the clothes. It was straight out of C. S. Lewis&#8217; <a href=\"http:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Lion-Witch-Wardrobe-Chronicles-Narnia\/dp\/0064471047\" target=\"_blank\"><em>The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe<\/em><\/a>. <a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blog-snow-days-Narnia.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2075\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blog-snow-days-Narnia.jpg\" alt=\"Blog - snow days - Narnia\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blog-snow-days-Narnia.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blog-snow-days-Narnia-300x150.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>One winter just a few years ago, we knew the snow was coming, and we preemptively gathered our young adult children into one place for a few days. It\u00a0is a sweet, sweet memory for me. Those days of &#8220;together under one roof&#8221; are rare and special, and snow days\u00a0made it possible. They played and laughed together, and we drank hot chocolate and told stories in front of the fireplace. \u00a0 <a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2010-January-033.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2034\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2010-January-033.jpg\" alt=\"2010 January 033\" width=\"2272\" height=\"1704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2010-January-033.jpg 2272w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2010-January-033-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2010-January-033-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2272px) 100vw, 2272px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>That year a beautiful young friend joined us to make snow angels and would later become part of the family.<a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-15.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2055\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-15.jpg\" alt=\"Snow Days 15\" width=\"2272\" height=\"1704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-15.jpg 2272w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-15-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-15-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2272px) 100vw, 2272px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-16.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2056\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-16.jpg\" alt=\"Snow Days 16\" width=\"2272\" height=\"1704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-16.jpg 2272w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-16-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-16-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2272px) 100vw, 2272px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SNow-Days-11.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2054\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SNow-Days-11.jpg\" alt=\"SNow Days 11\" width=\"2272\" height=\"1704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SNow-Days-11.jpg 2272w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SNow-Days-11-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/SNow-Days-11-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2272px) 100vw, 2272px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Another thing I love about snow is its whiteness. Even the Bible talks about how God makes the dreadful darkness of our sin white as snow. The white of the snow reminds me of those verses and God&#8217;s promises in those verses, fulfilled through Jesus. The sunlight glitters like diamonds on the snow in the early morning. That snow whiteness seems to\u00a0highlight and sharpen all the other colors around it. <a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-Phone-Pics-215.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2040\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-Phone-Pics-215.jpg\" alt=\"2015 Feb Phone Pics 215\" width=\"2688\" height=\"1520\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-Phone-Pics-215.jpg 2688w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-Phone-Pics-215-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-Phone-Pics-215-1024x579.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2688px) 100vw, 2688px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-3.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2052\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-3.jpg\" alt=\"Snow Days 3\" width=\"2272\" height=\"1704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-3.jpg 2272w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-3-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-3-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2272px) 100vw, 2272px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blog-Snow-Days-19.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2058\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blog-Snow-Days-19.jpg\" alt=\"Blog - Snow Days 19\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blog-Snow-Days-19.jpg 768w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blog-Snow-Days-19-225x300.jpg 225w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blog-Snow-Days-2.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2063\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blog-Snow-Days-2.jpg\" alt=\"Blog - Snow Days 2\" width=\"1686\" height=\"2260\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blog-Snow-Days-2.jpg 1686w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blog-Snow-Days-2-224x300.jpg 224w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Blog-Snow-Days-2-764x1024.jpg 764w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1686px) 100vw, 1686px\" \/><\/a> <a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-8.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2064\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-8.jpg\" alt=\"Snow Days 8\" width=\"2272\" height=\"1704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-8.jpg 2272w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-8-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-8-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2272px) 100vw, 2272px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Then there is the\u00a0quiet of snow. Only the crunch underfoot disturbs the silence of a world stopped by the soft white lightness of snow. The shovels will come out, by necessity,\u00a0and the plows will scrape and clear. The families of little ones will make all kinds of happy noise outside .\u00a0 All those are welcome sounds, but there is something altogether other-worldly in the sunrise-quiet of a snowy morning.<a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-4.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2067\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-4.jpg\" alt=\"Snow Days 4\" width=\"1704\" height=\"2272\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-4.jpg 1704w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-4-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-4-768x1024.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1704px) 100vw, 1704px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-6.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2053\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-6.jpg\" alt=\"Snow Days 6\" width=\"2272\" height=\"1704\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-6.jpg 2272w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-6-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/Snow-Days-6-1024x768.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 2272px) 100vw, 2272px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Lastly, the birds in snow are such a mystery to me. How they fluff up their feathers to stay warm, how they forage for food in such a seemingly hostile environment.\u00a0\u00a0It seems a small kindness to feed the birds but in that I am reminded of how the Lord Himself cares for them (<a href=\"http:\/\/biblehub.com\/matthew\/6-26.htm\" target=\"_blank\">Matthew 6:26<\/a>). <a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-Snow-American-Idol-002.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2047\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-Snow-American-Idol-002.jpg\" alt=\"2015 Feb Snow &amp; American Idol 002\" width=\"4208\" height=\"2468\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-Snow-American-Idol-002.jpg 4208w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-Snow-American-Idol-002-300x176.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-Snow-American-Idol-002-1024x601.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 4208px) 100vw, 4208px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Tomorrow, the highs will soar to the 50s, and rain is predicted. These snow days of 2015 will be finished. It was a great run. Now, Spring, come.<a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-Phone-Pics-213.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-full wp-image-2037\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-Phone-Pics-213.jpg\" alt=\"2015 Feb Phone Pics 213\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1088\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-Phone-Pics-213.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-Phone-Pics-213-300x170.jpg 300w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2015-Feb-Phone-Pics-213-1024x580.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/www.foodnetwork.com\/recipes\/paula-deen\/snow-ice-cream-recipe.html\" target=\"_blank\">Snowcream Recipe<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/thefederalist.com\/2014\/02\/13\/the-six-best-bible-verses-about-snow\/\" target=\"_blank\">Six Best Bible Verses About Snow<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/images1.fanpop.com\/images\/photos\/2100000\/The-Chronicles-of-Narnia-The-Lion-The-Witch-and-the-Wardrobe-the-chronicles-of-narnia-2151498-1024-512.jpg\" target=\"_blank\">Photo Credit for Lucy Entering Narnia from the Wardrobe<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2009-Christmas-249.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone  wp-image-2031\" src=\"http:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2009-Christmas-249.jpg\" alt=\"2009 Christmas 249\" width=\"472\" height=\"630\" srcset=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2009-Christmas-249.jpg 1704w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2009-Christmas-249-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/2009-Christmas-249-768x1024.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 472px) 100vw, 472px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>\u00a0 &#8220;Come now, and let us reason together,&#8221; Says the LORD, &#8220;Though your sins are as scarlet, They will be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They will be like wool.&#8221; &#8211; Isaiah 1:18 &#8220;For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, And do not return there without &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/?p=2029\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Snow Days &#8211; Sledding &#038; Snowcream &#038; So Much More<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[810,147,33,789,775],"tags":[1038,7,1036,1033,1034,1032,1035,1037],"class_list":["post-2029","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-all-good-gifts","category-family-2","category-inspired","category-relationships","category-seasons-2","tag-birds-in-snow","tag-family","tag-fire-in-the-fireplace","tag-shoveling-snow","tag-snow-angels","tag-snow-days","tag-snowed-in","tag-white-as-snow"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/pauPAB-wJ","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2029","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2029"}],"version-history":[{"count":30,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2029\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2083,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2029\/revisions\/2083"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2029"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2029"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/debmillswriter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2029"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}