We’re snowed in. Well, we could probably get out if we really wanted to.

My friend Liz and her two boys were supposed to come spend the day with us today (Monday). We had some super fun stuff planned. Boo.

I was supposed to speak to a sweet group of MOPS gals here in Columbus tomorrow (Tuesday). Boo.

The girls were supposed to be in school, and Nina was going to teach herself Algebra or something while I got some writing done. (Not that I would’ve actually gotten any done. I’m in a big ol’ s-l-u-m-p.) Boo.

I’m ready for spring. I’ve heard rumors that it’s not coming this year. At all. Boo.

I was supposed to be Shredding my muffin top away, but I pulled some muscle in the back of my right knee last week. I took 3 days off, then gave it a whirl this morning. No go. Bummer. Now I suppose I’m going to have to change my eating habits (which needs to happen anyway, as the Shred isn’t really helping). Boo.

I’m just a bundle of optimism today, aren’t I?

I do have one HAPPY. HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY to my beautiful cousin KELLY!! I hate that you live all the way at the bottom of Florida. I love you! I miss you! Hope your birthday is AMAZING!!

Any ideas for something fun I can do with my girlies today? (and if the idea necessitates self-sacrifice and selflessness, please pray for me as you suggest it)

I hate to be a drama queen, but it was the worst half hour of my life.

Let me back up. Friday morning, I left Columbus, OH at 7:45 a.m. amidst threats of a Winter Storm Warning. The snow was supposed to start at 4:00 a.m., but when I left the house, there was nothing. Gabe called while I was on the road and said, “Be careful. It’s supposed to be icy in Marysville (30 minutes away).” But when I got to Marysville, nothing.

I got to Bellefontaine and stopped for a quick visit with Heather, my old neighbor (Hi, Heather!). Then on to my friend Courtney’s. We left her house at 9:00 a.m. Several local schools were canceled. Some had already planned early dismissal. But not a flake had fallen.

We hopped in Courtney’s SUV, leaving Gabe’s little Civic parked on the street, windshield wipers in the air (at his request), and headed due north. We chatted without ceasing, interrupted only by a phone call from Gabe. “It’s dumping snow here. Dumping.” Courtney and I saw nary a flake.

An hour later, Courtney’s husband had the same news. “Here comes the snow!” We saw nothing.

At 2:00 p.m. we had arrived safely in Michigan, the only danger being food poisoning from some of the nastiest “Mexican” food ever. If you should happen to be hungry and see Panchero’s, run the other way. As a Chipotle fan (and now, a Freebirds fan), I thought it might be worth a try. Now I know why a glance at the map shows Ohio and Texas to be mercifully Panchero’s-free.

The single mom’s retreat was awesome (my reason for going to Michigan), and I’ll blog about it tomorrow, but this post is about the snow.

Courtney and I were on the road by 9:30 Saturday morning. Courtney checked her phone messages and gasped when she saw the pic her husband Brad had sent her. It was their 6yo daughter standing in a snow drift OVER HER HEAD. Were we going to make it home?

There was the tiniest, finest dusting of snow on her SUV when we left, but it wasn’t snowing anymore. The sun was shining brightly, and a couple times during the first 2-3 hours of our trip, we drove under “snow clouds” for 5-6 minutes, then it was over.

As we left “Pure Michigan” behind (do any of you Michiganders want to explain your sign?), we noticed that not only did the speed limit change from 70mph to 65mph (drat), we saw a lot more snow on the ground.

Long story short, on the last 90 minutes of our trip, we began to see what all the fuss was about. Piles of snow on the sides of the road, then snow covering the roads, people driving slowly, snow plows everywhere. Cars, trucks, semis in the ditch all over the place. Surreal.

Twenty minutes from Courtney’s house, we turned the radio on. I joked about it probably being a Level 3 emergency and we weren’t supposed to be out in it. Two minutes later, a squeaky-voiced teenage DJ says, “Logan County is under a Level 3 Snow Emergency. Stay home! Any vehicles out on the road are subject to arrest.”

Nice.

Thanks to Courtney’s mad driving skillz and her fabulous Honda Pilot, we made it to her house unscathed. Every car on her street was buried in snow, except for mine (bless you, Brad!). Courtney let me leave, against her better judgment. I promised her I had a great story should I be pulled over by a cop. I hoped and prayed the main road from Bellefontaine to Columbus would be clear.

It was not. And thus began the scariest half hour of my life. The 4-lane road was solid snow and ice. It might’ve been plowed at one time, but plenty more snow had dumped since. My car slipped and slid, and I couldn’t see the center line. I knew people wanted to pass me, so I tried to give them room without swerving into the ditch. Everyone who passed me was in some sort of huge truck or SUV. My head hurt, my chest hurt, I never stopped praying for even one second. I honestly thought there was no way I was going to survive. When would it end?

There was no place to pull over, and that wouldn’t help anyway. I couldn’t ask Gabe to drive (with the girls) 45 miles to rescue me and leave the car on the side of the road.

I kept going. It got worse. A semi passed me, and I could feel my car sliding. What would I do if I slid into him? After he passed, I couldn’t take it any longer and burst into tears.

“I can’t do this, God!”

And then I kid you not. 10 seconds later, I looked up ahead. A green sign on my right. Leaving Logan County, Entering Union County. There was a line in the middle of the road. On my side–2 or 3 inches of ice and snow. On the Union County side? 100% clear roads. Surreal.

I burst into tears again. This time thankful, grateful, unbelieving tears. I flipped on the radio and sang praise songs all the way home. On clear, clear roads.

Did you pray for me? Praising God for you!

This is my second stab at this post, because my first was full of angst and made me wince to read it. Hopefully this one is more palatable.

I did not have the best day.

It started out GREAT, if not early. My mama called at 2:30 am to tell me that this little beauty had arrived (my newest niece, Mia Noelle). I am so in love with her already and praying that I’ll get to meet her while she still has that adorable newborn look, smell, feel and cry. (Please, Lord, please!)

So, that was 2:30. It all went downhill from there.

Nothing that happened was my fault. That’s the good news. The trouble is, while I can’t choose my circumstances, I CAN choose my reaction. And I chose the WRONG reaction. Over and over and (sickeningly) over again.

I won’t share all the sordid details, but I very nearly did NOT survive one of the worst nights EVER with one of our children. It was so horrible. Again, it started out as all her and her issues. Then I must have decided it would take too much effort to handle her in a patient, godly, calm manner, and I exploded. She’s forgiven me, God has forgiven me, but man. I feel like I’ve been emotionally shredded.

Thank you to those of you who prayed, because things drastically improved (then got bad one more time). Now everyone is in bed and hopefully very near sleep. New mercies in the morning–praise the Lord!

Got my world rocked just a bit this afternoon. The retreat I thought I was speaking at on February 12th is actually on February 5. YES, THE DAY AFTER FEBRUARY 4TH. Thank goodness the miscommunication wasn’t my fault, and I’m still available to go. But I’m not at all prepared and praying for the biggest epidural God has on hand.

Add in a couple disappointments, a couple frustrations, and this, that and the other thing, and I just want to quit.

Quit what, you ask? Oh, I don’t know. Just quit.

I was actually thankful tonight for a sinkful of dishes so I could take a breath and ask God to please calm my heart in the midst of what (to me) feels like a lot of trials.

But then I spent 90% of the time bemoaning my pitiful existence.

Spare me.

I think I’m on the upswing, but I would love your prayers. I know it’s the only chance I’ve got to survive this weekend. And motherhood. And life.

And maybe you could share something HAPPY from your day. That would make me smile.

Who are the people in your neighborhood? In your neighborhood! In your neigh–bor–hoo-ood! Who are the people in your neighborhood!They’re the people that you meet! When you’re walking down the street!They’re the people that you meeeet! Eeeeach! Daaaay!

10 points if you can name the kiddie show this song comes from. 10 points to me if I actually got the lyrics right.

And wait a minute… here’s a link to a youtube video if you want to cheat.

And is it just me, or does Bob remind anyone else of Max Lucado?

Speaking of Bob, I’d like you to meet Ron. He works at our local post office and most surely does NOT read my blog, but hi anyway, Ron! Ron is used to Gabe and me coming in with armloads of books to mail. (Well, sometimes it’s just one, but today was definitely armloads!)

Funny story. Gabe will go to the post office by himself and chat with Ron. I go to the post office with Nina and chat with Ron. This has been going on for months and months (actually, a couple of years). Just a few weeks ago, Gabe stopped into the P.O. with Nina. He said Ron looked at him, looked at Nina, looked back up at Gabe and put two and two together. The guy who’s always bringing books? And the gal and little girl who are always bringing books? They’re together.

I thought that was funny.

Here’s Ron on Friday afternoon with lots and lots of Blushing Bride books heading all over the place–Florida, Louisiana, New Jersey, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Indiana, Ohio, Canada…

I’ve got plenty more where those came from, so I’m going to keep the Free (+shipping) Book Offer open for a couple more days. If you want an envelope of 4 books, it’s $5. If you want a box of 17 (I know I said 14, but I realized I can actually fit 17 in there–woohoo!), it’s $15. You can go here and click to donate $5 or $15. If you live outside the U.S., give me a shout, and we’ll work something out. If you’d rather send a check, let me know, and I’ll get you my address.

We’ll chat more about the Money for Missions next week. I have a beautiful apron donated by my lovely sister Bethany to sell. And of course the necklaces from lovely Stephanie. And a couple boas in the works.

Oh, and ha ha ha ha! to your in-law comments. There’s DEFINITELY some book-worthy material there.

Have a great weekend, friends!

I know me. I know about the wordiness. You wouldn’t read this if I didn’t break it up.

I didn’t share about my trip to Houston earlier, because I wasn’t sure it would happen. But then came the miracles. And I totally meant to fly down on Friday a.m. and back Saturday p.m., but I couldn’t find a flight to fit my schedule. So Thursday to Sunday it was.

I got up at 1:55 a.m. Thursday (after nearly 2 whole hours of sleep), showered, kissed my babies, left them with my wonderful mother-in-law (thank you, Janelle!) and headed to the airport with Gabe. The Columbus airport is super-close to my house, and we waved to it on our way to Dayton (where flights were cheaper). We left at 2:40, got there at 4:00. Checked in at 4:15. Waited. Flight left for Charlotte at 5:28.

p.s. I started Crazy Love in the Dayton airport and finished it in the air on the way home. It was perfect reading for a weekend where God lavished His love all over me. Oh, how I want to pour it out all over everybody else!

Flew from Charlotte to Houston, lost an hour, landed at 10ish. My dear friend Kelli and her beautiful (and brilliant) daughter Caroline picked me up, Chick-Fil-A biscuit in hand. We hung out at Kelli’s. The weather was gorgeous. 76 and sunny. Caroline and I took a nap. When Chris got home, we headed to Lupe Tortilla for fajitas. Yum and yum. Then I got to meet Kelli’s wonderful parents.

Kelli and I chatted for quite awhile after Caroline went to bed, then hit the hay ourselves. Me? I got to sleep in what Gabe refers to as “the most comfortable bed of the whole Zoo Trip.” He ain’t kidding.

Up early for MOPS. Total God thing. Kelli’s MOPS group meets every other Friday morning. Their speaker for that a.m. had canceled. And it just so happens that I’m familiar with this sort of thing. I gave the Sex Talk, and they were wildly supportive and responsive. I hope and pray that God will use it to bring glory to himself in lots of marriages. Loved meeting you awesome girls!

Lunch with Kelli and her friends (and now mine!) Devon and Kimberly. All 3 of them have beautiful little almost-2-year-old girls. So much fun! Then soaking up the beautiful weather on the back porch. Then at 4:30, we headed to the church for the Siesta Scripture Memory Celebration!

Kelli was meeting up with lots of blog friends, and I had plans to hook up with Melanie and Amanda. I hadn’t seen them since April (which is actually the only time I’ve ever seen them), and it was soooo wonderful to reconnect. Amanda had hostessing duties, so I assigned myself the unofficial position of Big Mama Bodyguard/Photographer. It was so much fun to watch one adorable woman after another run up to Mel and gush, “Big Mama? BIG MAMA! I know you don’t know me, but I read your blog EVERY SINGLE DAY! You are HILARIOUS!”

And beautiful, sweet, gracious, hilarious, humble (seriously, she is one of my heroes) Melanie would say, “Oh, you’re so sweet,” hug her new friend, ask her name, and I would offer to take a picture of the two of them. I kid you not. It was so much fun.

After we sat down in our seats (the fellowship hall that had room for all 500+ of us), the Fan Love continued. And my new friend, the adorable Anna, who was sitting on the other side of me, kept saying, “Marla? Marla! I read your blog, and I LOVE IT!” until I made her stop. (I love you, Anna.)

The event started at 7pm, and it. was. wonderful. I’m not going to get into Beth’s teaching right now because of one thing she said. “Don’t pass it on until it’s planted.” In other words, no need to be tweeting/blogging about messages you hear until you’re sure it has sunk way down into your soul and done some work. I will share about Beth’s teaching soon though, because God was in that room and in my ear, and I can barely stand how much He spoke to me.

Edit (7:44am): Thought about this overnight, and pleeeeease know that I have LOVED what so many of you have already shared from the message (see my comment below). It’s obviously been sinking into your heart. I’m a slow sinker. And, all too often, way too quick to speak. In fact, I’m going to go back and re-read your re-caps soon for optimum sinkage.

Worship with Travis Cottrell. Awesome guy, super talented, HUGE heart for the Lord and His people.

Meet and Greet out in the hallway. I took more pics. (Sadly, I didn’t use my own camera even once.  So, I’m at the mercy of those who did. Thankfully, you can find links to all their posts here. Hooray!)

Sometime between 9:30 and 10:00, Amanda whisked Melanie and me off to Freebirds. (kind of like Chipotle, but Texas-style) Mel wrote about it here and Amanda here. It was super yummy. We had a delightful time chatting (and keeping the server-girl from ripping Mel’s jacket from her back in a fit of jealousy). Then Mel headed to her hotel, and we headed to ours.

We met up with a handful of gals in the party room and chatted ’til midnight, then fell into bed. Amanda (whom I will gush about tomorrow) couldn’t sleep and was up hours before the sun. I slept in until almost 7:00. Got ready and headed back to the church for another big day.

Stay tuned tomorrow for Part 2 (in which I eat Seafood Crepes and burn my eyeball, but not in the same sitting).