Blessings

It hasn't stopped snowing for close to 24 hours in Meridian and the Treasure Valley. It's tapering off now, but there has been a steady stream of flurries since late yesterday afternoon. And I've been ecstatic. School was cancelled today as well as tomorrow due to the winter road conditions.

There is at least 8" on the ground, more in some places.

Our ward is in charge of snow removal for our building this calendar year, and as Chadwick is Elder's Quorum President, he is co-in charge of coordinating the snow removal efforts. He got to the chapel around 6:00 pm after work, plowed a few circles in the parking lot with the Echo so he didn't get stuck trying to leave, and began clearing the sidewalks with the snow blower borrowed from another ward member. Several other men were scheduled to arrive by 6:00 as well but one got stuck in his neighborhood, another at work downtown Boise (where none of his co-workers showed up today), and the others hadn't arrived. Long story short, a crew of men with shovels arrived to help Chadwick with their task.

While he was gone, our neighbor showed up in our driveway on his tractor, black lab Izzy serving as supervisor, to clear our driveway. I ran out to thank him and he mentioned that he had cleared our part of the road three different times today. The amount of snowfall has been incredible and more than Chadwick can ever remember seeing in one day.

I had an overwhelming feeling of gratitude wash over me for this kind man who took time from his family and warm home to help his neighbors. For my husband who went straight from work to the chapel and didn't eat dinner until 8:45. And for my father-in-law who was on his own tractor serving his neighbors at that time. This gratitude swelled within my chest, bringing unexpected tears to my eyes this evening.

I am so blessed to be surrounded by good, hard-working, and loving men.