Monday, March 2, 2009

Good Days..Fearful Days...Tearful Days...Snow Days
















Good Days: The kids and Billy made me breakfast in bed. They make me smile.
Fearful Days: There's a crazy man in Cullman who has been attacking women and his sketch is all over the place and it says "Women Beware!" I've been paranoid Polly. Billy was out of town all last week and we spent the night with friends three nights in a row. I think he's hiding in my garage.
Tearful Days: Because they say this crazy/scary man is just walking into peoples homes(Because this never happens here and people in Cullman just leave their doors unlocked) and because WE have never locked our doors since we've moved here...all of a sudden, OF COURSE, I'm locking my doors. Because this isn't a normal habit, I locked myself out TWO times in one day last week and AGAIN the next day. Then I cried(when you're so frustrated and it's all you can do) in front of the man trying to pick my lock. (Thanks Andy) Finally, my car battery died and we were stuck in the driveway with psycho guy on the loose....probably watching us from the garage......
Snow Days: It snowed, surprisingly enough to cover the grass completely! Made me miss Chicago. The kids didn't know what to think about it melting in just one day.
***Because of the weather, First Baptist cancelled their services so we didn't share on Sunday. But thanks for praying anyway! I'll let you know if we reschedule.
*********I looked back at these pictures. Don't enlarge the one of me with my breakfast. Well, I know now that you will just because I told you not to! I have food all in my teeth. Sorry ;) Just wanted you to know that I noticed so you wouldn't feel sorry for me :)





14 comments:

Amy said...

I am laughing out loud right now!!! Not because there is a RAPIST loose in the small town of Cullman but because well...there is a rapist loose in the SMALL town of cullman. Just a few weeks ago the small town of Kennedy (were we are living) hosted it's very own national felon. He hid out at the car wash all day until 4 US Marshall's finally tracked him down!!! One of the nosy old ladies that comes to the only restaurant every day for lunch noticed this strange man and called the police. It was a big deal here and we don't get lots of BIG DEALS around these parts!!!
I know this is serious despite the fact I am still laughing!!! But I will pray that he is caught quickly and that he does not do much damage to your garage while he is hiding out in there. Don't you have an attack dog????
"When it snows, she has no fear for her household;...she is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." Prov 31:21,25
Seriously, I will pray that God will keep you safe.
Thanks for the laugh of small town drama!!! For us boonies folks it is the spice of life!!!

Kristin said...

I loved reading this, because it was like I was in your living room listening to your voice speaking a hundred words a minute and watching you animate it all... Oh, my WORD!!! I'd be "Paranoid Polly" right there with you!! Craziness. I'll pray for your safety. Love the snow pictures! And Mary Helen's BIG smile!!

Think of y'all each day. Love you.

Jennifer Werneth said...

i would've been scared too! and i sooo would've locked myself out of the house too! neighbor kids often come into my house when i'm gone b/c i don't lock my doors! i'm surprised billy didn't show you how to shoot; that would've been michael's answer! of course, that would only scare me more! i love the pics and it just makes my heart smile to see holden and elley in the snow. i'll bet your kids were the only ones in alabama with real snow clothes! and the pic of you with the kids in your bed is precious. you can tell that they were so proud to bring you breakfast in bed. oh, i do love them! i will pray again when you reschedule your sharing time at church and am continuing to pray about alaina's upcoming birthday and how you can celebrate her life. i prayed the words of "praise you in this storm" for you yesterday. do you know the song? love you!

Anonymous said...

Once aging don't know you never met you but sure do love you how is that possible I guess its o god thing, but thank you so much for sharing and being your real self I laughed and cried.

Anonymous said...

Chicago misses all of you, too!!!

Love Ya. Your Favorite Prankster!

Laura said...

Hope,
You are so funny. I am glad you all had fun in the snow! I sent you a few emails are you still using the gmail account? Hope you all stay safe and locked in (not out).

Shea said...

Okay, I'm laughing. I apologize for doing so but locking yourself out of your house TWICE and a dead car battery...you have my luck! It's every other day that I have these frustrating circumstances so it's nice to know I'm not the only crazed mom in the world. (My most recent example: My double stroller ended up in a lake with my car keys in the back pocket with Cratin 3 hours away. Then I put the kids and the fishy stroller in my car(because yes, I fished that sucker out) and realized a few miles down the road that I had not strapped them in their car seats!!!!) On a serious note, I'm going to be praying that they capture this crazy man soon. On top of being scared it has to make you so mad that someone can make you afraid in that way! Love the snow pictures. Praying for you all the time still, and will continue to do just that!

JJMERKEL said...

You gave me a good laugh today!! Thank you. I don't blame you for locking your doors! I would be scared too!! I was thinking of you and wondering if you had gotten very much snow. Guess you did, but glad it is gone now!! Miss you guys!!

Brandi Barnes Parten said...

What I think is funny is you can tell that you have been in a snowy state for a while because your kids have real snow suits!! Welcome back to Alabama!! I love you and am praying for you...

April Brown said...

I totally blew the picture up of you and the kids! I love that you wrote not to feel sorry for you because I so would if you had not mentioned it!!:)

The kiddos (especially Elley) look so proud of themselves...and the presentation!!! Somebody's been watching Food Network :)

Becky said...

Thank you for lightening my day!

Anonymous said...

There is a narrow, beautiful road near my mother's house. It is quite and peaceful and I love all the trees, small creeks and light peaking around the leaf covered ground. I often crank up the worship CD or music and talk to God while on this "shortcut" off the busy road. Sometimes, it's just a quiet prayerful time. I love the verse you gave in the previous post Hebrews 6:18-19. I had read this a few months ago and really spent sometime "marinating in it." One day "along the road" I started to pray for you, that God would anchor you in his truths. I just kept saying over and over in prayer,"God, anchor her, anchor her..." And then my eyes saw it....what?
I stopped the car in total awe of how amazing our God is. A mailbox made from an anchor.
I was just coming from visit with Grandma and had the camera sitting right next to me. I took a picture of it and I will send it to you. I carry the photo in my bible in Hebrews. It reminds me that God is real and we have this hope, an anchor for the soul firm and secure-praying and thinking of you always-your friend from NPC.

Anonymous said...

Hope, I was just thinking about you today. You,Billy and the kids are never far from our hearts and always in our prayers. We are specifically praying for you as Alaina's birthday approaches. I hope that you all are able to spend time as a family remembering the GOOD times, celebrating her life and your life with her.
I love your blog, everytime I read it I can just picture you telling the stories.
I hope that you are all safe and sound. We miss you all!
Kari Veenstra

Friends and Family said...

Hope, what's the latest on the attacker? I just looked on the Cullman Times website to see if he's been caught but saw nothing. Miss Worry Wart here wants to know that things are safer in Cullman! Remember when your Mom would send you newspaper articles warning you of dangerous things? I'm so going to be like that! Loved the posted photos! Thinking of you, Deidre