All about SNOW!

This week has been all about the winter storm, Jonas.  Wednesday, I thought I had better stock up on a few groceries.  (In hindsight, I bought plenty of everything except eggs and milk.)  I made sure that I had water, that the batteries in my flashlights were charged, and that I knew where the matches were for lighting my one candle and the gas stove.

I did stock up on the important things.

Friday I sent out a message to my family that I loved them, I wouldn't be foolish and go out in the storm, and if they tried to reach me and they couldn't not to panic. I made sure my iPad was plugged in and charging and I put my phone on the charger as often as possible to make sure that if the power went out, I would have full charge on my electronic devices to begin the siege against the storm.
The wind began to grow stronger Friday evening.  I woke Saturday morning to snow falling heavily and stronger winds.

The beginning hours of Jonas.

This was the forecast on Saturday morning.

The Sisters, Anderson and Jenkins upstairs, are sister training leaders so they go on exchanges with other sisters for training purposes.  Sisters Mejia and Dos Santos came on Friday to stay over for the training and exchanges.  They couldn't get back home on Saturday nor could they go out to teach, so we had an "unofficial" snow party.  They of course did their work inside and I did mine, but in the down time…

Monopoly Deal

Just hanging out.

Sister Dos Santos from Brazil helping with cookie making.

Elder Prince was out early Saturday morning with a snow blower trying to keep our walks and driveway cleared.  He couldn't keep up with it!  Some of the elders in our district came and brought shovels to help but Jonas laid/blew snow down, up, and all around.

Elder Prince Saturday morning.

The elders Saturday afternoon on my doorstep for hot chocolate and cookies.

People load and and buckets with snow from their driveways and dump them in the street.

Snow in the scarf and shoes laces of on of the elders Saturday afternoon.

Elders Pothier and Corzo live about 40 minutes away so they had to
leave early on Sarurday before the traffic and MTA were shut down.

Saturday evening after shoveling.

Traffic was ordered off the road Saturday afternoon and all transportation came to a halt at 4:00 P.M.  My power never went out and we were warm and safe in my apt.  The sisters spent much of the time with me which was fun.

This was sent to all cell phones about noon Saturday on the emergency network.

Individual pizzas for dinner. Sisters Mejia, Jenkins, Anderson and Dos Santos.

It was a sunny Sunday morning.  The wind had slowed to a breeze and it was crisp and cold.  As I laid in bed staying wrapped in my blankets and thinking about my family, the beauty of the world, and my love for the Gospel of Jesus Christ, it suddenly dawned on me that it was ABSOLUTELY silent.  No traffic noises nor sirens.  No planes overhead. (I live about 6.5 miles from LaGuardia in one direction and about 7.5 miles from JFK in another direction so there are planes flying low day and night.)  No Long Island RR outside my bedroom window.  I could have been on the moon for the lack of noise.  That was a strange sensation.  I really never hear the noise anymore unless I focus on it, so being focused, I missed it.

Church was canceled.  The elders and their shovels and the senior elders, Elders Prince and Duke, were out again with the snow blower and shovels digging us out.  Elder Prince worked most of the day.  He cleaned off my car for me and got our driveway cleared.

Sunday breakfast (French Toast Strata, bacon & apple/oranges)

Sister and Elder Prince

Elder Duke

Sunday morning looking out the window at my driveway.

Sunday morning.

Mending snow boots.

I invited the elders in for hot chocolate and cookies again Sunday, early afternoon, after they had been shoveling.  One of them asked if I would teach him how to make stew.  He had some brisket and wanted stew.  I said I would.  They left and about 20 minutes later returned with a tray full of brisket and vegetables and a bag of apples.  So I gave a lesson in stew and apple crisp making.  I made up a box of corn bread.  While the stew was cooking, I suggested we have a church meeting without the Sacrament of course.  We sang some hymns and shared some thoughts.  A great afternoon and evening.  The stew was delicious.

Apple crisp approval.

Monday morning, I told a sister who was ill that I would drive her to urgent care but when I got out there, the driveway was cleared but the street was piled with snow still.  The plow finally cleared the street around 2:30 so I am good to go.  I think I'll stay in though today for good measure.
Jonas was an experience.  I won't go into detail with facts and figures because it has been on the news.  People have asked how much snow we got here.  It is difficult to say because I live on a hill.  The wind blew the snow up and into drifts so there was not really a flat that I could say how much but I would guess about 24 inches.  LaGuardia Airport had 27.9 inches.  JFK had 30.5 inches.  I believe both were record breaking amounts.  I know that it pales to the snow falls we get in Utah but it really ties things up when it happens here.

Monday morning. My driveway.

Walk to the office.

Monday afternoon.

It has been a fun experience and one I'll remember because of the fun I had with the missionaries.
 
Thursday afternoon before the storm, I was privileged to go with Sisters Jenkins and Anderson to teach a lesson to Ruma, the East Indian investigator.  The lesson was about repentance.  I studied Mosiah 4 before we went.  What a wonderful gift we have in the principle of repentance.  My deepest gratitude to my Savior who makes it possible for me and all mankind to be forgiven in our errors paving the way for us to gain eternal salvation.  I love my Savior and my Heavenly Father.  The Gospel of Jesus Christ is true.  The words and messages of the Book of Mormon can shape our lives and prepare and help us to grow and be happy.

I love you my family and friends.