Scenes from the blizzard and Gratitude

The blizzard last Tuesday was an interesting experience.  I was baffled by the near panic I sensed all around.  I went to the grocery store in the early afternoon and it was packed.  School was dismissed early, businesses closed and everyone went home.  I didn't understand why until the storm actually hit around 3:30.  Here's what I saw from my front and back doors (that's not fog, by the way, it's snow blowing sideways):

I think the most frightening part was how quiet it was.  The wind was blowing really hard, but there was very little sound.  And it was so cold!  I think our furnace ran nonstop until we went to bed.  I am so very grateful that we were all inside and the power didn't go out!

Speaking of gratitude, we had a very special Thanksgiving this year.  We were going to California to spend the weekend with Brian's dad and Maree.  We were very excited to go, but we never made it.  That being said, here's what I'm grateful for this Thanksgiving:

I'm grateful the blizzard ended Tuesday night.

I'm grateful the snowplows worked all night to clear the roads and the other drivers were being extra careful.

I'm grateful the radiator cracked just south of Beaver and not in the middle of the Nevada desert.

I'm grateful we didn't have an accident and nothing else in the engine was damaged.

I'm grateful the tow truck driver came in less that 45 minutes because it was very cold and we didn't dare

      run the engine.

I'm grateful the Beaver McDonald's was warm and nobody minded us hanging out for 5 hours.

I'm grateful my sister and brother-in-law live in St. George.

I'm grateful my bil has a truck and didn't mind coming all the way up to Beaver to get us.

I'm grateful my sister, her husband and kids are kind and generous enough to welcome us into their home in 

      our hour of need.  We were warm and well-fed and loved.

I'm grateful that my dad was willing to drive down to help us and that he didn't have to.

I'm grateful my uncle went on the internet and helped us find a new radiator.

I'm grateful to the person who drove up from Las Vegas with our radiator early Saturday morning.

I'm grateful to Evan the mechanic for going to work on a day he wasn't scheduled to work and only charging

      us $20 for it.

I'm grateful for clear skies and roads on the drive home.

I'm grateful for good neighbors who took care of our home and our stupid cat.

I'm grateful for 10 inches of snow on my lawn before winter has even officially started.

I'm grateful for my family and friends, every last one of you!

But most of all, I'm grateful to be safe at home.

Happy (belated) Thanksgiving!