The wind chill advisory ::
A Wind Chill Advisory remains in effect until 6 PM CST this
afternoon.
Westerly winds around 15 mph combined with temperatures well
below zero will create wind chill readings in the 25 to 40 below
zero range through this evening.
Winds will slowly subside after sunset... and the threat for
dangerous wind chills will end... although it will remain bitterly
cold with record cold temperatures around 30 below zero expected
by Tuesday morning.
A Wind Chill Advisory means that very cold air and strong winds
will combine to generate low wind chills. This will result in
frost bite and lead to hypothermia if precautions are not taken.
If you must venture outdoors... make sure you wear a hat and
gloves.
This goes along with the 10 inches of snow we got yesterday.
Ben was out snowblowing all day yesterday. He did 12 driveways,
2 he got paid for and 10 he did as gifts - it was Sunday.
Today he has been out all day. By the time the day is over,
he will have done 12 more - a few with my brother's help.
And though it is cold, hard work - some of the drifts are 5 feet deep -
this has been a blessing. Ben is a carpenter, and this winter has been
VERY slow so far. We have had to hang in here and do little odd jobs
and cut out any spending we can.
We are doing Christmas even more simply this year than we
usually do. Thank goodness I had been collecting little gifts all summer
and that I had plans to make lots of gifts. (Lots of works in progress
right now - lots of pictures to come.)
The Bits of Sunshine Shop was born out of need. Need for the guys to
have something to work on . . .
And we are so thankful for each and every sale.
And on that note - I will add to the shop this evening, as promised.
Also, there is time - until Wednesday, I would say, to get things to
people in the US in time for Christmas - regular post. And until the
end of this week, there are post options that could have purchases to
you by the 24th.
We have also been blessed. Greatly. We have been given some gifts
of money and food and extra Christmas gifts for our kiddos from
unexpected, lovely people. There are two good-sized jobs in the works
for January - March. The guys are having meetings and writing bids and
we are all praying and trusting.
We have also been forced to - but are very much enjoying - being very
intentional about our Christmas, and about what we need on a daily
basis, and about what we can give to others - even while things are
very lean for us.
Ben and I are planning the Christmas Eve Service for our church, and
I will be sharing some of that here. We are very excited about how it
is all coming together!
I know this has been a long and soul-baring post. Thank you for reading.
Know that there is always Sunshine to be found. And sometimes it is
easier to see each single, beautiful ray when there are clouds all around . . .