Winter Wonderland. Except that it's Spring.

This has been an emotional and hectic season, but one in which the Lord’s hand and blessings have been exceedingly evident.  We are so very blessed.

We received an offer on our house around April 26th, finalized negotiations that weekend, and closed 30 days later.  A whirlwind!

Having had at least a dusting of snow seemingly every third day all spring, May 2nd - the day our home inspection was scheduled to occur - brought Rochester a record-blasting snowstorm.  Over the course of 24 hours, the skies dumped a whopping 15.5 inches of snow.  Unheard of!

NW Roch -- that's us

Meanwhile, in Phoenix...

I woke up that morning to no power, which is a problem for a home inspection.  Moreover, it’s a problem for a woman who’s not yet made her coffee.  And a problem for a dwindling cell phone battery that must be preserved in case said woman needs to contact her realtor about said house inspection.  In short, it was not my favorite morning...

After getting the snowblower stuck in the driveway on its first pass (the snow was too heavy, sticky and deep for even our dual-stage snowblower to manage!), I sent Mikel a MAYDAY&JUSTSOYOUKNOWI’MNOTHAPPY email (remember: no coffee) - then heard from Steph who was also without power and was managing stir crazy kiddos...

Let me make one thing very clear: It is a true blue friend who will load up her three kids, set them up with a DVD, and come over to help shovel scoop after scoop of back-breakingly heavy snow to save her friend.  She’s something.

We shoveled and shoveled - then I could finish some of it off with the snowblower.

Love and hate that thing, but when each shovelful weighs in excess of 50 lbs, I was glad to have it.  

Side note: The following week, Mikel posted the snowblower on Craigslist and it was immediately snatched up.  At least this storm was good advertising!

Still falling.

No, the trash pick up man did not come. But the can was cemented into the burm, sooo whaddayagonnado...

The kids were awesome.  I bundled up Baby NoNo in his car seat (as Steph's kids have always called him), and sat him in her front seat facing the other kids while we worked.  Steph had this toy laptop that she plopped on his lap, which he happily stared at for a while.  She's like Mary Poppins with what she has on hand at any given moment!

Ellie

Charlie

 Claire

And when we were done, I came inside to the welcome hum of the heat running!   I’ve never prayed blessings over anyone as I did over those power-line-putter-back-upper men out there.  Bless them. I had just enought time to get the house show-ready for the inspection, and the rest is history.

Our house 10 mins before inspection.

The treacherous drift over our front door that I prayed would not fall on our buyer!

We even got to continue our party with the Schmitt fam by going to their house for 3 hours while they inspector did his thing.  Honestly, what will I do without you, Steph??  I should pirate the pics you took -- the kids were so happy for some distraction.

The inspection and appraisal went through, and we made our super quick 30-day closing.  Amazing!  Definitely a day I won't soon forget.

And as though I could ever forget the sweet place this crew has in our hearts, Steph hand delivered this little mug to me.  Now two of my favorite things can come together -- coffee and that wonderful Schmitt crew.