Got a Shovel?

About 20 inches of snow fell on us yesterday (I don't know the official number yet), the biggest snowstorm of my life. It was exciting and a little novel to feel like I couldn't go out at all. My roommate, who is both more adventurous than me and in possession of a large SUV, ventured out and returned with reports of seeing cars stuck all over the roads.

It was pretty great to have an excuse to stay in, pool food with our friends next door, and eat, talk, watch movies, and read books the past couple of days. I am feeling well-rested and relaxed, despite having spent a good hour (hour and a half maybe) shoveling our cars out today and 45 minutes shoveling the walk last night. It did take some negotiating to get ourselves a shovel--it turns out none of us had a good one (really bright of us), and shovels were in high demand in our neighborhood today! It was kind of fun to walk outside and see half the neighborhood working on a common task: move the pile behind your car (created by the oh-so-helpful snow plow) and toss the snow in the least obstructive place, such as the lawn or the island in the middle of the parking lot.

At this point, I'm waiting to see if I'll still have to work tomorrow. I'm normally a big fan of snow days, as they seem like a gift: if we only have our pre-scheduled three per year, we never have to make them up. After two days inside and lots of rest, I'm ready to get out again. Who thought I'd ever say that?

Ward Christmas Party

Last night was our ward Christmas party. For those unfamiliar with Mormon-speak, "ward" is the equivalent of a parish.

For the past few years, I've been attending a singles' congregation. It is only since January that I've reverted to what is called a "family ward" ( i.e. NOT a singles' congregation). My ward is great: lots of young families, many who work for the state department, are highly educated, speak multiple languages, and are genuinely interesting and curious people. People here are friendly and welcoming, and I have enjoyed seeing children, teenagers, and older adults at church again.

The flip side? Our ward has an unusually large number of small kids, and sometimes, it can get CRAZY! Last night was no exception. I walked into the "cultural hall" (i.e.--the gym, with a stage in the back) where the dinner was held, and it was packed with people and extremely loud. The food was already largely picked over by the time we got to the front of the line. Kids were running all over the place.

Not long after we had eaten, it was time for the program to begin. The MC tried to begin several times, then finally had to plead with the group, "Parents, please gather your children to your table so we can begin." The program consisted of a couple of numbers of little girls prancing around the stage, off-time, to various Christmas carols (apparently, this was classified as "ballet") and some choral arrangements.

Does this description seem negative? It shouldn't. What I'm trying to convey is that being in my ward is a macrocosm of growing up in any big mormon family: loud, chaotic, fast-paced, and fun. I feel like I've come home!