Church is canceled today on account of the winter blast we’re getting. Nick and I feel slightly sheepish about admitting that we are thrilled. We truly believe that one day a week (Sunday, in our case) is supposed to be set aside as a day of rest, a day to worship and remember our savior. We try to avoid shopping, working and anything else that would cause someone else to have to work. We try to have family-centered activities and (usually) avoid watching TV or movies. Occasionally, I even try to avoid the computer (though that rarely works out). Of course, throughout our marriage our strict adherence to these principles has ebbed and flowed.
But one problem usually remains. We belong to a church with a lay ministry. That means no one gets paid to do anything, so the church depends solely on the members fulfilling their assignments (callings) in order to function. So, as most members of our church, our Sundays are usually fairly full. Meetings, choir rehearsal, more meetings, preparing lessons, three hours of church, more meetings, firesides, etc. Add to that the fact that we have two young children who generally go napless on these days, causing us to spend most of church wandering the hallways and thereby missing out on the spiritual fulfillment that it’s supposed to provide. So, generally, by the time nightfall roles around, we’re pooped. We send the kids to bed early and crash on the couch. And it just doesn’t always seem like we’ve really had a day of rest.
But not today! Today we’re at home in our pajamas. Today we have no more meetings, no rehearsals and no firesides. We have nowhere to go, and nothing to do. My husband is home, and we’re planning on making goodies with the kids later. And then we’ll put them down for a nap and take one ourselves. Yes, we love our church, and we miss not going. But we are totally loving the day of rest!
Even we got a call that your ward meetings had been cancelled. I guess someone forgot we had moved. Ours were …on and I was here alone with all 3 kids and had to sing in the choir…. When we came out after our 3 house block there was at least 4 inches of snow on the cars, but it was awesome dry powder that I had only heard of before. Good thing I have 4 wheel drive.
We still had just Sacrament Meeting… isn’t that strange? If we have to get all ready and drive through the snow anyway, it seems funny to just stay for the one meeting. But we didn’t mind coming back early for more “rest” time like you put it Karli! WONDERFUL!!
This reminds me of a time I was in Oregon during the winter (I served my mission in that awesome state).
It was 1993 and I was in Astoria, which was my first area with my "training" companion, who also happened to be from my hometown (I know, go figure).
One Sunday morning we woke up to about an 1" of snow on the ground….so what did we do? Got in the car & drove to church! Of course!
When we got there, no one was there & we couldn't figure out why.
We called the bishop to see what was going on, "Oh, Elders, it snowed today! We've cancelled church."
After telling the bishop that, "Well, we're here, what's the problem" and him explaining that snow was trecherous, we both had a great laugh.
You see, we were two kids who'd grown up around snow all our lives and learned to drive in it as well. We thought it was so funny that they'd cancelled church for….SNOW!…I mean, there wasn't even a full inch of snow on the ground!
I still get a kick out of how most of Portland closes down when the white stuff falls.
But it sounds like you guy's had a nice relaxing afternoon…
-Graydon (Val's husband)
Who drove to church today on snow-filled roads.