Hunkered down at our daughter's house on Christmas Eve, we watched the unexpected blizzard of '09 paint her windows with snow. Most of the day winds made visibility about 2 feet in her front yard. We had no idea how much snow was piling up until the wind died down and clearly exposed two and three-feet drifts. All afternoon and evening my grandsons and their dad responded to 911 calls transferred to their fire-department to help stranded motorists. At one point, my daughter and my husband were among the stranded when Highway 7 was closed down and they tried to find an alternate route home on back roads. According to my husband, the roads were totally clear and then a 3-foot snowdrift appeared making a road impassable.
Christmas day broke with brilliant sunshine and fields ladened with drifts that beckoned children to come play. My son-in-law dug through one of the snow-drifts next to the house and created a tunnel for the kids to crawl through. My granddaughters from Texas had not come prepared for a blizzard (they'd planned to be back in Texas on Christmas Eve afternoon). I layered them in sweatshirts and jeans and wrapped a pair of pajamas around Abby's neck as a scarf to close the gap in her neckline. 
They tromped out the door and proceeded to construct a snowman about 18 inches tall. Kinsey asked for a baby-carrot to use as a nose; M&M's acted as buttons for his eyes and smile. 
The snow was not the best for sticking and rolling so their snowman was more a sculpture. For our family it was a white Christmas to remember for its laughter, joy and togetherness. For others it was a Christmas of standed hours, fear, and heartache.
In Oklahoma, the storm was historic in proportions. We adults realized its severity and the problems created for hundreds of people on the day before Christmas. Last-minute shopping halted, family plans interrupted, flights and traveling canceled. Good Samaritans tried to assist others, and some lost their lives for their efforts. For the joy we rejoice, for the tragedies we mourn. We pray for families who grieve and we realize afresh, that life is a fragile thing. Memories are a blessing. And Christ Jesus is the consolation. selahV
