Lots of snow on Saturday so we had to walk to church on Sunday. Here are a few pictures:
Yak-Traks...never leave home without them.
If you don't dig out your car every day or so, this is what happens.
I tried to get Laura to pull me but she wouldn't go for it.
Local sled hill for the neighborhood...
The street to our church...
Three of my favorite women in Latvia...
Sisters...
This is NOT our church...but it is a beautiful building.
Today was another one of those times that causes a shake of the head.
One of my grandmother's favorite songs was "When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder". I can still hear her singing and humming along as she went about her daily chores when I visited her home. Sitting next to her in the little country church of New York, Texas I heard that old hymn sung with a lot of gusto.
Today we sang that same hymn in Cesis, Latvia. The words might be translated slightly different in Latvian but the tune is identical. As I gazed out the window on a very different landscape than Texas, I couldn't help but realize how fast my life has sped by.
What happened to that little boy sitting with his Mam-ma in church and listening to the grown-ups sing? Where did the years go?
Life on this earth is so short; the Bible says it's just a vapor. We struggle daily to amass fortunes, build empires, manipulate circumstances and worry about where we are going to get enough money to buy the next new I-gadget.
The real question is "When the roll is called up yonder will YOU be there?"
When the trumpet of the Lord shall sound, and time shall be no more,
And the morning breaks, eternal, bright and fair;
When the saved of earth shall gather over on the other shore,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain
On that bright and cloudless morning when the dead in Christ shall rise,
And the glory of His resurrection share;
When His chosen ones shall gather to their home beyond the skies,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain
Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.
Refrain
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
The snow and winter weather have really slowed our activities. With nothing new to report, here are a few more pictures of Cesis and the winter weather.
Our hometown of Athens, Texas had a snow day last week. We thought we would post a few photos for comparison. All of these are from Cesis, Latvia.
From last Friday...snow showers.
Always beware of the icicles!
Front of Sports Halle....
Snow dog of Cesis....
Our favorite outdoor cafe (in the summer!)...
The road to our apartment...
The sidewalk to our apartment...
Who is this beautiful Latvian-American woman that keeps showing up in my photos?
Here's a very realistic view reported by the BBC of the current economic crisis in Latvia.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8496925.stm
[Thanks to Latviagirl for the link!]
