We might just be playing Pioneer around here for a couple of days.

And so it begins...

Yep.

Atlanta is getting another snowy/sleety/icy storm. And at this rate, Kailen might be in school until the first day of school in August.

Yes, I'm exaggerating. Just a bit. However, this is our fourth snow/weather day this year, and we've already lost our days off this month and in March, and they've extended the school year by one day. Haven't heard yet what they're going to do with today's missed day. Or tomorrow. Or Thursday. Because I'm pretty sure, from what the weather people are saying, we'll be lucky to be back in school on Friday. It is a bit frustrating because we really don't have to make up these missed days, but we are.

Anyway. Enough of that. When I went out to take this picture, I heard the most unusual sound, like  heavy rain. But it's snowing. I wish you all could hear it. It was a strange kind of moment--I was seeing one thing (falling snow is usually very quiet and peaceful), but hearing another. Strange.

They (the weather people, and the government people, and the department of transportation people, and the power people--a lot of people are weighing in on this one so we don't have the disaster of two weeks ago) are saying the power outages from the ice part of this storm could be catastrophic. Doesn't that sound a bit scary?

So. Here's where the playing Pioneer part comes in (Pioneer in that we might be without some modern conveniences for a bit)...

To prepare for any eventual catastrophe, we've filled our camping water containers (to be able to flush toilets if the power goes out), collected all the flashlights in the house as well as the batteries that go in them, plugged in all cell phones, taken stock of the food in our 72 hour kit and whatever food we have on hand that doesn't take any power to prepare, filled some extra water containers for drinking, moved all our freezer foods to the garage freezer (since it's colder out there and the fuller the better where freezers and keeping food frozen without any power is concerned), and after all of this, I'm feeling like we'll be okay. I'm telling myself it could be an "adventure." You know, the type of adventure you tell your kids and grandkids about for years to come. "Ah, yes. The winter of twenty fourteen. That one was a doozy!"

I did, however, remind John when I talked to him this morning (he's back in Florida, where they are not expecting any catastrophes, and where it's supposed to get to 75* today with 0% chance of rain) that he was also not here for the last Georgia ice storm we survived when we lived here the first time. It was me and the kids. All four of them. Luckily our power didn't go out that time, but we were pretty much stuck at home because you seriously couldn't go anywhere. Unless you're a really talented ice skater. And I certainly am not.

We are both very grateful he's not on the road today like he was two weeks ago. He left Nashville at 9 am Tuesday morning for what is usually a 4 hour drive, and didn't get home until 8:30 am the next morning. He spent the night in his truck parked in a bank parking lot (he felt very blessed he was even able to get off I285 and to a parking lot), layered up in the clothes in his suitcase, and tried to sleep. Thankfully he had some food and water with him, and felt very blessed considering what many other people had to go through those few days. The stories were scary, but the storm and all it's aftermath really brought out the best in people, as complete strangers walked to help those who were stranded, offered shelter and food, and did all they could to help those who were in danger. It still brings tears to my eyes to remember all the good people did for others they didn't even know but who were in need. And the experience reminds me that even though social media has it's issues, it can do great good when used in the right ways.

As for this storm, as long as the catastrophic part doesn't occur, Kailen and I and the girls will be spending some quiet time at home and enjoying these unexpected days off. I have several books I'm itching to read, and we always have movies we want to watch.

Although Kailen does have some homework to do. Her AP Computer Science teacher reminded them as they left yesterday that even if school is cancelled they still have assignments that are due. When they reminded her that all their homework is on the internet, and the power could very realistically go out, she was a bit stumped for a minute. It really is amazing how much we take power--and everything that takes power to operate--for granted.

Kailen was just a baby during our first ice storm experience, so I'm hoping, since it pretty much is going to happen, that it's just icy enough so she can see how beautiful an ice storm can be, but not icy enough to knock down trees and power lines and cause any damage. I saw this story on the news last night and would so like to experience this natural beauty. Maybe we'll have to go visit Zach and Angela next winter. ;)