It started days ago with warnings of storms and snow. In Oregon if there is a threat of snow, everything shuts down. I warned Ana about this but this is the first time she has really seen all of this in action. It has been making her chuckle all along the way. She keeps telling me that Oregonians freak out about snow but each year there is snow at some point. I assure her that we know this but it doesn’t change just the way we face it. We aren’t a people built for snow…heavy rains? Sure, we can handle. But ice? No way, we are cancelling everything.

A friend of ours flew in on Thursday. I was nervous that her work trip would get cancelled but she made it in just in time. She spent the night Thursday. We ate tacos and drank good wine. We laughed until I had tears and she doted on Tadej. They are fast friends from the beginning. He flight had been a little delayed and she worried about getting to her destination yesterday but we took it in stride.

On Friday, we heavy snow was predicted the weather app had changed its tune. Now snow was to appear in the afternoon and definitely by the evening. Lauri’s plans got pushed later due to another co workers later flight and delay. So we did what we needed to do and headed to Portland’s Sparrow bakery for Ocean Rolls, a food we both truly enjoy. Tadej took a nap so we got some one on one time while Ana worked and while in the bakery the first little flurries started.

I called it. I moved church to zoom once I saw a few flakes. Again, Ana commented on the fact that it wasn’t truly a danger yet. BUT my congregation is older and with the ice promised in the forcast I just don’t want them to worry or try if we still have church in person. So the move to zoom began. The word is out..emails, texts, phone calls, social media updates, the whole works.

Lauri got picked up a little after 4pm with roads still clear and at like 4:30 we decided to take a family walk. Once we left though we realized it would be a super quick walk since the temp dropped drastically in like an hour…from 37 to 20 degrees almost instantly. By bedtime last night, I walked the dogs when it was 16 degrees. COLD!

This morning Tadej and I woke up to see it was super cold but not white yet but by an hour later, the snow had started and would accumulate.

When Ana got up she checked a funny website about whether it is snowing in Portland…it said YES! Now, panic!  I told her Oregonians are weird about such things. haha. 

Now we are hanging inside as the wind roars and the snow has shifted to ice pellets and just cold. We are staying hunkered and cozy. Winter is now no joke! But yes, it is a phenomenon where Oregonians both hope for snow and an excuse to cancel all and dread the thought of it. Stay warm out there!