Cell Phones and Bitter Cold

When the phone rang at 7:15 this morning I was secretly hoping that it would be the principal of the school calling to say classes were cancelled. I knew when we went to bed last night that the potential was there for no classes- the forecast was for bitter cold; in the -40 range with wind chill. Sheila, on the radio, was telling her listeners  about how cold it was.  So, when the phone rang, I was excited- anticipating a day at home with DD and DS and imagining how we would spend the day.  Movies?  Games?  Baking? I was looking forward to a 'home day'.  But, a 'home day' was not to be. Alas.  The school bus driver phoned to say that her bus wasn't going to be running.  It was too cold. But, My Sweetheart cheerfully said that HE would take DD and DS into school.  Classes weren't cancelled after all.  And DD and DS are in high school and shouldn't be missing when exams are next week.... So, there went my hopes of a fun 'home day' with the kids down the drain. And about 45 minutes ago, there went My Sweetheart, in the truck that almost didn't want to start, with DD and DS -down the lane, across the road to pick up the neighbors who live right across from us, and in to town- off to school.

He, My Sweetheart that is, is making this trip out in the bitter cold count. He is killing 2 birds with 1 stone, so to speak... He has his OPI with him, and his cell phone, so after dropping off the high schoolers, he went off to the north farm and the south farm to check the temperature of the grain in the bins (that's what the OPI does). He called about 10 minutes ago to let me know when he would be at the north farm.  He called so I wouldn't worry about him being near, or on top of, the bins.  And then he called when he was finished at the north farm to let me know he was on his way to the south farm. And knowing that, I now don't have to worry.

Not that I should worry anyway. Jesus tells me, every time I look into His word at the book of Matthew, not to worry.  But sometimes it's hard not to. Times like today, when it's -37 WITHOUT the wind chill, knowing that My Sweetheart is out in the cold doing what he needs to do. Farming is,the last I heard, the most dangerous occupation. So, it is hard not to worry, even though I'm not supposed to.

So, today I am thankful for cell phones- among other things. I am also thankful for the warmth of my house.  I am thankful we didn't wake up to a power outage. That happened once when it was extremely cold.  7 years ago, the day we were leaving to go to Calgary to stay in a hotel the night before we flew to L.A. to go to Disneyland- that morning we woke up to a temperature of -50(with the wind chill) and no power. The house was freezing, the car had no electricity running to it, the landlines weren't working and it was cold!  Thankfully we had a cell phone and were able to phone the power company.  And thankfully we had, (and still have) a gas fireplace.  We took our blankets and huddled by the warmth of the fireplace while we waited for the power to be restored. Worrying, then, did absolutely nothing to help us. But trusting in the Lord brought a measure of peace and comfort.  And still does.

And knowing that My Sweetheart has his cell phone with him while he's out the in the bitter cold, brings a measure of comfort to this sometimes worried farmgirl.

the view from the porch at -37 this morning!

After being out for less than 2 minutes Lady is noticeably cold. She wouldn't even let me touch her paw.. poor thing! She is glad to be inside!