Saturday, January 25, 2014, Nashville, TN., 7:07 p.m., C.S.T.~

Dear Journal~

Today was a busy day; glad it's about overwith and done!  Such as life with two active baby boys, who would not let me out of their sight today!  WOW!  I was in constant motion from the time I got up until just now.  Now the boys are finally in bed for the night and both have mercifully fallen asleep, much to my relief.  Hopefully they'll sleep the whole night through!

Now Michael and I are sitting in the livingroom, in front of a roaring fire in the fireplace, trying to wind down.  It was a good day, but busy.  And snowy.  It was snowing to beat the band a good part of the day; we must have at least six inches of fresh snow on the ground, in addition to the snow that's already fallen a few days ago (and we got over a foot then!).  It's a perfect day for snuggling and cuddling!

Ronee' Stinkowitz here.  I hope and pray this finds y'all well.  We are well, but we didn't go to temple today on account of the weather.  It's just too treacherous out there; the city officials are reminding people to stay home unless it's for emergency purposes only; otherwise, they could have a chance of being arrested.  So we are staying put.  And church has already called to say that there will be no services tomorrow on account of the weather, so it's going to be a long, lazy, quiet weekend.  And besides, I don't need to risk busting my bum (or anything else!); crutches and snow/ice do not mix AT all!

Well, today started off on an interesting note.  I was sleeping really good, when Michael woke me up to tell me to look outside.  (It was sunny then, but clouds were moving in from the north and west.)  I said why, and he told me to look at the fence.  I did.  Lo and behold, but what should be sitting on our fence but a big, white bird!  I thought it was a hawk, but then I saw that it was an owl.  A big, white snowy owl!  I had never seen one excepting in pictures or at the zoo, and now there was one sitting in our yard!  It was amazing!!  I had Michael bring me my phone, where I snapped about a dozen pictures before it flew off.  There's no telling how long the bird was there.

I have since put pics of the bird on my wall at Facebook, so my family and friends can see and enjoy what I saw today!  

I began reading up on snowy owls, and they occasionally make appearances further south than their Arctic home, especially if food is scarce or if they get lost. They eat small mammals and birds and are very elusive; they are hard to see, especially if against a snowy background; but you could see its white feathers with dark splotches (which told us that it was a female; male snowies are almost entirely white) and its big, round yellow eyes.  It was so pretty!!

In other news, my family is fine; but I miss them.  I'm just glad I live close because if I start missing them, I can always call Maman and Daddy and say howdy or visit them whenever the weather is nice.  I won't get that opportunity later this year because as you know, we are moving to Alaska shortly after our cruise (October; our cruise is in September).  Michael and I both want a change of pace (and scenery), and we would like to relocate somewhere different.  Now, I love Nashville, Tennessee, don't get me wrong, but I also love Alaska, and I have been there several times, and I have fallen in love with her majestic scenery.  And it doesn't seem nearly as fast-paced as the city in which we call home.

I think Alaska would be a great place to raise our boys.

I will have to look for a new job once there; know it won't be easy, but I am one who doesn't give up very easily.  People will soon learn that I am very determined and won't quit until I reach my goals.  I am extremely goal oriented; I have always been this way, ever since I was really little.

I think I could very easily fall in love with Alaska all over again, and I am hoping that Michael will do the same.  Alaska seems to have that effect on people.  I know it did me when I first went!

I am happy to say that I am all over my flu.  I have a little bit of the cough left, but that's it; I am feeling more like myself.  Michael (not to mention, Dean and Dillon) never did get it, whcih was a huge answer to prayer.  It wasn't nearly as bad as it could have been, thanks to my flu shot, but I still don't get it .  How in the world did I manage to still get the flu after getting my flu shot??  It just doesn't seem to make any sense whatsoever!!

Well, I am getting sleepy; the fire in the fireplace (and my husband cuddling me) is causing my eyes to want to close, so I am going to call it a day.  I will write in here again soon; until later, this is Ronee' Stinkowitz saying so long; may God bless you always!  Talk to you another day!

~Love, your friend in Tennessee, Ronee' Le-Anne.  :)