A Story Re-Told: Knee Deep In Snow

To Come. To Follow. To Believe – Part 1

Winter weather in Southwest Iowa, where I grew up, was harsh. Snowfall was often measured in feet, not inches. My sisters and I would sled down the hill of our yard and make incredible snow forts with the aid of the wind blown drifts. There was plenty of fun to be enjoyed. Yet also tasks associated with our winter wonderland. Often, I was the daughter selected to go out and help my dad shovel the sidewalks in front of our home.  

The winter sky darkened in the late afternoon. By the time Dad returned home from work, the streetlamp reflected the snow, giving a strange illumination to our task. The rhythmic sounds of the shovel scraping the sidewalk and Dad’s breath as he worked quickly became sounds of comfort to me. 
I remember a particular evening after dinner that Dad had assigned me to help shovel the walks. I was a young girl, short and scrawny, yet determined. There had been a large storm dumping plenty of new snow that day, combined with wind, forming deep drifts. Mom helped me bundle up as Dad headed out to the front sidewalk. 

From the front porch, I could see that Dad was already shoveling the sidewalk down the hill of our front lawn. As I stepped out into the snowy drifts from the porch to the sidewalk, in an attempt to catch up to Dad, I could barely move. Each time I put my boot down in the fresh snow, it sank and snow packed around my leg up past my knee. Dad kept turning around and calling for me to catch up, unaware of my struggles.
I was trying to be tough, certainly a trait I was known for. I wanted to quickly move towards Dad, but I was truly having a hard time moving at all. I began to get frustrated. Tears fell down my cheeks. Dad turned around again to call to me and saw me crying. He came back to where I was struggling and pointed to his footsteps. They had been carved by his boots, marking a path in the snow. He told me that if I walked in his footsteps, I wouldn’t get stuck. He had paved the way with his larger boot. 

We were both headed to the same place, and all I needed to do was follow him…

Learning to boldly live the gospel of Jesus Christ and claiming the happiness it brings is much the same. We may be headed in the right direction, yet still find ourselves struggling to move forward, stuck -at times. The path can feel overwhelming, and sometimes we become frustrated when we cannot seem to make progress on our own due to weakness, distractions, or feeling insufficient. 

But Christ has already walked the difficult path before us. He knows the way. 

He knows us. 

He understands our struggles and invites us to follow Him.

When Jesus extended the invitation, “Come, follow me,” He was not asking us to find our own way or to walk without difficulty. He was inviting us to walk in His footsteps, to trust Him, and to learn from the life He lived.

-JC

Iced Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

½ cup vegetable oil
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 ½ cups canned pumpkin puree, measured, then moisture reduced to ⅔ cup
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves
1 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup mini chocolate chips
—
Cream Cheese Icing:
2 tablespoons softened cream cheese
1 ½ tablespoons soft butter
2 tablespoons whole milk
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¾ cup+ 2 tablespoons powdered sugar
Dash of salt

• In a large bowl, cream the oil, and both sugars with an electric mixer on medium-high speed for about 2 minutes, or until light and fluffy.
• Reduce the moisture of the pumpkin puree by blotting it with paper towels for several minutes. Blot, replace paper towel, repeat.
• Add the eggs and pumpkin puree. Stir just until combined—do not overmix.
• Add the dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt and spices. Mix until the dough is fully incorporated.
• Fold in chocolate chips.
• Scoop the dough into 24 equal balls. (Approximately 1.75 oz each.) Place on a greased or parchment-lined aluminum baking sheet.
• Bake at 350 degrees for 18+ minutes. 
• Let cookies cool completely.
• Make the Cream Cheese Icing by combining the ingredients all at once and use a food processor or electric mixer to blend thoroughly. 
• Drizzle with Cream Cheese Icing. Dot with additional mini chocolate chips.
• Let the icing set. Share!