Melbourne's Coldest Winter in 10 Years

Just yesterday, I finally got round to buying J a "Dora The Explorer" padded jacket that was on sale at $25. A good thing too, cos it turned out to be the last size 2 on the rack.

This morning, the outdoor temperature was 7 deg.

How perfect is His timing!

I looked out the window and beheld a marvellous sight.

The whole street was wrapped in mist and fog. There was an almost fairytale-like quality about the landscape. I thought of the drive to school, and toyed briefly with the idea of calling in to say Beth would be staying home today...because Mummy didn't feel safe driving!

Ran late as usual. The Preppie took ages getting ready, as she needed help to don her beanie, scarf and Thinsulate gloves. The toddler refused to put on her new jacket. Was feeling really cross by the time I got them out the door.

Tried to regain perspective by focussing on the present.

"This is an adventure, Beth!" I heard myself exclaim as we made our way to the car. "Doesn't it look like fairyland?"

Beth was more preoccupied with her scarf and school tie, which together were strangling her.

That was when I saw the car windows. They were completely fogged up. There was no way I could reverse safely out of the driveway.

Spent 5 mins getting heater and demister going, wound down window, turned on windscreen wiper, wiped down the rear window.

Right, now we were ready, and it was only 7 minutes to line-up time.

Got behind the wheel and crawled down the street at 20 kmh while praying aloud that God would keep everyone on the road safe and get them to their destinations.

Out on the main road, I maintained 40 kmh with full headlights on. It was my first time driving in fog, and I didn't want to take any chances.

It was weird how you could see the road itself clearly, but everything just around and above was shrouded in a blanket of wispy white. Out of nowhere you might see a ghostly figure cross the road, or a man suddenly materalize on the sidewalk holding a dog on its leash.

It was nice how everyone was extra careful and patient with one another, though it was obvious there were lots of families who - like us - were late for school. No one tooted the horn or tried to overtake another.

When we got home, J and I had the nicest surprise on our way to our front door.

I had hoisted J up for a closer look at the dew drops that were glistening like diamonds on the branches of our weeping elm.

That was when we saw the spiderweb.

Spiders and webs are anathema to me.

Beth and I have the same reaction to spiders: "Arrgh!" followed by an urgent summons to spouse/daddy.

I hate how quickly webs form and the icky feeling you get when you walk into one. And of course they are glaring reminders that you forgot to clean that corner.

But this spiderweb was different.

Doesn't it remind you of an intricate crystal necklace?

And to think it was made by an eight-legged creature that uses it for predatory purposes. (Her name's not Charlotte by any chance, is it?)

Look at it. Isn't it such a marvellous act of creation?

"Do you like taking pictures?" asked our gardener as he observed me inexpertly turning the camera this way and that, trying to capture the perfect angle.

"Sorta," I mumbled.

"Come, let me show you something," he beckoned.

We made our way to the backyard, and there, high up on - was it the apple tree that looked ready to be chopped down for firewood? - was the biggest spiderweb I'd ever seen. Framed against the wintry sky, it was impossible to photograph properly, so I simply gawked at it.

Thank you LORD, you who made all Creation and everything in it.

Psalm 8
For the director of music. According to gittith.
A psalm of David.

1 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!

You have set your glory above the heavens.
2 From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.
3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
4 what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?
5 You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.
6 You made him ruler over the works of your hands; you put everything under his feet:
7 all flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field,
8 the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.
9 O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!