While I sit typing this column for this week’s newspaper, I am doing so a few days early. We have moved the production of the paper up by three days so we can get it to the printer and back to Hartselle a few days sooner. This is not just because we had nothing to do this past weekend.

According to most weather reports the North Alabama area may possibly be in line for a winter storm. Current forecasts call for us to have freezing rain and possibly snow. Since we print both of our newspapers in Clanton we are sending the papers to press early. We hope to be able to have both back in time that you will receive your copies on Wednesday as usual this week.

Since I am writing this on Saturday the temperature is actually 61 degrees. One would think that a forecast of bitter cold, freezing rain and snow would not be coming our way in 24 to 48 hours. But since weather forecasting is not in my forte I will leave this to the professionals and work to get our newspapers to press early.

Now I will be the first to admit I am not a fan of winter. If I were in charge we would have warm temperatures year around. But since that is not my call to make I will deal with the cold weather and whatever happens to fall out of the sky in the next few days.

Many times when the weather leaves a lot to be desired to me, I recall a verse from the Bible, which reads:

While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night, shall not cease.” Genesis 8:22 (NIV)

God has this under control and in time we will see the end of this winter and the beginning of spring. Probably a good thing we are not in charge since we would have snow in the morning and summer temperatures by the afternoon. I am sure in His infinite wisdom God made the seasons for a reason and one that is for our best interests.

However, it sure was nice to notice in a couple of flower beds some type of green flower trying to poke through the cold soil up into the sunshine. I am not sure if they were daffodils or some other type of early blooming plant or flower.

We will survive whatever happens to fall, snow, sleet rain, or maybe nothing at all. Stay warm and well fed. We will endure, but I am still ready for spring.

Randy Garrison is the president and publisher of the Hartselle Enquirer.