Snowflakes in the desert

I think I have finally come close to mastering the elementary school art of making a paper snowflake! I have struggled with how to make the flakes look like the lacy ones we see in Christmas decorations or ornaments. The key to it is to start with a circle. Use a cup or bowl or what ever's handy as a stencil. Kudos to you if you keep a compass around the house for making perfect circles. After you get your circle cut out, fold it in half. Then fold it into thirds. You should end up with a shape that looks like a slice of pizza. At this point cut the curved edge to make it straight. If you were to unfold the paper at this point you would have a perfect six sided hexagon,
but don't do that yet. At this point, start cutting out little shapes form each side or even in the middle. You probably remember this from grade school. Be careful to leave places on the fold that aren't cut so that the flakes hold together when you open it. Voila, you should have a nice lacy little snowflake. I will post some pictures here later of a few of my attempts. I have also decorated the house and classroom for Christmas, so I'll share photos of those as well.
I don't have much experience with real snowflakes having lived in Southern California all my life, but they are fascinating. They start their crystalline existence as a flat hexagon. As they fall to the Earth, they come in contact with obstacles. With every obstacle, their design is being formed. The more obstacles they encounter in their path, the more intricate, delicate and beautiful their design becomes, and of course each one is totally unique. Do you suppose that God designed this process to remind us of how He is designing us? With every new struggle our characters are shaped. The more we struggle, the more they are shaped. Let's remember that this year as we encounter characters, some who are family or friends. Let's also remember that as new obstacles and trials come in our path, that each one will leave it's own unique mark and help turn us into the masterpiece God envisioned us to be.