Snow Blessings

I know for some of you snow is not a good thing but I have to admit I love snow especially new fallen snow. Yesterday afternoon, we had a front move through that laid down about 3 inches of snow. It is so beautiful. This was a wet snow so all the trees and bushes also have snow on them. Snow, for me, signifies cleanliness. A new coat of snow covers all the mud and dirt up, It is clean, bright and fresh. Today, the sun is shining and it is gorgeous to look outside.

Fortunately, for me, I have a warm home to sleep in so the single digit temperatures that the snow brought does not affect me that much except for having to go outside more bundled up than normal. Sometimes, when I am feeling sorry for myself I have to remind myself how truly blessed that I am compared to many other people around the world. I have never been truly hungry due to lack of food, have always been able to go inside to the warmth of a heater and most of all have always had shelter that has protected me from the elements. Yes, I am truly blessed.  

Winter

I awoke this morning to snow covering the ground. Most people think I am crazy but I love snow. I love how it blankets the ground and makes everything look new. It is almost like putting on a new coat of paint on the world around us. We don't get a lot of snow here so I enjoy our few times a year that it comes.

Snow brings back happy, childhood winter memories of when I lived in northern Indiana. I remember playing in the snow to make snow angels and forts. There was not too much sledding to be had as we lived in a very flat area of Indiana but even still I have some wonderful memories of the few times we found some big hills to sled down. My grandparents owned a lake cottage. I remember the thrill and excitement as a little girl when the lake would freeze over and we could walk out to the deep section of the lake.

The other winter sport was once a year our grade school arranged a trip about an hour north of us to Pokagon State Park. The park has a large toboggan slide there. I remember fun filled evenings of exhilarating rides down the course with family and friends. This was a double course so we would start and try to see which group could get down the hill the fastest.

My best memories, though, are the times when even my parents got snowed in and could not go to work. They would pull out a big jigsaw puzzle and we would all work on putting it together. We also would spend time together as a family playing board games. These times usually only lasted a day or two at the most but I have many cherished memories from them.

I know snow is harder to drive in and eventually gets dirty but it still brings treasured memories for me so today I will enjoy the snowfall out my window and maybe do something special with my children to celebrate it.