Winter's Return

As we were preparing for our vacation to come to an end last week, I was having a hard time getting excited about returning home.  The main reason was that I would be leaving wonderful warmth, and retuning to sub zero temperatures.  Not very appealing.  Every advance I'd made as a transplanted island girl adjusting to changing seasons was lost, and I dreaded being cold, and wearing ridiculous amounts of layers.  Luckily, when we returned home the weather had taken a turn, and it was actually pleasant.  I could see the light at the end of winter's tunnel, and began looking forward to spring and plating a garden.  Then I woke up this morning, and was reminded it was still, very much winter.

It had snowed a couple of inches overnight, and it was still cloudy and cold outside.  I felt gloom settle on my shoulders, and I frowned at the white landscape before me.  I layered the kids up for school, then grumbled my way outside to prepare my car.  As I shoveled snow off my hood and windows, I was most likely pouting.  Finally, it was time to bring the kids outside.  Tessie waited next to me as I stuffed Christian and his puffy jacket into his car seat.  I huffed and puffed, and turned towards Tes.

Tessie was standing in the snow with her arms outstretched, and an angelic smile painted across her face.  She giggled, and ran through the fresh powder, kicking up fairy dust as she went.  I felt like an idiot.  What was I grumbling about?  It was absolutely spectacular outside!  I stood and watched Tessie twirling in her winter wonderland for a few minutes, then reminded her that we had to go to school.  She happily walked to the car, humming a magical tune to herself.  I put her in her seat, then looked around my yard again.  The sun was peaking through the clouds and making the snow shimmer, and the air was cool and crisp.  Thanks to my daughter's unknown intervention, I was reminded that I did, in fact, think winter was pretty beautiful.