One Day...I WILL Love Snow Again

This week, we had our first snow. It wasn't huge...more than a dusting, but not enough to warrant a shovel. Just a thin blanket covering everything.

I happened to be grocery shopping when it started, so when I came out of the store, flakes flung against my cheek and melted in my mouth. I turned my head against the strong wind and wondered WHY that day, of all days, I'd gone to the store by myself. I think it's the third time in my married life Ryan and I have not shopped together. {He was busy installing lights in the bathroom.} I loaded the bags into the car, ran the cart across the lot to the corral, and scraped off the car. Because yes, it had come down quickly enough that in the half hour I spent in the store, I already had to scrape.

Here's the thing...I used to love snow. It's the writer in me. I love the beauty of white fluffiness piling up on the ground and blanketing the trees - especially evergreen trees. I couldn't wait to pull on my boots and wander into the yard with my camera to take pictures.

I loved curling up with coffee and a blanket and watching the snow fall outside the window. I especially loved falling asleep during a snowfall - my eyes growing heavy while I caught glimpses of fluttering flakes outside the bedroom.

And then I became a commuter.

My morning trek transformed from 2 minutes to an hour, and the distance between my house and my job was no longer walkable. In fact, it became largely interstate travel. And for those of you who don't live in Indiana, you can't possibly understand the apparent curse that falls over the section of I-69 between Fort Wayne and Indianapolis with each snowfall. And the armpit of that curse is Grant County. {That's where I live.} Accidents manifest out of nowhere on that stretch of road in the winter.

Snow moved from being a beautiful, magical inspiration that made me want to brew a new pot of coffee and curl up with my journal to being an enemy to defeat with each commute.

Last winter was worse than the one before, and on the snowy days, Ryan would tuck me into his four wheel drive car {I'd already be in tears from the fear of it all}, nestle my coffee cup into the cup holder, where I would proceed to leave it because I couldn't pry my hands from ten and two. I'd lean forward in the seat and press gingerly on the gas pedal, afraid to go too quickly and risk ditching his gorgeous car.

It took me double the time to get to and from work some days, and I'd arrive at my destination, heart pounding, mouth whispering prayers of thanks for another safe journey.

And the other night, as I grumbled my way through the parking lot at the store while the first flakes of the year flew down over me, I began to ache for the day when snow transforms away from being my enemy and back into being the magical wonderland I used to love.

I have no idea when God will allow us to move closer to work, but I am looking forward to the side blessing of getting to love snow again. Because despite its annoyances for the commuting world, it is truly one of God's most beautiful creations - at least in this writer girl's heart.

 Thankfulness, Day 14: Yesterday I had the most wonderful time hopping from blog to blog, learning much and finding myself encouraged by posts and comments. Blogging has been a huge part of my life since I began this little corner of the web, and I've made dear friends here. So today - I'm thanking a blogger (perhaps more than one!) who has impacted my life just by showing up on the internet and sharing life. I'm guessing if you're reading this, you like blogs too - so pick a blogger and let her/him know you're grateful!