The Pending Storm

     As I write this, the threat of a huge storm looms in the near future, making me wonder how much snow we will really get. Two years ago we had storm after storm, making the snow drifts along the sides of our driveway taller than us. It got to a point where we could not throw any more snow over the top without it rolling back down onto our feet.
      I grew up in a state where snow was just an every day event. Whether it was a little flurry, or a huge snowstorm, we made do with the way things were and did not run out to buy bread and toilet paper at every appearing of a little snowflake. We still went to school in the blizzards - the buses simply put chains on their wheels and drove those dirt roads every day. The snowball fights at the bus stop were a lot of fun and they kept us warm as the temps dipped way down into the teens.     
     Oh, by the way, did you know that Snowflake Bentley, the first person to actually photograph snowflakes, was from Vermont? Jericho, Vermont, the very place where I got married! 
     I was just looking at the weather and I am thinking that maybe, just maybe, we will get the amount of snow they are predicting. I have become quite skeptical with their predictions lately - it seems like the more modernized and technologically minded we get, the less we can predict what is coming our way. Anyway, enough of that. :) From the looks of it, it should begin snowing Friday morning and not stop until Saturday afternoon. Oh, what fun! I know what we will do on family fun night Friday evening! If it is not too windy, we will go outside and sled down the small hill next door, walk along the road, and taste the snowflakes on our tongues. Then, we will come inside and enjoy some hot chocolate with marshmellows and popcorn, and curl up to watch a movie as the snow continues to fall. The only thing I will miss is the hissing of a woodstove as it lights up the room, sending out its warmth. I remember the times I would stand in front of it, heating up my backside for as long as I could stand it, and then race to the couch and sit down as fast as I could. I am surprised I did not burn myself doing that! Ha ha. :)  
     There were the times we would play King of the Mountain in the snow piles the snowplow made in our driveway (note: see the picture at the bottom).  My brother always was the one who seemed to be the king, but it was fun trying to get up onto the top all the same. Snowforts, with chairs and tables made out of snow, as well as snowball fights and sledding parties were all part of the winter picture.
     I know I don't have the stamina to be outside as long as I used to be, nor can my back take too much strain, but it is a wonderful thing to watch the kiddos play and romp in it, sinking in to their knees or deeper, making snow angels and entire body formations in the white fluff. My boys will also build character as they learn to shovel for other people and work hard to clear the driveway and walkways. Yes, I am looking forward to this storm. It may be the storm of the year, but I know for a fact it will not be the storm of my lifetime. To me it is just what winter is all about-pretty snow outside and special family time inside.

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