*

It snowed for hours today and I was stuck inside just watching. Jason and I played Ticket to Ride this morning after he drove all the way to work for a meeting that he didn't find out had been canceled until he got there... awesome. The roads were horrible. I made dinner early (around noon) so Jason could take it with him to work. It was nice to only have to reheat dinner rather than cooking a full meal as I became lazier and lazier as the day stretched on. I straightened up the house after Jason left for work and while David was napping. Then David and I just played the rest of the day until bed time - I love days where I'm not ridiculously busy and therefore feel like I'm neglecting my child. David and I spent a fair amount of time straightening up our mess for the second time today before bedtime.

Once he was in bed and the dishwasher was running, I got the urge to go outside. When I lived at home, the days that brought snow were my favorites. Chores took at least twice as long only because I wanted them to... I loved being out in the snow. The unique quietness that accompanies it on my parents farm is something I remember very vividly. Just past their big, red barn is the gate that leads to one of the pastures - the one with the giant hill. I used to beg Dad to dive the tractor down the hill so I could use the tire tracks for sledding. Without fail, there was always a new lamb or two born during a snow storm... sheep are never easy or convenient! Sure enough, today, Dad got out the tractor and drove down the hill for my little brother to go sledding on and new lambs were born... and I am home sick.

It was these memories and talking to my little brother today that inspired me to take a trip outside tonight. It was cold and dark and very windy. There are no big red barns in my back yard nor did a man show up with a tractor. There are bright lights from our apartment building and noisy neighbors... yet I was still able to stand there and "hear" the quietness. There was nothing outside except a perfect blanket of snow... no one had walked through it or made it into a snowman yet. Though the setting is vastly different, I still felt at home. So far, I've done nothing but grumble about the snow we've gotten this winter and how I'm ready for spring. Today, I was able to stand there and appreciate the snow. Besides, it will be gone soon enough and when it is, I always miss it ;)