Category Archives: weather

Small Gestures

Winter finally arrived!
The boys slept the entire additional two hours of the snow delay this morning, and our dog, Finn, had more fun playing while I shoveled than a dog should have in one hour. Watching Finn dart in and out of the snowdrifts made shoveling more fun, and was a lovely start to a cold wintery day.
Thinking about Finn made me think about the seemingly insignificant things that can bring us joy. A baby’s laugh. A friend’s well-timed hug. A stranger’s kindness.
That got me thinking about all of the small gestures we do for one another that can lighten our spirits.
A few weeks ago, for example, I ran into Costco for milk.  I was in a hurry and didn’t have time to grab one other thing. As I waited in line, the woman in front of me took one glance at my pathetically small purchase and let me go ahead of her overflowing cart.  She probably waited an extra 3 minutes for that kindness. On top of winning the Costco Miracle Prize for leaving with no unplanned items, I also left with a smile.
What about you? Are there small gestures that make you smile? Do you think we’re more likely to show a kind gesture when we’ve recently been the recipient?

Welcome, Spring!

Midwesterners are known for our friendliness and corn.  We deliver lots of both.  
This week, however, I’m afraid that Old Man Winter won’t be feeling the love. If he doesn’t go away soon, you might not be getting any corn, either!
Why, you ask?  Because just as the sun began staying out a little later and our kids re-discovered shorts, we were greeted this morning with this:

I know I’m not alone in saying “Go Away, Winter.”  Bah,  humbug!

Ready.

photo credit: The Glass Beehive

The spring thaw isn’t at hand, here.  In fact, it’s snowing right now, big wet flakes sure to stick to the many inches that are already there.

But the hope of spring, it’s here.

We all know it’s coming, eventually; we dream of the green grass, the tulips poking through, the buds on the bushes.

But the best thing about spring is the hope it stirs in all of us for a new beginning:  we look forward to spring cleaning for our closets, sure, but for our lives, too.

Sometimes change is thrust upon us, hard, hurting, and the sunshine and new life of spring calls us out of the dark and helps us move forward.

Other times we wallow through the winter, aimless for no real reason, slogging through the slush and clouds until we finally pick ourselves up and dust off the dross in the springtime.

There are days when the snow glistens and the sun shines and winter is a beautiful, gorgeous season.

But I am cold and tired of huddling and ready to skip in the fresh spring air.  Aren’t you?

It’s not near at hand, but it’s coming.  It’s coming.