Ohio Snow Storm: One Family's Experience

This weekend a nice snow storm hit Ohio. In my area we ended up with around a foot of snow. The storm hit around 8 am on Friday morning. I considered not bothering taking my eldest daughter to school, but I did anyway. It wasn't too bad at the time. By 10:30, however, it was getting a bit worse. I was on my way to the chiropractor driving down a stretch of 675 and I saw vehicles already spun out into ditches on the sides of the roads. I even passed a truck parked under an underpass facing the wrong direction. The speed limit on 675 is 65 miles per hour but most people were going between 30 and 40 miles per hour. By the time I left my chiropractor appointment, about an hour later, the snow had already gotten to about ankle deep. I made it home safely, but as I was on my way I saw so many cars on the side of the road. Between the on ramp for the exit before mine and my exit, not much of a distance, there were at least 5 vehicles, including a cement truck, on the side of the road. My husband picked up our daughter from school and brought her home. The snow just kept coming. But instead of being upset about the snow or worrying about it we were able to enjoy it. In fact, we've enjoyed it all weekend.

We could've easily let this wonderful experience pass us by, but we managed to stop and realize what a great bonding experience it could be. Today for instance, Monday, my 4 year old wanted to play in the snow. I almost blew her off, because I was actually getting house work done while the baby was napping. Thankfully I didn't. Instead of getting a load of laundry done and the floors cleaned up, I threw on a coat, my husband's gloves, and pulled my snow boots on over top of my pajama bottoms and went out in the snow with her. We built a snowman together and had a snow ball fight. We laughed and enjoyed some one on one time. Something we don't really do enough of.

Yesterday was another good example of this. A neighbor had called the night before to invite the girls and I over to try out their make-shift snow hill. Of course, the girls really wanted to go. We don't have many neighbors left around where we live, so any chance my girls get to socialize is really important to them. The thing is, I'm a shy person and don't really know the neighbors very well. We share a mutual friend. Normally I would make an excuse as to why we just couldn't do it, not admitting that I really just felt uncomfortable doing it. This time, though, I thought of my girls and agreed to take them. So in the morning, yesterday, the girls and I went out in the front yard to wait for the neighbors to come out and play. While waiting we made snow angels all over the front lawn. We had a snowball fight. And my 4 year old ate snow. It was white, at least. Then we went over to the neighbor's house where my girls went sledding down the make-shift hill, had a snowball fight with the neighbor's son, and played. They made a new friend and we made new memories. Good memories.

I wasn't the only one enjoying the winter fun with them though. Their dad was able to take them outside a few times as well, while I stayed inside snuggling with the baby. They shoveled the snow together. They built a snowman, which was much nicer than mine since my husband has made them before. They had snowball fights with him, and ran around with him and the dog. It was a special chance for them to play with their dad. A chance for them to make cherished memories, with him, as well.

Our girls even enjoyed some one on one sister time playing, in the yard, in the snow together. Something they don't get to enjoy enough. They chased each other and the dog around in the snow. Played games. Pretended to plant a tree in the snow using a stick. And then came inside together, stripped off their snow suits and begged for hot cocoa.

These are the moments we live for. Moments that could've easily been missed, by the disappointment of the snow storm interrupting our desire for it to be Spring already. I'm thankful that we got to share this time. I'm thankful for the snow storm. And I'm thankful we're all safe.