Whether the Weather Be Cold...

Whether the weather be cold or

Whether the weather be hot

We'll weather together, whatever the weather

Whether we like it or not! 

(Little Bear's chant with his family during the Winter solstice)

It seems to me that some much needed encouragement came in the way of my daughters watching Little Bear this afternoon. Right at the most poignant time too. This is how the conversation was going with my sister right before the much needed Little Bear episode.


Me: I'm crabby.

Her: Lisa, you need to be content. You need to find joy in the little things and focus on what is most important.

Me: Blah. Blah. Blah.

Her: Nice.

Her: Have you prayed about how to handle the girls? Have you prayed for wisdom to focus on what is important?

Me: Yeah. Yeah.

You can see who the mature one is here (despite the fact that I am actually the older sister!).

The truth is the weather IS wearing on me. I don't recall a grayer, snowier winter...or perhaps I just don't recall the winter ever affecting me this much. I'm tired, tired, tired. Seriously, by 6:30 I want to go to bed. I don't have the motivation to do the things I normally do. I'm crabby. I know, I know...I'm trying to be peaceful and joyful, but it FEELS hard right now...In the past I thought the "winter blues" or SAD (seasonal affective disorder) were just  nice little terms for some mild winter blahs, but this year I get it...I FEEL it physically and emotionally.

So anyway, I don't want to be a total downer here...just being transparent, as usual!

I finally put the t.v. on for the girls because I was cleaning up the kitchen for the 72nd time today and imagine my surprise when it was the Little Bear episode that gave me a little pick me up (not the cookies we had made, or the extra coffee I drank, or the chocolate and noodles I had already eaten!). They started chanting the above rhyme and my ears perked right up. I've actually printed it out and put it smack dab in the center of my fridge!

I like their little poem. It's about getting through things as a family. It's about life not always being exactly as we'd like, but getting through it together. It's why God blessed us with spouses and children!

AND, to add more fun to the day, at the end of the show Little Bear's friend Emily's grandmother scooped up some snow from outside their window, added some cream and honey in a bowl and made snow cream! I thought "I've got to look this one up online!"

Sure enough...I found a recipe for snow cream! Here it is:

SNOW CREAM

Ingredients

• 1 gallon snow
• 1 cup white sugar
• 1 tablespoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups milk

Directions

1. When it starts to snow, place a large, clean bowl outside to collect the flakes. When full, stir in sugar and vanilla to taste, then stir in just enough milk for the desired consistency. Serve at once.

The girls and I are going to make some of this after their naps later. Ava loved the idea!

If you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

If life hands you lemons (or snow!) make lemon-aid (or snow cream!)

All of my woes are not solved...I'm looking into a sun lamp and starting Fish Oil (the Omega 3's are supposed to help...I'm already taking Vitamin D!), because I do think I need a little boost if I'm going to make it joyfully through the rest of the Buffalo winter, BUT, in the meantime...

"Whatever the weather we'll weather together, whether we like it or not!"