Well, the sun is now shining, but earlier this week, we had winter moisture in nearly all of its frozen forms. On Monday, while I was driving to pickup children all over metropolitan OKC, we got a lot of sleet and fog which then turned into black ice. Driving was simply a nightmare, and I saw many cars crashed on the side of the highway. In fact, I slid through an intersection myself. It was that dangerous. Monday night we had snow which made my youngest child, Miss Bear, overjoyed. Her siblings were also doing the happy dance because their schools were closed.
In central Oklahoma, we don’t get many snow and ice opportunities. Some years, we get three or four snow events. Other years, no snow at all. It is even more rare for us to have enough snow to sled. When Bear woke Tuesday morning, she opened the doors to an inch and a half of snow and ice. She clapped her hands together and gathered her sledding gear. I was just grateful I didn’t have to drive anywhere.
After breakfast, she went outside and made run after run. Then, she came back in, despondent.
There are few children in our rural neighborhood, so she had no one to join her. Only a year ago, her brother, ASW, would have been outside before she was, but he’s too old now. She didn’t even dare ask the Diva.
I was at the computer, of course. I was busy. More than busy; I had an article due for Oklahoma Gardener, and posts for RDR and Examiner to write. I tried to ignore her pleading silence at my back, but . . . .
There’s a moment when your child looks at you. She’s so sad and lonely, you want to scoop her up in your arms. You start to, but can’t because she’s too big for that. It’s then that you realize she’ll be a teenager in the blink of an eye. Then, she won’t want you to play with her anymore. I also thought of my friend, Staci, and how she’d once checked her girls out of school to play in the snow.
I shut down the computer. Writing could wait.
Her face brightened. “Can we go down the big hill?”
The big hill is the one next to the road by our house. I don’t let her outside the fence line without me or one of the big kids.
We gathered the other sled and pretty soon, we were going down the hill at breakneck speed. I hadn’t sledded in years. I told myself I would be sore in the morning, but every time I felt that whoosh, I didn’t care. As we trudged up the hill for about the fifth time, the falling snow pelting our faces, Bear said “This is hard.”
“It’s great exercise, though,” I said. She looked at me, and we both grinned.
Going uphill may be great for the body, but sledding downhill is exercise for the soul. How about getting some of that kind of exercise today?
Dee – You are a very wise woman. You made the right choice and it warmed my heart to read your post today. We all need to do more of that..Stopping to experience life with our kids while we still can. They grow so fast!!
Thanks for planting that thought in my head today. I plan on acting on it more often.
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What a wonderful way to spend time together! THe sore muscles will fade but the memories you made will stay with you both.
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How wonderful Dee, you will both treasure this memory. BTW your home looks lovely and so cosy.
We were due in OKC for 2 days Tues/Weds, after seeing the mess you described on TV, we delayed it until the end of the week!
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What lovely pictures! I have a brother in Stillwater and I know it’s been quite of season of weather in OK lately, rivaling what we have in New England!
I’m so glad you took that opportunity to play in the snow. We have to seize the opportunity!
Also wanted to let you know that yyou’ve been “tagged.” If you’d llike to play this fun game in the blogosphere, please visit:
http://everydaywomanusa.wordpress.com/2009/02/01/tag-youre-it/
We’re due for another “big one” on Tuesday. I’m hoping as I’m a kid at heart when it comes to snow!
All the best,
Ruth
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It’s such fun having snow and being able to go downhill! Looks great!
Katarina
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Hi Dee, what a fabulous heart warming post, it melted all the ice in your photo for me. You are a great mom and a wise one to know what lies ahead as the kids get older. But beyond the teenage years will come a mother and chld reunion and they will once again think you are their best friend. I have’t gone sledding in years, we have no snow in this part of TN although they are calling for some next week. Do take care on that black ice! Yikes!
Frances
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dee, i am so glad you left the computer and opted for sleding, where you sore? we are expecting snow on monday but hopefully enough to play in this time.
i love your pillow case collection. i have some of these too from my grandmother and have often tried to think of something to do to put them on display. it is great that you are using yours but i am strickly opposed to ironing.
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Sounds like fun! I love sledding, haven’t been in quite a while. Perhaps I’ll keep that in mind.
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Lovely post and it sounds like you had a great time. I gotta say, that must be the minimal required amount of snow for sledding!
You are a good mom! You built some special memories with her that day.
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I am surprised the other kids didn’t go out once Mom was out there sledding. That is always a big draw!
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What a great time spent with your girl. Like brenda, we had beautiful weather today. I wasted it taking a nap after work. If it is pretty again tomorrow, we are going on a hike.
I spent my Saturday outside in shorts and a T-shirt cleaning the pond and working the garden. Different forms of fun!
Brenda
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What a precious memory you made for your little Bear. I am proud of you for doing it.
One of my few memories of my Dad was when we made a snowman together. He died when I was very young. Sigh..
Don’t waste time in front of a computer when you can be feeding the soul of you both.
Your garden looks beautiful even during winter.
An important choice and a wonderful memory for both of you! I love your phrase, Dee, ‘sledding downhill is exercise for the soul’….warmest thought, Gail
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Good for you, stepping away from the computer and into real life! It’s hard to balance it all for me, too. I’m often trying to type with my baby on my lap (so can I blame any misspellings on her?) while my other two are tapping me on the shoulder, asking for something. Best of luck trying to get it all done – or if not all, at least the most important things. – VW
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What a lovely way to spend time with your daughter – I’m sure it is something you will both remember for a long time and look back on and laugh. I think we all forget that spending time with our children is important – time is so short.
You so made the right decision. I hope you two crafted some great memories out there. What a great way to end a difficult week.
Looks like a great time. Love the pictures of the water.
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Ah, yes, that wonderful freedom of going down a hill on a sled. I remember that. Perhaps I need to find a hill around here and try that again!
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ah, you are such a sweetheart! Good for you and the baby Bear.
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What fun! And truly…exercise for the soul. Good memories for both of you.
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