Frozen Beauty

The last time there was snow in the forecast, we got no more than a handful of pathetic, hard pellets. I knew it was going to be cold, today, and even though Elena and I walked through rain and sleet on the way to school I didn't really expect anything interesting. Boy was I wrong.


Huge fat flakes whirled around us like startled flocks of icy doves, dropping feather-soft down that melted on our cheeks. Joseph and I tried to catch some on our tongues while James loved feeling the crunch of snow under his shoes.


The simplest things became magical--a gap in the fence became a portal to an untouched world, bright green leaves practically glowed under a dusting of white.


We'd slip back inside for warm apple cider when our hands were red and aching from the cold, but James would cry and run to the door, begging for more.


Elena's class got to go out three times and she loved the snowball fights with her friends.


When Jonathan finished work he helped Elena and Joseph gather snow from all the cars to use in their snowman. It doesn't look all that happy, but that might be because it knows tomorrow is going to be warmer.


It's been a while since I've laughed so much at such small things. It's been beautiful.