Skip to main content

Celebrating the Blizzard of 2016


Thank you to Ruth Ayres for providing this space to share our celebrations. Please join us and share your own!



I'm sitting in the middle of a giant blizzard. 

6am Saturday morning
I grew up in Massachusetts and I don't ever remember anything like this. I celebrate the extremes of a storm like this. I celebrate the quiet...how the whole world just seems to stop. I celebrate the beauty of the crisp, white snow. I celebrate the exuberance of teachers and students for snow days. I celebrate snow days.
 

As with anything, there are some struggles. It's cold! There's a lot of snow. Sometimes I get scared because I live by myself. The shoveling. It's cold!

Today I choose to celebrate this history making storm.  


I celebrate time with my sweet Bella.



Time to read and write and paint and do. Time to nap and binge-watch tv and rest. Time to write! I celebrate the slowing down and focus on slowing down myself. I don't have to shovel every hour. It will be ok. I'll get out...eventually.

I celebrate watching Bella maneuver her way through the snow. 
   




 I am blessed with a warm home and food to eat. I remind myself that I am never alone...my friends and family love me and my faith keeps me warm and safe.

Wherever you are on this snowy Saturday, I hope you are celebrating and counting your blessings. 
Labels:

Comments

  1. MamaRobinJanuary 23, 2016 at 8:51 AM

    I loved this Michelle! I have a Bella and she is not a fan of snow. I am going to get pictures up later but I wanted to post a comment and let you know I love getting to know you better!

    ReplyDelete
  2. CarolJanuary 23, 2016 at 9:20 AM

    Stay safe and warm! I have both my sons living with me right now, but there have been many years that I have been alone during these storms. They are wonderful and a little lonely/unnerving too. I'm always thankful for my "Bellas" during those times! Take care!

    ReplyDelete
  3. MariaJanuary 23, 2016 at 9:34 AM

    I love how you and Bella embrace the snow! Your line about you're never alone with family and friends is what I am celebrating today also. Stay safe and enjoy the "extra" time for all your favorite activities.

    ReplyDelete
  4. 1981shamrockJanuary 23, 2016 at 9:57 AM

    Love this!!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Michele KnottJanuary 23, 2016 at 11:32 AM

    I hate the snow. A lot. But I live in Chicago and it's inevitable. But there is something about being in your warm house during a blizzard. Time to just be and not go. I just wish it would melt quickly :) Enjoy the quiet! And may Bella find joy in the craziness!

    ReplyDelete
  6. Linda BJanuary 23, 2016 at 11:36 AM

    I've been watching the weather channel to check on you, Michelle, and FB of course. I'm glad you have the power and can stay in, except for Bella of course.I love that final picture of her contemplating that wide expanse.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Margaret SimonJanuary 23, 2016 at 12:29 PM

    I hope you keep power because I am enjoying watching your posts. We are experiencing a fabulous sunny day, but it's cold. Snuggling with your best friend is the best of the cold. Hope you and Bella enjoy snuggle time. And stop shoveling. That looks crazy hard!

    ReplyDelete
  8. BernadetteJanuary 23, 2016 at 1:51 PM

    I am home alone in the snow also. It is a little challenging isn't it? Your Bella is a riot.

    ReplyDelete
  9. JulieanneJanuary 23, 2016 at 3:36 PM

    Bella! What a joy to watch. Sending you warmth and hugs! Enjoy your cozy Saturday. Indoors!

    ReplyDelete
  10. CrystalJanuary 23, 2016 at 3:58 PM

    Our world is so amazing. I have been seeing images of the blizzard on Twitter from earth and space. There are challenges, but beauty too. I'm glad you're safe and have a warm place.

    ReplyDelete
  11. KendraJanuary 23, 2016 at 6:52 PM

    I loved watching Bella on Instagram this morning. I'm thankful for your safety and warmth! Thank you for sharing the pictures.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Terje January 24, 2016 at 9:33 AM

    It's as if the world knows that people need a pause in their constant hurry-hurry-hurry. Everything is fine as long you have warmth, light and food. I loved seeing Bella in the snow. Did you make a snow angel already?

    ReplyDelete
  13. MichelleJanuary 24, 2016 at 10:44 AM

    Is it crazy that I wish I was in the blizzard? For everything you shared - time to slow down, snow days away from school, the calm and quiet of it? I think that if you have to live somewhere cold (I'm in Chicago) you should definitely also get something beautiful to look at!
    Thank you for sharing!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Carol VarsalonaJanuary 26, 2016 at 6:53 PM

    Michelle, did you read Linda Baie's post. She was celebrating time too. I had to laugh at Bella's attempts to navigate the snow. It looked like a tunnel was being dug. We had so much snow that life was at a huge standstill and so I wrote about that as well.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Please share your thoughts. I love comments!

Popular posts from this blog

Whatever Happened To...

Sharing this post on Two Writing Teachers Slice of Life Do you ever wonder whatever happened to your students after the year you spend together? I imagine how my students are finding life...are they happy? Successful? Do they still read? Write? What is going on with them?   I taught fifth grade for eight years. Fifth grade was such a fun year to teach because the students were still young enough that school was something they loved and old enough that they could show some real signs of independence. Fifth grade is the oldest grade in our elementary schools, so the students enjoyed their final year before moving onto middle school and the challenges that came with that new adventure.  2007 was a tough year for me personally. My dad collapsed in September of that year and then died in March of that same school year. He lived thousands of miles away, so my mind was definitely unfocused that year...but that year, Catie was in my class.  Catie was a quiet stude...
29 comments
Read more

Storms

Last night there was a thunderstorm. It was loud. It was bright. The rain was pouring from the sky. Everything stopped. I sat in bed with all of the blinds opened and watched the flashing lightning paint the sky over and over and over again. The thunder boomed and my poor Bella ran under the bed. The rain poured and poured and poured.  I thought about how cleansing a storm can be. While it's happening, it can be scary...just ask my dog...but after it's over, I wake up and feel renewed. Maybe we need to storm sometimes too. Let it all out and see what's left and how it feels. I storm...on the pages my notebook. When I'm frustrated or worried or ecstatic, I open the pages and let it all out. The emotions paint the pages of my notebook...it's all left there. And after, I feel renewed. I breathe more deeply, think more clearly, and feel better. Without thunderstorms, what would spring be? Without writing, who would I be?  I have always been deeply connected to th...
12 comments
Read more

Chasing My Dream

I'm doing it. I'm chasing my dream. I've always wanted to run writing retreats and workshops for people, but I've always been too scared to do anything about it...until now. I don't know what's changed...maybe I've changed. I'm not allowing the fear to stop me anymore. I've started Selah Writing Retreats.  The past couple of weeks I've been getting the business end in order. I thought I would hate that...I don't. It's scary, but I am surprising myself with how efficient I am. Yesterday I went to a bank to set up a bank account. The woman I met with was kind and helpful and so enthusiastic about my dream. My website is set up. I've done lots of work on it. I hope you stop by and let me know what you think. It's  selahwritingretreats.com . Balancing creative with business has been challenging but fun. Creating the website, getting a federal tax id, making business cards, planning dates... My favorite voxer group is called Butt Ki...
21 comments
Read more