Blizzard Bliss

What? Surely you read that title wrong? No, actually, I am serious. Wednesday we got so much snow the power went out. If you would have told me a few days ago that I'd enjoy it I would have said you were out of your mind! The thought of another snow storm and being snowed in another few days was not appealing. Ruby has yet another cold, so Jeff went out in the blizzard Wed morning to hit the natural food store for a safe, natural cough medicine. We had just found out about it the day before but didn't get a chance to get some. Ruby was coughing BAD Tuesday night and we both really wished there was something we could do for her. So off her loving Daddy went to get the goods. He was probably the only customer they had all day! We had already gotten so much snow Tuesday night that we were shocked the store was even open. They will have regular customers in us! I've already gone back (today) for some healthy snacks and homeopathic remedies.

So... Ruby got her Chestal honey cough syrup and it helped a great deal. We all settled into the fact that we'd be indoors and made the best of it. Ruby & I played and did crafty stuff while Daddy worked and then later he came down to join us. Thank God for our neighbors. They called us around 5 or 6pm to say their daughter (in a near-by town) had lost power and we should crank up our heat NOW - just in case. We did just that and it was actually so warm we were taking off layers. It's a good thing we did! Jeff made us a homemade pizza for dinner with fresh mozzarella and basil (YUM) and Ruby got chicken noodle soup (which is her favorite). We were at the dining room table just finishing our last bites when the power went out. Perfect timing.

Ruby is such a brave little thing. She was startled when it first happened, and said "OH", followed by "LIGHT!" I held her hand and told her it was okay as Daddy went for the flashlights we had set out. Daddy was by our side in 2 seconds with the flashlight and as soon as Ruby spotted it she was thrilled. She carried one around for the rest of the night and that was that. Never mentioned the lights or anything. I think she "got it" somehow. Or maybe it was that she was having too much fun to notice they didn't come back on.

It was so nice to just sit around together. We looked at books and played with toys by flashlight and candlelight. She took such joy in the night as if we planned this just for her. Daddy made us cookies on the grill (since that was the only thing still working and NOT covered by mounds and mounds of snow) and you know what? They weren't too bad! They were rather flat and crunchy, but still tasted good! Gotta love a man who goes out in a blizzard to "grill" cookies for his kid! The house stayed warm for a good long time, plus we all 3 snuggled under a big down blanket. Thankfully, my computer was charged so we took it up to bed and watched one of Ruby's favorite Barbie movies - The Princess & the Pauper. Very cute. With Jeff & Ruby emanating some serious body heat I was actually a little warm at first. But it was great and oh so cozy. Those 2 are ALWAYS warm, while I am adding layers of clothes most of the time! Ruby smiled so brightly when she realized we were going to watch a movie in bed. (We've never done this before). At one point Daddy had his arm around her and I was holding her hand. We were all snuggled up really close. She just looked at his arm and then at him. Then she looked up at me and then down to where my hand was holding hers. She gave us the sweetest smile and raised her shoulders up and down in this excited cute little sigh of a way. It was then that I realized that bliss can be found anywhere. It doesn't have to be the ideal weather or situation. It just requires love and a little effort to go with whatever comes. Glad we went with it!

BTW, heat kicked on at 3am...just as the house was starting to get chilly. I couldn't help but think how lucky we were to have stayed warm enough that whole time. I laid awake for awhile thinking how fortunate we are in our lives to have a home, to have warmth, and to have each other.