Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Snow day

The call comes in early this morning, the one we were waiting for. I listen to the recording with a smile on my face, and hear two sets of feet immediately climb out of their beds and pad softly down the hall to my door.

Even in the darkness, I can see their anxious looks. A nod of my head, cheers from their lips, and a stern shhhh, lest they wake up their sister. I pull the warm blankets up and feel the pull of sleep. I give into it with a grin on my face.

A couple of hours later, I stretch and yawn, relishing in my laziness. I ignore the scale, for surely today it shouldn't count, and slide my feet into the worn, fuzzy slippers. I shuffle downstairs, rubbing the sleep from my eyes, and pull my hair into a ponytail.

I bypass the sugar cereal with a sigh, and reach instead for the heart-healthy fiber one. I sit and read a few blogs, relishing the unhurried feel of the day. Downstairs, the sounds of Bear Grylls float up from the tv, and I smile, thinking that they likely will reenact later whatever insanity shown them. I laugh thinking that maybe even they'll film it.

Next on the schedule is a very clumsy, short-winded run on the treadmill. I think of this newly returned pleasure in my life with a deep sense of gratitude, for the healing that has taken place in my body. I have desperately missed the one thing in my day that makes me feel like me. I am not whole unless I can sweat and strain, working this gloriously imperfect body, pushing it to the limits.

What also tells me that I am, and forever will be, me is the mental note I make WHILE on the treadmill to whip up a batch of chocolate chip cookies.

I finish the run, and look in on my babies. They are snuggled up under a warm blanket, laughing together over a Calvin and Hobbs. The phone rings, and it is the Husband, calling to be a part of it all. I regale him with the exciting stories from our short morning. He chuckles and sighs, wishing he were in town to share it with us.

I take a deep breath, as the tears threaten to spill over, and I thank God for the blessing of this beautiful, imperfect, amazing life he saw fit to trust me with.

I have everything I ever wanted.

And I never want to take it for granted again.

19 comments:

jessica said...

I wished they shut down school when it is below zero around here! It was so hard to get out of bed when it is -15 wind chill and send my babies out into the arctic. I seriously considered keeping them home and I had visions of us in blankets and jammies all day. Enjoy your perfect snow day!

AND YAY FOR HEALING!

Karey said...

What a sweet post. It made me long for a snow day here but that's unlikely. I'm glad you're doing better.

Sarah said...

Three cheers for snow days! We love them! Love the post, too!

ellen said...

We're on the verge of a snow day tomorrow. I'm crossing my fingers. One year I worked for the state and we had SIX snow days that winter! It was heavenly. Someone complained about how early they called. I didn't care when they called if it was to tell me it was a SNOW DAY!

Amy at Ameroonie Designs said...

Thank you for relishing the joy of an unexpected day with your children. For enjoying the slowness and peace of no where to go and nothing to do. Thank you for reminding each of us to pay attention and be grateful for every day- snowed in or not!
xoxo,
Amy

Tristan said...

The simple things always touch my heart too and make me cry :)

3leftturns said...

Why exactly aren't you writing the musings column in a national newspaper?

Lisa-Marie said...

Beautiful. All of it.

You.
Your incredible writer's voice.
Hanging out in jammies all day.
Cookies.
Kids who make you happy.
A husband calling home.

I loved everything about this post.

Emily said...

Oh, I'm so glad you're on the mend. I've had to retype this 20 times myself since my fingers are so cold I keep hitting the wrong keys--just came in from outside and I'm hoping this means we'll have snow day tomorrow. At least I think my primary meeting this evening will be snowed-out :)

Amanda D said...

Love this. Enjoy your snow day!

Liz said...

I love the picture you painted with your words. It's a picture of gratitude and peace. Well deserved, my friend.

Cathy said...

So, are you telling me that some day my kids will get themselves out of bed and I will stay in mine, even go back to sleep while they are awake? I can hardly believe it. Thanks for giving me something to look forward to.

Annie said...

Ah, great words. You have a way with them.
We just got the call that tomorrow will be a snow day since they're forecasting a foot of snow overnight.

Looking forward to a day like that tomorrow.

Meggan said...

Snow days are magical. Love you woman. Reading your previous posts made me cry. I am so sorry for your silent struggles, but am so grateful you're healing.

Juli said...

They have called school for tomorrow already for us. The call came about 3pm today. We are expecting over a foot to fall between 3am tonight and 3pm tomorrow. The best part? I put in for a personal day 3 weeks ago. All of my appointmnets have been canceled, every after school activity, my shift is already covered at work, and there will be no 4am phone call to wake me up.

Now, if I can only get my kids to get along for 5 minutes, I too would be in Heaven. :)

Jeanelle said...

My eyes welled up right along with yours. This was so beautiful. Thank you. Hope the cookies were awesome!

Travelin'Oma said...

Everyone needs a lazy morning, even if it's not snowing. This post is a vicarious snow day. Lovely.

Lauren in GA said...

Stie, you say things so beautifully. I loved evey word.

I am so grateful that you are healing. I can only imagine how bad the pain was before.

We had 2 snow days this week. I know, right? Here in Georgia! My husband even got to stay home. It was bliss.

Stuart♥Maren said...

You are an amazing writer! I love this.