Am I Back in South Dakota?

I woke up this morning, Monday, April 2nd and saw...snow. Yep, there was snow on my car when I awoke. I really wasn't looking forward to getting up this morning, because it was my first time using my alarm clock and waking before 9 a.m. in two weeks! Yes, that's right all of you moms out there, I slept past 9 a.m., EVERY SINGLE DAY! It was glorious!

My alarm going off at 6 this morning was a bit of a rude awakening. I quickly smacked the snooze button down and rolled over. Ten minutes later off it went again. The thing was seriously beginning to annoy me. I hit the button, harder this time, hoping it would get the message. It didn't. Ten minutes later I was again awakened from my wonderful slumber and decided I had better roll out of bed since I actually had to work today.

The nice thing about last week was that Kevin was already back to work. Every day I would weakly open my eyes for my good morning/goodbye kiss and sleepily reach my arms into the air for my hug as he left around 7:30. Then I thoroughly enjoyed closing my eyes for another two hours of bliss. Once I finally awoke, I crawled out of bed into a home that was already warmed, since my sweet husband had already turned up the fireplace to get it nice and toasty for me. The television was already on so I could catch my favorite morning shows. All I had to do was shuffle to the kitchen, pour a bowl of cereal, and veg some more!

This morning, well all I can say is UGH! I got up and crept out of our bedroom to a freezing cold house! I ran into the living room and cranked up the fireplace. I always do this and then Kevin turns it down as he leaves for school. I peaked out of the curtains and saw the snow. As I flipped on the tv, my fears were realized. The lovely Global Morning News traffic lady perkily reported that traffic was very slow and backed up pretty much everywhere around the Lower Mainland. Joy.

I got ready and ran out to start my car. I scraped the snow off my car, started it up, and dashed back into the house. What was going on? Was I back in South Dakota? Were we really have snow...in April?

It reminded me of one of the biggest snowstorms I can remember from my teenage years. It too, came in April, closer to the middle of the month, I believe. We were out of school almost an entire week. Our main forms of transportation were actually snowmobiles! My cousins had to come and stay at our house because theirs had no power, and when my other relatives across the field ran out of food, my mom sent my cousin, Matt, and I out on the snowmobiles to deliver boxes of food to them. I remember that we actually got lost in a field that we had spent hours in each summer because of a whiteout. I remember that being one of the scariest moments of my life. When Matt finally found the ditch that we recognized and we were able to make our way back home I felt such relief!

Thankfully, today was nothing like that, but the closer I drove to work, the snowier it became. Abbotsford was blanketed in big, fat flakes. I saw three accidents in the space of less than a mile and began to wonder how wise we were to actually have school. I was thinking I could have used another day at home.

Once I got to work everything changed. I love being a teacher. Those kids just energize me and they make me laugh and smile, and I learn so much from them! I know, I'm the teacher, I should be the one teaching, right? I do my share, but I also learn from them. I learn about what the life of a teenager is like right now, and it isn't always easy. I learn about what their home life is like and how they handle the situations that they are faced with. I learn about my walk with God through my devotions with them each morning. I love those kids. They make my day better and brighter and full of joy.

Around lunchtime, I noticed my mood changing. I was no longer grumpy about being back at work. I didn't mind the big, fat flakes falling outside of my window. In fact, I decided to look at them as things of beauty instead! Around 1:30 the sun broke through the clouds and for brief, shining moments the world outside of my classroom windows was pure, white, and like a fairytale. Then it started melting.

By the time I arrived home from work at 4, the sun had melted away all of the snow. The daffodils and cherry blossoms could breathe once again and I got outside for some fresh air and girl time in a walk with my friend.

I think I really am back in South Dakota! Only there could the weather flip that fast in one day! It feels like home.