December 1, 2010

december's dawn

i never thought i would see a winter morning like this!

so blessed!

i was raised in northwestern ontario

where we would have at least a couple of feet of cold, brittle snow

everywhere by the first of december

as kids there was so much snow that we could walk up onto the roof

and then jump off into the snow

crazy, i know!!

we would put our tobaggan behind my brother doug's skidoo

and he would roar up and down the street - for fun!

i have froze many parts of my body:

nose, ears, toes, fingers!

i can still recall what it felt like as they began to thaw out -

tickly and painful all mixed up

and my mom would make hot chocolate

as i thawed

i once made a 'bobsled run' behind our house up in the rocks

and unfortunately hadn't 'banked' the corner with enough snow

and i flew OFF, 

soaring through the air with my little flying saucer under me

at the tune of 50 feet

my greatest mistake:  i let go of the saucer!

it meant i landed up to my neck in thick compact snow!!

 it meant my brother's to leave the hockey game to come  dig me out.

funny i don't recall anyone saying:

debi i am so glad you didn't break your neck!!

haha!

i have gone snow shoeing, cross country skiing, tubing, 

sledding, skating (which to me means falling alot!)

i have trudged through snow up to my thighs,

i have walked to school in freezing temperatures

without a hat!  (highschool!)

i have made snow tunnels, igloos, snowmen,

snow angels 

and all that time in the snow it felt normal

and now??

haha!

i have a new normal

that doesn't include cold, or ice, or snow
it means being able to go out to get this photo at 6:00 in my PJ's
it means never wearing socks,
it means being cold when the temps go down to 68F,
it means having sand in our car all year round,
it means carrying an umbrella to keep the sun off,
it means gardening all year round,
it means eating fresh fruit all year.. every day...

this truly is a dream come true for bob and i
our caribbean home
our tropical life

we don't take it for granted
we know He called us here
how could we say no?
(although i didn't want to come at first, but that is for another time)

we know we have been blessed

so blessed!