Every Little Thing by April Jeppson

 

So we got some snow.

I knew it was coming. Everyone knew. As I was driving home from work on Tuesday, I saw everybody out in their yards. Literally every person in Albert Lea was either mowing their lawn or bagging leaves — everyone.

It’s comical when you think about how used to this we are. Oh there’s snow coming? Well I better get that lawn mowed one last time. Wouldn’t want that pile of leaves to sit under the snow all winter. Even if the snow melts, it’ll leave a big pile of wet leaves that I’d rather not deal with — so I better mulch them up right now.

So everyone went outside on Tuesday after work. Everyone went in to their yards and for perhaps the last time in 2019, we all put in a last ditch effort to take care of our grass. Yes, I said “We.” My husband hurried home on Tuesday and informed me he was going to mow our grass real quick before the snow came in.

As I was coming home from my second job on Tuesday, the snowflakes were beginning to fall. I don’t take much stock in early snowfalls. I figured it’d be melted by the time the school bus came in the morning. I wasn’t stressed about the snow one bit.

When I woke up Wednesday I was a tad shocked. Not only was their snow, but there was a significant enough amount to warrant shoveling and cleaning off my car. I thankfully had enough foresight to get the children’s winter coats, snowpants and boots all ready the night before. I didn’t figure we’d have more than an inch, but I didn’t want the kids late for school because we couldn’t find their stuff.

My children are still at that glorious age where snow excites them. There was no moaning or groaning Wednesday morning — at least not from them. Honestly, I don’t think I complained. I bundled the kids up and they gladly walked to the bus stop. Them gladly walking and me not having to drive them? Well, I don’t believe I had anything to complain about at all.

By the time I went in to work, the roads where plowed. At work it continued to snow, but I was safe and warm inside. I got to enjoy looking at the giant snowflakes and enjoy the beauty of all the new white outside.

I am not ready for snow. I’m pretty sure I’ve still got summer stuff in my backyard. A few garden decorations, a couple lawn chairs — maybe even a rug on my back deck now that I think about it. Everyone was so concerned with mowing and picking up the leaves, I completely forgot about the other things that need to be done before it snows.

I love living in a place that has four seasons. I enjoy the heat of the sun in the summer, and I also enjoy the snowflakes on my eyelashes in the winter. That being said, I’m totally not ready for the change in seasons. So let’s raise our hot chocolates and hope that this will melt soon so I can finish getting my yard ready for winter.

Albert Lean April Jeppson is a wife, mom, coach and encourager of dreams.