Being Frederick

The boys have a book that a sweet friend, Mrs. Starr, gave them called Frederick. It's the story of a mouse named Frederick who, while his family of mice is busy gathering food for the winter, seems to sit idly by. When asked about his behavior Frederick says that he is collecting. He collects things like the warmth of the sun and the colors of summer for the cold, gray winter days.

I adopted a mentality much like Frederick's this fall in Illinois. Frankly I think it's because I am scared of what may be coming as fall progresses to our first winter here in the Midwest. We have made the most of getting outside and enjoying the mild weather in October and November. Every chance I could I took the boys outside. We went to different playgrounds and we played in the yard and we went for bike rides and walks. I wanted the boys to soak up as much time outside, as much fresh air and sunshine, as they could. While they could. It was beautiful.

It was also a good idea, because winter has not even arrived yet and we have already experienced our first Illinois snow. On December 4th the forecast called for possible snow showers. By lunch time there was enough snow outside it would have shut down the town back in North Carolina. It was absolutely beautiful though, big fat snow flakes that turned the world soft and silent like a winter wonderland. There was a lot of excitement because of the snow.

Since then, however, I can't recall a day when the temperature has gotten out of the thirties. The temperatures I see when I check the forecast are absolutely crazy to me. Highs in the low twenties. Lows in the single digits. Snowflakes popping up randomly here and there. It's just a different lifestyle up here. The cold weather and snow don't stop life from continuing on and I guess we will learn how to adapt. For now we are bundling up and enjoying the Christmas season. There's something that warms you deep inside when you see the lights on the Christmas tree, stockings hung by the fire, candles filling your house with the smell of peppermint. And then there's always hot chocolate. Lots and lots of hot chocolate.