-- Isaiah 9:2
Winter can be a dismal, cold, dark time. Yet I came across a wonderful article about a woman’s remembrances of winter as a child, growing up on a farm: Memories of playing in the snow, the smell of hay in the barn, being able to cuddle with her Dad in the comfy chair during long winter nights.
Her words turned a dark season into light for me. So I suppose that’s why I found myself a week ago in -18 Celcius weather, outside with my daughter, digging a tunnel in a snow drift. And loving it and not feeling the cold.
At our seniors’ service at our local care homes, the Lodge and Extended Care, we re-told the woman’s stories of winter memories. We’d added photos. One resident many of us know through her previous volunteer work with the food bank until her health meant she could no longer live alone. She's doing well now with assistance.
After we told the story of winters gone-by, we asked for people's own reminisces: With a smile that reached to her eyes, this woman was the first to speak: “Playing in the snow at night during a Full Moon.”
Amazing. What a wonderful memory. “The people walking in darkness have seen a great light.”
It’s nearly a year since we started the Mommy and Me exercise class run by ourselves, The Energy Shop and the Health and Wellness Coalition. So it was time for evaluations. Its delighted us at the highly positive evaluations and the gratitude of the Moms that the program is available for them. There are also comments on quality of life. For many Moms being at home with their children day after day can be wearing, bringing on low, depressed times. Yet having the exercise, some said, improves mood and gives them more energy to be the parents they want to be.
From darkness to light.
