Winter Dressingroom

I'm amazed every winter how much "stuff" that we need to remember every time we walk out the front door. Yesterday was no exception as we bundled everyone up and headed out to the pond for the first ice skating of the year. As usual, I was beginning to wonder if it was worth it. There is nothing more frustrating than to spend fifteen minutes putting on your children's snow things than to have the children back inside in five minutes because they're cold or the snow doesn't pack right or they have snow inside their boots. I was thinking these thoughts as the usual winter dressing room became a madhouse.

"Allison, do you have your scarf?"

"Mom, where are my gloves?"

"Austin, don't forget to take your stocking cap!!!"

"Mom, I can't find any more socks. I looked everywhere."

"Derek, do you have to got the bathroom? Remember, there isn't any at the pond!"

MMMMOMMM, I can't find my boots!!!"

"Conrad, take this hot chocolate out to the van."

"Mommmm, I can't get my snowsuit on."

In the middle of all the preparation, I was afraid that I might be forgetting something important for myself. But we were all finally ready to go, we walked out of the winter dressing room, looking like a family of fat teddy bears. We shuffled out to the van and headed out to the pond.

Some of our friends told us that the ice wasn't safe yet, because it hadn't been cold enough yet, but our fears were put to rest when we saw a few others skating, walking, and even preparing to ice fish when we arrived.

We went through the long ordeal of getting everyone's skates laced up, made more difficult with our stiff cold fingers. After lining everyone's boots along the bank so we could find them after we were finished and in the dark, if necessary, the fun began.

I remembered what one of John's friends told him the first year when John asked him if anyone skated on the pond by the park. "We used to do that when we were kids. We would go out and scrape off the snow and skate. Every day my friends would meet! But not anymore. Nowadays, the kids are too lazy. All they do is sit in front of the computer playing games or watching TV!"

I watched my boys whiz over the ice, swinging their hockey sticks. I helped pull children on the sled. Allison kept saying, "Watch me, Mom," as she wobbily skated away only to fall in a giggling pile not far ahead. But, seeing all the red glowing cheeks, the bright sparkling eyes, and the happy smiles made all the time in the winter dressingroom worth it. And as we sipped hot chocolate, steaming warmth swirling around us, I felt a ring of happiness circling my heart. Thank you, God, for family times. May I always remember the fun times when I'm tempted to tire of the winter dressingroom.