it’s a crowded and cozy.  perhaps thats the best kind of description for winter.  the kids don’t get dressed for days, and i wear my robe like a bear wears its fur and extra fat.  we stay in and snuggle until we stir and stir and start acting like bears with a bite.  with no other choice we leave our den and do despearte things like taking toddlers to the mall, or kids to fancy restuarants we fancy.  anything to get out, which usually results in us rushing right back in.

i never wish winter away before it comes.  i welcome it.  embrace it.  appreciate it.  it’s quaint.  it’s quiet.  it’s a covering of fresh white.  until it’s dirty, half metled brown, bares all, crowded, and loud.

i find winter a time for warring with opposites.

it’s a crowded and cozy. perhaps thats the best kind of description for winter. the kids don’t get dressed for days, and i wear my robe like a bear wears its fur and extra fat. we stay in and snuggle until we stir and stir and start acting like bears with a bite. with no other choice we leave our den and do despearte things like taking toddlers to the mall, or kids to fancy restuarants we fancy. anything to get out, which usually results in us rushing right back in.

i never wish winter away before it comes. i welcome it. embrace it. appreciate it. it’s quaint. it’s quiet. it’s a covering of fresh white. until it’s dirty, half metled brown, bares all, crowded, and loud.

i find winter a time for warring with opposites.

It’s a loud kind of quiet.  Not only within the home, but also within ourselves.  drawn inward.  less time in contact with others, and more time to be in tune with ourselves.  fewer conversations with friends, and more chatter with oursevles.  not much room to wander and too much room for thoughts to take a walk.

the outdoors, often, mirroring the indoors of our homes and our hearts.  i relish the extra time to read and reflect, relax and retreat.  my introvert self soaks it in, really.  until, the cozy turns to crowded.   because thoughts can get just as crowded as homes and just as wild as kids when there is no where else for them to go.  i’m starting to believe that this when the white of winter turns to blue.  so give your thoughts a place to go.  even if it is a desperate as taking multiple toddlers to the mall.  write them out, if you are a writer.  talk them out if you like the chatter.  just get them out.  on paper or over the phone.  from crowded back to cozy.  with room to winter on the rest of the winter.

yesterday,  we had a blizzard.   not the kind you order at the dairy queen (although that sounds sweet), but the 30 mile an hour wind blowing kind.  i’m all for white if it’s going to be winter.  blizzards bring excitement.  snow forts and school cancelled.  grilled cheese and tomato soup.  hot chocolate and housebound.  it’s cozy, but by the end of the day it will be crowded.  the kids in their pajamas and me, again, wrapped in my robe.  and, we will winter on.

i would love to know how you fair in the winter, lovelies.  do you retreat or reach out?

p.s. i’ll be sharing more about fighting the winter blues this week, but for now here are a few of my favorite ways, that i shared last winter.

p.p.s – the robe, is by barefoot dreams and i’m a believer.  i literally had to throw away my last one, because i wore it away and got this new long one for christmas.  you can get it here.  the travel shawl is on my wish list!