Where I am from, we are hardy–and hearty–folks.I think the weather we face every winter causes us to take stock annually about who we are. We are not wimps. We can be whiners. We can drink wine to get through the long dark winters. All that said, we are survivors. We know that if we pull on enough layers we can get through the darkest, coldest moments.

What is it in life that makes you bundle up? What do you pull on to get through a crisis? How long before you find God in it? We snow folks know how to have faith and hope. We know the darkness is not going to last an eternity. The sun will come out. The warmth will return. Flowers long hidden under metres of snow will push through soil and bring joy again to all who witness their glory.

Pull on your toques and mitts proudly. They help to define us at our depths and teach us valuable lessons. The short reprieves we get along the way are an answer to prayer. We can stand still for a moment and know that this too will pass while being grateful for the moment of warmer weather before the polar vortex on a temper tantrum returns.

Peace,

Suzanne