Spring Freeze

May 3, 2024, at 3:00 a.m. I awoke and found that our bedroom appeared brighter than normal. Glancing around, I didn’t see any reason for the light. I pushed the blankets away and sat up. Still groggy, I slowly stepped to the window and looked outside.

A fresh layer of snow topped my backyard. The moon glow reflected off the white stuff. Branches of our trees bent under the weight of the snowfall. The playground slide and swings looked lonely in the partial darkness, devoid of children, but full of cold slush. 

Snow in May? Leaning against the windowsill, I peered out into the night where snow coated everything in sight. Our yard appeared more as a week before Christmas than a week before Mother’s Day.

I returned to my partially cooled bed and snuggled under the quilt. Sleep finally returned.

Later that morning, David let our dog, Maya, outside where she pranced around the yard. As a Greater Swiss Mountain dog, she loves the snow. She returned to the house chipper, bounced around, and forced her cold nose into my lap. “Let’s go walking!” she seemed to say.

As the sun slowly creeped over the Teton Mountains, it appeared almost hesitant in the cold morning air. Billows of steam gently rose across the fields as the day warmed a bit.

David and I dressed for the cold May morning. Maya danced next to us, eager to get to her park. Freeman Park sat nestled against the Snake River, dotted with pine, oak, and cottonwood trees. This is Maya’s park. And she knows it. Just ask her. 

Maya’s dark brown eyes glistened as she jumped inside the pickup. Every day, yes, every day we take our dog on a walk either to the park a mile down the road, or around our neighborhood.

When we arrived at the park trail, I pulled my hat up to prevent melted snow and ice from dripping down my neck. As we walked along the path, I watched the turbulent waves bound along the river, listened to birds that chirped and sang, saw the reunion of two Canadian geese, and smelled the cold fresh morning air.

Just last week we brought our trailer out of storage to prepare it for camping. This morning it was covered in snow and ice. 

Now, I had a choice to make. Get disappointed and complain about the cold weather or choose to be grateful.

I have experienced disappointment, discouragement, and even tragedy. Being reflective, I noticed something about myself. I also noticed it in my writing years ago. My work was dark and depressive. I didn’t like it. Yes, I have troubles and trials; however, I get a choice. I can become discouraged, angry, and disappointed, or look for the good in life.

After years of practice to work on my own nature, I added a prayer asking for the spirit of gratitude. As I have worked on this, I recognized something, a thing I didn’t understand at first.

In everything, there is something in which to be grateful. Yes, everything, if you look hard enough. So, today I decided to search for gratitude in the snowy cold spring day. This is what I found:

• Gratitude for a warm house, winter clothes I hadn’t put away yet, and warm snow boots.

• A happy dog, tromping through the snow with her doggy grin.

• Beauty all around.

• Sun peeking through the clouds.

• Fresh, clean air.

• Someone to share the day with me.

• Melting snow.

• A beautiful public park.

• The ability to walk, hear, and see.

The list went on and on. Even though a tinge of disappointment came when I awoke to a snow-filled spring morning, I decided to be grateful and that took away the disappointment. Instead, my heart and mind filled with peace and joy.

Choose a grateful heart.