January 14

We drove up to Adam's parents' cabin in the Sierras last night, so today was all about fun in the snow. (For most of us. Those of us --me-- who shoveled solid ice off the driveway when we got here so we could inch the car off the road were sore a bit sore in the back and core regions, so we spent a little less time in the great outdoors and a little more time hanging out beside a nice, warm gas fireplace. But I digress.)

It doesn't snow where we live, so the kids are completely obsessed with the stuff. They had a great time digging and building snow people and bombing down the hill in big inner tubes. (I went once --with Brady-- and didn't hit a tree, so I considered it a success and promptly retired from the sport.) Me? I don't particularly like being cold, but I liked hearing them laugh, and I loved seeing the delight spread across their faces as they threw snowballs and raced down the hill along the tubing path. And later, after dinner, I enjoyed watching them make smores in the fireplace.

All good things. All blessings. And a good reminder for me that though an activity may not rank high on my personal list of favorites, the act of watching the people I love enjoy themselves ranks pretty darn high all by itself.