Logbook, Date: January 82nd.

Morale is low. Troops are suffering apathetic moods. Low motivation to accomplish anything but holding down a couch. Three months ago eyes were alight with wonder and excitement as the first snow fell. Now, even the thought of another flake of snow is enough to send some cowering under beds.

No one gets up on time anymore. Everyone rolls around in bed, hoping they accidentally slept until the end of April. Get dressed? Why bother.

Rations are completely boring and unappetizing. Everything seems the same, everything tastes the same. Hotdish, crockpot, pizza, hotdish, crockpot, pizza. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. Some have resorted to skipping meals, I think, out of complete boredom.

Dreams consist of bright sunshine, warm dirt, worms, plants poking through the soil to catch the rays. Most have forgotten what the sunshine even feels like it’s been so long. I even dreamt of hanging clothes on the line the other night. What is wrong with me?!

Landscape appears to have smoothed itself into one interminable plain. There are no ditches, no hills, no valleys. Everywhere is just a large white plain. Or maybe a sea of frozen waves. If anymore snow falls, there will be no where to push it. We’ve gotten stuck in our own driveway three times in the last week. Our. Own. Driveway. It’s like winter is saying, “YOU SHALL NOT PASS! (Not even out of your own driveway.)”

People used to look out and say, “oh, isn’t it pretty?” Now they scream, “For the love of everything, STOP SNOWING!”

You know it’s bad when the winter festival in the town nearby has been cancelled…because of winter. I can’t even…

Ah, but in the midst of the longest season of the year, God is near. Did you know that? I was reminded of that yesterday by my son. He asked me why I was so grumpy at everyone. Stop. Heart check.

Why am I being so grumpy? Honestly, it’s because of this weather. It’s because of the monotony. It’s because I’ve never liked winter and I really just survive it. The handbook for Reasons to Live in Minnesota has only one word: Family. (There are other great things about our state, but no one can think of them on January 82nd.)

I spent the day adjusting my low mood and thinking about it. I prayed about it too.

Then, true to His goodness, God reminded me of these two verses:

Isaiah 40:31 but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

Genesis 8:22 While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest, and cold and heat, and summer and winter, and day and night shall not cease.

Hang on, dear friends!! Renew your strength in the Lord and remember spring is coming! I just might have to renew my strength multiple times a day right now so that I don’t grow weary and faint. But, we can do it! Hold on to His promise that the summer will always come!