Snowstorm 2026

 

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating 
a space for me and other teacher-writers to share our stories.

I was in the 8th grade in 1978. The year of the blizzard. The blizzard to which all other Indiana winter storms are compared and probably will be for the next generation to come.

I don't remember much about the storm. After all, I was a "junior high" student then, and I am sure I had more important things to remember than storms. Like bad haircuts! I don't remember being out of school, the minus 50 degrees wind chill, or the whole state being shut down. 

Instead, I remember the images. I remember the snow drifts taller than me, and the snow piled high on the street. We lived on a busy street in town--a snow emergency route--so our street was one of the first to be cleared. I remember my parents not going to work, which was not something they did often.

This weekend, 48 years to the day, we had another storm.  The snowfall was close to the 1978 storm in my area with about 14 inches. It wasn't as catastrophic as '78, but it was still significant. But that amount was the most we have had since then. For some, it would be considered historic.

As I see pictures of younger children in this year's storm, I have to wonder how social media will affect their memories and if they will be talking about it like we did in 1978. Will they be mesmerized by the amount of snow and how the town was shut down? Will they remember the empty shelves in the store? Will they remember having eLearning days instead of snow days? Will they even know what a true snow day was?

Sadly, I don't think it will be quite the same.

A Strengthened Faith

 

Welcome to Spiritual Journey Thursday, a small group hoping to strengthen our faith with each other. Margaret is rounding up posts if you would like to join or read along.

I have been a Catholic all my life, a practicing one for most of my life. We fell away for a short time but have been back now for many years.

As a child, we didn't memorize scripture, and if I am being honest, I really didn't know much about Bible. I listened to our three readings at Mass and sang the responsorial Psalms. But I didn't know them, and I could not recite verses.

Over the past several years, reading the Bible has become a part of my spiritual life. Even if it ebbs and flows. I can now recite verses that hold special meaning to me, and some that "people say I should know."

This year, one of my goals is to read the entire Bible in chronological order. I am following a plan, like many others. I know that many people have started this on January 1 and have failed within a few days.

I think failure is part of any goal. But through this failure, I hope to find strength. I hope to build such a strong habit, that missing a day will only make me want to return.

The word strengthen is found in many verses in the Bible. This one in Isaiah 41:10 is one I am holding on to.

"Fear not, for I am with you; 
be not dismayed, for I am your God; 
 I will strengthen you, I will help you, 
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

By reading His word, I am finding a different kind of strength. A strength from something much bigger than myself. And I am looking forward to seeing how this strength plays out in other parts of my life throughout the year.

Hard Habit to Break

 

Thank you to Two Writing Teachers for creating 
a space for me and other teacher-writers to share our stories.

Being an English teacher, I know how to make words plural. I know the spelling changes and the rules. But my son has pointed out one word that I say incorrectly. 

Maybe you do this as well. 

Aldi is a grocery store that is found in 30 states across the country. One recently opened here in my small hometown. 

Me texting my son:  I'm going to Aldis, do you need anything?

Son's reply:  Oh, is there more than one now?

Yep, I make Aldi plural and call it Aldis. I do the same thing with JC Penney. I never call it "JC Penney." It's just "Penneys."

I try to be intentional now and try to say correctly, but some habits are just hard to break.