#blizzardstella

If you know me, you know i hate snow. I am from the south where snow is nonexistent. And when it does come, everyone freaks out, the state shuts down and everyone has way more bread and milk then they can ever consume. But thanks to the Navy i have lived in New England since Oct 2011. (Yeah, let that sink in.... 5.5 long years). I have seen my share of bad weather up here. Noreasters, hurricanes (sandy was not fun), mirco-bursts, hail storms, and wind above 50mph(yup, there goes all the trash can flying down the street) ...pretty much seen it all. But i still hate snow the must. Today ended a nightmarish event called Stella. Stella was one nasty B****. 12-20 inches depending on where you live, whiteout conditions, and freezing cold. Multiple trees down, powerlines breaks, and just like that the whole town went black. 24+ hrs without HEAT! We live in maine, its freaking cold here. And over 24 hrs of no power means no heat. It landed me having to sleep with three kids in my bed all night, while my husband was on duty (24hr shift). All the food in my refrigerator went bad, thankfully i put the meat outside in the cooler and packed it full of snow. But everything else is gone. I went through a blizzard with no milk and no bread. We entertained ourselves with playing cards, reading countless books, coloring, driving mom insane, and many other things. By lunch time today we were all so ready to eat something besides peanut butter crackers. I had to somehow get some food for these kids. But, with the car stuck in the snow and the driveway a giant sheet of ice and without internet, there was no way of ordering or going anywhere. So i got the brilliant idea to text my mom ( who lives over 1000 miles away) and get her too looked up the number to dominos for my town and send it back to me (nana to the rescue). So, for lunch we had a picnic on my bed and engorged ourselves with as much pizza as we could eat. The kids were happy and full. Still freezing, but not hungry anymore at least. By the time my husband got home, my house was an igloo, and i was shoveling snow to break a sweat and stay warm. The snow wasnt the fluffy lets have a snow ball fight kind of snow. It was straight ice. Grown adults could walk right across it without sinking in. So shoveling it was horrible. I went out a few times durig the day to shovel a little bit. But It took forever to break it all up, then shovel it all to the side of the driveway, so i would shovel get tired, go back inside, then go back out and shovel somemore. Once we finished we went to walmart just to go somewhere warm. When we returned we finally saw lights on again. And in that moment i know we all were so grateful. Power!! Something we take for granted, when other people dont even have a roof over their heads. & i am also so thankful for heat. So very thankful. Freezing is not fun, not fun at all. I think the kids and I will be doing some community service soon, give to those who are less fortunate than us. We are so very lucky to have a home, heat, running water, and something to eat. I want to show them to be grateful for the things they have, and to show compassion for others.