My Coldest Winter Ever: Setback to a Comeback

When winter comes, it brings with it a frost and coldness that can chill you to the bone. If you live in the Midwest, we refer to it as the hawk. It’s the combination of both wind and arctic conditions that can cause the nicest person to shout obscenities once the hawk presents itself.

Now that is it spring, I feel comfortable talking about it. But a few months back, I found myself trying to function during a time that kept blowing cold air my way. Day after day, I couldn’t catch a break.

Right after Christmas, I found out that I would have to move me and my daughter out of the home that we lived in for ten years. This was the home where I was able to go from struggling mom blogger to force of nature. My daughter was seven when we moved in and she was seventeen when we hastily packed our bags and belongings. My home wasn’t the fanciest or the best, but it was ours. Having to move and leave it behind on terms which weren’t our own still breaks my heart.

The wind continued to blow frigid air as I found it difficult to find another suitable home in the area in which we had become accustomed. I got denied one townhome because I didn’t have any recent rental history, and then I was approved for one but the conditions in which I had to sign on the dotted line were more than I felt comfortable handling. After twenty days staying in temporary housing, I found the perfect place. Finally, we could move.

Not so fast. We were pummeled with two winter snowstorms back to back delaying our move. By the time we were able to move in, yes, another frigid snowstorm made its way to St. Louis.

More delays. More setbacks.

Finally on February 10th, we were able to move into our home.

It was the coldest winter ever.

I’ve recovered many times in the past and resiliency is my middle name. But this–man, it almost took me out. I almost became undone.

During this cold season, I also faced a health challenge that I was prepared for, and was finishing up my book while working full-time and trying to retain some sort of normalcy and consistency for my daughter.

I have been tested over and over during this season both personally and professionally and I can tell you that what I need during this next season is peace, calm, and grace.

I will never take having those things for granted ever again in life–I swear.

I’ve learned a lot from this last chapter and I am so ready to turn the page on our new beginning. I am saying goodbye to the cold front and hello to sunny skies which I pray are ahead.

There are so many of us going through things that we may not share until after they over, and I am writing about just a little bit of my story to let you know that you are not alone. In a span of two weeks, I went from having a home to being displaced rather suddenly. Life comes at you fast–I feel blessed that we were in limbo for only twenty days. For others, this period can last weeks, months, and even years.

It can be difficult to walk through the snow when it continues to fall and accumulate.

Thank you for reading. I thank those of you who helped me get through that period with kind words, prayers, and positive energy. I needed that so much.