Last weekend we, the Alderfer family, made our first memories in the snow. It has been nearly three months since we welcomed a little girl into this world and into our lives. The trials and tribulations of these past three months have been real and yet getting to step into the cool white forgiveness of winter’s wonder it all felt awash.

Sometimes you’re given just as little and as much time you need.  We were given just enough time for Dane to scout a spot in the snow that was just far enough away from the world and just icy enough to allow us to build a fire to heat a cup of tea. In the time our little girl slumbered away her first winter tea party, Dane got the closest he’s come thus far to camping this season. Meanwhile, I got to light a sparkler we found from our wedding in celebration of where we’ve come from and where we are going as a family.

We left richer and we felt most accomplished even though all we did was bring forth and drink in a simple cup of tea in the snow. Sometimes things don’t seem worth all of the effort on the surface, but the joy is actually in the process.