Sparkling like diamonds

As we returned home from Thanksgiving travel, my husband and I noted how barren the land surrounding our small town was. During the past couple of winters I have noted how depressing this flatter than a piece of paper landscape can look when the crops are removed. People use "the tree" as a land mark when giving others directions.

When I woke up last Thursday morning to a glistening dusting of white snow it was as if a complete transformation had happened overnight. This drab canvas had been painted with the signature of Illinois winter.

Thursday and Friday passed with driving complications and daily happenings. However, as I woke up Saturday morning, I was overcome with a warm, wintery, holiday feeling in my soul. Although I can't call it déjà vu, it was an excessively familiar feeling that was triggered by the bright, almost blinding, reflection of the snow into my bedroom window. This feeling was one I had many times during holiday preparations, winter snows and sledding growing up on the family farm. It translated into spending the day decorating our Christmas tree and putting up other decorations with the tones of Christmas classics humming from our stereo.

Flurries have continued to dust the area for the past few days and other than driving concerns, it is a welcome site. The barren ditches along the straight as arrows roads now sparkle and shine like diamonds. It mesmerizes my mind and I'm enjoying every feeling and memory that it evokes.