13 Day Beauty Beast

The early morning hours of January 27, 2009 delivered a never-before-seen beauty to our doorstep. Everything overhead and underfoot was a glistening sparkle of ice. At least two inches of sleet and freezing rain clung to the branches of trees and utility lines. This beauty soon transformed into a beast that reared its ugly head into our lives for thirteen unforgettable days.






The ice storm of the century united our family and community in amazing ways. Sharing old stories, playing games, cooking every meal on the grill, and even movie nights made each day memorable and a little bit like a vacation.




Once the roadways were passable and our cabin fever had reached its peak, my sister and I decided to take Macklan and Briley to Chuck E. Cheese's for a day of fun...outside of the basement at my uncle and aunt's house (who graciously hosted us for these thirteen days). This trip was much needed and gave the kiddos a new burst of energy that would help them make it through a couple more days of being cooped up in the house.