Comfortably quiet.

“Shh, stop and listen for a minute,” I tried to coax my children to stop tearing around in the snow for a few seconds. They were missing out on what could be my favorite perk of living here…but I failed miserably. It’s too close to Christmas and the weather was too perfect to pass up. They raced from the merry-go-round to the teeter-totters and everywhere else in the park faster than I could keep up. Who knew kids with five layers of clothing could move that fast! I realize that this is the season of long lines, family feasts and annoying holiday music (which I happen to love). But for me, winter in Petersburg is the magic of complete silence. There’s nothing better than standing on a blanket of fresh snow and taking in the quiet. On this particular day, there wasn’t even a bird chirping. Perfect calm. Absolute peace. To some that may sound like a sleepy town, but to me, it’s a moment when all is right in the world. People aren’t caught up in the hustle and bustle. They’re home with their families. Taking time to enjoy the simple blessings that this place offers. About a year ago, a friend of mine came to visit. Born and raised in a city, I’m pretty sure she had never truly experienced absolute quiet. We took her out exploring in our pasture west of town on a cold afternoon. She acknowledged the beauty of the land, but it was the quietness that affected her most. As my kids charged off ahead she stood still for a moment, taking it in. I couldn’t tell if the look on her face was fear or awe; but I soon found out that she was a little freaked out by just how quiet the wide-open country can be. What she considered a sense of loneliness, I find most comforting. Statistically, this is a time of year when depression is at its peak. We’ve all seen the angry holiday shoppers. Felt a little overwhelmed, and I can guarantee that I’ve gotten caught up in the gifts and travel and overall craziness. So while I’m not an expert, and not in any position to hand out advice, I will invite you to take a moment this month to bundle up, step out onto your front porch, take a deep breath and just listen. This is my holiday gift to you…feel free to pass it on.