Snowpocalypse and an Unexpected Weekend Off

If you live anywhere remotely near the East Coast, or know someone on social media that lives here, then you already know about Snowpocalypse. Our little home, tucked in a quaint Maryland town right next to Capitol Hill, was hit with about 2 1/2 feet of snow, and even deeper drifts. Buck and I have been cozied up here since Friday at noon (venturing out for the first time today— it has been an introvert’s dream come true!!)… but that’s not how we planned to spend this weekend.

Last week we spent a couple of days in Miami— our Babymoon escape to warmer weather, away from the distractions of life and business ownership and our crazy pup to focus on time together and prepare ourselves for this change we’re about to experience. Aka, baby.

We loved Miami!!!!!!!

Unfortunately, we had to cut our trip short in order to beat Winter Storm Jonas (Brothers). AND we had to cancel The Intentional Photographer Workshop. Which means I spent half of our one full day in Miami working out logistical details, getting in touch with attendees and vendors, and… well, working. Thankfully our hotel gave us a special (free!) upgrade to a room with a hot tub, so after I finished up work we had the chance to relax and breathe. Working through half of our trip was not how we planned to spend our time away, and I definitely shed a few tears over the change of plans and necessary time spent on those changes, but all-in-all, we knew we made the right decision.

On the upside, we made it home before the snow started, and ended up with an entirely open weekend— snowed in together, working on house projects, watching Neflix, and just enjoying being.

Our brick fireplace is now painted white, the brass is polished, and our entire living room looks happier.

I tackled wallpapering for the first time ever. Our ugly entryway is on it’s way to pretty and fresh! We’re not sure we love the coral door, though. We loved the color when we picked it (it ties into a rug in our dining room), but it looks much more pink than either of us anticipated. Jury is still out on whether or not we keep it.

This is how we do work-from-home snowday Mondays. Cozy and warm and coffee and… pandas. (Have you seen Tian Tian??)

I think I’ve spent years saying, “This busy season is just a season… next month will be better.” This weekend was a gift— it didn’t start out looking like a gift, because all my wonderful plans were thrown up in the air, out the door, and all over the place. But when all is said and done, I needed this weekend more than I knew. I needed to stop and breathe, to slow down and just be, without any outside expectations or obligations, no one asking me for anything, no schedules to manage. Unscripted time and rest wasn’t what I asked for, but God knew I needed it anyway.

So here’s to the unexpected— it’s so often laced with joy. Praying for more faith to believe that in the beginning, not just in hindsight.