‘Twas the Summit Before Christmas

Halfway through our Christmas Eve snowshoeing trek, I questioned my spontaneous planning to my husband, who graciously replied that he couldn’t pass judgment till the very end. But I knew he was questioning my idea of a good time on Christmas Eve the entire time. We had taken our sons 5 and 8 as well as the grandparents on a snowshoeing trek searching for the Summit in a nearby neighborhood. With the promise of hot cocoa at the top and sledding opportunities at the end, I was determined to make it a very memorable day before Christmas.

My need to do hard things is bordering on addiction. I’m a poor planner - tending to base a hike on a feeling more than an accurate description. I never know the distance, the direction, or the elevation gain beforehand. I’m just not a numbers gal. I don’t want to know, because then I probably wouldn’t do it. And the one who tends to pick up my metaphorical breadcrumbs is my husband. After all that’s why I married him. He is our northstar.

So after a few miles of ascent on a narrow single-track ledge, and complaints from our youngest about why we were going uphill when he wanted to sled downhill, my husband silently whips out the gps. He whispers to me through gritted teeth that the trail I thought was a 3 mile loop was more like 5 miles and that we were not yet halfway. Choosing a steeper but shorter path, we persevered to the summit albeit heavy breathing and questionable ledges.

At the top, amidst cheers and cocoa, the challenges faded, replaced by a sense of collective accomplishment. As the sun dipped behind the mountain, casting a golden hue over the snow-dusted trail, our family's adventure reached its crescendo.. Despite the unanticipated challenges and the longer-than-expected journey, the cold air seemed less biting, the trail less daunting.

My husband, ever the quiet anchor in our family, had navigated us not just through the snowy paths but through the waves of doubt and weariness. The boys' laughter and playful antics in the snow, along with the grandparents' unwavering determination, highlighted for me the joy in creating simple moments together.

Doing hard things together doesn’t always lead to grand revelations. Sometimes, it’s more about the shared laughter, the whispered encouragements, and the silent understanding that, no matter the path, we're in it together.

‘Twas the Summit Before Christmas

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