Winter in Houston has it’s perks usually. Flip flops are year round footwear and our kids winter coats usually consist of hoodies. This year though it’s different.
Last week started off lovely. I planted blueberry shrubs and started laying out the plans for a garden. Wednesday was so lovely that the girls and I decided to go walk at a local nature preserve. We might have gotten lost on the trails and spent two and a half ours trying to find our way out of the park. But the weather was so lovely that we didn’t complain. 
It was a great day. I was bone tired from having to carry the 4 year old on my shoulders for the last 45 minutes but it was a great faux spring day.
Wednesday night Mr. Byrd’s grandmother passed away in Lafayette. The visitation was set for Friday night and the funeral was Saturday morning. We should have easily made it to both but winter decided to show up in Houston for the first time in a few years.
Thursday an arctic cold front arrived in Houston with rain and by the time Mr. Byrd got home from work the bridges were starting to freeze. We didn’t panic, a quick check of the weather told us that everything would warm up by Friday afternoon and we could make it to Lafayette in time.
Friday morning it became apparent that we wouldn’t be able to make it in time for the viewing because the areas east of Houston and all the way to Lafayette never rose above freezing temperatures. Why is this a big deal? Because our area isn’t used to driving on ice and snow. The towns aren’t prepared to keep ice off the high bridges and anytime it ices over, things come to a halt. The roads and bridges that we would have to take to get to Lafayette were all closed. We did not get to leave Friday but put our hope in leaving early Saturday morning to hopefully make the graveside service. 
We woke up to three texts from love ones already in Lafayette telling us not to even attempt the drive over to Lafayette, that it was too dangerous. At that point it was clear that we would miss the funeral and graveside service.
However mid morning we were happy to find that the crazy Texas weather was at it again and in the matter of an hour the temperatures were all in the 50′s. The ice was melting off all of the bridges and we could safely make it.
We missed the funeral, the graveside service and the wake but my in-law’s faces when we arrived later that afternoon after they had asked us not to risk making the drive that morning was priceless. I think a dose of happy little girls was just what they needed.
The next morning we loaded back into the van and drove home in 70 degree weather.
Fast forward two days and once again Houston is shutting down. Tuesday the temperatures are supposed to fall into the 20′s and once again the town is expecting ice and possibly snow. As soon as the forecast made it clear that we would have freezing temperatures schools announce closures and the bus routes were canceled for commuters such as Mr. Byrd.
This time we’re going to make the most of it. The cocoa and marshmallows are stocked and our luggage is stored in the closets, not packed and waiting to go at the first sign of 33 degrees.
I am hoping this is winter’s last hurrah. I have a garden to plant and flip flop tan lines to acquire.