Saying Yes to the Snow: Finding Joy in the Smallest Moments

What was the last thing you did for play or fun?

Sometimes, the most joyful memories begin when we ignore the chores, forget the schedule, and step out into the cold.

The last thing I did just for fun wasn’t planned. It was an impromptu sledding adventure with my kids on a snowy winter evening. Like most good memories, it started with a simple promise and turned into something special.

A Quick Dinner and a Promise
It had been a long week—the kind that leaves you running on fumes. When my son came home from kindergarten, he spotted the fresh snow and asked if we could go sledding. My first instinct was to say no. Dinner still needed to be made, and I was ready to call it a day.

But as our family tries to live more mindfully—even in the busy seasons—I’ve been learning to say “yes” more often. Yes to small adventures. Yes to fresh air. Yes to being present. So I told him, “If you help me make dinner, we can go before everyone gets here to eat.”

Together, we made turkey dumpling soup and baked fresh bread—the kitchen filling with the comforting smell of broth and yeast. Once the soup was simmering, we bundled up, trading aprons for snow gear.

Down the Hill and Into the Moment
The sledding hill sits just a short walk from the kitchen, close enough that we could still see the glow of our house through the falling snow.

The first run down the hill was pure exhilaration. I felt the rush of cold air, the sting on my cheeks, my son’s laughter slicing through the still evening. My two‑year‑old daughter squealed with delight, bundled in her tiny sled like a giggling snowball. We climbed back up again and again, cheeks pink and hearts light.

When the last light faded to blue, we headed toward the house, dragging our sleds behind us through the powder.

Soup, Bread, and Hot Chocolate
Warmth enveloped us the moment we stepped inside. We peeled off wet snow pants and gloves, served up steaming bowls of turkey dumpling soup, and tore into the crusty bread we’d baked earlier. The rest of the family arrived just as we sat down. Laughter filled the kitchen, echoing softly against the windows as snow continued to fall outside.

And because no winter evening feels complete without it, we ended with mugs of hot chocolate—extra marshmallows, of course—watching the sledding hill glow faintly under the porch light.

The Lesson Hidden in the Cold
That night reminded me how joy often hides in the in‑between. It’s in the quick decision to say yes, the laughter echoing through the dark, and the warmth waiting when you come back inside. Fun doesn’t have to be planned—it just needs a small invitation and a willing heart.

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When was the last time you said yes to a simple moment of play? Please share your joy with everyone in the comments!

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