The Night I Survived An Ice Storm ~ GIVEAWAY

It was supposed to be a fun little winter getaway.  A chance to leave the suburbs behind, play in the snow, indulge in good food and cheesy movies.  A little mid-winter adventure for our family of four.  I had visions of playing cards, baking cookies, painting nails with my girls, building snowmen and then warming up cold noses and toes by the roaring fireplace with a steaming mug of hot chocolate.  What I got instead was the thing of nightmares…

I was more excited about our mid-winter getaway than I should have been.  So excited in fact that I decided to head up to the secluded cottage on the lake before SassyHubby and get all settled in.  It was a brilliant idea! 

I would take the girls, then ages 2 and 5, get the heat cranked up and the fire stoked.  Have everything set up and ready to go for when SassyHubby would join us the next day.  I packed my babies, our groceries, our snow gear, pretty much everything but the kitchen sink and set out on a brilliant sunny day.  We arrived at our cottage, settled in, unpacked and I had to pinch myself.  Ontario in the winter may be cold, but it’s also stunningly beautiful.  How lucky were we to enjoy this little piece of paradise? 

Then, as often happens in Canada, the weather made a very sudden change.  We were hit with an ice storm the likes of which I had never seen. 

The sky turned dark, the windows shook as ice pellets struck the glass.  The wind howled around the wooden cottage, the shingles creaked, fences blew, trees fell, and then…the lights went out.  It was only 5:30 pm but I couldn’t see my hand in front of my face.  Thankfully a fire lit in the other room offered heat, and some light.  I began my search for flashlights.  Surely there were flashlights in the great big cottage.  Most certainly the lights would come on soon?  My girls were crying, they didn’t like the noise or the dark.  I was searching.  At first calmly, then a little more frantically as branches smashed against the home.  Drawer after drawer in the dark.  Finally an entire drawer full of lighters, candles and flashlights!  I was saved.  Except….four flashlights and not one with batteries that worked?  I would not let my children see me cry.  I just wouldn’t.

I stoked the fire.  Lit some candles.  Tried to call my Husband, but the phones were down.  I settled in for what would turn out to be one of the longest nights of my entire life.  The power never came back on, so no heat.  My girls and I snuggled into our winter coats and hats, and slept fitfully in front of a fire that needed constant attention throughout the night.  Outside, the storm raged on.  What I wouldn’t have given for just one flashlight to help get us through the potty runs, the diaper changes, to help us identify the scary creaks on the darkest, coldest evening of my life.

The next day, the sun came up and emergency crews began the work of restoring power and clearing trees on the many impassable roads.  Thankfully, power returned before night fall but it would be days before my SassyHubby could make it up to his family.  My lesson learned?  When met with the uncomfortable, the scary and the cold, remember this too shall pass.  When you are with your kids and feeling less than cheery about your current situation, fake it until you feel it, and always pack your own travel flashlight ready to go with reliable Energizer^®  EcoAdvanced longest lasting alkaline batteries. 

 

Did you know: 

* Energizer^® EcoAdvanced is the world’s first battery made with 4% recycled batteries and is their longest lasting alkaline battery.

* When you purchase Energizer^® EcoAdvanced batteries at participating stores and go to energizerwinsmart.com to enter your product UPC, you will be entered for your chance to win a smart for two ($26,000 value!)

* There are also10 secondary prizes of $100 President’s Choice Gift Cards available to be won

*Participating stores include: Loblaws, Maxi, Maxi & Cie, Atlantic Superstore, Real Canadian Superstore, Zehrs and Dominion

* Contest period: February 1, 2015 – March 16^th, 2015.

Why not pick up some batteries the next time you are out grocery shopping!  Just add them to your list and throw them in your cart!

Giveaway Time! 

One of my lucky readers of How To Survive Life In The Suburbs will win a special prize package containing the new Energizer^® EcoAdvanced batteries, an Energizer flashlight and a Loblaw’s gift card valued at $25.

Please enter using the Rafflecopter form provided below.  Open to Canada only.  Giveaway closes March 13, 2015.

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