January 2026 brought a massive winter storm across the United States. I am in Memphis, Tennessee, and experienced the impact. 

Actually, as I am writing this, I have not left home in 6 days and am not sure I will be able to for at least another few days, as my driveway and the neighborhood roads are a sheet of ice with no road clearing in the plans! I still have a 3-foot drift behind my garage door, which is now hard ice and not breakable. Warmer weather coming next week.

I am in total appreciation that during this time, the power has stayed on and water is normal… it has been brutally cold (mainly below 32°F) for over a week, which is not normal in Memphis. Realize that the northern states are used to this, with infrastructure and construction standards being different than what we have in the South.

There are many who have lost power and water during this time and are experiencing life-impacting emergencies, which will be ongoing until the infrastructure can be rebuilt.

And at the same time, there are opportunities for creativity, as shown with the image of the igloo that a family built a few miles away from my house.

When life presents an out-of-the-norm situation:

• What is most important for you?
• How would you decide what to focus on?
• Where would you reach out to ask for assistance?
• Where could you offer assistance?
• What could be a creative way to approach the situation?
• What could you put in place now to prepare for various emergency situations?

While preparation is possible, some situations are unpredictable, and it becomes critical to stay calm and solution-oriented for safety and survival.

[appreciation to the photographer]