Along with almost half a million other households in southern Michigan, we lost power this past week because of an ice storm. Our power was restored after a day and a half.

It could have been a lot worse.

The ice all melted before we had much in the way of wind or snowfall, so we didn't have more damage from further falling branches. The temperatures in general weren't dangerously cold.

Although we lost power, my dad didn't and he invited us to use his house, so we had a place to go with our four dogs and two cats. Since he was away for the winter and had cleaned out his fridge and freezer before he left, we also had a place for the higher-value things from our own fridge and freezer.

While our neighborhood has a lot of mature oak and white pine trees, our lot doesn't, so we didn't have any downed limbs and no damage to our house or cars, let alone people and pets.

I'd gone grocery shopping shortly before the storm, so we had plenty to eat without needing to rely on the few stores and restaurants that were open.

Even though my dad had power, he didn't have internet; however, our house never lost internet so once our power was back on, we had internet access as well.

The melted ice in the icemaker didn't pour out until I opened the fridge, so we got it cleaned up before there was any damage to the floors.

Our kids didn't whine or complain about having nothing to do without the internet. They helped out without being asked when we packed up to go to my dad's, and they helped out when we packed up to go back home again.

My mother-in-law didn't lose power, so we never had to worry about making sure she was okay.

I had to throw out some things from the fridge and freezer, but not nearly as much as I would have if the outage had gone on for longer or if we hadn't had my dad's as a refuge.

It wasn't a lot of fun, but it could have been a lot worse.

Also, if your power goes out, make sure you empty the icemaker.

Warmly,

Adrienne