Winter.

I love winter. Really, I do.

I love the cold, crisp air that hits you as you walk outside. Freezing winter weather is the only time of year you can get that kind of fresh air even in the midst of a city with millions of people and too much pollution. Its beautiful and refreshing.

I love the beautiful white wintery snow that surrounds us... I love walking in it as it falls even more. Its a beautiful mystery of nature, a blessing God has given us to appreciate, marvel in, play in, take time to reflect and be peaceful in. It is glorious.

I could go on, but I think you get the point (since those are the two things people usually hate most about winter!). This year has actually felt like winter with lots of cold temperatures and snow, which is quite different from last year, in which this weather only lasted a couple of weeks.

As much as I love winter, I also sympathize with those who hate it... it definitely does seem to go on forever at times. That, and it does prohibit life from moving on- whether because the roads are too bad to be driving on or because it is too cold for anyone to safely be outside. This was the case this morning when a car wouldn't start so we did not go to the gym... it is only 3/4 of a mile, but that is a LONG walk when it is several degrees below zero (Fahrenheit) (this morning, I think it was -12 with the wind). Putting life at a standstill for more than a day or two at a time can be frustrating, to say the least.

That is why I am glad to be escaping to a different kind of winter. I'll be heading to Nashville tomorrow for a couple of days (I'll be back Saturday!) to attend an event for Blood:Water. I'm REALLY looking forward to it... and while there, I am also looking forward to the "break" in weather- where it will still be cold and rainy (maybe even some snow), but for the most part should be above freezing. Even if above freezing is only by one or two degrees... its a nearly 40 degree difference from here! I can't wait. :)

Now... back to reading... and writing my sermon for Sunday. I was hoping to finish these things before I leave in the morning, but for some reason God seems to think I should write a more intense message this week, and I'm not quite sure what to do with it. So it might take me a bit longer to figure out than originally anticipated. But hopefully it will be good for all- for me in the learning/writing process, and for the congregation that will hear the message this week.

I hope you are staying warm in this frigid weather! For those of you in warmer climates, in the midst of your summers, enjoy some extra sun rays for us! We could use them!

A Reflective Day, An Opportunity to Be Thankful

It has been snowing all day, and is supposed to continue snowing all night. It is absolutely beautiful.

I love this kind of snow. It is different from the snow that blew in a blizzardy whirlwind a couple of days ago when I wondered if I was ever going to feel my toes again. Today, though it is windy and still being called a blizzard, it is a more fresh kind of snow. The kind of snow that comes down delicately and I watch it or walk in it (I have done both today), it reminds me of hope and peacefulness. With this peace comes great joy and a mood of reflectiveness.

I am thankful to live in a place that has the opportunity to see seasons of change in this way. Also important is the fact that I live in a place in which the whole world doesn't shut down, even when 6-12 inches of snow are expected- for that, I am thankful. I am thankful that I have a warm place to go at the end of the day. I am thankful for public transportation so that those of us who do choose to venture outside in this weather do not have to worry about arriving there safely. I am thankful for friends who are willing to go out in this weather with me, that we do not have to miss the final showing of "For the Bible Tells Me So" because of this snow storm.

Finally, I am thankful for the opportunity to sit and be reflective on this peaceful day, and that I am able to express such thanksgivings. Life is Good. God is Good. I am thankful for these things...

A Piece of Cake

Its cold outside. Today, I am reminded of one of my favorite things to do when I was little and it was too cold to go outside. Usually, these days came with lots of snow, so my siblings would often go out and play in it- most frequently by sledding. Though this is an activity I enjoy now, it was far from my first choice when I was young.

I used to stay inside in our warm apartment and spend the afternoon baking with Mom. I may have said this before- Mom isn't much of a cook. But she can sure bake! So we would stay inside and make too many batches of all of our favorite kinds of cookies, only to freeze them so we'd have them for the weeks to come.

Today, it is cold and I don't want to be out in the wind and snow. So I'm staying inside to bake. Straying from our tradition of cookies I'm experimenting to make the BEST chocolate cake recipe into cupcakes. I've wanted to bake for some time now, but with no one around to eat the product for me, I've held off. But tonight, these chocolaty treats will be perfect for Bible Study at church- when I finally do venture out again today.

It is a good day to stay inside. While I have much work to do, I am thankful for the opportunity to take part in and reflect upon an old tradition. Perhaps I'll even end it with a cup of hot cocoa, just like we always had when everyone came together, snow-covered and freezing from a long day of sledding and snowman building.

Happy 2008!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

It is hard to believe it is 2008 already! 2007 was a phenomenal year for me, and I only hope 2008 can be better!

I spent my New Year’s Eve with friends over dinner, to the tune of live entertainment by our friend Andrew Collins.

After dinner, a few of us headed to downtown Chicago, arriving just in time to see the fireworks go off at midnight. It couldn’t have been more perfect… the snow was falling (also meaning it was warmer…), the park we went to watch in had virtually no tourists (they all went to the Pier) so it wasn’t busy… we walked, laughed, snapped a few photos, and smiled about all that is yet to come in the new year. It was beautiful and wonderful, and I would have wanted to spend it no other way.

As I am not big on making “New Year’s Resolutions,” I have only 2 desires for the coming year.

1- To keep living my life as fully as possible, making room for surprises and new possibilities to truly LIVE and explore the opportunities God places in front of me (whatever that may be). (This certainly came true last year, from traveling (South Africa, Niagara Falls, DC, etc- lots of new places!) to vocation (Holy Covenant, missions, Blood:Water volunteering), etc.)

2- To keep focusing on my health in positive ways. This includes everything from making sure I’m taking proper “me time” to continuing to go to the gym on a regular basis (at least 4 days a week!) and trying to eat healthy. Its not about dieting, etc.- its about a lifestyle change. For me, that change has meant I dropped 12 pounds since November 1, and I definitely haven’t been dieting!

The most important (global) event I keep thinking about for 2008? The presidential election in November. 384 Days until GW Bush is out of office forever!!!

I wish for you the very best in 2008!!!

Chicago's first snow of the Season!

I made a promise (to Dion, I think) that I would post pictures of the snow when it arrived... so until I get more pictures loaded on Facebook, these will have to do!

I took the LONG way home from work on Tuesday so I could walk and enjoy the falling snow while chatting to Ruby on the phone...so she could enjoy the snow vicariously through me! (See all that snow accumulating on my hat!?!?)

This is the entrance view of my beloved Garrett- Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, Illinois, only about an hour after the snow stopped falling.