SNOW!

If you watched American news then you may have heard that the Northwest was hit with a winter storm. Where my parents live it started snowing on a Wednesday and did not really stop until Friday. Schools were delayed, people were stuck, danger seemed emanate...and I loved it!

There is something about snow that I adore. It is reminiscent of childhood and adventure. Days of sledding, snowball fights, ending with wet clothes and hot chocolate. Every child should be so lucky as to experience snow. I also love the unknown that snow brings. Will I be able to make it up the driveway? Will school be closed? Will it snow again tomorrow? Every question holds adventure in the answer.

As I’ve gotten older I’ve quickly learned that the latter effects of snow lead to slushy streets, dirty cars, and make up days. Snow may pause life for a few days but reality will eventually set back in.

Some of my favorite things about snow

+ it makes everything look prettier…as if giving the barren trees a winter sweater

+ it causes everyone to stop…no work, no school, no extracuriculars just stay home.

+ I am in awe of the gentle force…is soft and slow, yet in a few hours covers everything

After a few warm sunny days the snow quickly melted away from the streets and life seemed to return back to normal. It however, sure was nice that it came to visit for a few days. 

Christmas

Christmas….what do I say, where do I begin?

It was nice to be able to spend Christmas in America with my family. It had been three years since I was able to spend the entire Christmas season in the states.

To be honest with you I went into it with too high of expectations. Living overseas can do this to you. When you are far away from home you imagine your entire family wearing Christmas sweaters, sitting by the fire, smiling and singing songs. This is not the truth...in fact no one in my family even owns a fireplace.

In America, Christmas starts at midnight of Thanksgiving. People suddenly become busy and the feeling of “cheer” and “good tidings” is quickly followed by stress. Due to extenuating circumstances the week leading up to Christmas was stressful at my parents house.

Looking back over Christmas Eve, Christmas day, and other events, my favorite moments were the quite ones. The ones full of one on one conversations and laughs. The moments spent with family and friends that were sweet and unplanned. During those times I would tell myself “remember this”…because truth be told I won’t have this again for a while.

At times it was difficult to get into the Christmas spirit. As much as I would like to blame Justin Beeber for sucking out all the Christmas joy I think the blame is to be placed on myself. Rather than rejoicing in the birth of my savior I got wrapped up in the stress of life.

So my sweeping declarations will be “next year  I SHALL BE FULL OF CHRISTMAS CHEER!!”