Winter

It's 14. That's degrees. Outside. 14 degrees outside, people. With a "Real Feel" temperature of negative 4. And that's one of our warmer days this winter.

That's cold, folks. My ears still have that hot, throbbing sensation from being outside, walking Rocco for less than 10 minutes. My nose is still running. And I'm just now getting the feeling back in my toes. And that was with my snow boots on. I'm looking out the window at the tiny, white flakes of snow, dancing and twirling down from the heavy gray sky, and I'm thinking, "Snow again?! Pretty sure it hasn't really stopped snowing in two weeks. And now we're getting more." 

Ah, such is life in the north. And honestly, I'm not really complaining about the snow or the cold. I actually like snow. And I can deal with cold. It's expected. I'm from Michigan, for crying out loud. When I was growing up, the first several months of every year were almost guaranteed to be a frigid wonderland of powdery white goodness. And even now, when I hear Tim Allen's voice in the Pure Michigan "Snow Day" ad, I want to bundle up and jump in a snow drift that will magically transform into my very own hidden snow fortress or grab my trusty ol' blue True Value sled and find the nearest hill.

But I am kind of getting tired of putting on 80 layers to go outside.

I'm kind of tired of the chalky white salt-laden sidewalks. The same chalky white salt that hangs out on my once-green car while I clean off the 5 feet of snow from my windshield. The same chalky white salt that makes me look like I hugged a chalkboard. With my black pants and coat.

I'm kind of tired of the ugly, squishy, slushy, gray-black snow that lines the streets and sloshes up on the back of my jeans. 

I'm kind of tired of the barren, lifeless, colorless trees.

I'm kind of tired of being stuck in the house. Of being taunted by our apartment complex's empty, tarp-covered swimming pool.

But just when I'm about to complain that I'm so done with winter...

A perfectly unique snowflake, with all the intricacies of hand sewn lace, falls gently on the window, and I'm reminded of the loving details of God's handiwork.

Three inches of fresh snow cover the dirty slush, and I think of God's mercies anew every morning.

I stomp the snow off my boots and unwrap my fuzzy scarf from around my neck as I walk into my warm home, and I am thankful for God's provision.

A tree stands boldly and silently under a fresh blanket of glistening, evening snow, and I see the beauty of God's creation.

And so, I look out the window now at the fiercely swirling snow and touch the freezing pane of glass, and I remember that God is in this season of cold and wind and sunless days. God is here in winter.

And I'm happily content.

However, I have reason to believe that God is also in spring. And if He decides to show Himself in that way sooner than later, I'd be content with that, too. ;)

Lots of love with warm wishes and hot cocoa thoughts,

Jessica  

 

The Bunny Chronicles: Part Four

It was the best of times...it was the worst of times...

Last month I learned of this magical event that the humans celebrate in December called 'Christmas'. Mom goes crazy rearranging furniture and putting up decorations and listening to repetitious songs about bells and drummer boys and snow and someone named Santa. And once she even tried to put some type of blinking reindeer nose on me. Ummm, no. I nipped her attempt in the bud real quick by biting the string for it in half. Mom pouted. I was victorious.

But aside from the reindeer nose, the most amazing thing occurs around this time of Christmas cheer. Dad brings a giant (Mom says it was not giant), real-life, outdoor tree INSIDE THE APARTMENT!!! I couldn't believe my bunny eyes! There was a TREE inside our HOUSE! It was the most beautiful sight I had ever witnessed. I needed to get near that tree! I waited patiently inside my pen while Dad stood with the tree out on the balcony, sawing and sawing...and sawing pieces off of it (ok, maybe it was bigger than Mom will admit) and complaining about 'pine needles all over the place' or something. 

I finally heard someone coming to my room. I stood up on my hind legs in giddy anticipation. Finally, I was released from my confines, and I bolted down the hallway...

A TREE IN OUR HOUSE!!! It was magnificent. I dashed underneath it and ran around and around and around the base of it 'til I was almost dizzy. I hid behind it and breathed in the sweet, intoxicating aroma of pine that it produced. I nibble the lowest branches. Absolutely delicious. And then I ran around and around it again until I was just too tired to run anymore. Then I bunny flopped on my side underneath it in satisfied exhaustion. Best. Day. Ever.

For days and days that beautiful tree stood majestically in the corner of the living room. Mom eventually stuffed brightly colored bags and boxes underneath it (which I assume were for me to jump between and knock over and such...she's so nice to think of doing that for me). And for days and days that tree and I were basically best friends. I ran around it, smelled it, nibbled it, and relaxed under it. Until one day...

It was gone! Just gone. I was devastated. No, I was mad really. Can't believe the Humans would tease me with a real tree and then just take it away. Hmmph. 

Well, you know me, I don't stay mad for long. Especially when I heard the Humans saying something about 'next year's tree'. I think next year should hurry up and get here. Wonder if I could convince them to get a 'middle of the year' tree, just to hold me over? I think I'll see what I can do about that...          

Resoluwhat?

Today is a great day for a blog post. 

Actually, today is a great day for a piping hot bowl of soup.

But let's do both. While I take a break from my German lesson this chilly afternoon, I'll eat a bowl of soup and write a blog. And try not to spill said soup on Hubs' brand new laptop that I brought to work with me today without mentioning it to him. *sheepish grin* 

Can you believe it's a brand new year already? Did 2013 fly by as fast for you as it did for me? Did anyone realize that yesterday was the one year anniversary of my blog? How about that fact that in a 12 month, 52 week, 365 day year, I only managed to produce 22 entries? 

That's less than 2 posts a month (well, look at me, I do know a little math). That's just pathetic. Surely I can do better than that.

I'm not one to make the ever popular "New Year's Resolutions". Mostly because I feel like no one is really serious about them or follows through with them. And because of that, no one really expects anyone to accomplish them. So I'm going to make some "New Year's Goals" instead. It makes it sound a little more serious to me. Like something I'd actually want to reach. So I'm making a list of things I'd like tackle this year. 

One item on that list is blogging more. I can't call myself a blogger if I don't blog. So I'm at the very least going to attempt to double my 22 posts of last year. Let's call it "The 44 of '14" (whoa, look at me with the math again!). I'll just chalk up 2013 as my prep year. I'm always on the look-out for post ideas, so if anyone has suggestions for posts that I can keep in my writing arsenal, please let me know! And for those of you who faithfully read ...think the dancer mad, feel free to mention if you haven't noticed a post from me in a while. A little accountability never hurt anyone. ;)

Well, the soup for this frigid winter day has been eaten (and not a drop touched the laptop), and my German lesson (as well as the hot pot of coffee) is summoning me once again. So off I go!

Here's to a new year and new blog goals!

Happy 2014, everyone!