sunshine, please come back soon.

I'm at the point now where I have to continually remind myself that I love snow and winter. The problem isn't the cold and the fluffy white stuff, though. It's the fact that the sunshine has disappeared and won't show its warm face. I love bright and cold winter days, when the sun is shining down from the clear blue sky onto a brilliant blanket of snow. But these gloomy not-quite-cold-enough days just drag me down.

To keep my spirits up, I'm writing my spring cleaning list (to be begun as soon as the windows can be opened), looking up places to go snowshoeing, planning my garden, and drinking floral teas. Specifically, Berryblossom White by Tazo Tea. SO GOOD. I have my amazing friend Becca to thank for introducing me to this tea, way back when we were still in college. Okay, that wasn't way back, but I graduated almost two years ago, so....

And I just remembered that I have homemade dandelion wine to try! I'm nervous...it's probably terrible. But I hope it tastes decent. And that it tastes like summer, even though I'm not a huge fan of the summer temperatures.

Of course, Valentine's Day is just around the corner, too. I've never been a huge advocate of the Hallmark holiday, but hopefully Nate and I can do something fun. At the very least, I'm going to cook us a fun dinner. I found a recipe for red wine pasta which looks and sounds delicious. I also plan on making some heart-shaped doughnuts for breakfast. Though those might have to wait until the weekend when Nate doesn't have to get up at 3:30 am.

How are you keeping back the weather blues? And what are your Valentine's Day plans?

"Begin each day as if it were on purpose." [monday motivation]

The quote I have as my post title is not attributed to anyone, as far as I know.
But I like it, because it helps to remind me that each day is on purpose.
God gives us each and every day of our lives.
Waking up is enough reason for me to thank Him joyfully.
The weather has been so lovely lately.
This morning it was particularly beautiful, and I was reminded of a few verses from Song of Solomon, so I will share them with you.

******************************

"My beloved speaks and says to me:
   'Arise, my love, my beautiful one,
      and come away,
    for behold, the winter is past;
      the rain is over and gone.
   The flowers appear on the earth,
     the time of singing has come,
   and the voice of the turtledove
     is heard in our land.
   The fig tree ripens its figs,
     and the vines are in blossom;
     they give forth fragrance.'"
~Song of Solomon 2:10-13a (ESV)

It is an April-November.

Yesterday there was fog over the lake, and I couldn't tell where the water ended and the sky began.
Today all is clear, and the air carries the scent of spring.
I cannot understand this, when winter is so very near.
Where is the bitter wind?
Where is the biting cold?
It is November, not April.
These months mirror each other in some ways.
April anticipates hot sunshine summer.
November anticipates cold snowy winter.
Yet they both seem unable to decide on their weather!

I think I am ready for Old Man Winter to come and blanket the earth in white.
But I can be thankful for the strange breath of spring that comes late in this April-November.