The snow day aftermath ~

Dreaming of a someday...

Valentine's Day was last week, and I don't think I realized that I thought about it a lot differently than a lot of the world. Even differently than a lot of my friends. (i don't want to belittle what they felt. just writing on how what i feel is different.) Valentine's Day would come and I would never even think about my maybe someday someone. It just didn't come to mind. I looked at it as a time to celebrate the fact the we even get to love! And I would direct those thoughts towards the people that took up all the space in my heart. As childish or simple as it seems, cutting and pasting and creating a red, paper, heart valentine for someone I loved was important to me. Making sure to get Daddy his favorite Crunch candy, because I knew he'd never buy it for himself, was important to me. I think it's important to me, because I grew up doing it. I grew up with that day being special. But it was never a day to gush over a silly crush or sigh, because I didn't have one. It wasn't a date to think about having a significant other. I mean, of course Daddy would buy Momma a card and some roses, and he'd hold her a little longer when he got back from work... But to me, that was the love I was celebrating, too! The love we shared as a family. I knew Daddy loved Momma, and I knew he loved us.

So, when Valentine's Day came, it reminded me... I'm really not lonely. I'm not scared that I won't get married or be loved. If God wants me to have that spectacular guy, I don't doubt He'll send him. What I am scared of, though, is arriving at my someday and realizing I spent all of the years before dreaming about it, rather than rejoicing in the goodness God had sent... rejoicing that I had everything I loved! A lot can pass you by when all you're thinking about is the future. It may just be because I have an awesome family... but I really love where I am. =) Like, really. I'm not real anxious to anticipate 5 years later, because I have so many reasons to want to stay here! God's love towards our family abounds everywhere. Plus, I remember 5 years ago so clearly. I was so excited to be 17, someday. It seemed like such a cool age. I mean, that's how old all the cool kids were. And now. I'm seventeen. That someday is here. And I'm gonna just pick another day to start wishing for? Mmm, no. I'm going to strive to honor God with seventeen. Which requires me staying in seventeen and concentrating on seventeen. While gaining a generational vision. =) God makes each stage of life with so much potential for joy and learning. But I don't want to be taken by surprise and feel that horrible pang of regret, because I didn't see what God was doing in my life then. Plus (huge thing for me, really), I love watching my family grow. When I'm at the end of my life, I want to have countless beloved memories with the people I loved most. That would mean I invest in them now, so I can have those treasures later.

God is good.

And the future will be beautiful.

But so is the now.

Valentines!

February's just so great.

-The only month I'll dot my i's with ♥'s. Guilty pleasure.

-X's and O's galore.

-Red. Lots of red!

-Reminding people that you love them.

-Being reminded that people love you.

The fun kind of BRRR.

Last month, it snowed the kind of snow you go out and play in. So, Daniel, Elise, and I went to go build a snowman and just be in it! Daniel's not in the pictures, though, because by the time I got my camera out, he was so done. Too cold.

So, this is Geoffrey. He was our end result. I happen to think he's super cute and cool. And deserving of a Honey.

Which is why we started on Geoffrey's Honey. But sadly, as it got darker, it also got really, really cold. So! Geoffrey's Honey had to wait until the next day, when Elise finished him. I didn't get a picture of her, but I did see that after the noonday sun, she had sort of melted into him. The two really did become one... And I'm sort of divided on whether I think that's profound or stinking hilarious.

Happy girl. :) We had a lot of fun. This, by the way, was before that crazy, yucky cold came in. See, I know some cold is fun! The rosy cheeks, wintery, Jack Frost-nipping-at-your-nose cold. But when Jack Frost takes his frozen frying pan and flattens your face with it, I don't think that's fun! So, I'm really glad we got to be together and play in this cold.

I remember.

Have you ever been going about life when, suddenly, you hear a song that brings up a certain memory in your head? But it's not a specific memory, because you can't really place it. Yet, you're sure you know that tune.

I'm positive that somewhere, back through all my memories and hidden in all of the nostalgia, "Drops of Jupiter" is playing in the background.

♥

Oh, so that's what cousins are for...

Part of our fantastic Christmas vacation in Alabama.

I love this picture of Jess! I was just playing around with my camera, then looked at the picture and was super happy with how it turned out. Gotta love my accidental skills.

Clue. A fantastic game made even better by all of the childhood memories it's in. We played it cut throat, too. :D

Mocha frappes.

Elise is our expert yummy-goodness maker.

This game was way more fun than I thought it was going to be. Way. You had to guess who, what, or where you were by asking "yes" and "no" questions, only. Jess really was horrible at it... Cute and clueless! I, however, guessed I was Clint Eastwood in 5 questions. OH, yes. That's on my list of great accomplishments. :)

***

I was so happy we got to be in Alabama! And that Jess was there, too. It really was an awesome holiday filled with games, treats, laughing, movies, recalling funny memories, lounging about in cozy blankets, hot cocoa, and remembering just how much I love the people I get to call family.

Thank you, Lord!

Just so merciful.

Today was one of those yucky nothing-went-the-way-it-was-supposed-to-and-I'm-pretty-sure-it-was-all-my-fault-days. Yes. Pretty bad. But you know what? Even though I'm dead tired and overwhelmed, it doesn't change the fact that

every one of these things is true:

Daniel will wake me up in the morning with a sweet and silly smile. *sigh* Always does.

We have yummy cinnamon rolls.

I'm pretty confident I did well on my finals, and I am officially on break until January 9th.

*EEP*

We're living in a house that doesn't need any renovations done to it. (And these people don't even know how much they're blessing us. It's unfathomable.)

I have friends who don't mind being spontaneous! Or sharing their M&M's and secrets...

Kyle is my official laugh-out-loud, love-him-so-much dance partner.

We have a dishwasher.

My jeans are the perfect length.

I still remember the songs Daddy used to sing me to sleep with.

In a couple of days, we'll be spreading the holiday cheer down in Alabama.

Mommy's made me into a crazy bargain hunting machine. Not ashamed!

Elise loves wrapping Christmas presents, even more than I do.

I laugh out of the blue, when I remember good memories.

-and-

God loves me enough to give me this list. And that's just so merciful, because I certainly don't deserve it. Thank you, Lord.