A WHITE-ISH CHRISTMAS AND A BOWLING PARTY FOR JESUS

Since when do we have thunderstorms in Minnesota on Christmas? Last Sunday, I walked through the streets of Madison in -8 degrees (with a -21 degrees windchill). And for Christmas, we get rain? I don't understand. I blame everyone who sang Mariah Carey's "All I Want For Christmas Is You" on repeat for weeks. 

I won't even wish for snow... 

WELL, YOU SHOULD HAVE. I'm not saying that I want it to be as cold as last weekend--that was horrible. But it is not supposed to rain on Christmas. 

As I slid through ice-coated streets of Minnie in the morning, I couldn't help but picture my car wedged in a snowbank. I could barely brake. And even though I knew it was coming, I had a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that it would actually rain on Christmas. Who would have thought I should have brought my umbrella and rain boots back from school? It's December!

While we technically had a white Christmas, something about a downpour in the middle of Christmas lunch just didn't seem right. I want pretty flurries and the streets to be lightly dusted with a powdered-sugar-like coating. Is that too much to ask for?

I think the thunder and lightening later in the night is what really put me over the edge. We really had to have a thunderstorm on Christmas? I would have gladly taken a snowstorm over this.

When I was little, my grandma used to tell me that we had thunderstorms when God was bowling with the angels, so I wouldn't be scared of them. It became fun. I imagined a bowling ball going down a lane in Heaven every time it thundered. So, if it had to rain today, at least maybe we can imagine Jesus chose to go bowling for his birthday this year?

Despite the rain, I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy 2nd day of Hanukkah.

A LOVE LETTER TO SUMMER

Dear Summer,

I have never been in love. I have been in lust (as you can see here, here, and here). But with you it's different. I promise this isn't something I say to every other season.

The time I spend with you is extra special, because I know it cannot last forever. But the truth is I am happiest when you are around. You invite endless adventure and time to do everything I put off during the rest of the year. My smile is a little bit brighter when I'm with you. And I get a little sad when I think about what it will be like without you, but I am appreciative of the time I have with you now. 

I could spend hours gazing at the lakes on the warm summer nights. Mornings by the lake are serene. Afternoons by the lake are lively. And nights by the lake are a part of some of my favorite memories. 

I know our relationship isn't always healthy, but sometimes you just want a little danger in your life for the thrill of it. You know? I'm tempted to forget the SPF 30, because of the beautiful glow I know I could have. But I know it's not good for me.

It makes me giddy just thinking about all the fun times we still have ahead of us. The late night talks that last until we are convinced we have uncovered the meaning of life at 3am. The random ice cream runs, because it is too hot to eat anything else. And the spontaneous adventures that turn into stories we will tell for years.

I'm usually not one to broadcast my relationships, but I want the world to know about our love affair. I am madly and hopelessly in love with you, Summer.

 

SUNNY WITH A HIGH OF 75

Originally the idea for this post was part of a list of things that I have learned from college so far. And I will post about that eventually, but I realized that I had a lot more to say about this one topic than I thought. With the weather that we have had in the last few days, it has had me thinking a lot.

A couple days ago it was almost 80 degrees and sunny. And now we are back in the 40s with rain and the kind of wind that keeps turning my umbrella inside out. It's driving me crazy.

Recently, I was introduced to the song "High of 75" by Relient K. I can't tell you how many times I have listened to this song in the last few weeks. One of the main lines is

"Lately, the weather has been so bi-polar, 
and consequently so have I." 

People always make fun of the weather as a topic of conversation, but when you live in the upper-midwest it is such a relevant topic. It can easily go from sunny and 75 to 25 and snowing in a matter of a couple days. I interpret "High of 75" in a couple of different ways. When he says,

"Don't know whether or not
 How sad I just got 
Was of my own volition,
Or if I'm just missing the sun"

I think of how much happier I am when the weather is nicer. Everyone gets so excited about the warm weather, and it feels so nice to be outside. But since they are associated with Christian rock music when he says,

"And now I'm sunny
With a High of 75
Since you took my heavy heart 
And made it light. 
And it's funny how you find
You enjoy your life
When you're happy to be alive."

it makes me think of God taking away a burden, and finding peace with your life. And I love that. I think there is something so wonderful about discovering what makes you truly at peace and happy. That last part keeps ringing through my head, "And it's funny how you find you enjoy your life when you're happy to be alive." Sometimes I think I lose sight of how many things there are to be grateful when I am stressed out and overwhelmed. It's easy to get caught up in everything that is going on. I think part of the reason I am so much calmer during the nicer weather is because I am more likely to take the time to stop and ground myself. Saturday I went on a run by the lake, and I stopped and sat on a picnic table for a while, admiring everything around me and just being. Sometimes you just need to be.

It might sound silly, but I try not to subscribe to the belief that we need to constantly be on the go. Who's keeping track anyway? Productivity is relative. So, take some time to check in with yourself. What is it going to take to get to your "sunny with a high of 75?"

In case you are wondering: According to Wikipedia, the lead singer stated the song was influenced by Northern Ohio's "undependable weather." Go figure.