#Colder Weather

Winter is my favourite.

Kind of.

Well....right after summer....and spring....and autumn.

I know what you're thinking. "Um. Rye. That means winter is your least favourite."

No. No it does not, good reader. It just means that winter is my fourth favourite season.

I still love it. Just not quite as much as the others. But that does not mean I don't love it. Because I do. I'll tell you why.

I love the snow....when it's still white and pretty. Not when it's brown and slushy.

I love skating...it's my favourite date ever. There's something so supremely cute about holding hands and skating. And drinking tea. And having cold noses, and hot kisses.

I love the lights....the Christmas lights up all around the city. Making otherwise bland cookie cutter suburban houses sparkly and glittery and pretty. Setting the one apartment balcony apart from the rest. Brightening up an otherwise dark city.

And with that I love zoo lights....even though they're the same every year. I just love them so much. Too much, even.

I love mittens....especially when they're animals. I have elephant and shark mittens. My elephants are married and they kiss at red lights. My sharks are best friends and do not kiss at red lights. They just munch on my steering wheel.

I love boots....and shuffling my feet when I'm in boots. And having toasty toesies! I also love fuzzy socks inside my boots. Except I get sweaty very very hot toesies when I have fuzzy socks AND boots on.

I love fireplaces....and the smell and heat and look of fireplaces. I could stare into the fireplace for hours.

I love Christmas....because God loved us all so much that He came to earth so that we could know Him as a person and have a real relationship with Him. He humbled Himself in the ultimate way, and for that I am forever thankful.

I love Christmas music....and Christmas movies, and Christmas decorations, and Christmas trees. And pretty much just Christmas. This could have gone under the last one.

I love turkey dinners....this is the last one not the last one about Christmas....I will give you a bit of a break though!

I love tea....I love tea always. Like every single night of the year. But especially in the winter because it warms my belly from the inside out. Big thanks to my Auntie for giving me delicious Holiday Tea last week. It is the epitome of winter tea.

I love hockey....just kidding.

I love ugly sweaters....for real though. They're the best. And they're warm! Who cares if they're ugly, seriously.

I love mugs....to drink my tea out of. Once again, I love this one all the time, but I especially love it in the winter.

I love layering clothes....cause it hide everything I want to hide, and it always makes me feel pretty!

I love New Years....and the chance to start something new. And set myself up for failure by setting resolutions I know I could never keep. Maybe I'll rethink that this year..

I love having a break from school....because even though I love school it stresses me out. And everyone can use a break sometimes.

I love hot dates....on cold days

I love making snow angels....and snow men. And snow forts. And snow balls. Then throwing those snowballs at people and hiding behind my snow fort and letting my snow men and snow angels keep guard.

I love watching snow storms outside....but only if I'm at home and I don't have to go anywhere.

I love television holiday specials.... mostly Community. Pure. Gold.

I love going on outdoor winter adventures....and I really wanna go to the ice caves in Kananaskis. Someone please go on this adventure with me! Like, now.

I love sunny days....and the way the sunshine and brightness contrasts the cold biting air.

I love volunteering....and making someone's day brighter and warmer. Directly or indirectly.

I love winter colours....White and blue and silver and grey. They just always look so good!

I love quality time with family....immediate and extended. Because my family makes me who I am.

I love naked trees....snow kissed naked trees. 

I love red Starbucks cups....because that's when you know it's really winter (ps. has anyone else noticed how coffee has transitioned from being a beverage to an accessory? I'm not cool because I don't really drink coffee)

I love work Christmas parties....especially if there is an open bar.

I love my brother and sister....who were both born in the winter. December to be exact. 5 days short of a year apart.

I love winter.....it's just soqw,,,,,,,,............................rrrrrrrrrrttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt<------Thank you Kinjo, for your input on my blog post.

Take Two.

I love winter....it's just so peaceful and sweet. I love how clean everything looks right after it snows. And I love the way everything just hides under a blanket while it's still chilly, only to come out new and refreshed in the spring. So that's why I love winter, my fourth favourite season. Sigh.

However I do not love driving, or freezing, or static-y hair. Also, Valentine's Day. I know I sound like a bitter single, but I've always thought it was stupid, even when I had a boyfriend to share it with. But look at how much stuff I do love!! There's no way I can't look on the bright side for the 10 month winter that's just settling in now :)

#Faith And Philosophy - The 2 F's

Know what I love?

When I spend my entire day sitting in meetings, and lectures and mostly stressing about my philosophy midterm.

Eating ice cream then immediately regretting it.

Leaving my midterm praying I passed.

Ending my day with super low self esteem.

Then coming home to three boys who make me laugh, and build me up.

One of whom probably gave my whole house mono.

Another who lets me wear his sweatpants.

And another who only likes tall, blonde haired, blue eyed, girls.

I've decided I like having three brothers. 

Going on late night adventures to Wal Mart with my Momma.

Looking up pictures of places I want to be.

And remembering that tomorrow is a new day.

My days are so much better when filled with the people I love!

#Reflection in the mirror

Thanksgiving came and went like a whirlwind.

My long weekend is already over.

And I'm back to the day-in day-out of every week.

I had a lot of time to think about what I was thankful for this weekend. And in the midst of my anxiety, depression, and dark thoughts I was able to come up with an abundance of things I'm thankful for.

Here's a short list because I could go on and on in detail about why each of these things is important to me but that would bore you into never revisiting my blog..

- My little brother
- My ballerina sister
- My artistically inclined sister
- My amazing mother
- My strong Daddy (RIP) - and the opportunity to know what it means to have a Daddy
- The relationship that my whole family has with each other
- The rest of my extended family
- My awesome friends
- Mostly my FBF who is pretty much my third sister..
- My God, my Jesus - and the freedom to express my love for my God
- The house that I call home
- The food I know I can eat
- The clothes that I wear
- The education I am privileged to indulge in
- And all the little extras...I could be here for hours.

We live in a sweet little corner of the world. I don't need one day to be thankful for all of those things. But it's a good habit to get into to look at your life and know how well off you are. Because despite the "crap" we have to go through, we have so much more than 97% of the world.

#Expect the worst, hope for pie

It's a list kind of day. 4 top 10 lists. Wooooo!!

Top 10 things you learn when you hang out with teenage boys for an evening:

1. It has become socially acceptable for your younger brother to tell you you're "wheelin'"

2. Teenage girls are a lot more......outgoing than back in my day.

3. In pie we crust.

4. It doesn't matter how old you are, you always fear the wrath of the mom, even if she's not your mom. And hiding in the basement under the stairs is a never fail option for avoiding that wrath.

5. 3 teenage guys can down an extra large pizza in 8 minutes or less.

6.  I need approval from my brother AND his friends when I like a guy.

7. Teenage boys are another great distraction from annoying stupid things like homework.

8. TyTy-WyWy-Matt-RyRy

9. Listening to music you grew up on is the fastest thing to age you ever. That, and knowing who Mick Jagger is.

10. Teenage boys revert to young children when surprised with NFL tickets.

Top 10 things you learn when you're trying to write papers:

1. Everything is a distraction.

2. You can read a 3 text message conversation about 50 times and not get bored of it. *note - you must really like this person for this to be valid.

3. You can't tickle your own toes.

4. Even things like working out don't sound so bad when you have to write a paper.

5. Having painted nails is vital to existence.

6. Same with toes.

7. Spoof rap battle videos on youtube are super entertaining...kinda.

8. You don't have to be hungry to eat lots of food.

9. It's fun to look up tattoo designs on the internet.

10. When you drink a lot of water in a short period of time, you have to pee lots.

Top 10 motivational quotes for the day:

1. Do not be afraid of tomorrow, God is already there.

2. The key to happiness is: Keep your heart free from hate, your mind from worry. Live simply, give much. Fill your life with love. Do as you would be done by.
- Buddha

3. Every single person who's drifted in and out of your life is part of your divinely chosen experience. So, give thanks for all of these people, and take serious note of what they brought you.
- Dr. Wayne Dyer

4. What lies behind us and what lies before us are small matters compared to what lies within us.
- Ralph Emerson

5. No matter how slow you go, you are still lapping everybody on the couch.

6. Nothing's gonna change if we only rearrange the furniture and call it home.
- Andrew Allen

7. The difference is Jesus loves you, I don't.
- Danielle Peck

8. You're my silver medal.
-Peter Griffin

9. Reach for the stars, climb every mountain higher.
- S Club 7

10. ...You're pretty.
-Mama Marji

Top 10 songs of the day:

1. Come Together - The Beatles

2. Alone With You - Jake Owen

3. Hands Down - Dashboard Confessional

4. Two Worlds - Phil Collins

5. Barefoot Blue Jean Night - Jake Owen

6. Brown Eyed Girl - Van Morrison

7. Let It Rain - David Nail

8. Strange Disease - Prozzak

9. I'd Rather Be With You - Joshua Radin

10. God Gave Me You - Blake Shelton

Another great way to put off doing papers? Watch Modern Family and write blog posts with lots of lists. Lists are my kryptonite.

#Bleeding Blue

This weekend I went to my first football game of the season.

For my brother's football team.

The Bantam Calgary Colts.

And man oh man did I ever love it.

I forgot how much fun it is to sit in the stands, to cheer and holler and immerse yourself in the game.

To joke, and tease and laugh with the other spectators.

A familiarity sets in. You know the boys on the turf. You know the parents, siblings, girlfriends in the stands. You all come together with a common goal. To win that football game.

You see the team work on the field. The way the boys all have each other's backs. The way they celebrate together. They build each other up. They have respect for each other. They play as a team, win as a team, and lose as a team.

And up in those stands we love those boys. We get to know the boys, on the field and off the field. We cheer and we groan with them. We take pride in every block, every run, every touchdown.

These are my boys in blue. It's gonna be a rad season.

#Love.Is.Found.Everywhere.

Pretty much sums it up.

#For The Birds

So this is going to come as a shock to most of you.

Because I don't normally do things like this.

But I've started running.

Yeah. I know.

And it's not like normally where I run until I feel a little bit winded and stop. Then I brag for weeks that I went for a run.

Nope. It's really not like that.

It's actually along the lines of for really real running.

Well, jogging.

With some walking in between.

But I've gone 3 times this week! I know! It's only Thursday! Twice with my sister wife and once with my football player brother! (Also, thinking you can keep up with football brother and live to tell the tale is a very grandiose delusion. Very grandiose, indeed....)

Anyway, I just wanted someone else to be proud of me for actually trying to do this. Because it's super lame to be the only one proud of yourself. (Well, I think my mom is proud too, but she has to be. It's her obligation as woman who gave birth to me.) Also, check back later tonight, or early tomorrow! I'm going to have a pretty awesome post up about my trip!