Spring is taking the lead

I have always considered myself a lover of autumn. I love the changing colors, I love the crispness in the air, I love bringing out the scarves and comfy sweaters, I love the sound of crunching leaves under my feet and the smell of woodstoves heating up...I have always had a love affair with autumn. I would even secretly long for it in July while I sipped on my iced tea in the sun. Even when I lived in Calgary and fall only lasted 3 weeks, it was still my favorite 3 weeks of the year...but lately, my affections have begun to turn...towards spring.

Have you noticed how WONDERFUL it smells out lately, with the hope of spring coming in just a couple of days?!!? *huge deep breath in* I've started walking to work on my night shifts, and I can't tell you how much I have been enjoying my walks home in the morning. The sun rising, the fog clearing, the smell of ocean in the air and the blossoms! Oh the blossoms!! I have developed a deep love of the cherry blossoms and then there is this magnolia tree that is intoxicating - and you can smell it half a block away!! When I grow up and have a yard of my own (instead of my gigantic patio of greatness) I am going to have a magnolia tree in my front yard...and maybe my back yard too...it will be glorious!! AND there is this other fragrance in the air - I have no idea what it belongs too, but it is so sweet and it almost smells like Earl Grey tea...if any of you green thumb types have any thoughts as to what I'm describing, please let me know what it is...because I think it will have to go in my grown up garden too.

What's more - it's not just the beauty of spring that I love, it is the very idea! The very idea that spring is a sign of hope - that the dark, dampness of winter is not forever, and even though it will surely come again, there will be beauty before it does! God is so amazing. He knew exactly what He was doing, and exactly what we needed. And isn't it fabulous that this is the season we celebrate Easter? Our celebration of hope...it's all so fabulous...

All this to say - Spring has won me over, for more reasons than one. I still love autumn, but I'm afraid it may have to assume the position of second most loved season. I think I'm going to go outside now, let me know if you want to join me!

"[Spring is] when life's alive in everything" ~ Christina Rossetti

Hello Pot, This is Kettle

So I never really realized the pressure there was to regularly blog (btw, Pot...errr...umm... Rachel! I haven't seen anything new on your's since FEBRUARY!! ;) I'm just sayin'....)! I figured that if I didn't have a moment to check other people's blogs, they probably didn't have time to check mine, and see that I haven't written in a little while...turns out that's not the case. And I'm pretty sure that kind of thinking is similar to that of a 5 year old, in their whole learning how they relate to other people...or at least I remember learning something very similar to that in my developmental psych class...but I digress!

My friend Alida is in town. We met my very first day on the U of C campus. It was called University 101 - a basic intro to the school. Funny thing is, I met Alida and Amy, two very special friends, that first day in our little group 0f 20! It wasn't until we were touring the SUB and we both noticed the IVCF sign that we realized we had more commonality than just being first year nursing students. Alida became one of the friends that got me through my degree. She was the one that brought Amy and I and our 3rd year group project team snacks in the computer lab as we headed into our 12th hour of typing out our 116 page paper...she was the one who took me to the airport to come home for Christmas...and she was the one who never lost sight of her dream to work in Africa with medical missions. She's traveling to Nigeria for the third (??? do I have that right???) time in a few months, where she'll live for 2 1/2 years, helping people, meeting their physical needs, and loving them. This is her passion.

We sat in ReBar last night over an almond burger and lotus land stirfry as she told me of her African adventures. Sometimes, I admit, I am terribly jealous! That is, until she told me about the "bush meat" and the near-death experiences while driving...but, I tell you - it's pretty great when your friends are your heroes.

You should really check out her blog (see below) - and tell her she should write a book, because her stories are fantastic!! At least that's what I keep telling her.

"Go in the direction of your dreams. Live the life that you have imagined" - Thoreau

...ok....I have to add to this quote - I love it! It's one of my favorites, there's just one part missing - that if you dream with God, He'll take you further than you imagined!

What! You too?

"I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

So I've been thinking about friends lately. I've had a few random dreams that have brought to mind dear friends who I haven't been in touch with for a while. And then these last couple of weeks I've been able to connect with some fabulous people in my life...friends that feel more comfortable than my favorite sweater. Such sweet and wonderful friends!

It's interesting how life is full of different friendships. There are friends who are perfect for laughing hard with, friends to cry with, friends to run and play with (I know I'm 27...but I still play!), friends to make music with...friends that push you and challenge you, friends that encourage you, friends that are friends because of a history shared...what a tremendous gift we have in friendships...whatever form they take.

I was just chatting with a dear friend today about how you get to this point in life and you remember that time when your one group of friends was everything...they were your world...and then, as we get older and life moves on, so do our friends. Friends move on to different cities, or different places in life, different relationships, different worlds...and we remember when they were our Sunday morning, our Tuesday night, and Friday night. Now they become the Wednesday night phone call that lasts over 2 hours, and the great card that arrives unexpectedly in the mail, or message on the voicemail that reminds you that you are loved and thought of...

So maybe there are some friends that are just for a time, but then there are those rare and special friends that hold onto your heart forever, where time apart has little impact on the connection between two kindred souls. I am so thankful for my friends - the friends who "knew me when...", the friends who know the history behind my nicknames and passions, the friends that make me laugh to the point of tears, the friends that challenge me to be the person God's called me to be, the friends that bring so many beautiful moments to life.

I am a very thankful girl. I am so very thankful for each of you, friends.

"Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You, too? Thought I was the only one." ~ C.S. Lewis

the soundtrack to my life

All my life I have wished that there would be a soundtrack playing in the background; appropriate mood music for that exact moment...like something fun and pop-y while I'm out on the town, or something melancholy while I'm contemplating breaking up with someone, something inspiring and uplifting as I start a new job...you know...like in the movies. Even if I didn't already have a crush on Jack Black, I would have fell in love with him (or rather, his character) after watching "The Holiday" just because he could provide personalized soundtrack music for me...sigh. A girl can dream.

There have been times in my life where I've tried to create appropriate music for the situation. Jaclyn and I would often work towards this...but it's a tricky undertaking. Until the latest love of my life arrived...my iPod. It has become the mobile soundtrack for my life!! Walking to work feeling reflective and pensive -Sara Groves "Add to the Beauty"! Running by the ocean on a sunny day - Chantal Kreviazuk "Waiting for the Sun"! Doing laundry at the laundromat - Barenaked Ladies "Easy"...and TA DA my life has a soundtrack!! I just did a contented sigh right there. It's a happy day now that my mood music can come everywhere with me. My only concern is that I'm frequently tempted to sing aloud with the music. I'm pretty sure the day will come when I find myself singing outloud while walking along Fort Street. So if you happen to drive past, just honk and remind me that I'm not in the privacy of my own home!

And if you are looking for some good soundtrack music, may I suggest the following:

The Weepies "Somebody Loved" and "The World Spins Madly On"
Mat Kearney "All I Need"
Beyonce "Irreplaceable" (a particularly good one for feeling single and fabulous! ;)
Coldplay "Fix You"
Corrine Bailey Rae "Put Your Records On"

Okay friends - have a happy day!! And enjoy the music!

Speaking of random videos...

Okay - so there has been some excitement about the fabulous duo, "Flight of the Conchords", amongst various people in my life recently...and I really think you should take a look at this one...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-jVAHAuiS4&mode=related&search=

Sarah this one's for you!

Have you noticed? They're everywhere. Practically everyone has one. And here I am on my journey to being "unique"...and I decide to join everyone else...

I have started a blog.

I used to think blogs were silly. But I admit much of my earlier skepticism of blogging came from blog envy. "Blog envy" you ask? Yes - the envy of something to blog about. I didn't have any of the typical blogging subjects in my life (e.g., new babies, cute kids, and/or but not limited to, amazing trips to save the world in some third world country)...hence the blog envy. But then, my sweet friend, Sarah, commented to me that I should have my own blog to share. ME! Child-less, trip-less, little me...and I thought! Yes Sarah! You are right. So here's a blog filled with the details and observations of my life, which will include subjects like adventures with my fabulous friends, moments shared with my ADORABLE nephews and neice, and stories of my delirious patients (because, really those are the funniest!) and probably a random video I find funny because my brother just can't help himself but send them to me.

All this in good time, dear friends. Just wanted to let you know that I have entered the blogging world. And I would like to dedicate my first blog to you, Sarah! "For giving me the idea in the first place" (please tell me you know what that quote is from!)