~*Magical*~

Snow is pretty magical, isn’t it? When I was little and it snowed I can still remember that my dad would stand in front of the window for so long just watching it come down. My mom said it was because he grew up in Brazil and snow was just such a strange thing to him. Yet, despite having grown up seeing at least some snow, I find myself situated right next to the window so as not to miss any of the delicate snowflakes falling down. It has the same effect on me as an open flame or the waves of the ocean, hypnotic almost, I can’t quite bring myself to look away. But that’s not the only reason I think snow is magical.

Snow brings people together. No joke. A couple days ago it started snowing here in Langley and my roommate and I ended up just sitting in front of the window for hours watching it come down. And as the layer of snow grew more and more people started to come outside and jump around, make snow angels, have snowball fights, make snowmen and go for romantic walks together. On what otherwise would have been an average evening with everyone doing their own things inside the dorms, people went outside and came together.

Something about snow takes you back to a childlike state I think; the sounds of sheer joy coming from the people outside, the sense of adventure or that everything is new. Because nothing looks quite the same when it snows. I’m not surprised that only the season of winter has ever merited the term “wonderland”, because there is nothing that really compares to when the world is covered in the soft white blanket.

Now, I realize that for a lot of people snow is nothing more than a pain in the butt. It makes it hard to drive, it’s tough to walk in and it is pretty chilly. But for me; someone who doesn’t drive, who doesn’t mind a challenge whilst walking and enjoys bundling up for the cold, snow is great. It makes the world quiet and perfect. And the beauty of how pure it is reminds me that God can make us whiter than the snow (Psalm 51:7, Isaiah 1:18). That I, too, can be that pure.

So think what you will about snow, but I love it. And so I will sit here by my window, with my cup of hot chocolate and try to get some of my homework reading done… if I can keep my eyes from gazing out at the snow, that is. 

Auld Lang Syne

New Year’s Eve in my family has always been pretty much the same for as long as I can remember; the family would sit around watching silly shows on tv, eating olliebollen, waiting for the countdown and then watching the fireworks in the street, drinking champagne (when we were old enough) and ABBA’s Happy New Year blasting from the stereo. It’s a tradition I really enjoy, and even when our whole family isn’t together it’s nice to know that most of us are probably listening to ABBA either way. But there is another song that I love and as cheesy as it sounds always makes me tear up a little: Auld Lang Syne.

I’m not sure why I love this song so much, because it’s never been part of our family tradition, but there must be a part of me that just connects with it. It was written by Robert Burns in 1788, he was a Scott (perhaps my Scottish roots are the reason I love the song?) and the words of the song literally translated call for us to think of the days gone by. To think of the friends we have had, and possibly lost along the way. It talks about the trials that we have overcome in times past and that we ought not forget them, and that despite these trials we can share in kindness with one another. I don’t know but something about it seem to match perfectly what I feel on New Years. The sense that I’m not the person I was a year ago because I’ve grown and that with the knowledge of what has passed I can move forward into the adventures of the New Year. That there are always those who stand by you through the tough times and those who have helped you along the way. A sense of perseverance, camaraderie, and hope. I like that.

Here are the full English lyrics of the song and you can find the original Scottish version online. I wish you all the best as you start this new year of 2012, that you continue to grow into the person you want to be and that you remember the days that have past and have brought you to where you are now.

Should old acquaintance be forgot,


and never brought to mind ?


Should old acquaintance be forgot,


and old lang syne ?

CHORUS:

For auld lang syne, my dear,

for auld lang syne,

we'll take a cup of kindness yet,

for auld lang syne.

And surely you’ll buy your pint cup !

and surely I’ll buy mine !


And we'll take a cup o’ kindness yet,


for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have run about the slopes,


and picked the daisies fine ;

But we’ve wandered many a weary foot,


since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

We two have paddled in the stream,


from morning sun till dine ;


But seas between us broad have roared


since auld lang syne.

CHORUS

And there’s a hand my trusty friend !


And give us a hand o’ thine !


And we’ll take a right good-will draught,


for auld lang syne.

CHORUS

The big picture

You know how in the movies they say that a girl always knows when a guy likes her. It’s false. Okay, I can really only speak for myself but personally I am oblivious to when guys like me. I can see it when a guy likes a different girl but when it’s me I haven’t got a clue. It’s rather unfortunate but I feel like this is the case for most girls. We know when a guy likes one of our friends; we can see it from a mile away. But when it’s us, we are blissfully unaware. Maybe it’s because we’re in it, it’s too close for us to get proper perspective, you know? And I feel like that's the case in a lot of situations in life. You don't have a clue what's going on because you are just too involved in it to get the big picture. 

Retrospect is a funny thing isn’t it? The dictionary defines it as a review, survey, or contemplation of things in the past; to look back on or contemplate things in the past. And it’s not necessarily a bad thing, yet so often it’s used in a phrase like “in retrospect I would have…”. But I don’t think that necessarily means you regret what happened or that you want to change it; it simply means that you have learned something between now and then. You have a different way of looking at things, and if you were faced with the same situation again you might do it differently.

For me, things make much more sense in retrospect. When I have more information to complete the picture. The time that passes gives you the distance you need to see the full picture in perspective. Sure, sometimes I wish I could have seen those things in the moment but more often than not it’s for the best that I didn’t. Things find a way of working themselves out just as they should be.

There is a verse in Romans that says that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them (8:28). Thank God for that. God gives me the pieces of the puzzle that I need in the moment, but He sees the whole picture. Not just of a given situation, not just of my life, but of all of eternity and He knows what needs to happen. Sometimes I wish God would give me more of the puzzle, or the lid so that I could see what I’m trying to piece together, but to be honest, I like the surprises of not knowing. And as time passes and I grow closer to God I see more and more of the picture and how the pieces fit together. It’ll all come together in the end. 

Songs are my Memories

As I believe I have mentioned once or twice before, I love music. Not just for the lyrics, not just for the instruments, not just for the emotions that it portrays so very accurately, but for the way it can bring me back to a certain time, place, or person so easily.

You know how sometimes they use smell therapy for people who have memory loss to try to help them recall memories they may have lost? Music is like that for me. I can hear a song that I didn’t even know I had ever heard before and it can take me back to the time and place where I heard that song.

Also, most songs that I really like I like because they have a specific memory attached to them. Sometimes these memories are happy and nostalgic, other times songs can remind me of times where I was very sad or upset about something, but those are good memories too because I know that I learned something or grew somehow.

But beyond all that, one of the best ways in which songs are my memories is that they remind me of specific people. For most people in my life there is at least one song that reminds me of them specifically. (Heck, there is probably a song that reminds me of you!) I like those songs the best because they always, always make me happy.  There are (and have been) so many people in my life whom I love so dearly and whom I’ve made incredible memories with and hearing songs just bring all those things back to me like a wave of goodness. It’s pretty great.

So thank you music for bringing me back to those amazing times that I hope I will never forget. Here’s to many more!

Idiosyncrasies

We all have them, those peculiar little habits that make us unique. For some people it may be that you hate having certain body parts touch each other; fingertips, ankles, what have you. For some it may be a particular interest in something that others don’t find that interesting at all; rock formations, airplanes, various kinds of tea. Some idiosyncrasies are more obvious than others, being startled easily for instance. Some can be hidden for a long time or simply seem normal until the point where they are forced to change. For some they are secret hidden pleasures that only they know about and appreciate; the driver putting their hand on the passenger seat when backing up, the feeling of putting on socks that just came out of the dryer, the way wet hair looks. There may be certain things that you secretly hate; pictures of anatomy, tiny specks on a mirror, the creaking sounds swings make. Certainly there are some idiosyncrasies that are more common than others, I’m certain quite a few people feel they have to sleep on a certain side of the bed, or pealing an apple in one long strip, etc. A movie that really highlights idiosyncrasies in a great way is Amelie; whenever a new character is introduced the viewer is told a couple of their idiosyncrasies and they are so unique and so wonderful. I think the best part of idiosyncrasies is that they are hidden to most of the people you meet and that only those who really know you know them. This process can take years, I love hearing stories from married couples who have just discovered a new one about their spouse, or when you realize your spouse knows some of the ones you thought you hid so well. That’s the thing about these little habits and behaviors and thoughts, there are so many of them, you may not even know all of your own ones until they are pointed out to you, and there is no reason or rhyme to them. There just fun little discoveries, little insights into people, they don’t necessarily mean anything, and that’s what makes them so fantastic. Because why should everything have to mean something anyway?

(p.s. If you recognize yourself in any of the examples I have given, yes, I may have used you as an inspiration. But don't worry! I like that you are weird and won't tell anyone that it was you :))

You.

This is for you. You are an inspiration to me. There is something about the kindness that just seems to flow from you that makes me wish I could be more like you. It seems like things are lighter when you are around, you know? You can come into a room and suddenly there seem to be more smiles, there is an easiness there, a level of comfort. You find a way of taking things that are mundane and ordinary and spinning them into things that I never want to forget. I can quite honestly say that I hold every memory of you very dear in my heart and there is not a minute that I spent with you that I would want to have spent anywhere else. Even when you are hurt or sad you are still the most giving and forgiving person I know. I have never known you to be hurtful or show anger towards anyone, that’s such a gift. You are a gift. You are kind hearted and talented and I am certain that you can and will succeed in achieving anything that you put your mind to, and yet you are humble and you always pawn off the compliments paid to you. God has blessed you and He has blessed me by letting me have you in my life. Because that’s what you are to me, a blessing, a daily reminder of the good that is in this world and the hope that remains. You are incredible, and even if you don’t think you are making a difference in this world, you are. You are changing everything by simply being who God created you to be, and I love you for it.