Sunshine and gross coffee...

Today I saw the sun for the first time in what feels like weeks. It's been one snow day after another with winds blowing white fluff as far as the eye can see. The snow is beautiful, but human beings need sunlight from time to time. On the way into work this morning, a light, fluffy snow was falling and I actually saw the sun rising over the road ahead. It was this brilliant orange - but not too bright that I couldn't look right at it. It was wonderful. I was listening to Jars Of Clay, the song Lovesong For A Savior. "Someday we'll trust Him and learn how to see Him. Someday He'll call us and we will come running..." It was heaven. Pretty snow, brilliant rays of sunlight and music that took me back to Waxhaw. I hope it's sunny for longer than an hour. It's official that I can't wait until warmer weather. Every other day or three it seems to get into negative numbers with the wind chill and the sky dumps another load of snow. (Let's not talk about how I do driving on the roads. I'll just say that yesterday I started crying on the way to work because I was so scared.) I'm already planning some elaborate celebration for the first day when the temperature gets to 50 degrees. Ah, nice and balmy.

This morning I stopped at one of those mega gas stations to get a cup of cofffee on my way to the office. As I took my first sip I had a realization. Yeah, gas station coffee is sometimes crappy and bitter, but there's something about it that's irreplaceable. Don't get me wrong, I love a good latte every once in a while. But I don't have memories of stopping into Starbucks on road trips to get an overpriced cup 'o joe that I could get elsewhere for $.79. Today's coffee is Cinnamon Hazlenut flavored. When it first hit my taste buds it took me back to Christ Covenant days with my parents. After church we'd stop at On-The-Go for a Sunday paper and get coffee. And sometimes dad got a blueberry sourdough donut. It made me shed a tear or two, thinking about the old times and driving home on I-485 on crisp, spring mornings. The other day I thought about my house on Easter Sunday. The homemade wind chime outside the open sliding door - Jell-o eggs with cool whip and honey ham. Oh, the times we had.

The other day I was drying dishes after supper. I had the dish towel inside of a glass and I was applying pressure from the inside out to get the top part dry to my satisfaction. Well, I think I pushed a little too hard because I totally shattered the thin part of the glass. There was a huge chunk that just came right out. Needless to say, I've got a nice little gash on my finger as a battle scar. I waited until I recovered from the trauma to finish the dishes. Sadly, I think that physical injuries are making me steadily more unsettled. I cut my finger and I had to sit down on the edge of the tub because I felt light-headed. Oh, please. It makes me sad that I'm such a wuss.

I'm really excited for Valentine's Day and I keep forgetting it's tomorrow. We're going to Carrabba's for supper. I've never been there but I love me some good Italian food. When we get home we're having a giant chocolate chip cookie for dessert. You know how they make them in the pizza pans? Um, yeah. Obviously we won't have the whole thing...but there's something magical about eating a warm, giant cookie with a fork. Not to mention the scoop of melting vanilla ice cream on top. Mmmmmm. That reminds me. I need to wrap Dan's Valentine present. Oops. I feel kind of dumb for going all out for V-Day this year...because I know that it's a marketing scheme and all the cards, gifts, wrapping accessories, etc. are WAY overpriced. But hey, it's our first married Valentine's Day. I think that's a good enough excuse to celebrate. At least it makes me feel a little validated.

I miss my sister. She called one morning right before I left for work - but for her it was about 10:00 at night. When we had to hang up I started to cry a little bit, but I tried to make myself laugh so she wouldn't hear me. I don't know if it worked. I think I secretly wanted her to know I was crying so she'd know I miss her a lot. I pray for them every day. And I hope those babies stay safe.

This is for me and my mom because sometimes we need to hear it...

"Put one foot in front of the other and Pilgrim,

you will soon discover that

there will be cold streams when you're thirsty.

There will be sunshine, even in the clouds.

So don't look back, don't get side tracked,

just walk on.

There are rolling green helps you've never seen,

and there's so much blue

waiting around the corner for you.

So don't be too long because you're almost home.

Just sing a pilgrim song as you travel on.

And pilgrim when you walk alone,

think about, sing about, dream about home.

And pilgrim when you walk alone,

think about, sing about, dream about home."