A Southern girl's survival kit for winter in Chicago...

So.  Things have been a little heavy around here lately.  Sorry 'bout that.  But when I feel all light and airy and free, I rarely need an outlet for that on my blog: I simply live it.  It's when things are difficult and stretching that I often come here for relief in a pent-up breath exhaled and an understanding reader.  Thank you for being that.  

But yesterday, as I walked my chilly half-hour walk to work, I realized this: out of six in Chicago so far, this is the second winter I've not complained all the way through, and the first I'm actually enjoying.  Of course, that could be utterly due to the a-to-the-mazing temperatures we've been experiencing here.  I don't know what it's like where you are, but here in the Midwest, we've had one heaven of a wintertime.  Well, maybe snow-lovers like my kiddo Matthew disagree, but me -- I'm all about 40's and 50's when the average is closer to 10's and 20's.  Yessirree.  

That said, I've now spent one-fifth of my winters in Chicago, and if (heaven forbid) it were 12 degrees and blizzarding outside (which is actually doubtful because -- as we (now-) northerners know -- there is such a thing as "too cold for snow"), I wouldn't sweat it (which sounds logical, but under all those layers, you'd be surprised!).  Of course, it almost seems like spring here right now; but as Chicago's springs are often confused and put off by lingering winters, I wouldn't be surprised if it were also true the other way around.  Either way, winter ain't over yet.  And I'm OK with that; I'm ready for it.  Because if there's one thing Chicago winters have taught me, it's "Deal with it."  Yes, Chicago winters are that prosaic and heartless.  

So, for all those who wonder how and why I deal with it and don't just move back South where I belong (coughmomcough), here's my list, my three (yes, only three!) essentials for happy-ish survival.  This is how I get through winter in Chicago, and -- if you find yourself here one wintry day -- how you can, too:

1. Long Underwear = Life-savers.  Forget the those bulky thermals you wore as a kid when it snowed a quarter of an inch and school was declared out and you somehow managed to roll a very tiny, very dirty "snowman" out of the grass (based on my North Carolininian experience).  I honestly don't know how I'd have gotten through a Midwestern winter without these -- well, for lack of a better term, underpants.  They're made of the same fabric as a slip, so as you can imagine, they don't make you feel 5 inches wider, but they absolutely keep you warmer.  I try to walk to work every day if it's not absolutely horrid out, and this is how I've done it.  Nineteen degrees with a wind-chill of 7, you say?  No prob.  I've got my long janes.

2. The Beach Boys.  Oh yes.  Again, this has saved my wintry walks to work.  When I turn on the Beach Boys in my ipod, the world gets brighter.  The snow begins to melt, the winds die down, the sun boldly shines through the dissipating clouds, and a smile appears out of nowhere on my wrinkled up grumpy face.  Or at least that last part.  Who doesn't get warm feelings when listening to "California Girls" or "Surfin' USA"?  Also, listening to songs like "Fun, Fun, Fun" inevitably makes me walk a little faster, which not only burns more calories but also gets me to my destination and out of the cold even faster.  Win-win.

3.  Clementines.  Or as one Trader Joe's cashier called them, Adult Candy.  I didn't grow up eating clementines, but now I don't want to face another winter without them.  They not only give me the extra-needed Vitamin C that my body craves as it fights off all the colds and stomach bugs that are viciously making their rounds this time of year; these pint-sized oranges also give one a warm feeling of tropical beaches and itsy-bitsy-teeny-weeny, yellow-polka-dot bikinis and summery smoothies.  In case you haven't noticed, half the battle with a Chicagoan winter is in one's own mind.

So that's it.  My sensory three-step plan to a less-than-grumpy season of death.  My trifecta of happiness in the midst of what would otherwise be dark and dreary and frigid-beyond-your-imagination-if-you-haven't-yet-crossed-the-Mason-Dixon-line bitterness.  A Southern girl's survival kit for winter in Chicago.

2012: Abide

I realize that all the one word for 2012 posts have long been posted by now.  But I don't mind reminding myself that, really, we're only 10 days in.  We've all gone back to work and workouts and just saying 'no' to all the candy that has somehow ridden out the wake of Christmastime and lingers menacingly from the coffee table, calling out to us... just one more.  Still, even though back to reality, we sense a rush of rest now that all the holiday shenanigans are behind us forever... except that they're 10 months ahead.  See, 10 isn't very much after all...  

I don't normally have one word for the year.  That is, my mind is usually just a little too disjointed to focus on or even tie everything together into one thing for 12 months.  But then, on January 1st, we studied part of John 15 at our church service and... well... I couldn't get this word out of my mind.  

Abide.  

Here's the passage we studied, Jesus' very words:

I am the true vine, and My Father is the vinedresser. Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every branch that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit. You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you. Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing. 

If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire and they are burned. If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. Just as the Father has loved Me, I have also loved you; abide in My love. If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full. This is My commandment, that you love one another, just as I have loved you.

::breathe deeply::

Simply abide.  Abide in Jesus, and abide in His love.  And let His words abide in me.

Last year about this time, I felt like I was in a fruitless season, in the sense that I believed nothing was happening to or through me and that I wasn't going to be of much use to anyone for a while.  But in the midst of that season, I remembered these words, and they gave me rest:

             How blessed is the (woman) 

who does not walk

in the counsel of the wicked,

Nor stand in the path of sinners,

Nor sit in the seat of scoffers!

But (her) delight is in the law of the LORD,

And in His law (she) meditates

day and night.

(She) will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water,

Which yields its fruit in its season

And its leaf does not wither;

And in whatever (she) does, 

                        (she) prospers.

These words from Psalm 1 gave me peace... To know that even the tree that is firmly planted by streams of water -- in God's Spirit and drinking in God's living word, that is -- even that tree isn't expected to bear fruit year-round.  No, and just because it's not bearing fruit in a particular season does not mean it's dead, for "its leaf does not wither."  And that was me last year.  Not dead, just not particularly fruitful.  And that was OK.  God didn't (and still doesn't) expect me to bear fruit year-round (or even every year).  He gave me rest and peace in the truth that there is a season to be fruitful, but that there is also a season to simply be alive.  

But this year... This year, I can already sense will be different.  I believe, I hope, I pray this is my season to bear fruit.  Whether that means more intentional (but also more organic) ministry to women and music-lovers and blog-readers... whether that means starting a family... whether that means taking Thornfield beyond little coffeeshop gigs to wider audiences...  Whatever it means, I think it will involve planting seeds, nourishing them, and letting them grow.  And if I want them to produce much fruit, good fruit, lasting fruit, there is only one thing I must do: abide in the vine.

So, 2012, I'm drinking of the fruit of the vine to this: to abiding, and thereby to bearing much more fruit to drink of!

An Ornamental Christmas

One of the most exciting parts of Christmas for me -- besides delicious homemade goodies, fragrant pine wreaths, slow-burning red candles and mischievous elves hiding throughout our home -- is decorating the tree.  To be honest, I couldn't even wait until after Thanksgiving this year to get our tree up and decked out.  Thankfully, Eric and I both came into marriage with pretty big collections of ornaments.  And, sure, most of them are from our childhood and therefore make our tree seem less "mature" than perhaps the average childless adult's Christmas tree.  But since Christmas is all about children, childish things and child-like joy, I think it's perfectly appropriate.  (If that sounds too consumeristically child-centric, consider the point of Christmas: a child.)  Anyway, I decided, just for fun, to share with you some of the ornaments that give me such delight throughout this season.  (Forgive some of the blurry ones... low lighting and all...)  Here they be:

How true this is?  Too true.

Couldn't resist this Irish lass & her cottage!

I don't remember how I acquired this star... a teacher gave it to me, maybe?  Help, Ma?

Cinderella's castle, which I got last year when we spent Christmas at Disney World.  Magical times.  :)

This is actually a pin, not an ornament, but I put it up anyway to represent my beloved home state, North Carolina.

Another home-made ornament.  Burt's Bees: my lifeline.

I believe we got this one a few years ago in celebration of Eric's first composition publication.  

Yay, Eric!

I love him, by the way.  

Ah... and gotta love that mean old Mr. Grinch!

Don't do the math, please.

We picked up this while visiting the enchanting Smokey Mountains this past summer.

Dancer was always my favorite ornament to put up, as a child, and remains an absolute favorite.

What five-year-old wouldn't adore "The Littlest Angel"?

Another childhood favorite: The Old Lady in the Shoe

OK, we're not really spending Christmas in Ireland.  Not this Christmas, anyway...

(More on that later!)

This is a series of "Curious Kittens" I got throughout a cat-loving phase of my childhood.

Of course, real kittens don't get into any trouble whatsoever, right Ellie?

Eloise, you stop licking the tree this instant!

Yes, as charming as it would be, Ellie spends very little time around Christmas doing this:

... and much more time doing this:

and this:

Nevertheless, we're somehow able to retain a somewhat in-tact tree.

(As long as we keep a water bottle nearby to keep the naughty cat from eating it to pieces.)

Merry Christmas!!!

What is your favorite ornament?  Do tell!

A Change in Seasons

The leaves have mostly fallen, except a brave few.

The wind has developed a certain brazen chill.

The skies have traded a sweet Carolina blue for a dreary heather gray.

The night falls much sooner and quicker than it used to.

The squirrels have gotten more than a wee bit on the chubby side.

       (And, thanks to all that All Hallow's Eve candy, so have I...)

Signs of The End of Autumn and The Start of Winter are all around me.  And though I thrive in the quiet Autumn evenings that follow full and active Summer days, solemn as the crickets' song yet teeming with life, I'm almost ready to say that I'm almost ready for the long, dark season that waits just around the bend.  I bear no shame when I admit that I've already dusted off and listened to two Christmas albums.  And, honestly, the only reason I haven't felt utterly compelled to decorate my home with deep red hues and bright twinkle lights is because that happens to be the state of the place year-round.  I don't know if I've ever taken the time to be thankful for each of the Seasons at once.  But I'm trying to today.  Instead of complaining about the coming Five Months of Torture that make up a Chicago Winter, I want to remember the Charming Two Months of Spring, the Delicious Two Months of Summer, and the Bittersweet Three Months of Autumn.  And I want to look forward to the truth that even the coldest season ahead boasts tummies full of the warming goodness that is a homemade stew, bodies full of armor against the unmerciful but beautiful elements, and hearts full of the love and joy and generosity that springs from the remembrance that "unto us a Child is born."  

A season of my life is also starting to fade.  That post-graduate season in which rest from past toils and the saving of energy, time, money and dreams for future hoped-for pursuits has defined the past 18 months of my existence, but I'm beginning to wonder if "future hoped-for pursuits" are more present than I'd even realized.  I just turned 26... which means I'm now older than a quarter-century, and the age my mother was when she had her first wee bairn.  I always said I would start down the childbearing road before she did, but here I am: 26, childless, and happily so.  And while the professional and musical ambitions I've developed and fostered like an overly-zealous mother haven't dissipated in the least, I can't help but think that a change is yet around the bend, and I'm not sure if I like it or if I'm ready for it, but -- true as Old Man Winter himself -- it must come whether I want it or not.  And it has a purpose.  And it's purpose is good.  And it, too, might be brimming with full tummies and hearts.

And so, as the wind feverishly blows,

and the skies gloomily darken,

and the squirrels greedily hoard,

and the night swiftly falls like the leaves from the trees, 

even so, I shall be thankful for what goodness this Season also brings... like a tendency to settle down and cuddle up... and the peace that comes with the quiet... and the thankfulness that wells up and out when we reflect on a bountiful and exciting and full-of-love year.

May all the goodness of the Season ahead be with you -- whatever Season that may be!