As winter blooms

Winter, has so many connotations attached to it. I think of blistery, long, hot cocoa, fires, christmas trees, valentine cards, snowmen, presents. What a season right!? So many holidays & things to be thankful for. Life in the Chicago area is great, but coming home to Minnesota is fabulous. Although there is no snow, there is plenty of chill. People are friendly as ever & home still smells like home. The nearby cafe invites me to the warm & sinful espresso. 

Coming home was bitter-sweet. Although, my mom & family are beautiful & haven't changed, my friends have seemed to all be a bit different. We each went different ways expecting each other to never change... that didn't happen. Life at a Private, very conservative Christian college is much different then a State school. Drinking & partying are part of a person's schedule  in a state school, while at my school, it is unheard of. I am not mad or disappointed in my friends, it is just.... different. I love them, I want to spend time with them, but since I do not drink, I am almost "looked down upon." Which is soo opposite of what I thought it would be like. However, I leave for the windy city soon, & I must spend my time wisely.

I share many laughs with my family. Sitting by the fire in the mornings & having meaningful conversation with my mom is beautiful & where I want to be. Cuddling with my six year old sister while watching a movie is where I want to be. Going through my grandmas photo boxes is where I want to be. In the end, when I return to college, those places with my family is what I will truly miss. The times where my heart was happy because of silly things we laugh about or when we cry together, this is where I will want to be.