Sparrows, I just want to say thank you for not judging my pity party yesterday. You know those times where you’re so close to being done something huge but what stands between you and the finish line (a case study & another 8 -16 hours of studying & writing) just feels to big for you to grapple with? It makes everything feel too big to grapple with in moments.

But melancholy is not who I am, I’m a girl who applied for a course overload so I could take 7 classes at once while I was working 25 hours a week when I was doing my BA. I’m a girl who thrives on being there for other people, even when I don’t have a lot of energy for myself. I’m quick to cry when I’m stressed, but fast to smile after too.

So let’s focus on what is amazing right now…

What was awesome about this weekend:

Thanksgiving Dinner – Last year I made us a US Thanksgiving dinner and it failed, hardcore. It was really tragic. This weekend I made us an early one and it all came together perfectly! We had Caesar salad, yam fries, twice baked potatoes, vegetarian stuffing, steamed green beans, an organic free range chicken, home made cranberry jelly, and apple pie. It was sublime.

Lazy Saturdays – I have been tired lately, so this Saturday I literally just hibernated  read for over 6 hours. I finished the new Dan Brown & started a new library book I’ve been looking forward to. Quiet time is priceless.

Booking spur of the moment flights! – The amount of routine that has worked its way into my life is a little staggering. I need a reality check & a little shake up, and solo travel is always great for that- so I’m going to Vancouver by myself to catch up with two of my favorite people in early December, just because I miss them and I can.

Getting 100% – I always hold my breath when my assignments are returned to me, and on Friday I got 100% on one of my papers. It probably means that my course isn’t as rigorous as it should be, but I’ll take it! Getting 100% on anything feels really good.

Card Making Parties – This Sunday I went to a big Stampin’ Up party and made all my Christmas cards in one go. It was so much fun, and involved a mini-girls road trip to where it was held in the country. I even got to geek out over the die cutting machine they had. Be still my heart that may or may not be made out of chipboard and sparkles.

Getting to the bottom of things together – Sometimes it’s hard when your relationship suddenly decides that the cruise control mode you’ve been banking on isn’t going to work right now, but being present and working on things together is priceless. I can’t wait to celebrate our 5 year anniversary next month.

Finding a way to give – On Thursday I’m going to donate blood for the first time! My life feels far too ME focused right now, it’s very first world and a little nauseating. I’ve been dying to find a volunteer placement but I know that at the moment I don’t have enough emotional energy to do the kind of work I’d like to do- like work with aboriginal youth again. If I can’t give emotionally right now, I figure that I can take my body somewhere and have it give.

New Moon – Last night I went to see New Moon. Teen angst, vampires, and some good old fashioned girl-y, train wreck-y fun  always puts things in perspective.

I have so much to be thankful for, while it can be easy to get caught up in the details I know how lucky I am. In my prairie city it only takes 20 minutes to drive out from the city and into the country. When everywhere you look the whole world is huge sky and horizon, the big picture isn’t really so hard to find.