As I typed the words for the title of this blog, I wondered if the more appropriate heading would be, 'Break a Lot, Love a Lot.'  Either way the concept is about the same.

There are deserts of days, months, and sometimes years.

They tear into our hearts and often our minds.

"What doesn't kill you makes you stronger," many songs blast out.  I like this saying in a cliche, chic way.  I like the idea of being refined by fire.  I like the idea of "no pain, no gain."

However, whenever I'm going through one of those 'whatever doesn't kill me," stages, I sure feel just about spent.

A new year!  I am happy for the retirement of the old one and the entrance into a new time in my life. January, already, has been marked by change.  Change is good.

The bipolar weather in Edmonton (it was 0 degrees Sunday and is currently -17) sweeps across our bones causing us to hurry to our cars to turn the heat on full and fast.  I'm consistently wrapped with a blanket around me at home and being berated by my sister to put on more layers because I'm constantly cold.

However, the winter weather doesn't seem to bug me as much as it did immediately after coming home from South Africa 11 years ago.  Though there are no physical flowers to gaze on, I know the flowers are here.

Perspective.

Through every year, no matter how hard, the goodness is here.  Even in winter.

Sometimes I have to sleuth so hard to find it and other times it's blatant, vibrant, and up-front.

There are flowers here if only we seek them.  Flowers in friends.  Flowers in truth.  Flowers in day to day life.

Though my life is simple and plain as of late, there are good things in my life and I am happy to share them.  They are small, but they are the little buds of hope and goodness that keep my life going.

If Ann Voskamp were here she would call them "gifts."

Here are the things that have brightened my day and lead me to see goodness in the world:

1.  Gatherings of truth seeking people- I meet with a small group every Thursday and this routine in my life is uplifting and warms my heart.  I love people gathered in one spot with purpose.  I love the chatter and laughter, the lightness of catching up, familiar faces, and breaking open a book to read truth together.

2.  In my practicum, I work with newcomers to Canada.  It's a blessing to truly connect and love accross cultures.  Often I am struck by how privileged I am to see and know a part of their world and to be invited into that.  I go home and am beaming on the inside because of the joy of knowing these people!