My Truth About Fall

I love the fall.

Judge me. Call me basic. Call me a stereotypical white girl. See if I care.

Truly, it is my favorite season. It is just cold enough that I can break out my comfy sweaters  and flannels without having to cover them up with a bulky winter coat. The leaves all change and my 5-hour drive across the state to get to and from school for various breaks becomes more beautiful than you could ever imagine. It becomes more acceptable to bake because the house won't be boiling hot between a raging oven and high outdoor temperatures. 

And, it is a season of change. It is a wonderful transition between the suffocating heat of summer and the bitter cold of winter. It is a time of creativity--who ISN'T inspired by the colors and smells of autumn? It is the prime time to start cuddling up with the ones you love while drinking tea and reading a book or watching a good movie. And you can't forget that two of the best holidays occur during this time: Halloween and Thanksgiving. All the candy and all the stuffing. What could be wrong with that?

But, my love for fall came before all of these things became apparent to me. I can truly name two things that inspired my dedication to this wonderful season.

The first is my dad. It's his favorite season. I'm not entirely sure if it is the weather or the fact that it means he can watch the Steelers play football, but it is what it is. I have always wanted to be like my parents, and I distinctly remember him telling me that fall is his favorite at some point when I was young. From that point on, it became my favorite, too.

The second is that fall means school. And I repeat: judge me. I love school. I love learning. And fall has always meant that is school is in swing, which directly translates to learning. Sure, school stresses me out. It stresses everyone out. But who can deny that we're learning something important here? I know that I want a job someday. And there is no way that I can achieve what I want to without getting some sort of degree. And so, yes. I do love school.

So, my dear readers. Embrace the fall. Embrace the colors, the crisp air, and the almost-but-not-quite-bitterly-cold wind. Embrace the stress of school, because you are one of the blessed that has the opportunity be there. And embrace the inspiration that you can find in this season, be it from a foggy memory or a very distinct moment.

The Ever-Expanding Family Tree

"Friendship is unnessecary, like philosophy, like art. It has no survival value; rather, it is one of those things that give value to survival." -C.S. Lewis

I have always been one to consider my friends an extension of my family.

That mentality has become even stronger since I began college, especially this year. Being five hours from my parents and brother, when I have a bad day or something is wonky in my life, it often is my friends here at school that I turn to for advice, comfort, or distraction.

I am so blessed to have an amazing core group of friends that walks by my side and supports me here at school, day in and day out.

There are the ones that have been there since day one of freshman year. Bless you all, for sticking out the chaos of life with me (I am so sporadic and off-the-cuff sometimes...). Then there are the ones that have been in and out of my life due to uncontrolled circumstances, but at the end of the day are always there for me, and me for them. And thank the Lord for that--even with the occasional absences, they are some of the best friends I could ever have. And then there are the ones that are newer, but seem as though they have been there since the day I was born.

You all know who you are. You all know how much you mean to me. And I am so thankful for that.

It is my firm belief that family is not only the one that you were born into, but the one that you grow into. I will never take any of you (blood or not) for granted, but thank God every day that you are in my life and so amazing.

We've all been there through the good, the bad, and the ugly. We've learned from each other, grown with each other, laughed and cried with each other--life may not always be pretty, but at least we have each other through it all.

I love you all, and am so thankful for you. As we enter into this season of Thanksgiving, I urge anyone that reads this to go and tell someone that is in their "extended" family that they love appreciate them.