Lesssons from a Spring Break Vacation

I recently returned from sunshine and beaches in Jamaica to the snowy tundra of Minnesota. 

First of all, yikes!  The warm weather made me gain a new sense of renewal and then I came back to wind that nipped at nose and made me not want to walk 100 feet outside to class.

Second, while vacations are refreshing and meant for relaxing, they have always brought upon new lessons for me to learn and dwell on.  Therefore, I bring to you Lessons from a Spring Break Vacation.



Lesson 1

My family and I had just arrived in Jamaica.  We were headed in a bus to our hotel and the road we were traveling on took us right along the ocean.  My sister was really excited and kept poking me in the arm, excitedly exclaiming in that high pitched voice that so many girls use, "Look, look, look!"

She was pointing out to the ocean and while no Instagram filter could make the ocean bluer than it appeared in that moment, it wasn't like a sunset was surrounded it or there were glorious palm trees around it ... no, it was simply this enormous chunk of deep blue water being swallowed up at the horizon by the bright blue sky.  Incredible, really!

And my sister starts apologizing to me, like, "I'm sorry, I'm acting like I've never seen the ocean before."

It's funny though, because I wish I was more like that.  I should be more like that because I started this darn blog to celebrate my one year bucket list and doing things for the first time and also enjoying all of the little things in life and here I was not excited about the ocean!

How sad is it that I wasn't just gaping in awe of the color, the depth, the immenseness, and the vastness of the ocean?

I don't get lost in the mystery of the world around me like I should.  I don't want to take this life for granted.  I don't ever want to lose my sense of wonder.



Lesson 2
The unofficial Jamaican motto is, "No problem, mon!"

One of the things my family noticed is the joyfulness of the Jamaican citizens.  One of the workers at the resort we were staying at explained it like this to my family:

"We all have problems, but we can't let them weigh us down, or we will forget all we have to be joyful about."

I don't ever want to let my problems become so heavy that I forget all I have to be joyful about - my crazy family who supports my March Madness addiction, my boyfriend who goes on adventures to the zoo with me, my roommates who knit, eat sour patch watermelons and watch endless episodes of F.R.I.E.N.D.S with me, my co-workers who get together for weekly doughnuts, my red Cadillac Rufus who continues to speed along highways for me, my coffee stained notebooks that are filled with my 100 mph thoughts, my trusty camera that tags along with me for my first time on a zip line .... there are so many more incredible joys in my life and I will continue to choose to be joyful rather than to drown in my problems. 



Lesson 3  

I need to take more time for things that make my soul happy - one of those things is a new adventure. One of my roommates and I implemented Adventure Wednesday - mandatory fun days with new adventures and activities we have never done before.

In Jamaica, I went on a zip line for the first time.  I hiked up a waterfall.  I held a starfish.  I met a man named Michael who had a kayak store. 

I am feeling refreshed and full, and I am so thankful for the experiences, people, and time to think that God allowed me to have this week.  I am ready for more adventures in the Midwest this semester!

-Courage, dear heart. C.S. Lewis

Lexi

Selection Sunday

Selection Sunday .... My favorite holiday next to Christmas!  I remember being in middle school and my third grade sisters were filling out brackets for our family pool.  My family is a little intense of basketball, even when we aren't the ones playing!

I've been concentrating hard today to fill out my bracket before I cut off communication with the world and head to the beach for Spring Break.  As much as I would love to share my bracket with the world and what I think will be key points, I can't bring myself to do it - I'd be so upset if my brother and dad actually read my blog and copied my bracket! I can't let them win!!!  Instead, I will give probably my Top Three Reasons Why I Love March Madness Moments.

First, the one thing that about makes me cry every year is the "One Shining Moment."  Oh my gosh, I just get super emotional!  I watched last years "One Shining Moment" before I posted it below and I almost lost it - I think it's because I love basketball and when you've played for a long time as well you start to understand (on a smaller scale) what they are feeling!

Second, I am a sucker for a Cinderella story.  Duke is my favorite basketball team, so of course when they lose, regardless of who to, I'm sad, but that is still part of what makes March Madness so incredible!

Third, I've always wanted to dunk.  I got over that phase when 1) I realized I was done growing after barely reaching 5'5" and 2) my dad reminded me that while impressive, dunks are still only worth two points.

-Courage, dear heart. C.S. Lewis

Lexi

a weeks worth of adventures

Happy Surprise Thursday Post!  There were too many joyful (and some "first") things that have happened this week for me not to share with the world.

I went to the Science Museum of Minnesota! That is a crazy first - I'm really not a science person.  I like words and pictures and artsy things.  My boyfriend though, likes science.  So, we went on a date to the science museum - and surprisingly, I wasn't bored at all!

There are a lot of different exhibits and because I'm kind of weird, I appreciated that they had categories and little nooks for each of them (maybe most science museums are like this but I had never been to one before!).  They had an exhibit on the human brain and I was fascinated - the way that God created our brains to develop and think blew me away!  My favorite exhibit was probably the light and color exhibit (it was definitely the most artsy!), but I also loved the dinosaur exhibit - I even found a "medium" dinosaur bone that was as big as my whole body!!!

The Science Museum is in St. Paul and it was a gorgeous spring night, so obviously we had to do some exploring!  Here are two different pictures - one before going into the museum and one after we came out of the museum.

I am a little kid at heart - there are just certain things that overwhelm my heart with joy.  One of those things are animals.  It was 50 degrees and sunny out so I had to go to the zoo! What's not to love?! Not only are there animals, but there is a beautiful garden filled with fountains, trees, and flowers.  I fell in love with thoughts of warm weather and summer all over again - I just keep hoping that the Midwest isn't toying with my emotions!

 

I had been hearing all about this restaurant/coffee shop called the Black Coffee & Waffle Bar so I finally went there - no worries, I did the hipster thing and posted on Instagram ALLLLL about it! I will say this - the waffles were really big (it was hard to finish them off!) and my advice would be to do the "build your own waffle." I ate the Fat Andrew and my boyfriend got the Naughty Waffle - they were both delicious! I also got a latte - my only complaint was the price compared to the size, but like I've been learning to tell myself, "There are a lot worse things in life than that!"

Something I love doing is going on walks - we explored the Stone Arch Bridge in Minneapolis and it was beautiful!  We walked along it as the sun was setting, went to dinner, then came back once it was dark and all the city lights were on.  I don't know if I want to live in a big city some day, but I sure do fall in love easily with them once I begin to explore!

 

Then, as I top off some great week experiences, I went with a couple friends to two different coffee shops that I have never been to before - of course, I will be posting them on my Link Love page!

The first coffee shop was Spyhouse. I loved the decor and lighting - perfect comfort and homework mood.  It was also open until 11 pm, which as a college student, is incredibly important! Oh, the coffee was good too! My only complaint - lack of outlets in certain areas. 

The second coffee shop was Nina's Coffee Cafe.  I think I may have found somewhere that could be my all time favorite place!  It was a writer's dream.  It was located in an old, historical corner building - the atmosphere was lovely - the decor was vintage - there was a corner section up a flight of stairs creating a two person reading nook - there was a book store with tables in the basement - their iced mocha was delicious and reasonably priced - I really want to try more on their menu so obviously I will be going back soon! They are also open until 10 pm, which is a pretty decent time yet.  The only downfall - lack of parking and very crowded ... but who can blame people for wanting to come to an inspiring coffee shop?

Now that, my friends, is what I like to call a successful week! Tomorrow is Friday and soon my spring break will begin - looking forward to time off from school and more adventures!

Also, I want to point out another blog I follow - Hole in the Wall.

-Courage, dear heart. C.S. Lewis

Lexi