So it has been exactly a year since we arrived in Meadow Lake. One whole year. It hit me the other day when the snow came. I thought about when we got here and there was lots of snow, and it stayed until April. I remember saying "I wonder what this town looks like without snow on the ground". And now it's back.

It's surreal to me, how fast this year went. But at the same time, so much happened. I have changed a lot. I have come a long way. Literally and figuratively.

Aside from the snow coming, things have been good. Work has been challenging at times but I've been handling it as best as I can. I am doing Brownies and loving it. I think the girls like me and we have fun doing crafts and playing games. Sometimes I feel like I am their age still, until I get there and have to be the authority figure. It's hard to get used to being an adult. We play our games and act silly just like the kids do, but then when I am actually around kids I feel old. I am in my late 20s now officially after all.

And now Christmas is coming again. Here come the two months of build up before the big day. Of course we are not going home again this year. I would love love love to, to be a part of our family traditions again and be with everyone. But it is just way too expensive. And we are saving for the wedding so that makes it even more impossible. Maybe next year. In the meantime, we will put up our tree and put lights on the house (yay!) and sit around the fireplace (yay!) and it will be fun. I guess this really is home now. I think that's good.