.sunshine.

How fortunate am I to be able to say, "I spent the weekend in Florida"?! For christmas this year, Paul's parents gave us plane tickets to join their family for 4 days in the sunny south. We left on Thursday afternoon and arrived home late last night. It was such a refreshing, relaxing and joyful mini vacation. These few days brightened my life... not only being surrounded by a very loving family-to be, but finally experiencing some sunny days after a long, dull winter. Despite all the warnings about how dangerous the sun can be, it can also be a really positive thing. We get vitamin-D from the sun, which can help prevent many diseases, and it stimulates certain chemicals in the brain, which are proven to improve our moods, and can help with things like depression and SAD (seasonal affective disorder). I am so grateful for my time in the sun, beautiful weather, lots of swimming, playing shuffle board and sharing memories and laughs with special people (you can check out some of my pictures below). Today in Waterloo, it was +15! To all you Ontarians... there is hope! Summer is just around the corner, and you too, can look forward to all the benefits that will come from the beautiful sunshine.