March reminds me of sunny blue skies, perfect 70-degree weather, mint chocolate chip ice cream cones, the Houston Rodeo, cherry blossom look-a-likes, family road trips, colorful farmers' markets, fruit and granola parfaits, and lazy afternoons spent at the park.

This season is the one that Texas does right, and it never fails to put a bounce in my step.

Springtime photos taken throughout the years, in no particular order.

Today is a day for thunderstorms. It's a day for dark chocolate and fresh strawberries, Mr. Tambourine Man, and slow reading. Praising God with every breath.

In less than a week, I'll hop on a plane that will take me back to the good ol' state of Texas. Back to my mother's comforting smile, eager ears, and home cooked meals. Back to my father's open arms and comfortable lap, where there's a spot reserved just for me.

But today, my mind is elsewhere. I am quiet and still, present in this moment: a moment of peace in Oxford that I will remember my whole life long. Here in the August rain, with my books and my music, my sweater and my sleepiness. Today is sweet subtleties and silent symphonies, and it is all mine.

Things will change, of course, like the color of the couch. And the flavor of ice cream. The issues we discuss, the city we find ourselves in, and even the company we keep. But one thing is certain. That feeling that I have now, the one that can only be described as unadulterated comfort, will always come back to me. Where there is family, there is home.