Christmas Recap

Anticipation.

Christmas baking (which in our house means a couple of last-minute things made on Christmas Eve (Vegan Gluten Free Banana Bread and Super Spicy Ginger Cookies).

Relaxing because all of the gift wrapping was finished days before.

A very peaceful and contemplative Christmas Eve service at our church.

Christmas morning crepes and sausages and lots of coffee and exchanging gifts with our best friends (LEGOs! A new doll! And for me... a starter kit to begin beekeeping at last; something I've wanted to do for years and years and years).

Christmas evening spent with the Farmboy's family.

New Year's Eve spent with my family (So. Many. Cousins.)

We are blessed in many more ways than we deserve. With friendships and family relationships and a church congregation to which we truly belong, heart and soul. With a home that brings peace and comfort in the darkest of hours. With so much that I could never express, including YOU.

Thank you for coming back time and again, even when my blogging consistency is extremely lacking. I appreciate you more than you know.

The main reason I was so much more relaxed this Christmas? Instead of sourcing and buying gifts for the multitude of family members that we exchange gifts with each year, I gave "homemade" gifts to all (tee hee)...

Kids Were Here

Christmas Day

Wishing you and yours a day of Peace and Hope.

'Tis the Season

Frost and hail, rain and ice, gloomy clouds and blinding sun.

Finally admitting that the weather is too cold for Converse.

Christmas cards and Christmas lights and Christmas pageants and Christmas movies and Christmas stories read by fireside.

Stitching, always stitching.

A brand new baby, born too early, but oh so sweet; nephew #8. And holding him in my arms didn't give me the aching wish for another baby. Whew... still good with the decision to stop at 2.

A neighbor knocking on my door asking if he could take prego pictures of his girlfriend on our snowy property. Oh yes! And may I please take some pictures of the two of you together? Now fully addicted to snowy photo shoots.

No-school days equal lots of messing up of rooms and video games and "I don't know what to do with myself".

Many decisions were made that turned this holiday season into a much simpler time, much to my delight and also confusion. What? Nothing else to wrap? No more gifts to hurry up and purchase? No more parties to attend? I'm liking the peacefulness, and would like it even more if two of our family members would quit coughing already.

Life is full and sweet and if I'm being completely honest with you all, I can hardly wait until Christmas is over and the clear, clean slate of 2017 is here at last. Perhaps my most favorite time of the year.