A Perfect Way to End the Year

 

Photo by Jude Beck on Unsplash

This Christmas was the least stressful holiday I've had while being a mom. With 3 grown boys, 1 with a household not far from here, 1 living out of state, and 1 living at home for a while, I knew things were going to be quiet. Especially with "the virus" (as my school kids call it) putting a damper on things, I was expecting a peaceful, quiet holiday. School was scheduled to end on the 18th, but we received a little gift from the school board: an extra day off. Numbers were spiking here, so we were in school 2 days, virtual 2 days, and off on Friday. I actually had everything done before I usually do, so I was able to work on something for my online teacher (SLP) store. I wanted to get some of it done so I could completely take the last week of the year off while we were on vacation.

The weather forecast for Christmas Eve into Christmas Day hinted at a white Christmas. Yeah, right. I only remember maybe 2 white Christmases in my life. When you live in the Tennessee Valley, you learn to take the forecast with a grain of salt and not believe it until you see it. WELL...when I left for the 5:00 Christmas Eve Mass, it was snowing and had just begun to stick. It snowed all during Mass and when I walked out the door, it was still snowing and everything was covered. The 6:00 bells were ringing, most of the people were already gone so it was quiet and most everything was still. It was absolutely gorgeous!

YS moved back into the house a few months ago, and (just in case you don't know) he's an excellent cook. I had everything ready to pop into the oven before I left, but he had everything heated up and cooked when I got home. He also did this:

It just filled my heart with the joy of the season to see that! This isn't something we see very often:

I wish I had asked YS or CH to turn off the lights in the dining room and living room...it would have made for a better picture of our tree. Before I went home I drove by the tree in the park, which is right next to where I live.

Our backyard looked just as enchanted; like something out of Narnia:

Around 8:30 pm, I happened to notice a vehicle pull into our driveway. I went to the side window, looked out, and saw MS getting out of a taxi! He flew in to surprise us for Christmas! (But can you believe I didn't take any pictures of the boys that weekend???) That was the icing on the Christmas Cake!

I take Gurl Dogg (remember her?) on a daily walk in the park. There was still plenty of snow to be found.

See what I mean? A beautiful Southern Christmas Snow...MAGICAL! By the time I walked GD, the kids had already sledded. The next day there were still signs of the laughter:

With all of the craziness of 2020 and the unsurety of 2021, it made me smile to think of the joy that the little ones were able to experience on Christmas Day!

Relaxing Hodgepodge

 

Joyce is our hostess for the Wednesday Hodgepodge. Quite frankly, I'm pretty impressed that I actually remembered again this week! Cheers!

1.What advice would you give yourself as we begin this new year? 

Relax. Learn to be still.

2. If you could throw a themed party for yourself what would the theme be? 

Honestly, I'm not much into the theme parties. I have no idea what the theme would be.Yeah, I'm that exciting. 😊

3. Tell us where you were and something about what life was like when you were 20- 21.

I was at university, living the dream! (ha, ha!) It was "crunch time"...my parents told me they were only going to pay for 4 years so I had to be finished or else! I think that was the year I discovered my profession.

4. What's on the menu at your house this week? 

This question is rather amusing. I usually set up menus for 2 weeks at a time, make my grocery list, and go to the store. Since we were out of town last week, we're going "European" this week: I go to the grocery store every day (which I don't like to do!) and get something for supper. YS was nice enough to make dinner on Tuesday so I didn't have to think about what we were having!

5. What should you do more of this year? Less of? 

More relaxing, writing, reading. Less working my tail off!

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

CH & I returned from a fairly relaxing week in Florida for our annual Christmas to New Year's camping trip. I was surprised at how many people weren't wearing masks. Educators are slated to be in the next phase of vaccinations. I've gone back & forth about whether or not to get one, but have decided to go ahead. If it means we can travel, I'll do it.

Cup o' Kindness Hodgepodge

I'm really trying to make keeping this blog updated a priority in 2021! The first spot belongs to the Wednesday Hodgepodge hosted by Joyce.

1. Tell us about your favorite moment or share one of the bright spots from the year we're leaving behind. 

As I look back over the year, so many crazy things happened. Here's a bright spot from the year: daily walks with GurlDogg. No matter what the weather, we took daily walks in the park next to our house.

2. What do you wish you'd known at the start of 2020? Elaborate. 

I wish I had known about how this pandemic would turn our world upside down. Even with the upheaval, things are okay. We adjust and we move on. Faith over fear!

3. Best book you read this year? If you did not read any books this year, what's the best thing you ate all year? We've all eaten, right? 

You would think that I would have read books, but I haven't. I saw a book in the lending library station in the park that was pretty good: Pat Conroy's Beach Music and I would recommend!

4. The Pantone Colors of the year for 2021 are ultimate gray and illuminating yellow (a bright shade)...are you a fan? Would we find either of these colors in your home or wardrobe? 

I actually like those colors. As for finding either one:

This is "Joy"!

5. If you were/are making a list of 21 things to do/accomplish in 2021 what is one thing that would be on it? 

More blogging and more time to just be still.

6. Insert your own random thought here.

As I'm writing this, I'm sitting lakeside in Florida. We are on our annual Christmas to New Year's camping trip. (I'll write another post later.) Here's our set-up:

We have some amazing sunsets! Not "The Keys gorgeous", but still really pretty!

Cheers to the brand New Year!!! So long, 2020!!!