First Annual Countdown List
I love this time of year.
Truth be told, on those "let's get to know you" emails or games where you're asked whether you prefer summer or winter, I usually respond summer (I mean what's not to like when you can wear flip flops day in-day out, strawberries are in season and ice cream or snow cones are readily accepted as a daily staple?)
But, that's another post in another 6 months.
I do love this time of year. I love the crispness in the air, the fact that it gets dark at 5:30 pm (which to me, means it's time to snuggle in the house with the family), hot chocolate on the menu, Christmas music on the radio, Christmas lights on houses and above all the celebration of Christ's birth. Because all the holiday gaiety and festivities point to that. And therein lies our hope and joy.
The past 11 months have been filled with unknown, many tears, much rejoicing, many appointments and most of all, the daily routine of caring for a toddler and a newborn with some special medical needs. Somewhere in the midst of all that, I got lost in the busyness of it all; especially the past few months, I have found myself bogged down in the minor details.
I am embracing simplifying my family's life (more on that in a later post), celebrating the small victories, and dwelling on this present joy.
So, for the next 25 days, I'll be posting a daily list of Things That Bring Joy. Many of them will center around the holiday season of course (have I mentioned I love this time of year?), some will be sweet snapshots for our family to look back on and remember and some will be plain frivolous. Regardless, I want the list to be a record and reminder of where our family is in life right now and the things that bring us joy.
1. Miniature Christmas tree with miniature ornaments--Carly just got A Tree For Me from Hobby Lobby with some tiny ornaments. It's adorable and is supposed to be for the dresser in her room, but she has, for the time-being, propped it next to the "big" tree in the living room.
2. The smell of white chicken chili cooking on the stove (which means cornbread muffins are soon to follow in the oven!)
3. Receiving Christmas cards from sweet friends and family in the mail.
4. Christmas music--I just can't get enough of it. I remember decorating our tree at home when I was young, playing records of Christmas songs. I distinctly remember one record cover--a picture of Johnny Mathis smiling broadly at the camera, ski poles in hand, standing on a snow-covered mountain, with the holiday title emblazoned in red at the top.
5. This rosy-cheeked girl bundled in her winter hat
I love this time of year!
Truth be told, on those "let's get to know you" emails or games where you're asked whether you prefer summer or winter, I usually respond summer (I mean what's not to like when you can wear flip flops day in-day out, strawberries are in season and ice cream or snow cones are readily accepted as a daily staple?)
But, that's another post in another 6 months.
I do love this time of year. I love the crispness in the air, the fact that it gets dark at 5:30 pm (which to me, means it's time to snuggle in the house with the family), hot chocolate on the menu, Christmas music on the radio, Christmas lights on houses and above all the celebration of Christ's birth. Because all the holiday gaiety and festivities point to that. And therein lies our hope and joy.
The past 11 months have been filled with unknown, many tears, much rejoicing, many appointments and most of all, the daily routine of caring for a toddler and a newborn with some special medical needs. Somewhere in the midst of all that, I got lost in the busyness of it all; especially the past few months, I have found myself bogged down in the minor details.
I am embracing simplifying my family's life (more on that in a later post), celebrating the small victories, and dwelling on this present joy.
So, for the next 25 days, I'll be posting a daily list of Things That Bring Joy. Many of them will center around the holiday season of course (have I mentioned I love this time of year?), some will be sweet snapshots for our family to look back on and remember and some will be plain frivolous. Regardless, I want the list to be a record and reminder of where our family is in life right now and the things that bring us joy.
1. Miniature Christmas tree with miniature ornaments--Carly just got A Tree For Me from Hobby Lobby with some tiny ornaments. It's adorable and is supposed to be for the dresser in her room, but she has, for the time-being, propped it next to the "big" tree in the living room.
2. The smell of white chicken chili cooking on the stove (which means cornbread muffins are soon to follow in the oven!)
3. Receiving Christmas cards from sweet friends and family in the mail.
4. Christmas music--I just can't get enough of it. I remember decorating our tree at home when I was young, playing records of Christmas songs. I distinctly remember one record cover--a picture of Johnny Mathis smiling broadly at the camera, ski poles in hand, standing on a snow-covered mountain, with the holiday title emblazoned in red at the top.
5. This rosy-cheeked girl bundled in her winter hat
I love this time of year!
Comments
Just a quick note to let you know I'm praying for you and your precious family today.
Joanne
Thanks for sharing.