another year

Christmas came and went without too much fanfare.   Lucas got a camera, Daniel got a camcorder.  They also received gift cards and other nifty things from relatives.    We tend to keep it simple around here.   My boys tend to be very content with what they have.  Prior to Christmas, they couldn't even think of anything to ask for this year.   (I suppose that could also mean that I spoil them with too much stuff throughout the year.  I dunno.) 

We postponed our usual after-Christmas trip to South Carolina.   We'll be going down later this spring.    This is the first time we've been home for so long during a Christmas vacation.  It has been marvelous.   I have been super excited about sleeping late.   I can't even recall what we have done for the past week... but it's been grrrreat!

I can't believe that another year is behind us.    This was our fifth Christmas without Thayer.
 I managed to fill the stockings on Christmas Eve without tears.     
There is always that empty feeling during family gatherings... but it was a little less achy this year.

Looking back on this year.... I realized that I have only blogged 48 times.  That is a far cry from previous years.   I suppose that it's a good thing.  I haven't had too much on my mind that was dying to get out in print.  

It also saddens me because I feel like I've lost some of my motivation for writing... and thinking. 
I owe most of my lost motivation to the fact that my relationship with Jesus has been pushed to the side this year.   I haven't been on close speaking terms with Him.   I really want to rekindle my relationship with Him this coming year.   I want to reinvest my time to be taught, and inspired, daily.

I have learned several things this year:

I have learned to be content.
I have learned to choose my battles with the boys.
I have learned that each day is a new day.  Thank God!
I have learned that acquaintances come and go... but good friends keep showing up, even in the mundane.

My goals for the coming year:   1. Eat out less.   2. have empty squares on my calendar.

balance

I'm sitting in the basement, listening as my boys watch yet another episode of Man Vs. Wild.  We haven't seen it in a while because the boys thought we had watched all of the episodes.  (They were wrong.  I think we have a zillion left.)
Somehow this silly show makes me feel like things are balanced in this house.    It's nice to have a man around. Especially one with a fancy accent.  hah.

Tomorrow is my last day at work before a lengthy Christmas break.  I am excited about some off time.  These past few weeks have been packed!  There's nothing really to show for the packed-ness.... but I know that we've been running ourselves ragged with something each day.
Somehow I've managed to fill up my free days as well... with totally fun things like chaperoning field trips, a day trip to visit friends, and attending school parties.  I think I can manage :)

The boys and I continue on our path of partial normalcy.  Not much drama or chaos.  Some evenings I sit and think about how far we have come. Sure, we've had some disagreements... but nothing compared to the emotional chaos that haunted us for a long time.
I know that things can change drastically when they become teenagers... so I'm counting my blessings this month and praying that things will continue to look up.

ready for christmas?

Turns out that I must only blog when I'm stressed out, sad, or really thoughtful about something.  And evidently.... I am none of the above.

Things have been going rather well lately.  I have no idea what happened to much of the fall.  And I have no idea how December showed up so early.... and how the temperature is so unseasonably warm.

In passing, several people have asked, "are you ready for Christmas?"
My response has been "sure?"  
I've bought two gifts and somehow I think I'm pretty ready.
Lucas set up, and decorated, our Christmas tree several days before Thanksgiving.   Fortunately the tree is in the basement and I've actually only seen it a few times since it appeared.   The decorations are meager at my house this year.  I think, somehow, I have fewer and fewer as the years pass. 
(I suppose I'm gearing up for the days when I have a zillion cats and a little table top tree.)
I did manage to put Christmas lights in my windows only to realize that the bulbs were dead.

Last night I ordered an inflatable Hippo for my front yard!  I've always wanted a Hippopotamus for Christmas!    And I'm sure that the neighbors will be inspired by my completely random Christmas cheer.

It seems that the rest of civilization has an elf on their shelf.  I'm super concerned about this new fad.  And slightly annoyed. 
If so many elves are hanging out in people's homes.... who the heck is making the toys at the North Pole?