the most wonderful time of the year!

 this week has been filled with Christmas Decorating, baking, house cleaning, laundry and spending time with my precious girl Teagie. 

it doesn't seem possible that Christmas is 9 days away. Caitlin has yet to tell me what she wants . I never met a kid who never wants for anything. but she's totally content without material things. she doesn't have to have the latest trend in clothes, about the only thing that she treasures and has to have is her iphone. 

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we are getting a load of firewood delivered today! so excited to have the first fire of the season, and to smell that wood burning throughout the house..so cozy and definitely one of the favorite things of Winter.  to me, winter signifies a time of slowing down. a time to embrace grace and hope, a time to be extra aware of stepping up and extending a gesture of kindness, to over look a nasty word shouted to you in the heat of an argument. 

i feel  society as a whole has really taken the true meaning out of christmas. its not going into debt to buy everyone the most expensive gifts, after all gifts come and go. but the compassion, the love, the giving of ones self these are the most precious gifts that will last a lifetime. and they should be extended throughout the year, not only at christmas time. 

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with my mama's declining health im strongly feeling that this may be the last christmas we have with her. instead of getting wrapped up in hosting christmas eve night, we decided to  take  to go out to dinner this year. its always been a family tradition that my mom has hosted christmas eve night, and then it was passed over to me and i've done it for 25 years or so. this year i just want to live in the moment of the night, spend some quality time with my mama and not have to be running around like a crazy woman cooking and cleaning and playing hostess. we might even hit a early church service if i can find one that isn't too late for her. she's usually in bed by 10pm these days. she tires so easily now.

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so whatever you family traditions are, or where ever you end up on this christmas i hope that you are truly blessed and have a wonderful time. after all, it is the most wonderful time of the year!

XOXO