Ready for a Change!

My goodness, a week without blogging feels like a really long time! How are you all?

Our family had a very nice holiday. I could easily have gone without the four-day flu, but other than that, Christmas has been great.

I have two favorites of Christmas this year. The first would be listening to Anika playing Christmas carols on the piano while Kaylia sang along, changing all the words: “Hark, my favorite angels sing!” and “Napping all the way” for Jingle Bells.

My other favorite would have to be the hot chocolate party we had by our Christmas tree, a few days before Christmas. The girls thought it was all quite magical, and we talked about why we give presents at Christmas. It was one of those moments when I kept watching our girls and wishing we could press “pause”. Right now, when we’re all cozy, warm, happy, together.

We opened presents on Christmas Day, and had a quiet, relaxing day at home.

Ben made our big Christmas dinner, and I managed to get a little bit of food down. Turns out, it was a good thing he brushed up on his gravy-making skills, because when the day came to celebrate Christmas with my family, my mom, my sister, and I were all sick.

So, Ben and my brother-in-law Wally made the Christmas meal at my parents’ house while my dad went sledding with the kids, and the ladies lay around doing absolutely nothing.

My sister was very concerned about the fact that I had no camera with me for Christmas. I told her I was too sick to care, so she supplied me with some pictures:

The first day that I started feeling well, I took down all of our Christmas decorations. Anika and Kaylia were very sad to see them go, and Anika asked why they couldn’t stay up longer. I told her that this year, “Christmas” makes me think of stomach flu, and so I wanted Christmas to be over immediately.

She said, “Oh, no, Mommy, you’re never going to like Christmas again!!”

I assured her that by next Christmas, I’ll be very happy to celebrate all over again, but just for this year, I’m ready for a change.

I always look forward to the new year. It all feels so fresh and new and wide open for any possibility. This last year has been quite wonderful – not because it was always easy, but because I think I’m finally old enough to realize that “good” doesn’t necessarily mean “easy”. We’ve had exciting challenges, and satisfying growth, and I am ready for another year of it.

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas, and can look to the new year with great anticipation.