Feeling Merry

This isn't normally like me.  I'm feeling out of sorts.  Strangely peaceful, happy, excited, and giddy.  Some might even call me jolly.

My family is all too well aware that I refuse to put up any Christmas decorations until December has officially started.  It seems that each fall I push the pause button and refuse to move on too quickly after Thanksgiving. You see, I love my fall decorations, I love Thanksgiving, and I believe each holiday deserves its own proper celebration.  October is for Halloween. November is for Thanksgiving.  And December is for Christmas.

This year, however, I am itching to celebrate Christmas.  I want snowmen all over my house.  I want my nativity scene and angels set up outside.  I want garland to trickle down the railing on my stairwell.  I want to set up both of our Christmas trees.  I want to watch all of my favorite Christmas movies and cartoons while snuggled in close to my family.  I want to listen to classic Christmas songs while we all sit around pulling out the ornaments and decorating our trees.

*sigh*

Something has got a hold of me.  I am in the mood for Christmas.  I don't know if it is because I have the majority of my Christmas shopping done already, or because I have been a generally contented, happy person for the past few weeks.  Whatever it is, I'm feeling merry.

I may not decorate my house for a couple of days yet but my blog is already decked out in Christmas goodness.  I usually change my background for winter but I never change my header.  This year, however, I was just feeling it.  The pic is from last year, but I think it still works.  What do you think?

Are you with me?  Are you feeling the Christmassy love, or are you still stuck on pause?

Grateful

Reading posts on Facebook and message boards it is abundantly clear that there is a large margin of people who do not enjoy spending time with their families for the holidays.  Stories are written and advice given on how to get through the holidays with your in laws, your difficult mother, and your horrid siblings.  So many people comment that they just wish they could spend the holidays alone or that they will have to drink heavily to get through this family time.  

Last night as members from both sides of the family sat down to the table to eat it hit me once again how lucky I am.  Not only do I love my family and look forward to the time I get to spend with them, but I could not have picked better in laws as well.  We prayed together, we laughed together, we shared stories, and we ate delicious food together with full grateful hearts.  Just the way Thanksgiving should be. 

(I always mean to take a picture of the table all festooned with bowls and platters of gorgeous food but every year it is such a rush setting the table and getting the kids' plates going that I never get the chance.)

I hope your Thanksgiving was peaceful and warm, and filled with family love and fun and grateful hearts.

Hosted by Cecily and Lolli

Morning

This morning as I quietly opened the door and walked over to your bed I was struck by how much you still looked like my baby when you are sleeping.  Same serene face, beautiful lips, smooth, soft skin, and long, gorgeous eye lashes.  I stroked your hair gently and rubbed your back.

"Good morning, sweetheart." I whispered.

You stretched slowly and looked up at me with a sleepy smile sweeping across your face.  I knew how you felt waking up to your mama rubbing your back, in your nice warm bed, in your safe, cozy, still dark room.

Someday you will be the parent, waking your child, remembering how it felt to be the child.  The cycle of love and security warming you from the inside out as you stroke your child's head and breathe in their heavenly scent.  The reality of it all feeling like a dream.

Your body warm and alive.  Your face angelic.  I thanked God, for the millionth time, that I get to be your mama.  My mind took a picture of that very moment and I locked it away in my heart.

Just In Time

It's funny that Todd travels three hours away to sit in a tree in the cold woods every day, from sun up to sun down, hoping to see a deer or two when our own neighborhood is filled with deer.  Almost every night there are half a dozen to a dozen deer eating my pumpkins right off our front porch.  There was even a 10 point buck at the end of the street yesterday, flipping Todd off, as he left for his hunting journey.  Kind of ironic.

Regardless, Todd is up north with his buddies prepping all the deer stands (or more likely playing cards, eating cookies, and drinking some Jack), gathering all the warm blaze orange clothing, and getting ready for opening day tomorrow.   And I am here at home holding down the fort, so to speak.

This past week I was really struggling with my attitude and general grumpiness so I was worried about the thought of Todd being gone.  Luckily, my attitude changed just in time. I'm actually excited for my time with the kids this week(end).

I've been running around like crazy today planning surprises for the kids and special treats and trips for this weekend.  New fuzzy, warm jammies were purchased.  Flannel sheets were put on.  Movies were rented.  Basketball game tickets were reserved for tomorrow. Cookies were made.  Favorite meals were planned.  Heck, I might even take them to the dollar store and let them have at it if they are especially well behaved.  And, we have a fun birthday party to go to, too.

AND!  I just found out that this beautiful wooded park that the kids and I go to in summer has put up winter lights all throughout the park and set it to music.   It is going to be so fun to drive through it with the kids.  They are gonna love it.

If all goes well I am going to take the kids to their favorite restaurant tonight and then afterwards I'll surprise them with a drive though the winter wonderland light show.  So good.

So, don't feel too badly for me.  While Todd is sitting 25 feet up in a tree in 30 degree weather the kids and I will be snuggly warm in our new jammies watching movies and eating popcorn and cookies.

It's gonna be a great week.

Thank heavens I was able to flip my attitude just in time.

  

WW- Serene

Cold

The temperatures have dropped 30 degrees in less than twenty four hours.  One day the kids are playing outside without jackets and the next day there is snow on the ground and winter coats, mittens, hats, and scarves are being thrown on.

Last night I lie in bed freezing for a good hour before I finally got out and grabbed a second pair of socks, a sweatshirt, and another blanket.  Even after my three layers of clothes and extra blanket were in place I was still cold most of the night.  I am chilled to the bone and have yet to warm up.

While I was frozen in my little fetus shaped ball under my piles of blankets last night I made a list of all the things I need to get done in the next week or so.  There were so many things on the list that I stayed awake for hours clogging up my brain.

Todd is prepping to for his annual hunting trip.  He will be gone for one week and will return the day before Thanksgiving.  Just in time for me to run to the store to purchase everything I need to host a Thanksgiving miracle for 20 people.  Usually I am fine with it.  It really isn't a big deal.  Normally, I am all excited planning fun surprises, treats, and day trips for the kids and I while Todd is gone. But this year, I just can't pep-talk myself into it.

Perhaps it is because I have been feeling so foul lately.  My mood has dropped just like the temperatures.  The kids are driving me nuts.  Even more than that, I am driving me nuts.  I have been nit picking, nagging, yelling.  Downright nasty, to be honest.  I just don't know how to snap out of it.

I'm just no good.  I feel like I should come with a warning sign attached to me.  "Beware of Danger!"  "Stay away!"  "Highly volatile!"

*sigh*

The sun is shining.  So, that's a good sign anyway.  After two weeks of cloudy, rainy days the sun has finally appeared.  And a warm up is on the way.  Maybe even into the 50's again.  There is hope.  Maybe as the temperatures rise so will my mood.  Maybe I'll even be able to make this an okay good weekend for the kids and I.

For now I'm gonna heat up a bowl of soup, put on my slippers (and another pair of socks), wrap up in a blanket, and hope my warm up comes quickly.

WW- Lying Low