Things I am Loving This Christmas Season

1. My house!

You may have noticed from all of the snowy pictures lately that I have changed locations. My daughter's homeschool activities wrapped up in early December, and we have been visiting the home we purchased this summer ever since. We arrived to over a foot of snow on the ground, more fell the first week we were here, then warm, then more snow, and then very warm. Hopefully it will snow again before this is published! We'll be headed back to our regular house in the New Year.

2. Functional Fitness

All that snow means a lot of cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, shoveling, wood hauling, etc. I haven't had to struggle to find time to exercise, or exhibit the self-control to actually take advantage of the available time, as my days are so much more active here. It's been great!

3. Relevant Reminders from the Blog

I have been reflecting back on two blog posts as I prepare for Christmas.

This one is a reminder not to worry about what we will eat or what we will wear: https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/02/laughing-in-church.html.

And this one is a reminder that everyone grieves differently, and it is OK: https://carryingsheaves.blogspot.com/2024/01/tension.html.

4. For King and Country Christmas

My family and I have been loving listening to For King and Country's Christmas Album, "A Drummer Boy Christmas". It's not often something captures all of our musical interest.

5. The Piano Guys - The Sweetest Gift

I heard this song for the first time the Christmas after my sister died. I think it just randomly came up on youtube while I was listening to other music while making dinner. It continues to be an often played song each Christmas season, as I miss celebrating Christmas with MaryJo and Oliver, but take hope in the chorus of this song:

You’re with the Son of God.
You’re with the Prince of Peace.
You’re with the one we’re celebrating
And that thought amazes me.
Sometimes I still break down,
Grieving that we’re apart,
But the sweetest gift is knowing where you are.
You’re with the Son of God.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yFXfAGl17M

6. Christmas Bells: a novel by Jennifer Chiaverini

My daughter and I are reading this book together. It is a touch mushy for her taste, but I love the mixture of historical and contemporary fiction and the wide variety of characters.

Merry Christmas!