After Christmas Daybook

Outside my window...
It's supposed to be 71 degrees today.  Right now it's foggy and in the 50's.

Hearing...
KJ and the kids putting together Lego.  Two of the kids aren't up yet.

Thankful for...
Christmas, family, laughter, tears, vacation, all of it these past couple weeks.

Thinking about...
2016, how our lives will change this next year.

Learning...
We kept up with math and reading until now.  We need to ease into some things coming up when we go back to school.  Some library trips may be involved.  :)

Struggling with...
Staying in the moment, always one of my weaknesses.  I'm a planner.  It's what I do.

From the kitchen...
We got some beef from my mom that's stocking up the freezer for the time being.  That's always nice.  We haven't been doing too much with it lately with all the festivities, but we did have a wonderful Christmas Eve dinner.  I made salisbury steak, mac-n-cheese, and broccoli.  Logan's a lover of my broccoli now, which I think is WONDERFUL.  Still trying to convince Marley.

  Reading...
The Four Teresa's.  A friend from school recommended it.  I'm also reading a book about praying for your husband.  I can't remember the name right now.  Both books are a lot to ponder, so it's slow going.

Creating...
KJ got me some coloring books and markers.  You know, the kind that are all the rage right now with adults.  I envision sitting in bed with a cup of hot tea and coloring.  Kaelyn got a woodburning kit for her birthday.  Here are some things she gave as presents.

This was Nana and Papa's.

 This was Grandma and Gecko's.

This was an assignment for school, and then she framed it and gave it to Gecko.  It is the two of them when she was 13 and he was younger.  ;)

Around the house...
 Not much is happening.  There's a lot of cleaning to do, but it'll have to wait until after the Epiphany, which happens to coincide with KJ's birthday.  There are things that need done before then, like tending to the forgotten green pepper mess that we found in the pantry.  Blech!

Praying...
For my husband and family.

Picture thoughts to share...
   

 How KJ addresses tags to me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Christmas jammies

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Birthday/Turkey Day

Birthday festivities went off without a hitch.  There wasn't much to them except the all important getting the updated license stating 21 years old.  She went out with friends that evening, and everything was pretty low key.  
Nana and Papa the next day for a birthday dinner, and then Thanksgiving.  It went well.  Crazy as ever with the traveling from one place to another and eating two huge meals within hours of each other.  The family we dragged along with us did well too.  
So much to be thankful for, and I hardly ever stop to realize it.  I need to work on that.  Friday was a lounge day, and today we went for more birthday festivities.  This girl is lucky.  I hope she knows it, feels it, loves it.  
Tomorrow we take her back.  The kids are going to see where she lives and meet her friends.  Then it's back to ordinary life and settling in for advent.  Prepare ye the way of the Lord.

Thanksgiving

- Meeting up with my first homeschool group friend and catching up.  It had been over a year, and we've been friends for 10 years
- A week of no stressful obligations coming up
- Some of the house cleaned, so I won't have to do much tomorrow to have a semi-clean house for Thanksgiving
- My faith
- Friends
- Being able to see my growth - almost as tangible as a measuring stick
- Slowing down
- Breathing more
- Making lunches for the needy
- Seeing two grown women cater to my Marley, so that she gets to help feed the hungry too
- Feeling welcome
- Waving goodbye
- Hot tea and honey
- Kevin
- Our new church

Renewal

I stopped blogging.  Could you tell?  I thought it was becoming a time-waster.  Now I'm upset because more than a month has gone by, and I have no memories, written down at least.  I'm going to start back up, but this time it will be for me.  Memories and moments I want to remember and chronicle.  You can come along too, ok?

Kevin and I were remarried into the Catholic Church last month.  It was wonderful having our children there to witness.  We went on a short honeymoon to Ocean City.  It was like a ghost town, which was just fine for us.  We did some outlet shopping, eating, and some more outlet shopping, and some more eating.  :)  I had fun!  Poor Kevin and shopping.

My friend, Courtney, came the morning of the wedding and took our pics.  We found some stuff on Pinterest and then she tried it out.  She knocked it out of the park!  Let me show you.

There were more, but you get the gist of it.  I think they're fabulous!  That last one gets me every time I see it.  It's official.  We are really really married now. We have a new anniversary and graces showered upon us.  Thanks to all who made it happen.  You know who you are.