A December Daybook Entry

Hello friends….and happy hump day.  The day when we are halfway to the weekend.  And, today, I am especially grateful for this middle-of-the-week reset day.  This is the first morning in quite a few days that I have no commitments on my agenda.  Nowhere I need to go and really no need for makeup (although I always put on my makeup!)  I am thoroughly enjoying an extra slow morning and, although I have several things I hope to accomplish today, I do not plan to really up the pace.  Slow and steady is the theme for me today:)  And I am so okay with that.  Wednesday seemed like an “odd” day for a daybook type of entry but, then again, it also seemed like a good reset type of post.  With that in mind, here is a look at my world right about now…..

The Weather – has turned cold.  Much more in keeping with 11 days before Christmas.  The last few days were a bit milder which was nice while our company was here.  Of course, with no need to leave the house this morning, even the frost looked pretty earlier!  I think it is supposed to be even colder this weekend.  There is a slight prediction of ice or snow but, hopefully, that will prove to simply be the early excitement of our local forecasters.  (They love to start putting those words into the forecast!) My friend’s daughter is getting married on Saturday and they do not need ice.  Or snow.
As I look outside my window  – I see several deflated Christmas blowup things lying around the neighbors’ yards.  I have to admit, those are not my favorite type of holiday decorations.  I guess they are a quick, easy way to please your kids but I would put them in the tacky category.  If you have them, fine.  We can certainly still be friends.  In fact, we really like our neighbors:)
This morning, I am – going to enjoy a second cup of coffee.  Just because.  I’ve been drinking my favorite holiday coffee – Santa’s White Christmas.  I ground a fresh batch this morning….and doesn’t freshly ground coffee smell the best?  I also plan to spend some extra time in my Bible and I hope to get completely caught up responding to comments here and visiting all the blogs I love!
Lately, I have been thinking about – Christmas.  Christmas memories and how they have affected/shaped me.  I have not been super deep but I find myself remembering past holidays – and all the emotions, etc that went with them – and I’ve been so cognizant of how that impacts how I feel about celebrating now.  I suppose this “season of life” also plays a part in it as well.  Defining the “real” meaning of Christmas is different for me now than it was even just a few years ago.
What I’m wearing – lately, I’ve been wearing some of the new sweaters that I picked up earlier in the fall.  Yesterday, I wore the first (heavier) winter one.  I think they call it a fair isle sweater.  (I have a similar one on my Pinterest board.)  It is pink and black and super cute but, I will admit, it was a tad bit scratchy. Sigh.
On the menu this week – well, that is a work in progress.  We did way too much eating out last week and we just have not gotten back into the routine of (mentally) meal planning and eating at home.  We cannot keep “grabbing something while we are out.”  For me, that is a sure plan for healthy eating derailment!  I need to go through my recipe binder and pull out some old favorites.  I’ll add that to my very loosely defined agenda for today:)
I’m looking around the house – and it looks festive, Christmas-y as well as cozy and warm.  I like it.  Goodness, but it took so long for me to get our Christmas things out.  I was really dragging my feet but they do add a nice feeling of home around here.  Do you decorate every room….or multiple rooms of your house?  We have some of our favorite things throughout the first floor where we spend most of our time, but I do not typically decorate upstairs.  This year, I put a Christmas pillow on my bed.  Feeling wild and crazy with the Christmas spirit over here!!
My To-Do List – for the rest of the week:  finish my wrapping, a special (semi/sorta) dress rehearsal practice with the kiddos on Saturday before our program the next day, and I’m thinking about making some Christmas cookies.  I did make some candy earlier, which was yummy – and sweet! –  but the cookies seem to be what my family really wants for Christmas.
A verse to share –  Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.  Matthew 1:23
And, from my camera.  We went to a Holiday Fair on Saturday and stopped in a Starbucks after browsing.  This cutie was enjoying a coffee break with her people:)  Have a wonderful day friends!!

20 thoughts on “A December Daybook Entry

  1. Good morning. It sounds like you are going to have a perfectly wonderful day at home. We have been eating out a bit too often also, although, I did cook supper last night and it was very good. I plan to be working on finishing our Christmas cards today. We’ll see how that goes, I’m probably about half-way there. Hope you really enjoy your day.

  2. Sounds like you’re getting close to being ready for Christmas. Do you ever wear sweatshirts when you’re at home? I love to be comfy when I’m at home and I find that sweatshirts are my favorite to wear. I put a Christmas pillow on our bed for the first time this year as well. Also, I do like inflatables or any outdoor decor item ;). I don’t have any inflatables but that more due to where our electric outlet is outside than me not wanting to have them in the yard!! Have a great day!

  3. Hi! Thanks for stopping at my blog.
    It’s cold here in Michigan and a storm is predicted for tonight. Where do you live?
    I am not a fan of the blow up things either, but some people must be because there seems to be more every year.
    I am done with most of my Christmas stuff, but need to do a bit of baking yet.
    I enjoyed your notes about yourself. I like and dislike the same things you listed. 🙂

    1. So, did you get a lot of snow? We missed it. Phew:) So glad you have stopped by…and I look forward to visiting more in the days ahead.

  4. These few weeks before Christmas do get so hectic, it’s good to have a break in the middle of the week. I always reminisce of the Christmases of my youth. It’s not always a good thing for me to do, it makes me very sad. It also makes me realize how very blessed I am, and what a blessing it is for us to be able to celebrate the birth of the Savior and enjoy the peace that that brings. Not a fan of the blow-up yard decorations either. It’s so hard to stick to a menu this time of year! I really need to figure that one out as well. I’ll bet your home is a cozy and warm place to spend a slow day…I hope you enjoyed it to the fullest!! Hugs.

    1. Yes, the day was definitely enjoyed to the fullest! Thanks, Barbara! Hope your week has been a blessed one as well!

  5. Hello! Yes, I have also been thinking about Christmas Past. So many happy memories with so many wonderful people. I carry on those same traditions with joy and love in my heart. We are waiting for a winter storm coming in tomorrow! Perhaps it will be a White Christmas! Have a cozy evening!

    1. We missed the winter storm/mess today but it has rained literally all day. If only the temps had been just that tad colder…oh boy! Not sure I am dreaming of a white Christmas…but winter is definitely here!:)

  6. I love those slow days at home! This week I’ve had several, due to not feeling well. Sometimes those are good too, because I’m forced to slow down, which I’m not great at.

    I do not decorate beyond the living area, for any holiday. I love seeing other people’s bedrooms all Christmasy, but I am too cheap to spend all the money and I don’t have room to store everything away during the off season.

    I have thoroughly enjoyed my Christmas tree this year. It’s just enough for our small cottage and I leave it on all day and it makes me happy every time I walk in the room.

    1. Debbie – I’m so glad you are so enjoying your tree this year! We leave the lights on all day too – and, yes, it does make me smile all day!:)

  7. I am not big on the inflatables myself. They are not nice looking during the day at all. I am enjoying the early dark and the rest it provides from the world. The photo of the doggy and his person is so adorable!

    1. I have to agree, Annie….those inflatables lying in puddles on the ground during the day is not exactly festive! But, yes, that doggy was super cute!:)

  8. We’ve had some snow and colder weather this week too and it sounds like we might get snow overnight again tonight… but it could turn to rain and I find myself hoping for rain instead. I’m not a big fan of those blow up decorations either though I do see why some people put them up. This is the first year I decorated more than jus the first floor of the house and I am loving having a tree in my bedroom– I spend a lot of time up there and it’s so festive.

  9. Hi Jennifer. It’s been a cold and snowy week here. Sounds like you have been busy decorating. I used to decorate around the house, including two full-size trees, but now we just have one small tree and my nativity collection and that’s about it for Christmas decorations. A pillow for the bed, like you have, might be nice. I should look for one on the after Christmas sales. I’m with you – I don’t really like blow-up decorations and would never buy any myself. A few lights in the window are nice, but I haven’t even done that this year. Oh well. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.See you again soon!

    1. So glad you stopped by, Deb. And took the time to comment! A small tree and a nativity sound very Christmas-y!! Just right:)

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