It’s a cold and foggy white Christmas. I’m sitting outside, partially bundled, but partially enjoying the energy that being cold gives me. Being really cold is invigorating. Having a drafty house is a different matter entirely. I downloaded an album called Gloryland – some Irish/country hymns and ballads. The woman’s voice was so lonely and beautiful…I feel like I should walk out in a field all by myself and listen to this, so that I can really understand what she is trying to impart through these songs.
I’ve been trying so hard to get into the Christmas spirit. It’s been hard what with work and all the Christmas “things” that one “has” to do. Until a few weeks ago I was still reeling and recuperating from the yearly inventory at work, the week right after that was Thanksgiving and *shudder* Black Friday. After that I went to Spokane for a few days of training with a coworker. So soon after that trip, I find myself in the midst of December, not yet still in my heart and ready to celebrate the birth of our Savior.
We had Christmas with Michael’s family early this year. We celebrated on Monday night, the 20th. I will celebrate the New Year and Christmas with my family in Colorado in less than a week, which I anticipate with much joy! I worked from Sat to Thursday non stop, working past midnight a few nights getting a reset ready. So Friday came and went, and the presents are wrapped and given, the house is clean, the goodies are made, the candles are lit, and we spent the early hours of Christmas at midnight mass. It was a beautiful mass, though I was so tired, I’m not sure I enjoyed it as much as I should have/could have.
So we have today. There are no plans. There’s no pressure, there’s no expectation. Except that now I am sitting here, and I FINALLY feel still and quiet enough to let gratefulness and joy fill my heart. It’s quiet, and it’s simple, but what else was the Silent Night? It’s beautiful.
There are so many changes coming for me in the new year. I have a feeling there will be a few positions opening up for Assistant manager at the store, and there’s only a handful of people who would be promoted anyway. Even if I don’t get a promotion myself, there’s the task of getting to know and work effectively with a new manager. I am also going to start a home based business, selling skin and beauty care products with a company called Beauti Control. It’s scary. It’s a risk, and though on the first night I learned of this opportunity I was literally floating home, I’ve had a week or so to process, and see and weigh the risks. I think it’s still worth it, so I’m going to go for it. It’s going to take me out of my comfort zone, something I really struggled with, but you know, no pain no gain, right?
I think next year will be a year of growth for me (let’s hope the waist shrinks a bit though, ok?) I’m meeting a slew of people that are challenging preconceived notions, or backing them up, or present themselves as anomalies in my landscape. I’m being challenged like I haven’t been in a while. It’s energizing…
Tonight I will make a delicious dinner for my husband and myself, and I’m going to pray very hard that I get to spend more quality time with him next year than I did this year. I wish you all a very very Merry Christmas! God Bless you!
It is not good for all our wishes to be filled; through sickness we recognize the value of health; through evil, the value of good; through hunger, the value of food; through exertion, the value of rest.
– Greek Proverb
For I am mindful of the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. You call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.
– Jeremiah 29:11-13
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