The humbugs

Dishwasher repair crew

A boy and popsicle sticks

Yes, the Christmas card had a bare tushie on it.  It had to happen.

Everyone got Mozzarella for Christmas this year...including the neighbors.

We hosted Christmas Eve for my family and Christmas has not yet come to Matt's side of the family- which left Christmas Day to be all to ourselves.  Bliss.

We have a three present policy at Christmas (one of which is always a book) but the children had been gathering/making/supplying their own presents for everyone as well.  It made for a very sweet and thought-filled gift exchange (and a very full Christmas tree!).

A surprise package in the mail made everyone's day!  Judah had orange lips for a week thanks to Reese's chapstick!  (THANK YOU friend, for your bit 'o happiness in the mailbox to us.)

The majority of our ornaments are birds, or so it seems.

It's the other side of Christmas and a new year is before us.  I am sorry to have missed pretty much the entirety of December here on the blog.  I missed this place...and you all.  I knew that the situation was getting serious when Matt started pestering me to blog again!

I've been absent from blogging in part due to the fact that Picasa is ruining all the pictures that I am taking (!?!?!)  This is beyond frustrating for me needless to say, and has resulted in my not even bothering to pick up my camera.  (What is the use if they are ruined later anyway?)  Anyone have this happen to them or know how to fix it? 

The other, more ambiguous reason is that I have spent the last few weeks feeling hollow and melancholic for secret and sundry reasons. I would trudge weakly through days, forlorn and staring blankly ahead while thinking "This must be what forlorn means.  How odd- that I am just staring blankly ahead."  I really did think those things while in the midst of them...I knew that it was happening but I was unable to snap myself out of it, unable to perk up.  I think it a marvelous thing that I have made it to 32 years old without ever having the opportunity to put real, bonafide feelings with the abstract words 'forlorn' and 'dejected'.  But it wasn't fun to experience.  And, when surviving a day seemed like an accomplishment, blogging certainly wasn't on the agenda.

As the joy inches closer and hope slowly fills, I am beginning to feel more like myself.  2014 was a good year, full of tremendous blessings, progress and beauty....but after the December I've had, I am anxious to be done with it.  If ever there were time for a clean slate, it would be now.  If ever a new beginning were necessary- this is it.

Right before Christmas Eve, I painted up a board with chalkboard paint and added it to my kitchen wall.  The wall was very blank and white and needed... something.  I thought a chalkboard would be a nice opportunity to give myself reminders throughout the day of truth.  Quotes, scriptures... things to help me refocus when my focus is all wrong- and the opportunity to beautify the spot that I spend the most time...the kitchen.  I really love it.  I will change it every month at least- maybe every week.  No structured system to keep up~ just whenever the time feels 'right' for a new message.  

The message I have on it now (in my last picture above) is one I will keep up for a bit, I think.  Because it is profoundly encouraging to me in my present circumstances.  Even at the lowest points, God is working.

My Grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.  

II Cor.  12:9

I'll be back soon to share my goals for the new year.  I love new beginnings- no more so than this year- so I am anxious to get on with it!  A whole year ahead of us.  Oh, the possibilities!