Peace on Earth (Starts with Peace at Home)

I have considered skiing to the post office some afternoon (smile) and I probably could but I'd have to climb up the driveway first. Getting out and about isn't that hard. Our driveway gets cleared by a tractor, part of the rent (smile). And once you're on the main roads it's fine. We're only 10 minutes from the center of town where we shop etc... We're not really in the boonies it's just that it's a fairly rural area so once you're out of the town you're in the country, if you get what I mean.   We are used to small city living, in Maine and loved all the amenities of that but we love it here also. Skiing out our door is amazing.  Anyway, we're getting around just fine and if one morning I can't go to the grocery store because the driveway isn't cleared, no problem. I'll just go the next day.  

You're welcome Tonya. Thank you for reading along. 

I'm snow happy right now! You're right. This is just what we needed, when we needed it.

Kyce, you know I think you are so right. This has been an incredible year for our family. A lot of mental, physical and emotional stress through the months. All necessary to get to our goal but taxing on us nonetheless. Now this month feels like one long, slow exhale. I haven't felt this kind of peace for a long time and it's such a gift. I am so happy this month. So contented and at peace with life.  Happy to include you. I love your perspective.

Sandra, with regards to taking notes while reading... I've noticed it slows down my reading. I don't know if this is good or bad. I can't get through books like I once did but now I can look back and at least remember what I read! I've always been a "note taker" and just recently applied this technique to my reading. I'm liking it. Especially since I keep so few books. Those I own and intend to keep I highlight and write notes in the margin but I don't keep very many so this is the next best thing. 

You know Pamela, I can't really comment or speak to someone else's situation but I do know my own struggles with this season and they are overcommitment and unrealistic expectations.  There are so many good and wonderful things this time of year to do, see and participate in. And we say no to many of them so we can do the things my family most loves - outdoors and crafting (and a few special other things - like baking one thing together and going caroling). Each family will be different in what they love to do.  And then expectations. I almost always have unrealistic expectations about how much I can accomplish and every year have to take a reality check after the first week of December as to what is realistic to accomplish that year. This year's reality check was to accept that our family (siblings and parents) will be getting New Year's greetings and body care gifts not Christmas gifts. Selling my soap this month totally threw off my plans for making, packaging and mailing gifts to family. I just didn't account for everything that needed to be done and how much time that would take. Instead of trying to do it all I choose one and delayed the other. The gifts are all made (lotion bars and lip balm) and the cards have been printed (one of Laurent's prints of course!) but I'm not stressing out in this last week of Advent to mail them since they will be late now anyway. I don't know if that helps any Pamela. I'm sorry to hear you've had a bad season but sometimes we have those and they help us learn.  I remember three ago Damien and I committed to an Advent giving project. We were so excited! We both gave our time, our hearts and resources and got very close the edge of over doing it. Frightfully close for my liking. I vowed to not have that happen again.  Another thing I do is ask my family the beginning of each season, "what is really important to you about Christmas". You'd be amazed, or maybe not, how simple their wishes are. The kids wanted to decorate the tree, listen to Christmas music, go caroling (still hoping to make that happen this week), craft, make some goodies with me, play in the snow. And they like presents on Christmas Eve and stockings Christmas morning. This, I can do.  I learned a lesson last Christmas when we spent the holiday away from home and traveled to visit our siblings in Toronto area. The month leading up to Christmas was wonderful. And then when we packed up to leave I basically set aside all my personal expectations to just go with the flow while traveling. Theoretically, this is good. But not for young children who have certain rituals and traditions they love about the season. I wrote about that also. And like I say in that post there are certain traditions, routines and Christmas festivities do matter to us. Unfortunately, I didn't figure this out till hindsight. But we're always living and learning (smile). So this year I made sure to plan for stockings on Christmas morning (little things, but they matter the kids) and the other little holiday rituals my family likes. The truth is there is a lot of things I just don't do this time of year - Christmas cards and letters to everyone (used to do that), baking (only one or two special treats this month, that's it), handmade gifts for everyone, hosting parties other than the Christmas celebration itself. Just a few examples.   Wow, that was a long response. Hope that helps some what. Be gracious on yourself. Let go of anything you possibly can this week to focus on what matters to you and your family.  Peace.