I’ve been away for awhile, but that doesn’t mean I don’t think about posting every single week. Then time gets away from me, and I’m too late. But I’m thankful…thankful for so many things, but this week, I’m especially grateful for:
1) my completely decorated house. The tree is up, the lights are on, the poinsettias purchased, the garlands hung. Yep, everything is in its place. Now it’s time to get our Christmas cheer in gear.
2) Christmas music. Sometimes I wish Christmas came several times a year because I love the holiday tunes. One of my favorite songs, Mary’s Boy Child, by Boney M (a Canadian group) has me tapping my feet every time it plays. First I bought their tape (I know, I know–this dates me), then I bought a CD. I never tire of listening to this group (and Jewel and James Taylor and Arthur Atsma and the list goes on and on).
3) sixteen friends who came to our house last night to help kick off the Christmas season. (We sure missed the ones who’d already made other plans for the evening). There was food and laughter and a new, fun game. Our group doesn’t really like change, but they played the game without complaint. I just wish we weren’t getting so old. We used to stay up till after midnight. Now if we make eleven, we think we’re kicking up our heels.
4) Lindsey’s found Christmas stocking. And how she reacted has made my Christmas complete.
5) my grandma Aldridge and her Christmas stocking legacy. We miss Grandma all the time, but every year, when we unpack her hand-knitted Christmas stockings, we remember how much Grandma loved us all. We were so lucky to have her in our lives, and even luckier to still be enjoying incredible memories.
6) my daughter’s improved happiness. She’s been sad lately, (because of the break up of her marriage). But she’s slowly feeling better and we are seeing some impressive smiles gracing her face. She even helped us decorate a little. I think she looks great in lights!
7) Christmas cookies. I make holly sugar cookies every year, and boy are they yummy. And I’m not just saying that because they’re Lindsey and my favorite. Last night I put two dozen out on a tray, and before Jingle Bells finished playing on the stereo, all the little decorated holly’s had vanished!
8) my daughter’s big ol’, generous heart. Click here if you want to read more.
9) perfect prime rib. Every year I try to roast the perfect beef. Some years I succeed. Some years I don’t. But last night I couldn’t have been happier. And because the prime rib turned out awesome, my husband is still grinning from gray sideburn to gray sideburn. Who am I kidding? John doesn’t have sideburns–but nonetheless, he is grinning and bragging about my culinary success.
10) my husband. I could not host anything without this man’s help. He carries in extra tables; drives to the grocery store for forgotten items: lime, strawberries, and whip cream; cleans up the walkway; drives to the store for butter (I ran out), helps me cut the fresh noble fir greens; drives to the store for mushrooms (I totally forgot to put them on my list); carries the extra chairs downstairs and places them around the dining room table; and drives to the grocery store for chives. Yes, you counted right. John drove to the store four times yesterday afternoon and never complained once. I’m a very lucky gal. And the party went off without a hitch because he was a super sport about helping out. It sure is a lot more fun to host a party when you have a cooperative cohort.
Happy holidays everyone.
My first book will be coming out September 26, 2017. If you are interested in learning more about Loving Lindsey: Raising a Daughter with Special Needs, please click here.
