Simple Home and Happiness

Nothing about this holiday season went as planned.

We started the stomach flu in our family of six a couple days before Christmas and it finally took down the last person a week later. It was exhausting but also forced a major slow down, in a good way.

Traditions got pushed aside to make room for illness, plans were cancelled, all expectations of holiday celebrations went out the window.

There was a time when this would have destroyed me.

Several years ago, my plans for New Years Eve were cancelled due to a snow storm. I pouted and cried, I believe I may have even wailed "Why Me?" and I know for certain that I made the evening miserable for my husband. All because my expectations had been set too high and I couldn't see what was still possible.

I don't know if it's age, experience, maturity, or a glorious combination, but this holiday had all the makings of an epic temper tantrum, yet it never happened.

I wasn't Mother Teresa, let's be real, but I sort o…

One week till Christmas.

Seven days.

How are you doing?

Hanging in there?

Excelling?

Crying?

It's ok. I've done all three in the past week.

This morning I woke up with nothing to do. Of course there are things to do, but the calendar is clear today.

Today I get to bake and clean and listen to Christmas music and rest. We have been running winter colds through the six people in our house and I woke up with a sore throat, but today I can rest, so I will be thankful for that.

I know this next week can be really hard. I know that losses, finances, and hardships are heightened this time of year. It's ok to be sad. It's ok to feel the weight of unmet expectations.

I am walking into this week with hands open.

I will not let the dreams of what could be ruin the truth of what is right in front of me.

I still have gifts to wrap, goodies to bake, I didn't get a Christmas card sent out this year, snow is threatening to ruin my travel plans, kids are sick, and tensions tend to …