Holy Daze

I don't know about you, but in my life, Christmas can be a little tricky. I used to dislike this holiday, because of childhood stuff and weird expectations. For many people, family relationships can be weird around this time, standards of perfection running high, the stress of Christmas overshadowing its holi-ness.

This year, Christmas was perfect.

It was super mellow, starting early in the morning with some gorgeous back lit trees studded with diamond frost, a good cup of coffee, and all three kids well behaved as can be, taking turns opening presents, savoring the moment.

In fact, little Eva was so worried about getting coal in her stocking that she didn't come downstairs in the morning, although she could hear the voices of the rest of the family. When her brothers went up to fetch her, she confessed that she didn't know if it was morning already and feared it was still bedtime, when we older ones usually stay up later.

She didn't want to piss off Santa.

The kids were happy about their presents and shared nicely, and Steve and I kept smiling at each other, feeling the blessed-ness and gratitude of our lives.

Later on, I indulged knitting in front of the Christmas tree, while sun streamed through the windows.

I hope you felt some of this peace and deep gratitude as well.

I sure felt more of it later in the day, when the whole family went for a walk. By now, I should be used to all the natural beauty around us, but it still catches me by surprise on days like this, when the snow and frost transform everything into a magical fairy land.

Come with us and see for yourself.

I'm very, very, very thankful for these beings that make up my family.

And bacon, definitely bacon.  From our own pigs.  Yep.  It doesn't get any better than this.