“O Come, O Come Emmanuel” is playing in the next room where my kids are making gingerbread men. Keats, Larkspur, and Beatrix played in their Christmas concert last week and I took the girls and a couple of friends to see The Nutcracker today. Jonny took all the younger kids to get a tree Saturday morning and it is waiting outside now. It must be nearly Christmastime. I ended up making some gifts over the past couple of weeks, something I hadn’t planned on. It was a good way to procrastinate on cleaning the house. I still have a nightgown to sew and all my gift wrapping to do, so I’m guessing that I’ll be cleaning house on the morning of Christmas Eve before we bring the tree in.
Last winter I did the farm chores but this winter my big girls have taken over for me. (I think that is the first time I’ve called them big girls.) Larkspur has her own flock of chickens now so that motivates her to get out there. Beatrix is on goat duty. I’ll rejoin them in the spring, but for now, I am enjoying the break. This winter is feeling like a hibernating one for me. I’m keeping a jigsaw puzzle going on the puzzle table (affiliate link-It was meant to be a Christmas gift but I couldn’t wait) and crossword puzzles next to my bed. I’ll have to wait to share the knitting I’ve been up to after Christmas. I took photos of Mabel’s Puddle Duck jumper this week and she’s been wearing it nearly every day. This is such a wonderful, practical, simple pattern. I suspect I’ll be knitting another for next year!
I had a friend’s teenage daughter with me for a couple of days earlier this month and she said something to me that made me laugh. We were on the way home from my friend’s house where we made wreaths and she brought up a conversation she overheard between me and a couple of my friends there. We had been discussing tea, and I shared that one of you told me about Earl Grey Rooibos from Mountain Rose which I’ve been so grateful for since giving up caffeine (again). One of my friends exclaimed that that was very exciting, and I agreed. My friend’s daughter told me, “Don’t take this the wrong way, but I hope I never get to a place where my life is so boring that I get that excited over tea.” I did my best to set her straight, but I’m not sure she bought it. She doesn’t yet know that finding joy in the smallest of things is a very important life skill. She is only seventeen, after all.
I’m feeling a little overwhelmed this year with all the Christmas planning and Jonny working long hours. I’ll be working extra hard to notice all the special moments that happen around me and remembering above all else that God became man, for me and for you. When I’m tired and a little overwhelmed by all the planning that goes into this season, I try to meditate on that profound truth, that baby in the manger. It helps.
I hope you all find joy in the coming days, even in small things like good tea!
Ibti says
As an avid coffee drinker, I imagine it would be rough to quit! So finding a pleasing substitute is a big deal! God bless you and your family. xx
Christine Meurer says
Ah! After a lifetime of drinking tea, I have recently discovered Rooibos Earl Grey too! And it is my favorite. I need to place another Mountain Rose Herbs order just for that! Now I know to get a bigger bag. 🙂 It is the only tea I will choose over coffee.
Kelli Ramey says
Loose leaf Jasmine Green Tea is one of my small pleasures. Silly girl she was. Tea is magical.
Theresa Boedeker says
Love her comment about tea. And do I remember thinking things like that. “Oh, please, I hope I never get excited about a night of good sleep. Or grapes on sale.” Etc. Thankfully I am there and have been for some time. All those little joys add up and provide such richness to everyday life.
Casey says
There’s a good reason there are ceremonies dedicated to tea! It’s magical! I hope she doesn’t take this the wrong way, but she might be the boring one? 😉
Marion says
Ginny we just finished having a cup of tea. Still doing last minute wrapping. Will try and sit down and watch a movie or a show. Enjoy decorating your tree. You have a beautiful family. Beatrix and Larkspur are wonderful and thoughtful girls.
Marilyn,Joan and Marion
Martha says
Merry, merry Christmas to you and yours, Ginny. No, your life is anything but boring! 🙂 Thank you for your sharing the “small things” with us and helping us remember to see and savor them, too.
xo
Felicity Wilson says
Have a very happy Christmas! Your photos are beautiful, and you are not alone in being overwhelmed by Christmas preparations. I have spoken to so many overwhelmed mothers in the last few days. Very irritating trying to keep all the normal things in life together and plan for Christmas, too! Best of luck with it all, and I hope you get some moments of peace at some point!
Brigitte says
Thanks for taking some time to share these thoughts! I love tea too, and also received an advent tea calendar. I’m having to refocus this Christmas because we have transitioned from two old retired people to having our daughter and her 10month old baby living with us. Our granddaughter is delightful, but we get much less done with the babysitting involved. Her happy innocence brings me right back down to earth multiple times a day.
James Blanton says
May you experience joy this Christmas…remember the glass is always half full….deb
Elizabeth says
that is so funny (the tea comment!) I think tea is one of the BIG things in life… I have lots of teas and found myself thinking, ‘I hope someone gives me tea for Christmas’ !!! 🙂 Beautiful pictures as always. I am glad your big girls (now!) are helping. this is very good. Blessed days and peace to you with the weariness that this season can bring; the Mother of God must have felt tired at times and that too is a comfort!
karen says
that sweater is adorable!!! Sounds like you are in a good place which is the best place to be. The more mundane my existence the more content I am 🙂 Bring on the tea discussions. I have one adult child here and the other adult child arriving tonight. It’s a full house!!
Kim Lottman says
Oh my, those teen and twenty year olds! They’ll get it, some day, probably about the age we did. Though I hope my children discover it earlier. <3 Merry Christmas to you and yours!
Dawn says
Love the tea comment! I know I am an old soul in many ways only one of which is that I have always loved tea. I gave tea and cookies as Christmas gifts to friends in high school. My boys love tea (not just the drink but the midday snack) so maybe they will be old souls in this way, too. They gave me tea and homemade soap for my birthday in November and I loved it. They did say I was easy to please. 🙂 It is always a gift to see a post from you in part because it is nice to see other families who know that Christmas does not end on the 25th but it just begins. God Bless you all!
Julie says
I love her comment so much! And i’m so glad to be where i am, which is plain excited about things I never would have thought I’d be excited about!
I have a 13 yo daughter. I hope that I get to see her excitements go through the changes. Your photos are gorgeous. Thanks for sharing
Jen says
That puzzle is so charming. Link??
Ginny says
I bought it at our local Barnes & Noble! https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/toys-games-wonder-bloom-500-piece-puzzle/34219724?ean=9780735362604
Heidi says
Thanks so much for the tea recommendation! I had to give up caffeine long ago and oh! how I’ve missed Earl Grey!! I know I’m old (you’re not?)
Many blessings to you & your sweet family this Christmas. Love your posts & photographs and look forward to watching your babes all grow.
Nancy Mosley says
Merry Christmas!! Love the tea comment. She has no idea all the wonderful flavors of tea and sharing them with friends. Even though I’m older- I’ve shared Teecino’s Dandelion Caramel Nut Tea(their only gluten free choice) that is a wonderful liver cleanser but tastes like coffee— with young moms trying to cut out caffeine and they’ve loved it!! So it will be fun to see this young girl change her thoughts one day. ? I love Mabels little outfit. So adorable!!
Emanuela says
Grazie Ginny per tutte le piccole grandi cose della vita di tutti i giorni che mi aiuti ad apprezzare. Buon Natale a te e a tutta la tua famiglia e tanti cari auguri per un 2020 pieno ancora di tante piccole cose da amare.
Emanuela
Emanuela says
Grazie Ginny per tutte le piccole grandi cose della vita di tutti i giorni che mi aiuti ad apprezzare. Buon Natale a te e a tutta la tua famiglia e tanti cari auguri per un 2020 pieno ancora di tante piccole cose da amare.
Ruth Robinson says
Much love from across the pond to you and your family. I love your posts,they always lift up my spirit. I love tea and puzzles too! Hubby always says I’m old before my time, but I too take joy in the small things. God bless you richly xxx
Dianne says
Would love to know where to find that puzzle.
Ginny says
I bought it at our local Barnes & Noble! https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/toys-games-wonder-bloom-500-piece-puzzle/34219724?ean=9780735362604
Maria Kalin says
That comment made me chuckle. This year I had a tea advent calendar: A different kind of tea for 24 days with an inspiring quote or saying on the paper wrap. I enjoyed every single one – even my least favorite.
Michelle Reid says
~What a beautiful idea~Thank you for sharing~Wonderful idea to make as gifts~
Judith says
Ginny:
Your post today was simply spirit lifting. Christmas is truly coming (I have 2 more doors to open on my Advent Calendar) and I will miss it when the festivities are over. I love this time of year and what it truly means — God loves us so much that He gave us His only Son. Your girls are so pretty and I can;t believe how tall Mable is — she is turning into quite a little lady.
Wishing you and your family a blessed Christmas celebration and may 2020 be filled with the sweetest of surprises.
Judith
Jordin says
Oh dear. I guess I’m boring. I LOVE tea and get rather excited about it. ?
KAde says
Thank you so much for posting, Ginny, even with as much as you have going on so close to Christmas! Your blogs are always a joy and an inspiration, even my eleven-year-old gets excited now at the arrival of a new post from your world.
A blessed and happy Christmas to you and all your dear family.
Maria says
Merry Christmas and much joy to you! Beautiful pictures- it looks so warm at your house!
Elisabeth Leake says
That’s hilarious what the girl said. My sister and I said we already get excited about tea. There’s a lot of excitement in that delicious drink.