I was ready for Saint Nicholas Day, but not much has gone as planned since!
I did not intend to be away from this space for most of the month. I’ve had some issues with my website that prevented me from posting, but that’s not all that has been going on. I intended to keep our schedule as clear as possible this month, but I ended up taking five of our children for physicals the first week. That resulted in more phone calls and more appointments. We learned that Beatrix has a small curve in her spine, but it only requires yearly monitoring. It looks like Silas will need a second hernia repair, but a stomach virus prevented us from seeing the surgeon as scheduled, so that will have to wait until January. We had a horrible stomach virus here last week! Eight out of ten of us got sick. I was in bed for two days. Kids were sick and recovered, then relapsed unexpectedly. It was a big mess. Literally. But, we survived!!! And it’s only six days until Christmas! It’s possible that I am in denial of that fact and probable that I am not prepared.
The girls and I were enchanted by the small fir trees for sale outside the grocery store and decided to buy one to use as an Advent tree. We planned to hang a little ornament from an Advent book each day until Christmas. That lasted for two days. My kitten, Giuseppe, discovered the water in the base and made a huge mess and the tree dropped more needles than a full-sized one. It must have been cut long before we purchased it. I had to remove it from the house for my sanity. We don’t have a Christmas tree yet but are watching the farm stand down the road closely. We used to wait until Christmas Eve to buy our tree but have learned that it’s best to play it safe and buy it on the 22nd or 23rd. I only managed to bring out the nativity a couple of days ago, but it’s okay, we’re getting there.
The photos of Mabel in her Puddle Duck sweater were taken before the awful illness. I knit this sweater for her over the summer and I’m so glad I did. I love it because it can be worn over nearly any of her outfits for an extra layer.
I’ve done my grocery shopping (though I’ll have to go back, I always do) and I have candy to fill stockings. I need to wrap gifts, sew some doll clothes, and of course, we’ll need to get a Christmas tree. I think everything will come together. Either way, Christmas is almost here and I’m so glad.
K.C. says
The sweater on Mabel is just darling. As always your pictures are lovely. Your posts are always calming and while you may not feel like you are getting everything done, I am always amazed at how much you do.
Wishing your family a wonderful Christmas this year!
Laurel Muff says
A very merry Christmas to you and yours, dear Ginny!
Lana says
Tummy Soothe from Hopewell Oils . com is our go to for stomach bugs of any kind. It will even kill the noravirus. We take it in water or a capsule and it works quickly to kill the bad bugs. It is one of their gentle blends suitable for children so it is good for the whole family. We take it at the first sign of any real gastric distress. For someone who is actively vomiting and too sick to get it down any other way you can drip it on the back of the hand and lick it off. We always pack this blend when we travel.
Emily says
I wish you and your lovely family a peaceful Christmas, Ginny. I’m sure everything will come together one way or another for all of us, and it will be enough xx
Wendy says
Hi Ginny
I always enjoy your stories about your beautiful family, they are a pleasure to read.
You help me to reaffirm my faith,
I hope you have a blessed and serene Christmas. The little sweater is beautiful, I find knitting stops me from worrying whilst I am doing it, it really is calming.
Kind wishes
Wendy
Rita Moeller says
Your stomach virus makes me realize that having a cold for 3 weeks is certainly nothing to complain about! I did a stupid thing this Christmas: ordered gifts from Amazon and had them sent to my house. Wrapped them and then realized I had to ship them to my daughter and family in Idaho. Next year: have Amazon ship them to Idaho and front her some money to buy wrapping paper. I’ll save $37.00!! But, this year has all of us doing silly, thoughtless things and running around and not getting anything done. Maybe we are trying to make Christmas extra special to make up for the 10 months of terrible days? I finally gave up and half my decorations for my home are still in the Xmas boxes. Next year will be better. Darling sweater on Mabel–I must make that!
Nancy says
Oh stomach viruses are the worst. I’m so sorry. Thankful for are all well now. Merry Christmas! ?❤️
Marilyn says
Mabel is such a sweet heart. She looks like you. Sorry you were sick but happy that all are feeling well once again. I am wrapping and hope to finish today. Checking my stocking stuff. I have a gingerbread tree that I put up in the kitchen. Right now it is laying on the porch still waiting to be done. Much back logged this year. I still have not brought the mini tree for the dining room down from the attic. Hope to have all the decorations done over the week-end.
Wishing you and yours a Glorious Merry Christmas and A Healthy,Happy New Year.
Marilyn
Marion says
We bought our tree and put it up last week. Finished decorating it a few days later. We can’t seem to catch up this year. Other years everything was mostly finished. This year some of the decorations aren’t even down from the attic. I did finish wrapping which is a plus.
Mabel is a mini you.
Have the Merriest of Christmas’ and a Happy,Healthy 2021.
Marion
Joan says
Ginny Mabel looks adorable in the sweater. Glad that all are feeling better. Everything seems to be behind this year. I put up a skating scene and have not finished. Haven’t even started on the fireplace(a cardboard one)
Merry Christmas and A Happy,Healthy New Year.
Joan
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Elizabeth says
Merry Christmas and a very happy and safe New Year to you and your precious family!!!
Deanna says
I love the Puddle Duck sweater. I made 2 of them for my goddaughter’s daughters. Now she has new twin daughters so I am thinking maybe for next Christmas. I also want to make an adult sized one for myself, cannot remember what that is called, but oh so cute.
Ginny, Mabel looks just like you in these pictures!!! What a doll.
As always, I love your posts.
Merry Christmas to you and everyone!!! May God continue to bless us all.
Melisa Capistrant says
So sorry many of you were sick. A stomach virus is the worst in a big family!
The sweater you knitted for your little one is so beautiful.
God bless you and yours with a Merry and blessed Christmas!
Melisa
Lori says
that chaplet is beautiful!!!
Sarah says
For half a second, I thought the first photo of Mabel was you, Ginny.
Emily DeArdo says
I *adore* that sweater! I would wear it!
So glad everyone is over the stomach bug before Christmas. My mom used to always get sick on Christmas from being so excited!
Becky Barry says
Love the pics, as usual, they bring you to us.
Hope your family is well and rested gor the coming end of year.
Thank you for sharing.
Jody says
Hi, Ginny. Still love seeing your beautiful photos and reading what’s up with you all. Just wanted to say that something simple and bonding our family does during Advent is a calendar. Each day there’s one activity. If we manage to do it, great! If we don’t, we try for later or say oh well. No big deal. Some are as easy as ‘dinner by candlelight’ or ‘research how Christmas is celebrated in another country’ ( who would’ve guessed Swedes spend it watching Donald Duck?!). Our boys are 17 and 14 and still enjoy (most of) the activities I’ve dreamed up over the years. Oh, and another fun one is playing our own Christmas-theme only version of Pictionary. A few ideas you might like for future Christmases…
Merry Christmas to you and yours and enjoy any snow you get! My sister in N. VA just sent beautiful pictures of the recent snowfall. I love it, but it never snows here in central France (boo hoo!).
Myriam says
Beautiful pictures and words, as always! Merry Christmas, Ginny!
victoria says
Oftentimes it’s best to just say to yourself “I can’t do this.” (particularly when it’s something that we personally have prioritized) and let things play out as they will. At special times like these we often convince ourselves that we have to do this or that when really it doesn’t matter to any of those around us and they would be happier if we were less stressed out about things.
Kate says
Stomach viruses are the worst! I finally got my boys to clean their room (after I ignored it for two months) since we are having family visit. It took a full day and they brought down all the dirty laundry they had been hoarding. Between their clothes, sheets (which boys never change regularly), blankets, and regular wash, the washer and dryer has been running for three days straight. And that’s without a stomach virus!
For some reason, this Advent has flown by and I am not prepared for Christmas gift-wise. I got about half our gifts ordered online and delivered and then realized I was not going to meet any more shipping deadlines. My husband (reluctantly) and I are going out today to shop and hopefully will get the rest of the wishlist locally. I’m thinking tomorrow will be the Christmas tree day.
Sarah says
Love your posts Ginny! Have a very merry Christmas!
Carol in Texas says
Oh, Ginny. A stomach virus…..yuck! They are the worst. I hope you are all well again. The merriest of Christmases to you and your wonderful family. I just love your blog and the stories of your lives. A blessed 2021 to you all.
Barbara says
Man plans his way but the Lord directs his steps. A loose paraphrase of Prov. 16:9. He didn’t need us to bring Christmas to us and He will accomplish His will apart from our plans.
I’m sorry to hear of your awful illness but glad you are recovered! I’ve learned to hold all things loosely and to try to be flexible but above all to trust Him for the outcome.
Wishing you and your beautiful family a very joy filled Christmas!