a fresh start – today
2015.
The last two weeks we moved slow around here. I didn’t mean to take off two weeks from this blog. I tried to write a few posts regarding Christmas and New Years and I just could not find the words. I love Christmas. As a Christian, it is the time of year we choose to celebrate the birth of Jesus and it is PARTY time around my house. And we relished in the fun of celebrating. Yet, my heart was so heavy this season. So many of my dear, dear friends walked through the holidays bearing heavy loads. This Christmas would be the first many of my friends celebrated after tragic losses of loved ones, marriages, and relationships.
I knew if my closest friends were facing difficult Christmas ‘firsts’, so many of you would be too. Posts about crafts or decorating or even traditions just didn’t feel right. Some bloggers know the perfect words to say for things like that. I just couldn’t find the words. Instead, I stayed quiet. I prayed for my friends. Prayed for those of you that were just hoping to make it past New Years.
Here we are, on the other side of Christmas. The other side of 2014. For some, there is so much joy in a starting a new year. For others, watching 2014 slip is heart breaking. But, here we are in 2015. For my friends that didn’t know how they would make it through the holidays, I say – you did it. One day at a time. One moment at a time. You did it. Keep going – I’m cheering for you.
Today was a fresh start. So was yesterday. So will tomorrow be. A new year on a calendar doesn’t mark our only chance for a fresh beginning. I am so thankful for that. Goodness knows I need a fresh start more than once a year!
I didn’t get my camera out as much this Christmas for pictures. I tried taking more video. We spent our Christmas with extended family. We don’t get to see Chris’ side of the family nearly often enough. Anytime we can all be together, we are grateful for it. Though we missed one of his sisters and her family, we took advantage of several days away with the rest. Lots of indoor pool swimming.
My boys & one of their cousins || My youngest son when his dad told him he is almost fast enough to beat his brothers at swimming races. || A little shark swimming past. || Returned home to snow.
We came home from the warm indoor pool to a covering of snow. More celebrating with my family and then we ushered in a new year. This is the first time our entire family stayed up to ring in the new year. And EVERYONE slept in the next morning. Glorious. We are in a stage of life that my kids will actually sleep in – this is new and wonderful. New phase. New year. New day.
Welcome 2015.
