This year I’ve needed some reminders of why I love Christmas.  It hasn’t been an easy month with the potty training, the regression of the potty training, the getting back on track of the potty training, the stomach virus that rocked us like a hurricane, and the laundry that doesn’t seem to stop associated with the above.  I’m dying for Christmas to come, but for all the wrong reasons – I just want it to be over.  I live for the most part a fairly structured life (as structured as I can be with two little ones.)  And this year things have been pretty chaotic.  But when I start to feel overwhelmed , ‘I simply remember my favorite things . . .’ (okay enough with the song lyrics).  Along with getting on my knees and pleading to God for help, I look around my house and see some things that make my heart and my head remember why I love this time of year.

This is our Advent calendar.  It has become one of my favorite activities to do with Brooks.  He loves to talk about each character and rearrange them and then I get to share with him about why those characters are so important.

I love this nativity set.  You can’t tell by the picture but it has a blue cast to it.  It was once my Grandmother’s made for her by my Mother.  At my bridal shower, my Grandmother gave it to me and it has become one of my favorite things to take out of the box at the beginning of the season.

I enjoy decorating the tree with all of our ornaments, but this one is a favorite.  It reminds me of snow, which is we are really lacking here in Georgia, and my first year of marriage.  It was one of the first ornaments I bought for our tiny tree.  I believe Mark and I got in a small disagreement about how much I spent on the ornament, but I loved it from the first moment I saw it.  

This is my wall of cards.  Growing up my Mother would line the doorways of our home with Christmas greetings from friends and family.  I’ve carried on the tradition, but I place them on my walls like artwork and then leave them up until February.  I love being reminded of all the people in our lives.

Chances are I won’t be posting again until after Christmas, so Merry Christmas.  I hope your holiday is filled with love and you are able to enjoy some moment of peace and rest.