Blizzard began Sunday 12/28 thru Monday 12/29, 26 1/2 hours of no power which meant no heat (it was 11 below outside), no bathroom (we had to put water in toilet for it to flush-we keep gallon bottles of water in pantry just for this purpose). What a way to end 2025!
New Years Eve, watching the ball drop, glass of wine toast-kiss-then in bed by 12:05am
New Years Day-clean up all Christmas decorations while watching rose parade. Was not happy with parade announcers this year, they talked too much, couldn't hear the bands which are my favorite parts.
January 2 - had to go out and pay bills at post office, visited the library as I was in dire need of reading material, did a small bit of grocery shopping and then home. It was all of 13 degrees. I hate winter!
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Every year on New Years Day, I write out my resolutions for the coming year. The list seems quite long at times and although I have the best of intentions, the resolutions are usually broken and forgotten before January ends. So instead of making a list of my new year resolutions, I make a list of my NOT resolutions.
*I will NOT obsess about my weight unless absolutely nothing in my closet fits me right and/or my health becomes an issue related to it. Unfortunately, this past year my health became an issue when I had a heart scare in July. Since then I have done a number of things to change my life style into a more healthier one.
*I will NOT come down on my family for putting things away willy-nilly even though I personally prescribe to the theory "everything has a place and everything in its place". I am pleased to say that a number of times when I saw something totally in the wrong place, I found myself saying, "let it go, Ellen, it's just a ...".
*I will NOT let depression take over as I watch or read about what's happening in the world today even though 80% of what is happening is dreary, despicable and depressing. What has helped most with this is limiting my viewing of news shows like CNN and avoiding discussions on topics that stress me out.
*I will NOT "sweat the small stuff" even though this goes against my OCD big time.
*I will NOT wallow in the regrets of my past but instead will focus on the future.
*I will NOT worry about what I don't have but be grateful for the blessings I do have-my husband, my children and most of all, my God.
Of all the seasons, #4 on my list as favorite is the season of winter. I find that my list of against out weighs my list of for when it comes to winter. This dislike for the winter comes as no surprise to those who know me. What is surprising is that for someone who despises winter the way I do, I live in a place that has winter almost 6 months out of the year. However, to be honest, I would say that there is one part of this snowy, extremely cold season that I do appreciate. It is that time after the first good snowfall. Now when I say good snowfall, I mean when there is enough snow on the ground that not one fraction of green (or brown in some places) can be seen. It is that moment when I look down the road where I live only to see an unbroken blanket of white. No tire tracks, no people tracks, no sled tracks, not even animal tracks....just pure white. It is the feeling of that brisk cold air that hits you in the face when you first come out from the warm house, the smell of what can only be described as a deep breath of pure fresh air, the sound of a branch cracking in the wind or under the weight of the snow covering it. It is that one moment when the world stops ever so briefly so that we may appreciate God's handiwork without the sights and sounds of snow machines, snow plows and snow blowers. By February, I will be going thru cabin fever and complaining to any and all who will listen that I am sick of winter and why do I live in this cold unpleasant place. But for this brief moment in time, I will bundle up, stand on my front deck, smile and enjoy the beauty that God has created..
I have decided that winter is perfect for nesting. I try and spend the days organizing or working around the house. While winter is probably not my favourite time of the year I am gradually getting used to it. Like you I live in a place that can actually have winter for 6 months of the year.
ReplyDeleteGod bless.
Merry Christmas, Ellen! This is the last day of the Christmas season but we're the sort to dilly-dally taking the Christmas decor down. It'll probably come down by the end of the week but there was one exhausting year when all got put away only just before Lent as life had truly kept us in a bind that year! This year, when the tree and lights and bells come down, it will be with a touch of sadness. Our eldest enters working life next week and our 4th child will join her older sister at college, a 3-hour journey away from us. I know many others have it much worse, even we have gone through heartbreaking Christmas seasons previously. Still, knowing you won't see your kids as often as you'd like after this takes a lot of getting used to.
ReplyDeleteI have to say that it would be wise of me to adopt your I Will Not #2. I'm irritatingly finicky about a clean and neat home but maybe I need to reel that in a bit. After all, a lived-in look in the house means that I am surrounded by my favourite people, which is no small blessing.
I loved that reflection on your least favourite month - winter. I think Mother Mary is speaking to me through your words, telling me to sit back and enjoy this final week of our old life. The temperatures have dipped considerably here and the breezes are cold. This, combined with the generally quieter environment are truly gifts, stilling the spirit, encouraging watchfulness and ponderings. The winter prepares us for the rest of the year. Hence, it must not be squandered.
Thank you so much for your posts and the quiet graces you share with us. Keep 'em coming, they make an often ugly world beautiful. I wish you a bountiful year ahead, Ellen.