December

Hi everyone :) Sorry I didn't get to post anything for November.  Just over two weeks back my Dad who is 79 years had a heart attack. He had been unwell for a while with very little energy, but even so it was a shock to us. He has now had surgery and is home  recovering. During that time, my mum also had to have cataract surgery, so it's been a busy time and emotionally exhausting. There was little time to think, let alone string words together and write a blog...even though I was still writing in my journal during that time. I find journaling really helps me with stress and keeping track of day to day events and big things too.

So having said all that, my heart truly goes out to anyone else who has a family member that's in hospital or has an ongoing illness. It's a whole new level of exhaustion, emotional, mental and physical which I haven't really had to cope with before. I even find myself at times if I'm out in the garden or something, thinking to myself...I wonder if they're alright and if I need to phone again :(

On top of that I've had my own ongoing health things..Oh my!  life can get difficult at times. I have said it many times and will say it again: I don't know where I would be without the avenue of prayer !

But now we are in December, it is one of my favourite months of the year..and even when exhaustion was stalking me I did not want to go through it feeling stressed or be exhausted at the end of it.

I've made a list of the minimum vital things I need to accomplish. Most of the family will come here this year for Christmas dinner and as so many of you ladies know there is a lot to do to get one's property ready :) Today saw my husband and I out on the front verandah with the hose and brooms, scrubbing the house, sweeping leaves and cobwebs etc and freshening up potted plants. It does look so much better now.

We were able to get a small Christmas tree for free as they were giving them away outside a hall in one of the small towns in my area. We decorated it together today and it's so festive and lovely.

I've made my Christmas cake, and am yet to ice it, but that can wait. I've been making a Christmas cake every year since we were married, so it is very much part of our tradition in this home.

We had a lovely Christmas nativity play at church today too. Our pastor and his wife are moving to a new parish after 10 years, so it will be sad to see them go. It's been a real year of changes for us. 

On top of all this my sweet daughter Katie and her family have moved 45 minutes away from us now and while I'm happy for them that they are settled and have a home, we will miss them greatly, as before they were only about 7 minutes down the road. I still get to go and help out two days a week, and am brushing up on driving truly country roads, but part of the road isn't even sealed. I call the wee cottage the little house on the prairie, since that's what it looks like to me. It's only for a season until they buy their own home and Katie is happy, and that's all that matters to me.

Well dear friends I think I will leave it at that for now. There are presents to be wrapped and more Christmas baking to continue with. I look forward to reading your writings too and

seeing how everyone else is preparing for Christmas. 

So from my little homestead -

 'Merry Christmas', God bless and Happy New Year too. xoxo

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