C h r i s t m a s E v e

The holiday season is in full swing over here. The house is full of family, yummy foods, and decorations; we truly are so fortunate to have the life we do. I feel like my brain completely shut off after halloween this year and now all of the sudden here we are at the end of the year.

Maybe it's just me, but I always feel like the beginning of the year fits like an awkward, new pair of shoes. It feels fresh and exciting but also unfamiliar and a bit uncomfortable. Our family has gone through so much change this past year with moving, job changes, new schools, unfamiliar settings, and all of the growing pains that come with said changes. We have found our rhythm and community now and so begins the work of settling in even further and continuing to bolster the foundation for our life here.

We've been slowly moving towards a more sustainable lifestyle for the last few years, and with the garden and yard space we have now, we are finally able to contemplate having larger beds and possibly even chickens...which I have asked for as a birthday present! It is amazing to live in a community that values and and encourages sustainability efforts. The kids have been so excited about our garden and taking turns running the compost out. And for Christmas this year, my sister in law got us a Mill Composter to have right int he kitchen, which has already been a game changer for us. If you have little kids like us, then you know the amount of food scrap can be pretty intense. This new composting system is going to make a huge difference for us this spring with our new expanded beds that I plan to put in.

So, as I try to stay in the moment for the next couple of weeks, I find myself taking a deep breath and allowing space for stillness and rest. I'm enjoying this time with additional helping hands so I can take the time to read, and knit, and do my ceramics, and just hang out without feeling guilty. Hustle culture has been on the back-burner for me since this time last year as my focus had to shift from working full time to doing all of the other things full time with no childcare. But I can honestly say that theres no way I am going back. Our country has a huge problem of encouraging us to working harder, not smarter, and I am NOT here for it. In the wise words of Mary Oliver,

"Instructions for living a life,

Pay attention.

Be astonished.

Tell about it."