Farewell 2024

  Farewell 2024... ❤

You were not the year I found my soulmate and fell hopelessly in love... but you were another year in which I learned to let go.

You were not the year of a stamped passport and world travel to far and distant lands... but instead one in which I took a brave and courageous journey home alone.

You were not the year that lead me back to the churches of my childhood... but another year to lead me forging forward on the path of faith.

You were not the year of certainty... but a year in which questions flourished, perspectives widened, and judgement of others faded.

You were not the year that granted all my hopes and dreams... but a cherished moment in time, whispering new and unexpected possibilities.

Merry Christmas 2024!

 December is winding down and 2024 is coming to a close. Change is on the horizon, just like it lingers in our past. Early January brings a CPS hearing for me. The incident that occurred during breakfast in our daycare toddler room (this one) will finally see its appeal. I may or may not have attained counsel... (He's a friend of a friend and we haven't communicated extremely well.) If I am completely honest, anything having to do with OCFS or CPS adversely affects my entire body. Just the sight of the return address on an envelope is triggers a stress reaction. I feel better off putting it completely out of mind. Call me avoidant. Avoidance, though not necessarily healthy, has been my go-to response ever since I can remember, especially when I am helpless to change a situation.

My new job is going well. Getting up early will always come with effort, but I generally enjoy the company as well as the environment. It comes with state mandated sick pay, but no paid vacation time. Now that Christmas is behind us, it's time to start beefing up my savings account again so I can pay my income taxes. I spent my savings fixing my brakes and paying my car insurance for the year. I have a home, I am more than well-fed, and I am clean and warmly dressed. All is well.

We spent Christmas Eve here at home with Nathan and his four children, and had a nice Christmas celebration at the home of my eldest daughter on Christmas day. I saw all of my local kids and grandchildren, and took a phone call from my faraway, once Minnesota, now Florida oldest son. The kids got me a banding wheel to do my pottery. I guess I will soon be back to making those awesome coffee mugs. LOL! Hannah surprised me with a heavy bottomed, stuffed Eeyore (and a gift card) and made my Christmas morning complete. It took me back to another Christmas in this house about 50 years ago when another Eeyore came to stay. (He's still here, treasured, and well loved.)

Sleepy

I have been excessively tired this week, like naps after work tired, cover up with a blanket tired,  turn the alarm off and go back to sleep tired. Is it the time of year? Is work exhausting me? Am I staying up too late and getting up at an ungodly hour? Am I cutting back on afternoon coffees? Ahh... that last one just might be it!

Who knew working in a coffee shop could be so absolutely crazy? I never knew so many people ordered espresso drinks (or that there is apparently a preferred time of day for them... Seriously! They come in in bunches!!!) Previous to working at Dunkin (which I know is far from exotic and shunned by coffee snobs), I didn't know the difference between a latte, a macchiato, and a cappuccino (and I seriously can't spell them without help...). Throw in an Americano and a Triple Espresso and the option to make them hot or iced (along with flavors and whipped cream) and it's a recipe for chaos and confusion. We were short two staff members today and somehow survived, partly thanks to another who came in to rescue us, and this is a tiny Dunkin on the corner of a gas station convenience store... (Mobile orders don't know the difference.)

Well, it's after 9 pm and time for me to think about going to sleep again...

PS. My allergist say the serum for my injections is ready. Here's hoping it makes a visible difference.

Looking A Little Christmassy

Well, we got some snow last night. A layer of fluffy, whiteness blanketed vehicles this morning and icy temperatures had us donning gloves and mittens.

On Saturday Hannah and I took the kids out to the "Christmas Store," which is actually called The Emporium. I came home with a few smallish snowmen who melted into my collection, and a set of snowman salt and pepper shakers, because I "needed" them. My "Christmas Room" is full of smiling faces. While shopping for snowmen we ran into Father Christmas. Killian, ever suspicious and expertly cautions, kept his distance, but I had met the particular jolly fellow a couple years ago and decided to give him a quick hug before we did our shopping. Somewhere along the upper floor of the establishment, Kili decided he wanted to see Santa after all. Too bad we didn't have Sergio along. We could have had the perfect Christmas card!

I was sidelined by thought of warm blankets on my way home from church Sunday and stopped in Burlington to see what they might have to offer. I came home with five snowmen who also melted into my collection. (There are so many now that once I rearrange them a tad, no one notices a few more. LOL!)

The Christmas Room, in other seasons known as my living room, is warm and cozy and I like it very much. It feels like home aside from the wood stove being cold, although it is glowing thanks to those flickering, orange Halloween lights.

Christmas isn't complete without a Nativity and so yesterday afternoon I went in search of mine. I found it packed away in the attic and set it up in my glass bookcase. (I added a few new friends this year.)