Post Thanksgiving

So, we had a nice time.  The kids seemed to get along decently enough.  We don't often get to have that many of us all together, it's always a joy to me to have my kids around.  The meal was a lot of work.  I might have to enlist some help next year.  I haven't a clue why it's so hard for me to ask for help.  I've always been independent that way, and perhaps it's getting worse as I age.  But whatever, I know they'd all help if I asked (in fact they all three offered) so perhaps that'll be how it happens next year.

Anyway, it was a heart-warming day.  I sent home leftovers with as many as I could, trying to be generous.  I simmered the turkey bones for a few hours, should have used my bigger pot, we ended up with w-a-y less broth than I expected, but it tastes good.  Soup last night and soup tonight and that's the last of the Thanksgiving food. 

We were all treated to pies by our oldest.  She's great at doing them, even made my favorite: Marie Callendar razzleberry copycat that was every bit as good as the frozen ones we buy.  (My birthday one is in the freezer still waiting to be baked. I'm thinking it won't taste near as good, it'll be missing the love.)

The day after Thanksgiving we took advantage of the sunshine and mid 40's temps and cleaned out the leaves and dead hollyhocks from the outside stairwell (affectionately called the amphitheater).  The Husband had thoroughly cleared the front yard of leaves.  Walked out to get the mail today and noticed there's tons of leaves out there, and none from our honeylocusts - the leaves in the front are all large ones.  Now, it's a few hours later and the picture shows what's happening out there.  (Glad we did our errands early.)

I've long maintained that everyone needs something to look forward to, to anticipate with happiness.  We splurged:  bought tickets to see Andrea Bocelli.  He doesn't come until May so we'll be anticipating for a long time.  But I'm pretty excited.  The seats are w-a-y far away from the stage and were more than I really wanted to spend, but I kind feel like we deserve to do something fun.  We've pared back on so many things, and been cutting back for so long that it begins to feel kind of like living in handcuffs, w-a-y too restrained.  We're going to have a lot of fun.

And we've reserved the house we like at the beach.  We'll be crossing fingers about the time of year we prefer to go (hurricane season) and hope it all works out.  I'd love to be traveling more, that was what we were meant to be doing at this point in life.  Our favorite beach will have to suffice.  And it'll be great.

We're pretty much done with Christmas.  It happens fast when there's not much spending going on. I'm making a list of what has to be done (I somehow always work better with lists) but I think it's doable.  I'm playing (and getting some practice time in) for a singing duet for a couple weeks from now in Sacrament meeting, it'll be interesting to see how it comes together.  My role in the Christmas program has been diminishing over the last few years.  It's ok.  It's just different.  Less stressful for sure. 

I'm so grateful for the snow we're having.  I hope the mountains get tons.  I've prayed for so long for our drought to be eased.  I realize that just because we're getting some storms now doesn't mean that pattern will last through the winter, so I'm going to be grateful for what we're getting.

I'm grateful for kind friends who make time to see us.  I'm grateful for those who so freely forgive me.  I have many, many faults, that require lots of repenting.  Grateful for the ability to repent. And grateful that my heart still holds a bit of hope.  There is much to hope for.