Counting Joys

December 11, 2015February 1, 2016 by theseordinarygraces In Home, Thankful 5 Comments

Life’s crazy right now. There is so much going on and it feels like it’s all on my shoulders. Between planning for Christmas and staying on track with our homeschooling plans, it’s easy for me to get caught up in the stress of the season instead of enjoying it. So I’m taking a break from all the stressing to reflect on the things that have brought me joy lately. here are five of them.

 

 

1. Red Wine and Bubble Baths
   I have never really been a red wine person or a bath person. But as I’ve gotten older more mature, red wine has really grown on me. My favorite right now is Apothic Dark. It’s not too dry and not sweet. It’s perfect. And drinking it while relaxing in a hot, bubbly bath? Amazing. It’s the perfect end to a busy day.
2. Family on Holidays
   I come from a family that does holidays together. Most of my immediate family lives in the same town. Except us. We lived in Alaska for three years and, I won’t lie, those three Christmases with just the 5 of us were pretty great. We relaxed and enjoyed a calm day together. No running from place to place. No big groups of people. But this last Thanksgiving, my family came down to Oklahoma and spent a few days with us and it was really great. We laughed, we cooked, we ate, we watched football, we survived the ice storm and loss of power. After three years of holidays away, I’m ready to enjoy some extended family time again. Bring on Christmas!
3. Coffee and Writing
   I don’t need to explain why coffee makes the list, do I? It’s basically the nectar of the gods, am-I-right? But writing is my thing. Whether I publish it here or keep it to myself, writing is how I work out my thoughts and feelings. It keeps me sane.
4. Christmas Lights
   Living in Alaska during Christmas time was magical. We could always count on a white Christmas and snuggling up next to a crackling fire with a hot cup of cocoa. But they didn’t have a lot of Christmas lights. Here in Oklahoma there are actually long lists of amazing Christmas displays. We went to one in Norman, OK that was amazing. My daughter hung her head out the window and yelled “THIS IS THE BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE!” It’s so fun making new memories with the kids.
5. Morning Sun Peeking through the Blinds
   There’s nothing I love more than morning sunshine gliding across the earth. Sitting a the dining room table, sipping coffee while the sun washes over me is the perfect start to my day. It just feels right, ya know?

So what is bringing you joy this week? Let me know!