My friends, the Lent season in the Liturgical year is always a transformative season for me. Sometimes I am renewed, sometimes my heart is burst open, and sometimes I am comforted while I carry my own crosses. Last Lent, I was deep in those feelings of fear and anxiety as I had just found out about my unexpected pregnancy. Between the crippling morning sickness, the start of my new director role at work, and my general anxieties, Lent was a challenging season to say the least. But thankfully, I walked alongside thousands of women as we reflected on what it meant to be a believer and what it meant to pick up our crosses.
Needless to say, I am approaching this Lent in a different stage of life. Our sweet Theo is here and although the overwhelming reality of three(!!) kids is nothing to scoff at, I am comforted by how the Lord has provided for us this past year and how He has not removed those crosses, but shown me how to find grace in the daily stresses and suffering.
So I am incredibly excited to have this year’s Blessed Is She Lent Devotional in my hands. This Lent, we will explore the depths of Christ’s sacrificial love.
Read MoreTime for a Christmas recap, I know how much everyone looves those. ;] We are currently enjoying some family time at my parents’ house and soaking in these Christmastide days.
On Friday afternoon, we left our home in Alameda en route to my husband’s family. The drive took about two hours longer than it normally takes us so we had to take quite a few stops. Oh holiday traffic. But everyone survived and Henry only shrieked for a portion of the drive and Theo only had one up the back blow-out. Silver linings for the win.
Saturday and Sunday, we spent time with my husband’s family with lots of time for the cousins to play. We got together with Paul’s best friend and his wife and then my best friend from dental school and her family. Even though we can relatively keep up with friends and family with technology, it is so wonderful and joyous to see people in person and love on them.
Read MoreI’m not going to lie, this was one of the best Thanksgiving weekends ever. Our little five-some spent the four-day weekend in town and it was so special to cook a meal and share this holiday quietly in our own little home. I had a little anxiety throughout the weekend, but it was definitely manageable considering the immense joy of being surrounded by my family.
Paul had work off Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday! We got to have a leisurely lunch on Wednesday just the two of us (well, and our third wheel Theo). On Thursday, Paul let me sleep in (!!!) and then I cooked a Thanksgiving lunch for us. We shared sparkly beverages and Emma decided she loves cranberry sauce. Normally, I am not much of a leftovers person, but I ate the Thanksgiving food all weekend.
I gave Henry his first hair cut after nap on Thanksgiving and I cried a whoooole lot. But he’s so delectably cute so I’m okay now, I promise. On Friday, we cranked up the Christmas music jams and started decorating. Emma and Henry absolutely loved decorating our tree. They each were so meticulous about ornament placement. I did not put any of the breakable ornaments out this year because Henry tornado lives up to the name. Somehow we still managed to break some… oy vey.
Read MoreHappy Thanksgiving from my family to yours. I am grateful for this little space we have shared. May your day be filled with love, family, and friends (and foooood). God bless!
Read MoreNow, I know there is a contentious battle between those who decorate for Christmas after Halloween and those who decorate after Thanksgiving. Growing up, my family would decorate for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving. We would decorate the tree, listen to Christmas music, and jump into the Christmas spirit, but we always waited until after Christmas.
But since having my own children, I wanted to place more focus on the Advent season leading up to Christmas and then keep the Christmas spirit going well after the stores put the decorations on the clearance shelf. Where does that put Thanksgiving and the remnants of autumn? Well, sometimes it gets pushed to the side.
So in honor of poor, forgotten Thanksgiving, I wanted to write down a few things I hope to do during the remainder of fall.
Spend a few hours in a tea shop reading books and having a pot of my favorite tea.
Sipping hot apple cider and going on an afternoon walk in our neighborhood.
Raking leaves and letting the kids jump in a big pile of them.
Making a Thanksgiving meal for our little five-some (well, Theo will be having milk from the tap).
Taking a family trip to Lake Tahoe.
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