Today is December 30th. We finished our Christmas celebrations on the 27th, recovered the 28th, and almost everything came down last night. This morning Josh disassembled the tree and I packed up the jingle bell wreaths and the nativity hurricane lights and swept up the last bits of fake tree needles and tinsel and scraps of wrapping paper. The only things that remain are my snowmen, since they are less holiday-specific (and because Elaina insists that we have some sort of decoration out for every season).
Christmas was a magical season this year, especially since the girls are big enough to really, really enjoy it. They searched for Lyla, our elf, every day with unbridled enthusiasm, watched countless Christmas specials on tv, visited Santa, were awed by the lights, sang the songs...it was everything I could have asked for. I loved it. But for the first time I can remember, I was also ready for it to be over.
I think it was because I am ready for this year to be over, too. 2014 was...hard. For more reasons than I can articulate, for reasons very private and painful, in some small ways and in some very profound ways. In years past, I've done a more full recap, but I want to remember the good and the bad, so I'm modifying it a bit. Here's a look back at 2014:
Favorite memories
When the snow finally melted in June. I kid. Taking the girls bowling for the first time. Ice skating. Taking a slightly less-than-legal trail to find a beautiful waterfall on our anniversary trip. Getting lost with Josh while trying to find a lake near Macomb, and then playing a rousing game of mini golf after enjoying a surprisingly strong margarita at dinner. Experimenting with our new square foot garden. Surprising the girls with a trip to Grizzly Jack's. Taking the girls for a hike on the last nice day of autumn, and then spending the rest of the afternoon raking and jumping in leaves, clearing out the garden, and chasing Yuna away from the raspberry bushes. Dancing with Josh to Christmastime is Here and various Jamie Lidell songs. Watching the girls sing the Pentatonix version of White Winter Hymnal.
Least favorite memories
Ellie's trip to the emergency room. Losing Winston. Leaving Northwoods. Work drama. Taking down the crib the day before Elaina started preschool.
Biggest changes
Elaina started preschool. Josh was promoted into a highly stressful job, and he's doing great. We left Northwoods and have not immediately jumped into another "church relationship"(still trying to figure out what that will look like). We got a dog.
Favorite purchase
If you can call simplify her down to that term, Yuna. I had been looking for a dog for a couple months but hadn't been able to sell Josh on any of the ones I'd liked. Then one Saturday night, while he was watching a UFC, I clicked on the picture of a chocolate brown puppy with a white spot on her forehead. I showed him the picture, and he said, "I like that one." I filled out the application, and the next afternoon her foster mom brought her by--and less than 24 hours after we'd first seen her picture, Yuna was ours. She has been such a good addition to our family (though the cats may tell you otherwise)--more than worth her adoption fee.
For a non-living purchase, I'd have to say the playset or pool we bought for the girls, new makeup from Ulta, or my hot pink moccasins from Old Navy. Ooh, or the steam mop we got on Black Friday.
Reading list
1. The Walking Dead Compendium 1
2. Dark City (Repairman Jack) - F. Paul Wilson.
3. Chasing God - Angie Smith
4. Love, Greg & Lauren - Greg Manning
5. Forrest Gump - Winston Groom
6. Water for Elephants - Sarah Green
7. Love Does - Bob Goff
8. The Giver - Lois Lowry
9. Misquoting Jesus - Bart D. Ehrmund (important but devastating)
10. Jesus Interrupted - Bart D. Ehrmund
11. The Ghost Map
12. Rescuing the Bible from Fundamentalism - John Shelby Spong (see note for #9)
13. The Memory Keeper's Daughter - Kim Edwards
14. Speaking Christian - Marcus Borg
15. Surprised by Motherhood - Lisa Jo Baker
16. Three Graves Full - Jamie Mason
17. Gathering Blue - Lois Lowry
18. Gone Girl - Gillian Flynn (wins the award for the book that most made me want it to chuck it across the room upon completion)
19. Messenger - Lois Lowry
20. Sleeping with the Devil
21. Dead Men Do Tell Tales - Dr. William R. Maples (sooo fascinating)
22. Faith of the Fallen - Terry Goodkind
23. I Still Remember You - Fannie Flagg
24. The Bible Tells Me So - Peter Enns
Favorite Music
"Happy" by Pharrel
"I Miss You" by Avril LaVigne (known as the Sad Pony song in our house)
"Shipoopi" from The Music Man
"Separate Ways" by Journey
"All About That Bass" by Meghan Trainor
"White Winter Hymnal" by Pentatonix
Invisible Empires album by Sara Groves
All Sons and Daughters Live album
A Dotted Line album by Nickel Creek
Fleet Foxes self-titled album
Favorite pictures
Awww such great pictures!! And totally with you on the All Sons and Daughters Live album- that's the BEST!
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