This time of year brings back a lot of mixed memories for me – the run-up to Christmas has not always been a very easy time of year. I lost my dad in the run-up to Christmas six years ago, the following year I was unexpectedly made redundant and the year after that was spent in hospital whilst Jessica recovered from open-heart surgery. Thankfully the festive season has been a little more smooth-sailing in recent years but those challenges have certainly taught me to be thankful for what I have and to appreciate just how important that time with my family is.
I am thankful for the years I had with my dad and the precious memories that remain.
Being made redundant gave me the opportunity to pursue my dream of becoming an independent midwife and also helped us to adjust to living on a much lower income which made it easier for me to choose to become a stay at home mum. I am thankful for the positives that came from that particular negative.
Spending our first Christmas as a family in hospital taught me that the only thing that really matters at Christmas is being together – everything else is just window dressing. Being able to be home together as a family is a huge blessing and I am so thankful for the time we have together.
This week has seen us being able to enjoy lots of family time together – time with just the four of us, time with extended family or friends and time out for hubby and myself as a couple. It has been a full week and yet it hasn’t felt too busy – the balance has been just right. There have been lots of little happy moments and I am thankful for all of them.
Things I have loved this week:
- Going to my friends’ fundraising Christmas Fayre where the girls got to meet Cinderella. We also got lucky on the raffle and came home with a big hamper full of sweeties and a Megabloks Thomas the Tank Engine train set which the girls loved.
- Having a date night with my hubby and going to a reunion event for the musical theatre society we were both members of at university. It is celebrating its twentieth anniversary this year which makes me feel slightly old as I remember seeing them perform “Guys and Dolls” when they were only three years old!
- Staying with my sister and her partner at the weekend – they looked after the girls for us while we went out on our date night and Jessica now keeps asking “how many sleeps until we go to Auntie ‘Raynne’s again?”
- Seeing the girls having lots of fun at their friend E’s birthday party. There was a fabulous children’s entertainer but Jessica was a little shy and wanted Mummy to hold her hand and join in with it all. I think I was probably having more fun than the kids at one point!
- Beautiful sunrises – the plus side of the dark mornings. I’ve never been a fan of getting up in the dark in the winter but gorgeous skies like these make up for a lot!
- Going to the Christmas lunch with people from church. I was so proud of the girls for managing to cope with sitting at the table for so long – we were there almost three hours and they were so well behaved throughout.
- Spending an afternoon doing Christmassy crafts with Jessica and Sophie.
Aww what a lovely week louise and definitely lots of reasons to be thankful. You have all been through so much to get where you are now and I think will always appreciate everything so much because of it. Yay for date nights, good to be a couple again sometimes isn’t it? Xx
It really does sound like you’re making the most of your time with the girls and loving the run up to Christmas. The girls look happy too, you have some great photos.
I didn’t realise the journey you’d had from the Birth Centre to becoming an independent to then a SAHM and in such a relatively short period of time, and of course losing your father; no wonder this time brings lots of memories flooding back. But you’ve turned them all into amazing positives, which is testament to the person you are.
Hope you had a great date night – they are needed every now and again, aren’t they?!
Have a lovely week. Much love
xx
That’s a lovely word to choose and so positive to see the good in some of the tough times you’ve had. It does bring it all home, and all you do need is your family safe and happy around you. Looks like you’ve had a great week, with quality couple time as well as lots of gorgeous photos opps with your girls! Thanks for sharing with #WotW x
Spending time together as a family at Christmas is the most important thing to me too. It sounds like you have had a good week. Love the Christmas crafts. #WoTW
Aw you have done so much festive stuff with the girls and they look ace in their dresses. I bet the date night was heaven and even better knowing the girls were so happy with their auntie. I’m so glad you have had a smooth run up up Christmas after a few not so nice ones in the past. Lovely post xx #wotw
It sounds like you have had a lovely week…..
Sending love and hugs! It sounds like past Christmases have been rough on you. I hope you have nothing but happiness in Christmases to come x
You had me at window dressing. Sorry about your mixed feelings. I know three people who’ve lost a close relative in the last week. Just before Christmas makes it even worse.
Found you via Random Musing’s blog round up but to be honest, been seeing your name on the blog circuit for ages!
Hmmmm and it would appear I’ve already commented on your blog before. Just ignore me!
I too love a good sunrise or sunset, what is it about them? Just the wonder of it I suppose. It sounds like you’re well into the festive season already. Love your crafts and the photo with the lovely Cinderella 🙂
Louise this post is amazing and so true, it is all so true, we get so busy trying to keep up with Christmas that we sometimes forget what it is really about. And having been through redundancy myself I know what a traumatic upsetting experience it is, I would not wish it on my worst enemy x
I’m sorry you’ve had harder Christmas times, hopefully they will continue to be happy ones now though. Certainly those two gorgeous girlies of yours are something to make Christmas amazing every year. Thank you for sharing in #HappyDaysLinky xx
I’m sorry you’ve had harder Christmas times, hopefully they will continue to be happy ones now though. Certainly those two gorgeous girlies of yours are something to make Christmas amazing every year. Thank you for sharing in #HappyDaysLinky xx
I love how your positive energy really shines through this post, it’s really beautiful! Such a fabulous week. Lots of lovely social activities and lots of fun. You look lovely in your photo with hubby on date night! #happydays
Aww they look so happy to meet Cinderella! Bless them! That picture of them at the Church lunch is gorgeous x