It’s been a busy week with preparations for Christmas and trying to fit in all the things that still need to be done in amongst work, school events and everything else that’s been going on. Thankfully most of the presents are now wrapped, and those that needed to be sent off have been sent, and what’s left to do Christmas-prep wise feels manageable.
The run-up to Christmas has felt a little more hectic than I would have liked so it was good to be able to have some quiet time to make Jessica’s Christmas wreath and spent some quiet time with her. She’s always so very much missed throughout the year, but Christmas feels particularly hard without her and especially so with various ‘heart’ anniversaries being in December, and the memories of various surgeries and stays in hospital. There’s been a lot of memories popping up on my social media. It’s lovely to see her face in the photos and hear her voice in the videos but it makes me sad too wondering what she’d be like now and what it would have been like with the three of them getting excited about Christmas.
I’ve also been making preparations to hand over some of my workload at church in the new year. I’ve been juggling quite a lot of things over the last few years and it’s felt overwhelming at times. Christmas is obviously quite a busy time of year in the church calendar, but knowing I’ll be taking a break from church responsibilities for a couple of months in the new year has helped make it feel more manageable.
What I’ve been grateful for this week:
- Day 348 – I am grateful for the news that the Beck Theatre will be staying open and continuing to run as a theatre in the new year.
- Day 349 – I am grateful for all the support and encouragement from Sophie and Thomas’s dance teachers. So proud of them both taking their dance exams today – first ballet exam for Thomas and ballet, modern and theatre craft exams for Sophie.
- Day 350 – I am grateful for time to make Jessica’s Christmas wreath ready to take to her forever bed.
- Day 351 – I am grateful that Sophie now has her little Christmas tree up in her room.
- Day 352 – I am grateful for some time out from the hecticness of the festive season to sit and spend some quiet time with Jessica.
- Day 353 – I am grateful for a lovely evening out with church friends.
- Day 354 – I am grateful for Photoshop magic allowing me to create a festive photo with all three of my beautiful children together in it.
Other things that have made me smile this week:
- Chris and Dianne winning the Strictly final.
- Watching Thomas taking part in his school Santa dash.
- Going with Thomas on his school theatre trip to see Pinocchio.
- Singing the descants for some of the carols at the carol service.
- Going out for my work Christmas meal.
Wishing you all a peaceful and gentle Christmas.
Joining in with Raisie Bay for Word of the Week.
I have just got to the point now where I feel like everything is manageable. It’s such a busy time of year.
I am glad you have found some quiet time in all of the chaos. That is good that you are taking a break from your responsibilities at the church in the new year.
Lovely photos. I did see that one with Jessica, Sophie and Thomas on social media and it did make me smile.
I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas. xxx
It’s nice when you get to the point where everything feels manageable. Hope you have a good Christmas too x
I’m glad you got to spend some quiet time with Jessica and make her a Christmas wreath. It’s good that you’ve taken the decision to take something off your plate for the new year, I think as women we often take on far too much.
I love the Photoshop pic, it’s so nice that Jessica can be included.
Wishing you and all your family a wonderful Christmas x
Thank you Angela, I’ve definitely taken on too much this year but it will be nice to have a break from some of it. Hope you and your family have a good Christmas too x
I’m glad you were able to find time to include Jessica in your Christmas preparations. Your comment about all the missed opportunities you left on my blog post has really struck a chord with me with your family with Jessica. Stephanie was an adult, she reached her full potential with her physical development at the age of 8 and her mental development by the age of 18 months.
It must have been hard to cut back on your commitments with the church but good that you realised you need the time for yourself.
Stephanie being an adult doesn’t change the fact that there are still all those missed opportunities. They’re just different ones. The hardest part on cutting back was knowing that I was adding to other people’s workload in the short-term, but I needed to do it.