I give.
I don't know what I was thinking when I thought I would be able to maintain two blogs.
Please visit me at my main cyber home https://lindahoye.com/ where I post regularly.
We are a third of the way through the first month of 2021 and I’m not ready to rejoin the “real” world just yet. Days unwind slowly. I do necessary things, but don’t push myself to do more. For now, that’s okay.
We are on restrictions until at least early February, so there’s not much to do. Nowhere, really, to go. My time is taken up with responsibilities for Story Circle Network, books, the latest jigsaw puzzle, and an occasional drive when it’s sunny outside. Those, and recalibrating and re-evaluating.
Days are mild. Distinctly un-January like. A treat in a time of continuing worldwide chaos.
It’s a month of birthdays. First, our granddaughter’s when the month and year is still shiny and new. This week, Murphy’s. And soon Maya’s, our daughter-in-love’s, and mine.
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| Photo from last summer |
I wrote a long end-of-year post on my other blog (https://lindahoye.com/buh-bye-2020/) this morning. I didn’t plan to because I’ve been taking a break this week, but the lure of compiling a photo grid caught me first and before I knew it I was writing a full blown post.
I’m glad I did. I create books with my blog posts every year (boy, the 2020 book will be a doozy) and it’ll be good way to wrap things up.
Today’s post is not my typical last post of the year. I’m not sharing my top ten reads or the word I’ve chosen to carry with me into 2021. All of that seems like it’s more effort than I have to expend at the moment. (Though I have chosen a word. Have you?)
This afternoon, on this last day of the year, I’m taking some quiet time while the dogs nap not to reflect or organize or plan or much of anything else. Just popping around reading some blogs, reading my book, and enjoying the peace of this day.
If I wasn’t already settled with a Yorkie on my lap I’d brew a cup of tea to wash down all the chocolate Gerry and I ate while playing chess earlier. But I am, the trusty glass of water at my side will have to do.
Here’s to surviving 2020, my friends. It’s been a wild ride, hasn’t it? There’s a lot of unknown as we head into 2021 so it seems prudent to take it slow and ease into it.
Once, many years ago, my doctor sent me to stress management classes. I’ve never forgotten something we learned on the very first day: the key to stress management is learning to relax so we can build our physical and emotional reserves to prepare us to meet the next challenge.
So take some time to relax today and throughout the year ahead. I suspect we can all use a top-up in our physical and emotional reserves.
And in the same region there were shepherds out in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were filled with great fear.
And the angel said to them, “Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger.”
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,
“Glory to God in the highest,
and on earth peace among those with whom he is pleased!”
Luke 2: 8-14
It's the first day of winter. I looked out the window this morning at the green and was going to take a photo because it looked nothing like winter. It looked like we were in for a green Christmas.
Fast forward a few hours and this is the view from my window now. It's winter all right.
We just got home and I can attest to the awfulness of the roads. It would have been a good day to stay home but I had commitments both this morning and this afternoon.
Hunkering down now on this shortest day of the year and feeling somewhat optimistic. The days will start to grow ever-so-slightly longer tomorrow. After today, it's downhill toward gardening season!
I’m reminded that we’re only a week away from the shortest day of the year. The thought sparks a touch of hope.
We walk in the park with the dogs and discover that someone has hung Christmas balls on some trees. They spark joy.
Meanwhile, in the den, I’ve had to put the non traditional tree up on a little table to stop Murphy from trying to chew on the cord and creating sparks of another sort.
