I’m back! {I think}

a semi-unrelated photo of last night's understated-ly glorious sunset

I didn’t really intend to take a break from blogging this month: it just happened.  I’ve noticed that it’s refreshing to take little writing breaks here and there because even though writing is something I love to do, it is nice to sit back and reflect instead of just producing!  In the last few weeks I spent the bulk of my time in Chico, California (my college-home of two years) staying with some family who live there and who I miss dearly!  Then I flew home and BAM it was Christmas.

I’m finally getting my feet back under me and recovering from all the celebrating.  The holidays are so fun and yet profoundly demanding of energy!

Posing for our annual Christmas morning photo... We weren't exactly awake yet. :)

Today is the first day in a while that has allowed for a leisurely morning and relaxed conversations with my family members.  As I type, there is a fire in the fireplace, Christmas music playing (who says it has to stop the day after Christmas!?), and I just started reading Dickens’ “The Tale of Two Cities.”  

Happy Saturday, friends! I hope that you all enjoyed your Christmas festivities and are looking forward to an exciting new year! 

Thanks guys!

Before I say anything else, I want to say thank you, thank you, thank you, to those of you who wrote me notes of encouragement the other day.  I so appreciate them!

This is the last week I have at home with my family before I leave for a couple weeks; I won’t be back until just a few days before Christmas. (Eek!  I have a loooong list of things to accomplish before I go!)  So we’ve been trying to crunch some of our favorite holiday traditions into this week, which means evenings -- my peak writing hours -- are pretty packed.

I love this time of year. In my experience, it is a combination of the bustle of activity and the peacefulness of just enjoying the season.  In fact, one happy example of the ‘peacefulness’ aspect occurred this evening: I sat by the Christmas tree, drank hot chocolate, and read… And I loved every single second of it.  After my dutiful Instagram of that momentous occasion, I didn’t pick up my phone once, or look at any screen! Bliss.

I hope the beginning of Advent has been an eventful, yet peaceful one for you too!