Holidays 'round here! (well it was!)

So I guess sitting down to write this post so many times during the holidays happened, but it never got done...either words wouldn't work...or kids would interrupt (more of this than the 1st)... but really I'm now officially 1 day out of the "holiday season" as determined by the Catholic Church. I know there is something about Christmastide, or something or other...that's never been celebrated in my world that I'm aware of...for whatever reason The Baptism of the Lord is the "end" of the holidays...in the Church year it is...we put away the Nativity, the white banners, the trees, and greenery...we start Ordinary Time...yea yea I know...my non-Catholic people ... move on :)

So here's our late Happy Holidays to one and all! How in the world did 2019 fly through?

So many things happened this year...Birthdays, anniversaries, a wedding, more funerals than we would like...but that means more angels to watch over us! The devastating blows of Kayci and Sammi will hold near and dear to us for a long time, two beautiful young women taken in car accidents entirely too soon in life. We will continue to pray for peace and healing to their families. I will continue to harp on my children wearing seat belts and I have committed to doing better focusing on the road and ignoring texts while I'm driving.

This year has marked our 1st anniversary on the farm. It has marked many highs and lows, lots of learning and growing has happened. The holidays have been a great break from the everyday. They've brought us so much fun, a little frustration, and lots of joy...realistically does any holiday not bring a little frustration? It seems like every year something happens...this year it wasn't anything big but random little things...an overtired child, a food that didn't turn out right, me buying the wrong sized batteries... LOL... In the end the kids will never remember the frustrations... With any luck I'll also do better about my own expectations of perfection on my part and focus on family time.

This post has been so hard to write. I don't know why. Normally it is easy to share, but for some reason this time of year has been harder to share. Maybe it has to do with wanting to keep our family unit at the center and to try to lean more on the outsides of our village...maybe it is because my depression is still ruling more than I wish... maybe it is because I don't feel like there is anything great or wonderful to share.

I guarantee my kids would disagree! They were blessed with so many wonderful gifts, long sleeved dresses and matching leggings so they can wear dresses even though it's cold! Remote control cars! "Santa" dropped off nail salon "dips" by Payge at the Copper Pin in Greenfield - one has used hers & the other is saving for PROM?!?! Some of those color tabs to dye the bathwater different colors...we have used these for home schooling lessons at bath time! So far the boys have been excited to mix blue and yellow to make green. They are already planning to mix a red and yellow to see what happens (E says "duh orange" but the little two weren't listening!) The girls mixed all three, but in different spots and had purple on one side of one girl and yellow on the other side...they were bummed the bubbles didn't turn colors though. The hubby was less than impressed with his log chain & polo shirt from us, but pretty hyped about his Dallas Cowboys signs from B & K (yes, the boyfriend got us all gifts too!) I cried like a baby at my new necklace...it includes all seven kids heads with initials engraved, and even has two little angels on there too. That man of mine...he stops in and sees Jane at the Jewel Box (on the square in Greenfield) and I get so spoiled. He also surprised all the girls with fancy earrings this year.

Apparently my book gifts are now a running joke among the children...I was informed that I don't need to wrap them anymore, but G&G Baudler loved theirs, so it means the world to me. My brother continues to laugh at most of what I do and my ideas...but he has convinced B that they're winning the feeder pen class AND the cow-calf pen class at the Adair County Fair 2020....that was a fun morning...B was over at G&G Schwartz's house ready to go chase calves and weigh them in, even having no clue what she was doing. I got a call that Uncle David wasn't even left from home yet...but she was talking with Grandma...then I didn't hear from her until she burst through the door at home and was telling me all about it and needed help right then to fill out the form that goes to the office and giant smiles on her face... here it hit me all over again... this is "My Why" ... these life lessons - for a child who wants to go into occupational therapy...nothing farm related... these lessons will teach her accountability, math, profit/loss, hard work, and so many other life lessons. I can't even begin to think how blessed we are to have family here that supports us all!

A village, I know you have all read or heard me talk about a village. I will never forget sitting in that first foster care class learning that we need a village...we already had 4 kids...we had our village...we were good, I wasn't worried. I have learned so much. SO much... sometimes the family that you're given at birth isn't your village...sometimes you have to go out and find a village...sometimes there is no blood connecting you. This is where we are SO blessed! We have the most amazing village! We have villagers without blood, but I guarantee any of our people could call any of our village and they'd be there for them. This time of year when we've concentrated on family at the holidays, I have thought and prayed for those without family to celebrate with, or those who have become estranged from their family. I'm not talking those who can't celebrate on Christmas Day, so they do it the weekend after, or those who have Christmas in July because the family is SO large it's just one big family reunion once a year... I'm talking those who really truly don't have someone to celebrate with...I want to be that mama that says "yea bring them along" if one of my kids says they have a friend who has nowhere to go...I want to be that person who always has SO much food extra people coming doesn't impact anything (maybe I already am sometimes...)

What about those who have immigrated here and celebrate other holidays? I have a friend who has always celebrated Serbian Christmas...we've been friends since 4th grade...I really have no idea what Serbian Christmas is, but I always wish her a happy one. I have a good friend I used to work with that I think of often (his email came back the last time I emailed him) that I've lost touch with. I used to send him a Happy Holidays card because he is Jewish. I have friends who only celebrate because it's a commercial holiday...to each their own. I have a cousin whose children don't believe in Santa...it is FINE! I am telling you...you are welcome in my world!

I don't even know where I'm at now - a couple whiskey & 7's in now...it's been a rough day with little people with too much energy the last few days. I sent them out to play in the snow today and it took as long to get ready as they spent outside. The boys promptly got out the snowblower and apparently thought it did it's thing on it's own and pushed down the driveway...but forgot to mention it, so I almost ran it over with the new bus... So genius I am thought...okay fine playplace time...so BK in Stuart it was...they've got a bad rap, but seriously we never have to share the playplace with anyone and our food is always good. So the employees have tattoos...and yes...every employee I saw today had multiple...but really...that doesn't have any impact on the food! Then off to the big city...my iPhone 7 has been getting worse and worse with battery life...it was only $52 to have the Apple Store put in a new battery! Hello savings of $$$$ for not buying a new phone! I tell you I barely adult sometimes and I'm not even sure what I do would be called parenting, but these kids were amazing at the Mall today! They played in the play area over an hour, shared smoothies, and walked together...much to my amazement! Getting in the car they lost it...so it took a lot of work, but I remembered to praise them and smiles...oh those smiles...thank God for those smiles because there are days that I'm not sure I can do this, but then I get one of those smiles and it gives me energy to keep going.

There have been many different things going on in my brain...so many thoughts, plans, ideas, and dreams. In 2020, we are going to try to do...but Seriously...if you've even made it this far...thank you! Highlights from this post -

SHOP LOCAL!!!! The girls at Copper Pin Salon (on the corner of East Iowa and NW 2nd St in Greenfield) can hook you up! Hair - trim, color, style, hair bling, new you! They'll get ya! Careful though not to drink the water K is drinking - it has baby girl powder in it!?!?!? Nails - manicure, pedicure, DIPS, Shellac, Acrylic maybe even...I don't know for sure...but they're amazing! They'll keep you looking fine! There is some boutique clothes in there too for sale! Need hair product - yep! That VERB line is amazing! Everything I've used from there is spot on!

Jewelry - seriously....Jane is THE BEST!!! If she doesn't have it she'll get it...if adjustments need made...she's on it... So quick story (yes I know! highlights...sorry!) Last Christmas the hubby got me a pearl bracelet to match the earrings & necklace from a prior year...it didn't quite fit, so he said Jane told him I just bring it in & she'll fix it up...I put it in a "safe place"...fast forward a month...remember I need to take that bracelet in...look EVERYWHERE and no luck...don't tell the hubby because I'm SO upset! December...cleaning office - HEY there it is?!?! I stop to talk to Jane...tell her she says "yes of course!" so I bring it in a couple weeks later...we are talking maybe 2 weeks before Christmas now - she says I'll try to have it back for Christmas...I tell her it's totally my fault, no worries if it isn't. December 23rd she calls! Bracelet is back :) and then she says "no charge" She says she told him (a year ago) she'd make sure it fit...and she did. Now show me a jeweler in the big City who's going to treat you like that!

But for real friends...shopping local is not only supporting your community, but it's how we keep our businesses alive in our community. Yes, I order online...Wal-mart, yep, Amazon...oh so much...but still remembering our local people for anything possible is the way to go!

May God Bless You and Keep You All Through the Year! Make 2020 the Best it can Be!