I’m trying to think about what to say to wrap up this year. I write often about choosing to live a life of love and joy. That doesn’t mean that life is always easy, and this year represents that for me.
Matt’s Mom’s illness and death is an example of great love. It’s also an example of joy, as odd as that may seem. We put as much joy as possible into our time together, even while she was in the hospital. And now we try to carry on that love and joy by talking about her and including her in what we’re doing. How much she would have enjoyed the castle where we were in Ireland. How Grandma would be the best person to find Christmas pants (a critical wardrobe gap that caused much distress last week).
My teaching job this fall has been a lot of fun–and a lot of work. The feeling when I hook the students and get them arguing, discussing and thinking is awesome. I walk out of my classes energized. But there have been a lot of late nights to pull lessons together, finish marking and communicate with students. Nonetheless, I’m looking forward to next term.
As I’m writing this, Ellie is Christmas shopping with my Mom. This sums up love and joy for me–yet it’s not easy. Ellie is an incredibly giving little girl and fills Christmas with so much fun. That my Mom is giving her the experience of Christmas shopping and ensuring that I have some gifts is huge act of love. But it’s hard that Ellie doesn’t get to do this with her Daddy.
At the start of this year, I wrote about how important it is for me to choose. Choose my attitude, how I feel, how I react, how I spend my time. And choose to build my life around what is most important to me.
Life is not always easy, but choosing love and joy helps me to see more good than bad.
For Christmas, I wish you as much love and joy as possible. I will be back in 2024 with more projects, more country living and more love and joy. Merry Christmas.
Home on 129 Acres 
Merry Christmas to you and yours… I really appreciate your writings!
Thank you very much. That is kind of you to say.
Merry Christmas and a healthy happy New Year ! As someone else mentioned, you have an incredible talent for writing Julia that benefits many people, including myself. Thank you.
Thank you for following along, Pam. I’m glad that we have this connection.
I love that we have this connection too Julia. I feel Audrey’s presence smiling down on us. 🥰
Ah, Julia, you describe it so well. I’ve been having those times lately too – what I call rainbow days: a mix of joy and sadness. I read ‘Michael Rosen’s Sad Book’ to my five year old granddaughter the other day. I was hoping it might help her with the build-up of sadness she carries around, but as always with that book, I can’t get through it without crying myself. But that’s okay! I can’t really tell her it’s alright to feel sad if I’m not okay with it in myself. It was a beautiful, intimate experience to share it with her.
I hope you and Ellie have a wonderful Christmas, and that your balance is more heavily weighted towards the joy.
Rainbow days is a great way to describe it. We can’t hide from our emotions, and I love that you’re teaching your granddaughter that. I’ll have to look up that book. All the best to you and your family.
🎄🌟 Reflecting on the year, it’s been filled with both challenges and moments of great love and joy. Dealing with loss and illness, like Matt’s Mom, reminded us of the importance of cherishing time together. Teaching brought excitement and late nights, but the connection with students was energizing. Christmas shopping with Ellie and the love from family, even in tough times, warms the heart. Life isn’t always easy, but choosing love and joy helps us focus on the good. Wishing you a Merry Christmas, abundant love, and joy. See you in 2024 with more projects and country living! 🎅❤️🤗🌿
Thank you.