Things from December

Well, 2016, you’ve been fun and fast. And before you’re completely done, let me reflect on what I’ve learned in December. I trust 2017 will be full of adventure and new things to learn too.

1. I’ve watched {almost} every season of Survivor and the one that ended a couple weeks ago has been one of my favorites. It started out as Millennials versus Gen Xers, included so many blindside votes and immunity idols, and ended with the strongest players remaining.

2. Mouths bleed a lot and teeth can tighten up after they’re knocked loose. (Okay, so I knew mouths bled a lot, but I didn’t know anything about teeth being able to re-tighten!) Rachel face planted into the corner of a piece of furniture and taught me these things. You’d have thought she was my first child for as traumatized as I was!

3. Lots of Kindle deals in December make for a stocked reader coming into the new year. I stocked up on fiction, which I read more of this past year than I haven recent years. Here’s a list of what all I’ve read in 2016.

And in terms of full disclosure, I’ve quit about four books lately because I just couldn’t get into them. Who has time for bad books? (That’s one of the tips on how I manage to read while mothering small children.)

4. Even good, God-inspired changes involve various emotions.

We told our small group this month we were starting a new group focused on local service. Greg and I both believe this is what we are supposed to do with our family and feel called to invite others along.

The small group we’ve been in these past several years have taught us and loved us deeply. It’s a group made up of people and couples in different seasons. That diversity has been good for us. They rejoiced and prayed as we awaited Rachel. They encourage us as we parent little ones.

But we believe our time there has helped prepare us for what’s next. Our small groups are meant to living and active, and sometimes that means branching out, but even the best changes come with some bittersweet moments.

(More on that here.)

5. I can get to Mississippi quicker than I can get to some parts of my home state of Kentucky. Greg and I took a fan bus to watch Murray State play at Ole Miss and we got to Oxford in less than four hours.

6. Pampered Chef has a great microwave popcorn bowl and adding seasonings (like ranch and jalapeño cheddar) is tasty. This was what my sister-in-law Christine gave Greg and me for Christmas and I’m a fan, obviously. I’m not the only one around here who likes popcorn, thankfully.

7. Simplifying Christmas and letting go of traditions is good for my soul. I’ve really loved this December more than others because it’s been less stressful, thanks to simpler gifts that were almost entirely ordered online, the freedom to lay down and pick up traditions and activities as they work in our lives, and a whole week of nearly no plans to start Christmas break!

How’s your December been, friends?

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