I didn’t plan it, but I got the Christmas do-over I wanted when I finally felt better.
I had the flu in the days leading up to Christmas, forcing me to miss some gatherings I had been looking forward to with my extended relatives and some friends. I managed to do some Christmas celebrating with family and friends once my fever broke and I was feeling somewhat better. But my cough and snot lingered. I ended up going back to the doctor and learning I had bronchitis and an ear infection.
Yep, another ear infection: My sixth in not quite a year. (Yes, I have an appointment with the ENT in a couple of weeks.)
But then last week Greg and I went on a road trip back to Louisville, where the flu forced me to miss out, and Lexington because he was gifted tickets for the Kentucky vs. Texas A&M basketball game (thank, Mom!) and had a training for work.
We were gone for 30 hours without the kids and that included driving about four hours there and back, sleeping, Greg’s real estate attorney training and networking, my mom and I shopping, lunching with one of my best friends and her family, driving around where we lived our first year of marriage and reminiscing, eating dinner with another dear friend and her husband, and going to the UK basketball game.
(Yes, take a deep breath now. I needed to when I got home.)
Worth pointing out: I seriously can’t tell you the last time I hung out with my mom and nobody else. No husband. No kids. No siblings. No nieces or nephews. Just me and mom. I was so happy for those hours together, and the fact my search for a new coat was doubly successful.
Then I had a couple “normal” days of packing lunches, picking up kids from school, taking my boy to get an allergy shot, and general household management. I should mention that on Wednesday and Thursday the temperature was in the 60s. On Friday, we had freezing rain that turned to snow, eventually leaving us with a couple inches of ice and four or so inches of snow. SNOW DAY!
(Welcome to Kentucky with its crazy weather!)
With Martin Luther King Day on Monday, we had a FOUR-DAY WEEKEND WITH NO PLANS!
Of course, I made a little plan, but it didn’t involve leaving my house! And the four-day weekend became five days, and then six days, and then I wondered when I’d leave my house again!
I decided to potty train Rachel. We had a stack of undies, a Minnie potty seat that goes on the regular toilet, and some leftover Christmas M&Ms – you know, basically all the necessities. For those of you who care, she’s been doing a good job.
When I wasn’t escorting my two-year-old girl to the bathroom, I read “In Bloom” by Kayla Aimee (coming soon – I’m excited to tell you more!), scrapbooked many pages in the Project Life app, watched “Frozen” more times than I can count, watched basketball, ate food I cooked, played in the snow (hello, one of my new coats!), started working a puzzle with Cate, and played games. My kids watched movies and built Lego creations – sometimes even together without fighting. Cate made crafts and read books. Ben and Greg put together a puzzle.
Most importantly, I feel like with my quick road trip and all the time I had home with my people, I got the Christmas do-over I knew I wanted but didn’t expect to receive. Now that’s a gift!
*****
Given that crazy weather I just told you about, I’ve been thinking about my porch. I walk on it every time I go in and out of the house, but I miss being on it. I miss the poolside gatherings. I miss the stories that are shared and the memories made.
So I wanted to invite y’all over to share stories here anyway – on my blog this time! My heart behind #PorchStories is for people to share their real-life stories so we can come alongside each other with prayers and encouragement.
With the new year, maybe you’re learning something new, creating a new rhythm, or finding freedom somewhere new. Newness is refreshing. I’d love to hear more about whatever freshness is falling upon your life. It doesn’t have to be complicated or deep. It just has to be from your real life.
Who wants to share? Just email me 500-700 words, a short bio, a picture of yourself, and any other image you might have to share. I’m hoping to scatter these among my own stories in the coming weeks on the blog. Let me know if you have any questions.
Welcome to the wintry porch, friends. I’m so glad to have you here.
*****
Speaking of stories, yesterday in conjunction with my post about how Januarys have changed me I shared about how my book – both the paperback and Kindle versions – are on sale for the rest of this month.
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We had the same crazy weather here too, Kristin. I liked your newsy update. I need a weekend away like that!
I love knowing you live fairly close. Hope that means we get to hang out one day! xo
I love to see the surprising ways God redeems the things we feel like we’ve missed out on. Sometimes it can feel so hard when we’re in the missing out stage, but He comes in and brings redemption, whether it’s in a do-over, a peace we didn’t expect, an answer we never imagined, or something we can’t even think of. So grateful you had your Do-Over 🙂
Redemption is sweet, especially when God manages to surprise us! Thanks for your encouraging comment, Becky! xo
We have had the craziest weather here as well. At least we are all in this together 🙂 And of course, we care to know how Rachel is doing with pottying. If anything can bring a “Mama” challenge, it is potty training. I am glad you both are meeting with success! This was a fun post!
There’s really nothing like the weather to get the conversations going among people everywhere! I’m glad you enjoyed this post and I’m always glad to have you here. xo
And, yes, it is snowing again today here in Maine. I’m letting the teen sleep in before we tackle school as everything we had to run to today is cancelled. I’m gonna put something yummy in the crockpot and enjoy the aroma all day.
I cooked chicken fajitas in the crock pot yesterday. Today I think I’ll prep some lasagna. Those days where the calendar is unexpectedly cleared really are sweet. Enjoy yours!
I’m glad you’re feeling better! It’s been a dry, mild winter in central Arizona, only a dusting of snow in the middle of the night once. Being a Southern California girl, I’m leery of snow especially driving in it, so this weather is perfect for me. I loved reading about your day-to-day life and catching up on how you and your family is doing. Hope the potty training goes smoothly!
I’m leery of driving in the snow too, obviously! But my husband who usually doesn’t mind such things keeps telling me the roads aren’t good. I’m glad you’re here, Debbie! Oh, and potty training is going well!
I’m so glad you got another chance to do some fun things with family and have some at-home time without plans, to relax and have a change of schedule. And I am glad you’re better!
Thank you so much!
I’m so late to the party. What a fabulous post. Great catchup. How’s little one doing with the training? Have you run out of M&M’s yet!!!
Listen, we ran out of M&Ms and now she doesn’t even care about a treat when she goes! I mean, she sneaked a cookie yesterday, so she loves her treats, but she just goes on the potty and doesn’t make a fuss. She’s doing really well, although now we need to work on her telling me when she needs to go rather than me just taking her frequently. We’re getting there though! I’m glad you’re here, friend!
Loved this little glimpse into your family life over the holidays!
We had a wonderfully relaxing Christmas, with some much-needed time off from work and ministry, and we enjoyed some lovely time together as family.
It truly was great! Now looking forward to a new year! Yahoo!
I’m glad y’all got that time together. Hope your new year is off to a good start too, Rachel!
I am so glad you got a Christmas Do-Over! Sometimes that is just what we need. Oh and the Project Life app….I am so glad you mentioned it. I got a new phone when I started my new job and I completely forgot about that app until today when I read your post. I loved that app. I am going to have to download it again and get to work on making some pages! 🙂
It’s the best! Glad you’re here, Tara!
I’d love to see a Kentucky basketball game in person! They always look like such fun. 🙂 I’d also like to see our own Auburn play this year since, so far, luck is finally turning our way. Glad you got that Christmas do-over, Kristin!
Your Auburn team played here in Murray, KY earlier this season and we watched them! Our Murray State Racers hung with them and barely lost! 🙂 Thanks for being here, Lisa!
I am so glad for your time with your Mom. I recently had some time with my Mom and it was amazing. We need that no matter old we get. I also love your snowed in days. Praying for snow here.
I am working on “Joy.” this year. I thought I had lots of joy so I am not sure what God is going to teach me but I have a feeling he wants me to add a little more “joy” and little less productivity.
Joy was my word a couple years ago, and it was such a sweet time with God. It laid the foundation for other things He ended up doing in my life. I hope the same goes for you this year!