December Daily 10 ~ Small, Wonderful and Gratifying

During this time of year it is so easy to get sucked into the comparison game of who has more decorations, better presents, more presents, bigger parties, and so on. It is so easy to get so focused on checking everything off of the list, adding more and more to that list. It is so much easier to stress yourself out. However, I am making a conscious choice to try and step back, slow down and be grateful for the smaller pleasures. Here are a few of them:

* Last weekend I put the flannel pillow cases on the pillows. They are soft and warm. And one of them even has colorful snowflakes.

* Driving home from the dog park, Remmie and notice the brilliant colors of the sunset. It is glorious that we still have those colors (though falling snow is lovely, too.)

* Driving home from the dog park, we go through a neighborhood that is undergoing a big transformation where there are old Craftsman style bungalows next to very modern, geometric houses next to each other. On the corner there is a brand new modern home that is clearly loved. In each of the windows of the tall, thin three story house there are white wreaths with digital LED lights that blink in patterns that suggest a song. Each one is buffeted on each side by thin, tall, white, lit up triangles that are suggestive of Christmas trees. There are icicle lights that look like water is falling - lovely in a very fashioned, digital way. Next to it is one of those old homes with the crooked patio festooned with the old Christmas lights with bulbs that are almost the size of eggs. The lights are warm, inviting and old, their colors shifted to new tones over time. The red has settled into a rosey pink. The yellow has become a golden rod, mustard yellow. The blues have deepened so that they are almost black. It is a stark contrast between the two homes, each one inviting and lovely in their own ways. I doubt that Remmie notices those lights. I think about the comfort and joy that the lights from long ago bring each year, threading together memories. I think about the joy that must be in decorating a new home and the fun of fresh, bright, new decorations.

* I enjoy the lights on our own tree and take in the scent of the tree. I am thankful that Ellie made an effort to get it up and decorated.

* The lovely sent of using the Balsam Fir scented foaming soap - a silly thing to enjoy, but I enjoy it all the same.

Ellie spent the evening with friends exchanging gifts and watching holiday movies. I think they might have watched "Elf" and had some spaghetti with maple syrup and Pop Tarts, like he does in the movie.

I spent the evening watching, "Catching Fire" (the second book in the Hunger Games series) with Ethan who is home because he has a really yucky case of the flue. I am thankful that I had some relaxing time with him.