It’s been a pretty fantastic 24 hours. Merry Christmas!
#getaftergrateful 2022 life in alaska life lately marriage motherhood the whole & simple gospel
Going through my old writing to remind myself of how I’ve felt during Christmas seasons past, and I’ve discovered a theme. This post sums it up nicely, I think.
My babies are now babysitters? What is time?!
I wrapped the last present tonight. I’m usually done by our anniversary, but my entire month got canceled and we have no Christmas plans, so I might as well drag this baby out. I’m only mildly bitter. I’ll rally by the weekend.
“Plants and animals don’t fight the winter; they don’t pretend it’s not happening and attempt to carry on living the same lives that they lived in the summer. They prepare. They adapt. They perform extraordinary acts of metamorphosis to get them through. Winter is a time of withdrawing from the world, maximising scant resources, carrying out acts of brutal efficiency and vanishing from sight; but that’s where the transformation occurs. Winter is not the death of the life cycle, but its crucible.”
— Katherine May
Winter Solstice tells us we have turned another year. I had no idea I’d grow to treasure this day when I first moved to Alaska. I love this place and its people, and the person I am becoming thanks to both. Thanks, God.
Just for funsies and out of mad respect for the historical implications, my family is learning to observe Hanukkah this year. Tonight’s prayer is my favorite.
Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this season.
Today my husband started counseling for the first time ever and loved it, but didn’t want to talk about it. Tonight I made tissue paper lanterns for our solstice party with friends, where we will look at each other in the cold dark and whisper we have turned another year. I am proud of both.