Advent Joy

 

Grab a cup of tea, this will take a while. How are you? How's your week been? I have been thoroughly enjoying this Advent season! I cannot believe we are near the end. Time does fly.

We left on Sunday to help out with babysitting on Monday and Tuesday and arrived back home on Wednesday this past week. We had excellent driving weather both to and from Indiana. Sadly all my photos cannot be shared with the internet of the kids. I don't feel right doing so. So just imagine me and my husband being on the go from 8 am until 8 pm unless it was nap time. Our grandson is almost three years old and our granddaughter is 16 months old and both are fun. I have wiped my distant memory of taking care of little ones and wonder how I had the energy.

I am now battling an arthritis flare (it is a small one so not a big deal) and I know it's from traveling and doing too much. I still knit a lot on the car rides and I started a new project but you'll have to wait for me to create a project page. I hope to catch up on all of your good news today and tomorrow.

Did you know I have TWO Christmas trees? This one is in our big family room. Every year I contemplate on getting rid of the big tree and buying one that is lighter and easier to put up. Then I think of how sad it would be for this tree to go in a landfill if I cannot donate it somewhere. 

Both Kat and Julian discussed their planners and so I thought I would share my line up. Below is a photo of the journals/planners I currently use. Starting from the bottom are: - daily morning journal (365 stalogy-B6)- daily gratitude journal (hobonichi techo A6)- art journal (365 stalogy A5) - notebook for when I read nonfiction books and want to to take notes (midori lined A5) - quote journal (midori blank A4) - and my weekly planner (hobonichi weeks)

Not photoed are my sketchbooks or watercolor books...

I am considering a Nature Journal that I would write in once a week to document what I see when I'm walking throughout the year, I thought that would be fun and low commitment. I am planning a health journal as well but have yet to decide how it will be for me. I do not want it to be stressful but inspirational with cooking, exercising etc. I use sticky notes for the people I pray for and thought a notebook dedicated to that would be helpful as well.

Are you a planner person? What are you ideas?


Lastly here is Miss Holly looking like the queen of the universe! We love her so.

Comments

  1. JuliannDecember 20, 2024 at 8:03 AM

    I started nature journaling over the summer and I also want to revive that practice in the new year. I hope that flare eases up so you can enjoy this upcoming week.

    ReplyDelete
  2. BonnyDecember 20, 2024 at 8:32 AM

    That is some long-distance babysitting! Your tree is beautiful. This is the second year that I haven't put one up but I do miss seeing the ornaments a little bit. You have got a LOT of journals!

    ReplyDelete
  3. AsKatKnitsDecember 20, 2024 at 8:49 AM

    What a blessing to be able to go help with your grandkids! Long-distance babysitting for the win!! I love your journal line up! Thank you so much for sharing! Have a fantastic weekend! XO

    ReplyDelete
  4. Dee KissingerDecember 20, 2024 at 10:26 AM

    Hope your flare abates soon.

    I love seeing people's trees. Yours looks like it has a lot of memories in those ornaments.

    If you do decide to donate, our church wanted ours for their preschool.

    Holly looks very content.

    ReplyDelete
  5. SandiDecember 20, 2024 at 11:40 AM

    Cute kitty! My mother-in-law has a chihuahua named Holly. The kids call her Aunt Holly. :)

    I don't blame you for not putting the photos online. I wouldn't do it either.

    ReplyDelete
  6. VeraDecember 20, 2024 at 12:18 PM

    Sadly, I think you are smart to not post photos of your grandchildren. I am not sharing photos of Iris for the same reasons. Sadly, the world is not nice. Wow! You've got a lot of journals. I do not journal. At all. But, I have a number of blank ones, so I may take up the habit (or not). Your idea of a nature journal sounds nice to me. It is a grey, bleak day here with snow showers expected. I think a nap is in order.....

    ReplyDelete
  7. Mary KirklandDecember 20, 2024 at 6:10 PM

    I love the tree, very pretty. Cute kitty.

    ReplyDelete
  8. JaneDecember 20, 2024 at 8:18 PM

    I love to read about journals and journaling. I have fewer but do keep separate ones too. Your tree is very pretty. I'm guessing there are lots of good memories in those ornaments. I hope the arthritis flare is short lived. I marvel at all I used to accomplish and do when my children were growing up and I was working full time. It's a good thing I was young.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Deb J. in UtahDecember 20, 2024 at 10:46 PM

    I love journals and planners! I journal daily about what is going on. Sometimes it seems boring, but it is interesting to look back and read about things years later. So glad you were able to spend some good time with your grands. Your tree is lovely. We had two trees for years, but now we are down to just one. I hope you have a nice weekend. See you again soon!

    ReplyDelete
  10. CynthiaDecember 21, 2024 at 9:11 AM

    When I first retired, I took a Nature Journaling class. It was so much fun and opened my eyes up to nature around me. Sadly, I let it slip but I think I will start again. I ended up teaching again with this year being the absolute finish.....so after June I will have my own time again forever!! I hope your flare is not too bad and you are able to rest.

    ReplyDelete
  11. My Creative LifeDecember 21, 2024 at 12:49 PM

    Glad you had a nice time away, your tree looks lovely. I love the idea of journaling but don't stick with it. I have a handbag diary and calendar to keep me on track. Then an A5 diary that is vertical for listing things to do that day. I include books to read and knitting projects somewhere on the page too.

    ReplyDelete
  12. MaryDecember 21, 2024 at 6:08 PM

    How fun to spend so much time with the grandkids ... It IS exhausting and also so rewarding. I'm switching up my journal formats for 2025 to have ONE place for my planner, trackers, and writing. It will be three notebooks, but they're all the same A5 format and I have a lovely folio to hold them. I started daily journaling about 20 years ago in an A5 format, and over the years I've gone smaller and bigger and decided to return to A5 ... TBD how the whole new-to-me system will come together!

    ReplyDelete
  13. CathieJDecember 22, 2024 at 3:22 PM

    I have tried to use planners, but I now would rather just have my days unfold. I tend to be a list maker on days when I have something more pressing to do other than craft. I am amazed how taxing watching little ones is now that I am older. Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete

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