My 2024 Christmas Goals/Bucket List

It is the holiday season again (this year went by so fast!!), and with it comes all of the fun activities we can do. 

I don't care for the cold, snow, and ice, but I enjoy pretty much anything else about the season and can't wait to experience these things this year!

I had been thinking a while about what I would like to do this year, and this is what I came up with. I hope to be able to do many of these this Christmas season and am looking forward to making some new memories.

In no particular order, here is what I would like to do this Christmas season:

• Drink hot chocolate
• Go ice skating
• Decorate a gingerbread house
• Watch Christmas movies
• Listen to Christmas music
• Bake Christmas cookies
• Play video/board/card games
• Build a snowman
• Drink non-alcoholic eggnog
• Make ornaments
• Put a puzzle together
• Send Christmas cards
• Paint
• Create an Advent wreath
• Make/get an Advent calendar
• See the Christmas lights at the local zoo
• Visit a Christmas market
• Make and decorate a Christmas cake
• Have a spa day
• Read A Christmas Carol
• Attend a Christmas church service
• Make paper snowflakes
• Write and send letters to friends
• Attend a Christmas craft fair
• Create a charcuterie board
• Learn about Christmas traditions in other countries
• Make a chicken pot pie
• Learn 1-2 Christmas songs on the violin
• Learn 1-2 Christmas songs on the ukulele
• Make a prayer board

If you celebrate Christmas, what is on your list of things you would like to do this year? I hope you have a wonderful Christmas season!!

30 Things I Am Thankful For in 2024

Well, it's the holiday season once again. 

Once again, I have decided to make a list of things that I am grateful for. It helps me to see all that I have, and all that I am able to do in my life.

For a few years, I struggled with enjoying the holidays, as I was dealing with grief, but now I enjoy the holidays again (albeit still with some grief). I am looking forward to Thanksgiving and Christmas this year and can't wait to see what they hold for me and my family and friends.

Here are 30 things I am thankful for this year:

1. My home
2. My family (which includes my cats)
3. My friends
4. My health
5. My faith
6. Joni and Friends
7. Get Organized HQ Virtual
8. My library's Library of Things
9. My library's creative studio
10. My blogs (yes, I have more than one)
11. Getting to make my first t-shirt quilt this year
12. A loved one doing much better after a health scare
13. Being able to declutter expired food from the kitchen (we unfortunately had a lot!)
    (I know this is a weird thing to be thankful for, but we had a lot of food that was just sitting there for a very long time, not being used, so it was time to get rid of it all)
14. Being able to declutter Christmas decorations that we don't use/are broken or in bad shape
15. Getting to design my own garden flag in my library's creative studio
16. Watching a presentation by a librarian at my local library, on ADHD and autism
17. Audiobooks
18. Knitting
19. Crocheting
20. Baking
21. Photography
22. Making a garden flag in my library's creative studio
23. Living close to shops/stores/restaurants
24. Being able to watch livestreams of church services
25. Being able to get a new phone when the old one quit working
26. Video games
27. Reusable water bottles
28. Books
29. Movies
30. Music

What are you thankful for this year? If you are celebrating, I hope you have a happy, safe Thanksgiving!

Five Minute Friday: Fight

It has been quite a while since I have participated in a Five-Minute Friday, but I felt inspired by this week's prompt, and decided to join in.

I love to write and have missed these weekly prompts, so it feels really good to be back, doing these again.

Without further ado, here is my interpretation of this week's prompt.

Fight

Just over 14 years ago, my mom was fighting for her life, and although the fight ended here on earth, she won when she went to heaven.

Her fight has ended, but mine has just begun, fighting depression, anxiety, grief, and all the emotions that come with losing a loved one.

My mom was the one I always went to when I needed to talk, especially if I was having a hard time and needed comfort. She was so patient and understanding with me when I was going through the worst of my depression, knowing that I was in a battle with my mind and struggling to overcome the fears and thoughts I was experiencing.

I have also been fighting with not speaking up and reaching out to people I trust in times of need. Especially with God. Much of the time I feel like I would be a burden to others, to God, if I reach out to them, asking for help.

I know that is not true, but it is hard not to believe that, when I am feeling down, like I am not worth being heard.

With God, my friends, and family by my side, I am winning this fight, and I know that I can continue to win. I know that I am stronger than my fears, my anxieties, and anything else that may try to bring me down. I know that I will one day, I will see my mom again, and that is something worth fighting (and waiting) for.