Looking Back and Looking Forward

 Things That Made Me Happy in December

Christmas! For the whole month! I reveled in Christmastime this year even more than I usually do, because of...this year. (Or rather, last year, since it's now 2021.) 

Watching Christmas movies, especially old Hallmark Channel favorites and a new one (to me) that I really liked, The Man Who Invented Christmas

Reading a different Christmas book with Sam almost every day

Christmas songs and decorations, and the peace, joy, and comfort they brought

Sharalyn and her family stopped by and caroled to us. This was especially nice because I had been thinking how nice it would be if someone did that, and for the first time in many years, it happened!  

Lunch at The Wayside Inn with Meredith

Dinner at The Cheesecake Factory (On the same day as Wayside! I ate well that day!)

My ward did an outdoor live nativity that met all of the Covid guidelines. It was beautiful. I hope they'll do it every year (minus the Covid stuff). 

A big nor'easter on December 17th in which we get over a foot of snow. It was the biggest snowstorm we've had since moving back to Massachusetts. I was very pleased.

The Winter Wonderland Christmas lights drive-through at Southwick's Zoo

Getting a new dishwasher

The boys getting along and playing well together

The Jupiter and Saturn conjunction in the days before Christmas, and how it was called a "Christmas Star." It was neat to be able to see them so close together with the naked eye.

Homemade goodies and thoughtful presents that were dropped off by friends

Spending time with my family on Christmas Eve 

Watching The Grinch movie on Christmas afternoon together (the newer animated one with Benedict Cumberbatch as the voice of the Grinch). It was really cute.

A fun movie night with three friends to watch a good movie (The Legend of Tarzan) with a hot guy 🔥

The PBS miniseries Dickensian. I should have watched it when it first came out a few years ago. I loved it!

Things I'm Looking Forward to in January 

(my least favorite month of all, but as always I'm trying to approach it optimistically!)

Having a fresh start to a new year

More snowstorms (as long as I don't have to drive in them)

Hibernation and cozy days and nights at home. We've already been doing a lot of that because of Covid, but there's something especially appealing about it in winter.

Reading good books

Watching good movies and TV shows

Interesting new shows on PBS

Doing a puzzle that Sharalyn and Meredith are going to do too (we all got the same one)

These are all simple things, but by small and simple things are great things brought to pass--like making it through January with my sanity and well-being intact! 😁😉