What I'd Buy for Myself in the After Christmas Sales

If I was shopping for myself this Christmas, this is what I would buy.

I would buy boxes and boxes of beautiful vintage (or new) glass ornaments for my tree so I could have something like this. Oh, and a gigantic tree with the perfect shape to hold them.

I would buy velvet ribbon, in all colors, to wrap all of my Christmas presents. 

I would update Josh's wardrobe and start phasing out the shirts he's been wearing for 10 years. 

And buy him the very specific catchers glove he's been eyeing.

I would buy a new workout outfit, new Everjey lounge pants, and three of Retailcheapskate's outfit ideas. 

Tiny tiny, but thick! gold hoops that I wouldn't have to take off, ever.

A new couch

Airfryer, blender, 

This new-to-me hair tool. 

This Merit make-up, brush, and this hyaluronic serum!

This sure was fun, thank you for humoring me. But y'all, I don't need any of it. I am perfectly content with the bountiful, overflowing, blessings that are already in my home, the tiny humans being number two and Josh, oh boy, I tear up thinking about the gift God has given me through Josh. I couldn't ask for more. 

I've been listening to the Audiobook of The Light in Hidden Places by Sharon Cameron. A book someone recommended to me on Instagram. A book about hiding Jews during WW2. They go years with terrible hardship and the girl hiding them saves up her rations and for Christmas (for her) and Hanukkah (for them) buys canned pears, cigarettes, coffee! and surprises them. The moment is joyous and, although their circumstances stay the same, in that one moment is joy! in that one moment is hope! in that one moment is reprieve. 

None of these gifts, given to myself, would come close to eliciting that same response in me. But a gift given has a different weight doesn't it? Here's to hoping one of my gifts given this year gave someone that momentary but oh-so-important feeling - hope! joy! reprieve!

A wide open space and a thing about Josh

Josh and I did one night away last month together. The first in a long time - and boy was it wonderful. 

We used our points and flew up north, rented a car, and stayed in Yountville. It had everything packed in to 48 hours -  good food, a relaxing time, trying new things, and visiting new places. He finally drove an electric car and I finally rode an electric bike! We laughed, held hands, savored our food, sat for a long time at meals, slept in. It was heaven. 

And then we had a sweet reunion with the rascals. 

Here's a thing about Josh - he is so much more than he seems. People often joke that I'm "tied down" because Josh has set up our credit cards so that every time a purchase is made (his or mine) he gets a ping. Mostly for fraud control. He doesn't use it to control me. He isn't questioning my purchases. And because he does that, I don't have to worry about it - like, at all. 

What looks like control is actual freedom. 

One of his hidden gifts to me is the freedom he gives me to pursue Jesus. I can do it how I want and when, and he just works around it. He doesn't question my process. He doesn't rush me when I'm in the Word. He'll watch or listen to something that touched me, even when he's doing his own study, so that we can have meaningful conversations about it. He isn't embarrassed by my zeal or afraid of my intensity. 

Every response of his to my pursuit of Christ is a display of his great love for me. The wide open space he gives me is a constant fresh breath in a complex life. I cherish this beyond what I can express with words.

Closing out the year grateful for the time with him - and HIM. 

Advents

I'm following a few advents this season. With the kids we always dust off Ann Voscamp's Unwrapping the Greatest Gift, along with a chocolate one my mom brought home from Mississippi and a child's one that the kids love.

For me, I've subscribed to Phylicia Masonheimers advent that sends one email a day - really good. And on the Bible app, I've been so so moved by the Bible Project devotional on advent. This one is my top recommendation so far. I'm left thinking about it the rest of the day. 

There are so many good resources out there. I hope you have found one that draws you to the heart of it! And if you've found one that leaves you thinking about it the rest of the day, please share it with me.