on the eve of a new year

Our house is happily peaceful. The children are playing a game, Pieman is searching MLS listings for a new home for his parents, I'm puttering getting ready for our friends to arrive tomorrow afternoon. The Christmas lights are on and there is a fire in the woodstove.

These past couple weeks have been good for us. Christmas, of course, came in the middle of that and we were able to be with family, which was good. We finished school a week before that; I don't think we could have gone on much longer without a break. It's been a stressful few months. Those first few days off we mostly slept and read and ate healthy food. Slowly, I began to have ideas and played with them. Ideas like a new recipe or some decorating. I finished up the gifts I had planned. And then I napped and read a book.

The children were meanwhile showing similar habits. I have been deeply contented to hear their comments of "hey, let's (do, go, try, play)...." It feels like a long time has passed since I've heard that. It has made me sad.

Although Pieman has had to work much of the time we've been larking, he has told me that he feels good and is looking forward to Monday's day off to rest some more. Mind you, his idea of resting often includes running or cycling or some other feat of sweat. To each his own.

All this to say to you,

Happy new year! May this year be full of riches, blessings and good things. May you learn from the hard and be grateful for it all.

"After all," Anne had said to Marilla once, "I believe the nicest and sweetest days are not those on which anything very splendid or wonderful or exciting happens, but those that bring simple little pleasures, following one another softly, like pearls slipping off a string."