I’ve been saying, “Yes” to a lot of things life is offering. Will you enter a national gingerbread competition? Why yes I will. Can you handle your husband quitting his job and going in a completely different direction that will require lots of lessons and growth? I’ll try real hard. Do you want to take your family to stay in a random cabin on the opposite side of the state in the middle of the crazy? Sure! Would you mind doing the planning and lots of the food for Thanksgiving dinner? YES, PLEASE! Down for buying your tree and decorating it at the first feasible oppurtunity? You know it! I’ve decided that saying yes is often the Lord’s way of helping us help ourselves. These adventures are keeping my out of my head and focused on the greatest sources of joy I have.

It’s made for a lot of busy. But it’s been a good busy, the kind of busy that I thrive in. I mean, there were tiny fondant sugar skulls to draw on and a whole bunch of food planning and logistics to keep in my head. I was energizer bunny-ing the whole week leading up to Thanksgiving and it was glorious. I also had some very real moments to temper the glory…The 22nd I had a solid melt down in anticipation of the 23rd which was the one year mark without my Mom. The 23rd I got back to energizer bunny mode and puttered around my kitchen all day baking with all of my girls. It allowed me space to be sad, but not to hang out there. The actual Turkey day was perfect. Low stress, good food/family/fun, and another first without mom done well. Last year we missed getting our tree from our favorite place and I wasn’t about to repeat that travesty. Tree acquired and Christmas decor up, we paused holiday festivities to take my sisters to a local state park hidden gem for a nice hike. Then a laid back afternoon dressing up the tree and eating the best donuts I’ve made to date. Monday is back to normal…but at least now it’s normal with Christmas music every time we get in the car.

We were so outclassed and I don’t even care. I wanted to make something that wouldn’t embarrass me and we did that. We didn’t stand a chance against that level of skill, artistry, and insanity. My favorite was the photographer who had to take good pictures of each of the 100+ entries. He took each one very seriously and was so sweet. Restored my faith in humanity.

This place was so cool. Mountain drive was gorgeous; hammocks, creek, and fire pit were on point; accomodations a perfect fit for our family. The girls and I got fancy holiday nails while watching How to Train Your Dragon and eating my mom-in-law’s perfect Pumpkin Roll. Video games happened in the morning before we left and all agreed we need to come back in the summer.

Lunch of champions, perfectly smoked turkeys, and all the desserts. Bingo met expectations…well, maybe not Garyn’s first prize, Ha!

These people crack me up.

It’s Christmas now. My life is going faster every year and I find that saying Yes increases the speed. That’s ok though…I’m good at savoring moments while traveling at terminal velocity.

P.s. I’m not sure if I want to slug the person who taught my girls about photo-bombing or shake their hand. I’ll let you know when I sort it out.