Delighting in the Season

Miscellaneous

Stream of consciousness today:

Simon and I were talking at church on Sunday about past Christmases and how for several years, Christmas was just so stressful and difficult. I was sick for several years with ulcerative colitis and the holidays really brought out the stress which in turn, flared up my disease.  Then two years ago (exactly this week!), I had surgery at the Mayo Clinic to remove my colon which cured me of the disease I had battled for four years. Christmas that year was especially tough as I was dealing with my temporary ostomy and all the difficulties that presented.  At that time, I still didn’t know if I was happy with the decision I had made to have the colon out as it was a really tough surgery to recover from.  Happily it was the right decision to make and I have enjoyed two years of perfect health.

In fact, it’s such perfect health that it’s almost like those four years of ulcerative colitis never happened.  Well, almost, but not entirely. I still see the scars on my belly from my surgeries, and they are a happy reminder to me of how far I’ve come.   And now I happily greet the season of Thanksgiving and Christmas because there’s so much to be joyful about.


This last week, Jude and I took a quickie trip to Dallas to hang out with my friend Julie & her little boy Jameson and we took the boys to the Gaylord Texan resort to see their ICE! exhibit. It was Shrek-themed this year, and was complete with an indoor ice slide as well as indoor snow tubing.  If you’re in the Dallas area, you should take the quick jaunt out to Grapevine as it was a total blast and both little boys were thrilled to pieces.
Jude in motion on the snow tubes.

It was so cold in the main part of the attraction (11 degrees! indoors!) that they hand out parkas to every person that goes in. And I’m really glad they did because it was frigid.

Puffy blue parkas for the ICE! exhibit. Eleven degrees was cooooold!


I picked up these really cute Santa jammies for Jude at Hanna Andersson. They just crack me up. He says that he needs a Santa hat to go with it.  I just love this age because he is so into pretend and playing dress-up.  Don’t get me wrong – each year has had its own perks, but he is particularly sweet at age 4.

Hmm, what else . . . oh, can I just tell you that for the first time in my life, I am on top of the Christmas shopping? Because I am. I am nearly 90% done and I’ve even started wrapping. I have NEVER been so on top of things!  I still have a few things to pick up for the Mister. Why is it that guys are always the hardest?

Oh.  A few things on my radar as far as Christmas presents go … just in case you were wondering, Simon. 🙂

Artwork
Artwork

stila palette // tamron lens // madewell henley // brothers grimm book // thermal leggings // warby parker specs // jcrew gift cards! // west elm stripe sheets // viv flats //

How ’bout you? What’s on your list?

with love,
Rachel

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