A new start

      Greetings and Happy New Year to you!

2015 is here at last, and it's hard to believe!  We made it through the Christmas season, and thankfully I didn't lose my mind!  Seriously.  I know last month when I posted, I was sort of moping about the secular "hubbub" and the stress that the holidays can bring... but I'm thankful that the rest of December ended up being a time of quiet and fairly focused preparation.  I didn't really bother listening to the Christmas radio station, so that easily eliminated some of the biggest annoyances of the season (no Mariah Carey, no Bono screaming, "Well tonight thank God it's THEM, instead of YOOOOOOU!!!", no Wham!). I ended up just ignoring things that carried a lot of heavy sentiment or nostalgia,  because I just didn't have time to be melancholy this year, and I think that actually helped a lot.  I'll never have another "childhood Christmas," so it's time now to make the season about Christ's Incarnation, and making the Nativity season a special, meaningful one for my children.  

For the sake of sanity, most of my gifts were purchased this year, with a few hand-mades exceptions.  I just couldn't resist making a few things-- it felt WRONG not to.  I even gifted three knit items, two hats and a cowl scarf!  After knitting for one full year now, it's nice to have enough experience to start giving away some (hopefully acceptable) items.

Thank you so much for your sharing your support and enthusiasm with the calendar sales! And, thank you to those who purchased one (or more!).  I was seriously very touched by everyone's kind words and Facebook shares, etc. Sales have gone very well, especially before the 25th!  I was so surprised by the response! Of course, as with most all retail, January has been a bit slow.  Most people probably already have a calendar for 2015.  But guess what?  I have more printed, and I need to find homes for them!  So if you'd like to support St. John the Baptist's building fund, please hop over and buy a calendar at the super great price of $10, now through the end of the month!  Have you thought about putting a cheerful, fun calendar in the kids' bedrooms?  Or your cubicle?  Or your family library, play room, den, etc., etc.?  Buy one for your church secretary to show your appreciation, and liven up the office!  The possibility are endless... :)   

Okay, okay, I guess that's enough for now.  Time to wrap up this Tuesday night and prepare for the new day.  It's already half-way through the month, and it feels like these winter days are beginning to lengthen.  Fortunately the sun came out for us today, and it was warm enough take Joe and Masha out for a walk to the library.  I know I need to stop and breath once in a while, as I'm usually just jumping from one task to the next.  Hopefully January, and 2015 in general, will hold more of these moments.

Here's to the New Year!  May it be blessed!  May Christ's love be with you all, through the prayers of the newly canonized St. Paisios!