There is a week between Christmas and the new year for the following reason: to give us time to clear the house of all things Christmas and prepare for spring. Right? Am I the only one who is ready for warm weather by December 26th? I am practically pulling out the spring clothes. Except for the fact that I never put them away because I am just not that organized. What good is winter without Christmas?
So I do things like this. I put shells in a jar with the starfish that was living in my Christmas garland just yesterday. And I display it as a reminder of good things to come.
Each December I panic at least once, worried that I’m not savoring the season completely enough. I anticipate the after-Christmas-letdown. I think that is a left-over fear from childhood. Because as an adult, I love after-Christmas. I love taking down the decorations and clearing out the extra stuff. I love the fresh and the new that comes with January. I always forget how ready I am for the future by the time it arrives.
Generally at years end, I look back and reflect and pour over sentiment of what the past year has held. But this time I am ready for 2009 and what it will bring. I am looking forward with excitement and anticipation. I’m throwing open the blinds and letting the sunlight of a new day pour in around me. There are things on the horizon of this new year only beginning to dawn in my heart. I look forward to sharing them with you.
In the meantime, I’m off to look for my flip flops.
Girl, I am with you!! I will look for my flip flops too! I always have a bunch of emotions about the holidays over and gone…I too…am ready for Spring! But, I have a few more months of snow before the buds will bloom!
-sandy toes
Flip-flops! Heh heh. Bwahahaaaa! Those are insane laughs of jealousy. Maybe, and I mean MAYBE, I might be able to consider them by the end of May, but chances are the temps around here won’t allow until June.
I, too, took greater joy than usual this year in clearing out the Christmas stuff and prepping for 2009. I can’t really explain why, either.
When you finish, come on over and help me get the spring fever!
I cannot even begin to take down the Christmas stuff until I have a moment alone, and that means when the kids go back to school and the hubby goes back to work. And there better not be snow on January 4th! Or I will pull my hair out!
Okay, now that I have vented on your blog, let me brush the dust off and say that your shells look very lovely in the jar.
Yikes! Just the word flip-flop makes me cold, girl. Go put on some slippers!
The way I’ve dealt with the post-Christmas let-down (of the non-mammary kind) is to launch into a giant, rip-roaring home improvement project. Wanna come help me paint?
I’m with you! I am so sick of shoveling snow and slipping on ice. I’m hoping for a happy new year too.
I hate to rub it in but we’re gonna wear some flip flops this afternoon since it’s 72 degrees here…not that I’m celebrating really! I’d love for it to actually LOOK like winter every now and then…in TX it goes back and forth until February, when we might get some nasty ice. I love the idea of bringing out springy things that remind you of the warmth ahead
I do not like taking my holiday decorations down. Not at all. I wish my life was that sparkly all year long. I have been sitting here reading blogs and wishing I could keep my tree up until March. I love it.
But I do understand the joy in cleaning things out…and I know that when we get matched with a baby, I will have so much fun clearing out the spare room to decorate it. And I’ll let you come.
Doesn’t srping come early to NC? We’re buried under several inches of snow. AGAIN.
I loved cleaning up Christmas early for the first–and NOT the last–time ever yesterday, but it would feel so much nicer if Spring was next week.
I, too, am looking forward to 2009 with great anticipation. Amazing hubby, two beautiful healthy children and one “on the way”. Our dossier is heading to China this week. Some time between now and flip flop weather I’ll be a Mommy of three. I’ll pray for your 2009 if you’ll pray for mine. I promise I’m going to update the blog soon!
-M
I’ve been slowly putting away the decorations and deep cleaning that area as I do so. We don’t usually get much snow here in Oregon, but we sure did this year! It’s all melted and I’ve had my snow fix for the year.
hehe… all my Christmas decorations are put away (except for the snowman tea set that my two little ones hid all over the house) and just this morning I was thinking about starting my ‘spring cleaning’ this week. Why not?!? That way when spring does finally come we can spend more time outside enjoying the warmth (I’m hopeful… more likely to be rain here in the pacific NW) and everything in the home will already be fresh and cleaned out. Glad to know I’m not the only one looking forward to Spring… I’m sure it will be here before we know it.
With my oldest turning 7 on January 15, and another baby due within 2 weeks after that, I too am looking forward to 2009. So much so, that I have been referring to this year as 2009 and my daughter as 7 years old for three months already. You help me feel less crazy for that!
Here in East Central TX we’ve got 65 degrees and sunshine today, so it’s a great day for “out with the old”. As the last Christmas stuff goes in the bin tonight, it will be time to start prepping for birthday and baby!
Onward and upward!
girl – I never put those flipflops away. Can you believe the beautiful day we’re having?
Can’t wait to see your things on the horizon….just loved that line.
By the time Christmas came and went for me, I wondered, “Where has December gone?” I mean, it was over in a split second! I waxed sentimental for a good, oh, I don’t know, day, and now I’m just as ready to get rid of the Christmas stuff and spring clean! No, actually I’m just ready to start preparing for next Christmas! I’m a glutton for punishment!
As soon as you said ‘spring’ , flip flops were my next thought. Come March 1st, whether it’s 34 or 64 outside, I will most assuredly be donning the flip flops…..until October. I love your pictures and hope to meet you at Blissdom.
You are so much fun. I just love reading your blog!
Did you know there is a national flip flop day in June or July (can’t remember exactly right now). Our local smoothie shop usually gives away free Strawberry Banana smoothies on flip-flop day though. Very fun times!
EMILY!!!!!!!!!
YOU’RE A FINALIST IN THE 2008 WEBLOGS FOR BEST SMALL BLOG! CONGRATULATIONS
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http://2008.weblogawards.org/site-news/2008-weblog-awards-finalists/
(BTW, I actually wore flip flops this past week, thoroughly enjoyed today’s warm weather…dread tomorrow’s promised colder temperatures. AND…I LOVE your photos on this post!)
xo
~ Robin
Love my flip flops and I never put them up…not with the weather we’ve had the past coupla days! Took my Cmas stuff down Dec 26th. I love starting the new year fresh! Look forward to seeing you at the conference!
It’s -25 C here. Hard to even imagine warm weather. I made hotdogs and macaroni salad for supper and was tempted to turn the furnace up really high and lay under the skylights with my bathing suit on. I refrained only because I thought I’d scare the kids.
I’m not sure if I’ve ever posted here before. I was checking out the others who are signed up for Blissdom09, and came across you and your blog. I love your About Me profile. Your new cleaning strategy is awesome. Even your references, I get: C’mon-A-My-House. We have to meet up at Blissdom. Methinks we have a lot in common, Except that I love winter! We’re expecting 5-7 inches of the white stuff tomorrow, and I couldn’t be happier.
Hey Emily! I absolutely love reading your blog! I found it several days ago while reading Kendra’s blog. I would definitely be ready for spring if it would ever get cold. I don’t feel like we’ve had winter. Have fun organizing and getting ready for the new year!
Jenilee
Yes, I agree with you- “What good is winter without Christmas?”. That is exactly how I feel!! But I do love the dreams that come with January. I am a dreamer and I relish it all.
I, too, took down decorations today. I replaced the old mantel decor with lots of bird and nest items. There is nothing beautiful that pops into my head that would symbolize the post-Christmas winter season! Oh well, birds (like starfish) are trans-seasonal, right?
the fresh and the new- how i love those thoughts.
Fairly regular ready, but haven’t commented before. But today, you said it better than I could have! (not so much looking for the warm weather, I’m more realistic than that here in Wisconsin – but ready for the post-Christmas calm) And I’m glad I’m not the only one feeling this way!
Blessings to you in the new year!
-Katrina
It -22 below zero here today (yes, actual temp.) I’m sad that I will not be digging out my flip flops until May, and even then, my toes are chilly. But I’m happy for you. Really. I am.
Y’all. I’m not really wearing flip flops. It is cold here. Really. Honest. I promise. I’m just sayin I like to pretend it isn’t cold and that it’s time for spring. That is all. Okay. Done comment padding. Carry on.
I just told my husband that taking down Christmas makes me ready for Spring!!
I’m ready for a new year too…can’t wait to see what it brings for you!
Hi Ladies,
Who says that you can’t keep your tree up longer and decorate it for Valentine’s Day, Easter, etc.
I feel for those of you who live up north. Here in FL it’s always time for flip flops and the beach.
Blessings,
Heidi
I just rid our house of several old toys through Freecycle. Each had about a thousand pieces or made loud noises that will no longer pollute our house. Welcome 2009!!!!
Looking forward to meeting you (hopefully?) at Blissdom!
New Years blessings,
Melissa
I too love the time between Christmas and New Year’s. My hubby’s calling me to come make the whipped cream for our chocolate chip pancakes this morning!
Have a great Saturday! Kelly
Oh my, what a lovely blog you have! I am exactly the same way. Once Christmas is over I am SO ready for spring even though we have three more months of cold weather left. Forced bulbs and primrose start finding their way home with me from the grocery store
I ready for the new year! I just got home from a cold weather vacation and I’m not planning on wearing a coat or socks for awhile! I’m a Florida Girl, for sure! I have sooo many flip flops!
I am the same way. As soon as the Christmas decorations are put away i am ready for daisies