In my head, November has a big sign hanging over it with helium-filled balloons, spelling out Welcome to the Crazy! To be fully present and engaged during the holiday season is one of my biggest challenges. There doesn’t seem room to celebrate what is while anticipating what is to come. Things simply have to get done.
This past year, I have purposed to slow down and notice what is real and true this day: the messy, the lovely and the unexpected.
This Tuesday is a little different, as I’m unwrapping my day over at my favorite online getaway, (in)courage. So when you’re done reading that over there, come back and unwrap yours right here.
If you would like to know more about Tuesdays Unwrapped, simply read this post. It should answer most questions. Otherwise, leave the permalink to your unwrapped post in the links below. As always, I look forward to celebrating the small and the sacred with you.
Thank you for hosting Tuesdays Unwrapped!
link to incourage wasn’t working. maybe i can read it in the morning
happy unwrapped tuesday!
Wow, it seems I’m not alone in the craziness of the holidays. I am resolving to be different this time and am logging my attempts to REMEMBER what Thankgiving and Christmas are all about and how to really GIVE THANKS by slowing down and not becoming a slave to activities and tasks. Thanks for your post and for hosting Tuesdays Unwrapped
i love your photo. i’d like to skip right on over and sit in your autumn chill and enjoy a cup of hot cider…
i’m certainly not ready for this holiday season… but i hope that as the blessings of thanksgiving unfold i will be ready for christmas. in my heart. and hopfully that will lead me to dive into the details! happy tuesday… headign over to (in)courage… can’t wait to read more!
Loved the post. The holidays are so crazy… this year we’ve vowed to simplify it all, but it’s harder than it sounds!
I’m with Dawn…can I come have a warm drink…in that mug…and sit there…in that chair…and take that picture…and ok, i’m not really stalker girl. but that pic totally warms me up all over!
I’m always so very, very glad I came here. Just hopped over to incourage and read your post. I love the way you have of helping me to look things through a different lens.
Off now to do a load a laundry and be reminded how grateful I am that there are healthy boys in this house who produce those piles of dirty clothes. And to be grateful for the upcoming holy days.
You’re the best.
November is National Adoption Awarness Month and I am going to celebrate. I posted about it, too. Read here: http://silvercircles.blogspot.com/2009/11/national-adoption-awareness-month.html
Love you, Em.
I love this TUesday Unwrapped business. Sometimes it may be a serious post. Other times, it may be something small and humorous. I am doing a gratitude posting most days this month. Really trying to get in the spirit or as I call it, I’m getting my gratitude on.
Love love love your blog. So beautiful and uplifting!
Oh how bloggers makes me think sometimes! I wrote my post for the day and then hopped on to my Reader, found your post about Unwrapped from (in)courage, and here I am.
I won’t deny, I am struggling with the craziness. But I have hope! Trying to keep the focus where it belongs…thank you for sharing along your journey too. Such a huge shot in the arm today.
I love this idea and look forward to joining in.
I think this is the first time I’ve linked in!! Perfect timing.
Today I could’ve and shoul’ve been planning menus and shopping lists for the new month. We have only one roll of TP left in this whole house. So I really shoul’ve.
But instead, I took the time to scrap some old pictures of my precious son. Those pictures reminded me how blessed I am. I have a husband who loves me and a beautiful son that makes me love being his mom everyday. He was barely five in those pictures and now he’s past 10. I’m so glad I took the time then.
Reminded me of the blessings I have. I’ve been too grumbly lately hoping for a “perfecter” life. I would hate for five more years to pass and I would have missed it all grumbling about the places I wished I were and aren’t.
I’m glad I unwrapped this Tuesday and the blessing of today and yesterday. I’m resolving this month to cherish each moment, be more thankful and love the life God gave me to day.
Thanks for this quiet place. I’ll be back again.
The hot dog in a hamburger bun is a metaphor for my entire life, Emily, you do realize that.
reading Kendra’s blog . . . can I just say that I love that you bring a lamp to the hospital! Greatness. Taking note of her list to make my own for a few months from now.
Kelly
It’s been a long time since I unwrapped a Tuesday. Technically, it’s a Saturday, but everday is a good day to unwrap a special moment.
I’ve always had a bit of problem celebrating “what is” because I’ve been trying to get ready for “what’s to come.” And when “what’s to come” finally gets here, if I haven’t lived up to my expectations, I don’t celebrate it fully, either. Thanks for the very simple, but very good advice to notice the small things so that we can experience great thankfulness.