Welcoming the Sun

What a nice week I had! Had to work all weekend but it was quiet & short. It was so nice to celebrate Yule/Winter Solstice with the kids Saturday morning on our lake. It was a bit cold, but we didn't care. The sky was too overcast to see the sun, but the lake was like glass & quiet. I love dawn. We saw a fish jump up for a bug & all the birds slowly waking up. Once it was light enough, we shouted a welcome to the sun & headed back home to open gifts from Father Winter. The kids loved it & really got to enjoy the day, even though I had to go to work. We spent XMas eve with my in-laws & it was so lovely, but this year the focus was really on our own traditions and family, and less on toys. The kids got 3 gifts each at home that they had a couple of days to enjoy, then a few small gifts at the in-laws. This year, the in-laws (finally) agreed to focus on inexpensive gifts for the kids & more on getting the family together. The older kids are entering their teens & growing so fast. It feels as though this year, at last, it was really about sharing and gathering and celebrating life and the blessing of time. And we are blessed, in so many ways.