I’m writing to you from somewhere along the interstate in Ohio on my first real day off since late October.
I’m definitely ready for some downtime after finishing off another successful year at the People’s Gas Holiday Market in Market Square. After over a month of 12+ hour days, we were SO ready to be done that we had the Chalet completely packed up and ready to move out within a couple hours on the last day (December 23rd)!
So you can imagine what it was like for me on Christmas Eve – a very intense catch-up day! Taking care of all those details that tended to get put off while I put in long days at the Chalet… lots of shopping and wrapping and preparations. The beautiful Christmas candlelight services, full of warmth, meaning, and joy, were a very welcome interlude of peace and calm in my busy holiday season.
It was nice while it lasted… but first thing Monday morning, it was back to work. I spent the first couple days of this week unloading my van, reorganizing my inventory, and getting the latest after-Christmas orders to the post office.
Then Wednesday evening we were on the move again – we packed up the whole family and hit the road headed for Nashville. With a late start, we made it as far as Columbus, Ohio.
Thursday was a quiet day of just driving and relaxing. I couldn’t help but smile as I pictured the scene later that day when Aria would meet her great-grandma for the first time. What a wonderful way to end the year! Being together in the van traveling with my family – Tom, Brittany, Alyssa, Jon, and Aria – is my definition of true happiness.
What’s next for me in 2017? I’m excited about the possibilities and already dreaming about new paintings. But for right now, I’m going to live in the moment, first enjoying a few days with my Tennessee family… then it’s off to Florida next week for some much-needed R&R with Tom.
Here’s hoping that your holidays are truly “merry and bright!” From the bottom of my heart, I wish you all a happy, healthy, safe, and successful New Year. You are a great blessing in my life, and I hope I can return those blessings to you in some way.
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