12.23

Holiday baking is underway! We began late last night with the girls making chocolate covered ritz crackers, peanut butter balls and rolo bites. This morning after taking in Kacen’s snowman drawing to the bakery, we started on sugar cookies and peanut butter kiss cookies. Tomorrow we have our special bars to make. I had plans for chex mix and puppy chow but I’m sure this is enough to feed us. May save that for New Years Eve.

We began the day at 49 degrees- currently at just shy of midnight we are at a windchill of -10 degrees and windgusts up to 50mph with snow falling. We can hear the wind howling through our new house- it reminds me of Christmas growing up. The house no my grandparents farm was old and drafty- the wind always billowed through. I think that sound is now comforting to me- as is the sound of coyotes howling in the distance. I always give extra thanks that we are blessed to have a warm and dry roof over our heads, especially during times like these.

Since we have been staying inside- Kacen took some time to read me a Christmas story, his reading has improved so much. Abby is finishing up some present wrapping and then I think we will be finished. There has been a lot of stress with this Christmas, but I think of all the Christmas celebrations that have been on this farm- I’m sure many have been stressful especially during pandemics and the depression. Everything will be okay and work out. We are just thankful to be together.