{ When Calls the Heart and Call the Midwife Christmas Specials....plus getting the house back in order }

Hi everyone, I hope you've had a wonderful blessed Christmas.

Mine was quiet, surrounded by family members, and turned out to be one of my favorite Christmas to date.

I just realized that I hadn't put up a proper post since last week.  I've been so good about uploading daily and then the holidays came up, and all of that went out the window.  My apologies, but I'm back now and ready to get right into the daily routine.

To start, I have updated the blog header and the background image as well, I was going to wait until the 1st of January for that, but I decided to just go ahead and get it done.

So, unfortunately I ended up sick with a cold again, though I think it's actually a sinus infection this time because of the symptoms I'm having.  I'm still trying to get over it, but slowly getting there.  Jasmine has been sick with the same thing and the poor thing has still been going to work, so she's struggling a little to get through this cold herself.

I just wanted to share with you, my favorite gift this year.  It was from my brother and sister in law, and if you know me, you know how much this means.  Not only for the meaning of this beautiful necklace but because of what is contained inside.

In the necklace itself there is a tiny little paper scroll with a prayer on one side and a bible verse on the other.  The prayer itself is beautiful but I actually started crying when I turned it over and saw the bible verse, because it is my favorite verse in the Bible.

I was completely shocked when I saw it and took it as yet another sign from God that He is in control.  It's always amazing when something like that happens because it's unexpected.  Brought me to tears.

Yesterday, after our last Christmas guest had left, I quickly got the house back in order.  No I haven't taken down the decorations yet, but got things clean and put up from the get togethers we had over Christmas.

Once that was done, I went to my bedroom and just relaxed, worked on the new menu plan and grocery list, and caught up on the Christmas specials.

When Calls the Heart - The Greatest Christmas Blessing

When Calls the Heart was amazing, as always.  I absolutely adore this show, it is for me, the only show on TV that is pure, family centered and just a joy to watch.  I can't wait for the new season to start in February, but in the meantime, if you missed the Christmas special, I've linked it up for you above.

Call the Midwife Christmas Special 2018

Another show that I just can't get enough of you.  It makes me wish that our Networks here in the USA were filled with shows like these, it's also the reason why I'm a huge UK TV fan and mainly watch shows from England.

If you missed the special you can watch it on the PBS website, I've linked it above for you as well.

I've also been making a list of the new or upcoming period dramas so that I can make a post for you all and share that.  You know how much I love sharing those with you all.  I honestly feel like I haven't blogged the way I want to blog in a really long time, so I'm excited to get back to that this new year.

I'm not one to make resolutions, never was, but there are certain things that I think we can look forward to trying or changing, either in our lives or around us, and really there's nothing like trying, you have nothing to lose.

So a couple things I'm hoping to get back into in the New Year are and blog about, are:

• Period dramas, series and movies
• Homemade goodies (really want to get back into making laundry soap and trying new things to share)
• Library book hauls
• More food blogging
• Homemaking tips and ideas
• Going back in time and trying to incorporate simpler ways of doing things

When I first wrote this down, I thought "you are just getting yourself into trouble, that's a lot".  But it really isn't because these are the kind of things I do on a normal day anyway, it's a lot of what my homemaking and living simply is comprised of.   I just stopped sharing that part of me, and not for a specific reason other than the craziness that ensued after my husband retired from the Air Force back in 2013.

The retirement, the big move from Idaho to Texas, and the new job and change threw everything out of whack and I've really been trying to get back to my roots, so to speak.

We will definitely give it a go starting in January, and see where it takes us.

Anyway, my friends, I want to take this moment to thank you all again for being so loyal to my blog, especially those of you that have followed me for so many years.  I appreciate it more than you'll ever know.

Until the 1st of January, my posts may be a little sporadic as I get through this cold and through a couple more family functions, but from the 1st, you should start seeing daily blogging again and hopefully those posts that I so enjoy sharing with you.

I'm off now to work a little more on some blog ideas, catch up on today's General Hospital, and I think I may have a Jane Austen kinda night.  I've been wanting to rewatch all the wonderful Jane Austen movies, and I think tonight might just be it.

See you soon friends :)