{ The little routine that I love so much }

You know that saying "You don't know what you have until it's gone?".

I've felt that over the past few weeks, or rather, month and a half.  The routine that I love, that I thrive on and need in my life, was swiftly pulled out from under my feet. It came unexpectedly, but as all things that come from the Lord, it was done in a way that woke up my soul, and put a fire under my behind.

Truthfully, had the landlord not pulled a fast one on Curt and I, we would have still be sitting here, renting, paying off someone else's home and not even thinking about it, at least for the next two years.

When this all went down, I was frustrated and angry at first, then just submitted to God and let it go.  My life then became a flurry of paperwork, signing this and initialing that, and just getting by with the barest of chores around the house.

I saw it crumbling around me, not in a fast and unexpected way, but more like a slow crumbling, a piece here and there and there was nothing I could do about it.

What this whole process has taught me is that, even though I've always thought that I do well with or without a routine, I really do flourish and grow when I am in my home, homemaking, pottering around, following the daily monotony of life that I've created around me.

My older brother left a few days ago, my younger brother is in Dallas this week, Curt's brother is in Oklahoma visiting friends, this home is OURS, and life has slowed down.

The minute I felt that weight lift off my shoulders, I jumped right into my much loved routine.

Usually I'm up super early, quickly dressed and off to make breakfast for our house guests.  I don't have anything going on this week, so my mornings are have been slow, just as I like them.  Comfy slippers are slipped on, and warm cozy pajamas are left on for an hour or two, as I sip my first cup of coffee.

Doing dishes by hand and taking my time, has been a blessing.  Another one of those chores that you take for granted until you don't have the time to do it.  Lately it's been a 'throw all the dishes in the dishwasher and keep moving', kinda thing.  But being able to sit at the kitchen sink, feel that warm water on my hands, slowly wash the dishes while enjoying nature right outside my window......is pure bliss.

The temperatures have dipped, it's been overcast and cold, and everyone seems to go into a mid day slump.  Naps are taken on couches, covered by big fluffy blankets, while Christmas lights twinkle in the background.

I've set my house to order, vacuumed and carpet cleaned, dusted and moved things around, and my house is starting to look like a home again.

I've been working on lists, gift lists, Christmas food and menu planning for the next two weeks.  I have to tell you, even the grocery shopping took a backburner and I feel like I haven't done a proper, in store, good shop in a long time.  I'm so excited to do that this Friday.

I've also been working on decorating inside, using Christmas tree trimmings from my own tree, backyard and Lowe's.

When we picked up our tree this past weekend, I asked the guy who was wrapping it, to please wrap up all my trimmings.  It's an inexpensive way to add some nature into your home and to make it look more cheerful.

I will take photos and show you all how it's coming along.

It's just gone 8:00 AM, though you wouldn't know it by how dark the house looks.  I'm about to go make a fresh cup of coffee and a big bowl of oatmeal with dates, nuts, cinnamon and a drizzle of cream. 

I have grapefruit slices drying in the oven for a garland that I plan to hang on my tree, I need to take out my pork for tonight's Hot Sesame Pork and noodles dinner, I need to start prepping my kitchen for painting and I am hoping to watch some more Hallmark Christmas movies, though I may start with the newest one on Netflix, A Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby. 

I promise to take you all along with me as I go about my day.  Hope you all have a blessed Tuesday, thank you for always stopping by even when I'm not actively blogging as much as I want to.  I always say that I don't blog for the comments or the engagement (like most bloggers in this day and age do), but the truth is that your sweet words mean the world to me, and give me the incentive to keep sharing my life here in blogland.  So for that I'm eternally grateful :)