{ A cloudy, rainy, calm Saturday }

The morning arrived with clouds, fog and a soft constant rain.  The constant pitter patter, methodically and rhythmically falling on the rooftop.  Rain has such a calm effect on me, it always has.  Where some dislike clouds, grey skies and rain, I prefer it over summer days.  

 

So as this morning rolled around, I knew I would have just the day I needed.  A homey, quiet, pottering around with Christmas decorations, coffee drinking, Christmas movie watching and cooking homemade meals, kind of day. 

We went to the gym early in the morning, both not wanting to go, both preferring to stay home in the warmth, but after the Thanksgiving holiday and all the over indulging, we knew we needed to get in there.  For me, it was more about some physical therapy for my aching knee.  Using the machines my physical therapist advised, and using the stationary bike too, all exercises to strengthen my knee and help with the pain.

 

It worked.  Some were a little hard because of the pain, but I took it slow, did a only a few reps and made sure to not overdo anything.

 

Once home, I got busy with the house chores I needed to do. 

I finished all the inside decorating, save for two doorways that I want to get some garland hung over.  And then Curt and I started on the outside.  

 

I just love Christmas and love all the lights and the decorations.  I think that when we get to the end of the year, after enduring all the trials and tests and craziness that life throws at us, when December rolls around, the whole world is so ready to jump into the season.  The whole atmosphere shifts, things seem lighter and people are happier. 

I watched some more Christmas movies, I listened to Christmas music.  I talked to my family back in South Africa, received more gifts in the mail, wrapped them immediately and set them under the tree in our bedroom.

 

I cleared out all the Thanksgiving leftovers and made my yearly Thanksgiving pie.  It's become something we all look forward to.

 

And as the day rolled to an end, I jumped into a hot shower, got into my warmest of pajamas and got into bed.  My body weary and tired, but my soul filled with joy.

 

Curt and I were having a conversation on the way back from the gym.  We both talked about what a great day we were having, like we were back in a normal routine.  We love the holidays but it does throw everything into the air and routines along with it.  We talked about how happy it makes us to just go to the gym, stop at the store for a few things we needed, go home, shower and then potter around the house.

 

Small things but things that make us happy and remind us that we have a blessed, good life.  We just tend to take it all for granted and forget to stop and Thank God.  

 

It was a good day indeed!