I like the European custom of Christmas extending past the 25th and lasting into the new year. I love the days after Christmas. All the hurry and scurry, hustle and bustle is over and our family has time to just settle in and enjoy. Enjoy time. Enjoy laughter. Enjoy each other. Enjoy games and baked treats and time together. It's the absolute only time of year that we plan nothing beyond pleasure and time with family and friends. Even vacations, as fun as they are, can leave us exhausted. But this glorious, quiet week is our best gift to ourselves. The gift of time to just be present. Be here. Be happy.
Wishing you quiet time with your family this week. Time to read, to blog, to laugh, to play games, to bake, to sit and talk for hours after a delicious dinner. Wishing you time to be present, be here. be happy. Merry After-Christmas, my friends.
Just a few glimpses around our little enchanted cottage this Christmas. More tomorrow. Listen.
38 comments:
Your post is just perfect - no need to go, to do, to make. All that matters is what is right in front of us - laughter, love, family, warmth. Perfect!
Thank you for this glorious reminder!
Enjoy, enjoy!
loved loved loved this...xox
sweet and peaceful
happy holidays! :)
What lovely photos, Relyn! I'm so with you about this after-Christmas time. Sadly, I had to take the train down to Philly for a conference, otherwise I'd be at home cosily crocheting and hanging out with people I love. Instead I'm wandering chilly streets and wishing the conference were over!!! Shhh, don't tell my colleagues I said that!
Merry After-Christmas and Happy New Year, sweet friend! xoxo Gigi
I know exactly what you mean....but this year, we're doing it differently :)
when it's all over, I'll have to decide which way feels better...but I'm guessing the quiet filled days with no travel or plans will win out like it always does.....
enjoy your time and quiet and space and togetherness and laughter and love and books and well.....you know what I mean....all of it !
I do love the celebration of Christmas lasting into the new year...it just seems right to cherish the 'togetherness' for a couple of days instead of just one!
yes! i love it too!
the stillness, quiet, and peaceful mood-
may all the bright and gentle joys be yours dear Relyn!
and thank you for the inspiration!
Just the best week of the whole year. We celebrate till Epiphany on the 6th. A quiet and lovely celebration.
time ... such a precious gift
Oh for the quiet times to renew! Hope yours is a good week filled with togetherness. Love the picture of Sloane.
have a wonderful week! enjoy the moments.
I think next year I will really appreciate that 1 week after. This year is filled with last minute work prep for our vacay and....the flu.
Love this. Amen!
What a beautiful post, I love the time spent this week too. I find that I am so tired after Christmas, but I stay in my pjs if I want, read, visit, sleep, and really refuel for the upcoming Year. Have a great New Year and all the best in 2010.
You are so right about the time after Christmas. Even though I had to go to work today I appreciated the calm feeling I have attained over the past several days.
I am so glad you got the CD!!! I thought it would have reached you before Christmas....but I am glad it got there safely and that you like it.
I got the book Oystercatchers today based on your recommendation on Good Reads. Hope to read it in the next few weeks. So many books, so little time!!!!
love
laura
the best thing i like about quiet family time is the endless talk. there is so much new to learn about your own husband and children every day!
such an encouraging soul you are...blessed times to you!
"Be present, be here, be happy..." excellent advice and I appreciate the reminder. Have a lovely, lovely week!
Lovely wishes - blessings to you, too, my teacher friend.
You are so absolutely right, Relyn! Once Christmas Day is over, I can sit back and enjoy the fruits of my efforts and take time to put my feet up to read the Christmas letters sent by friends and family.
A Merry "After-Christmas" to you and your family. Enjoy!!
<><
I keep my decorations up until after the New Year. I too love this time...a time to reflect to slow down. Wishing you a wonderful and beautiful New Year.
I love the woolly socks week between Christmas and New Years!
I never take my tree down until after my beloved Grandmother's birthday January 9th
How special is that tradition
I embrace all of our European traditions
Love you
Jeanne♥
I am enjoying my week of after Christmas laze. The decorations are still making me happy. And I'm doing absolutely nothing! : )
I hope you have a Wonderful New year and good times the rest of your time off.
I knew I would be extending Christmas WELL into the new year when I sent all the out of town friends and relatives an email that said they would probably be receiving "Epiphany Presents" (or MAYBE new year's!). Then, a week later, an email with the Christmas letter. I still am determined to get through the big basket of cards sitting next to the couch -- address book stuffed to the gills with changes of address. And by the time the house got decorated, I figured I should leave it up till March, just to be able to enjoy it! Oh, yes. Extend!
A perfectly lovely idea, Relyn! In fact, I'm taking this afternoon to relax and catch up. Hope your Christmas was fabulous and wishing you such a joyous New Year!
Look forward to keeping in touch with you in 2010!!
Kirsten
feel happy to see that some things never changed...
been disconnected for a while now...but to be back on track...finding your blog and then to see that it is still as warm and beautiful as it used to be - makes me feel happy inside.
merry after-christmas, Relyn.
I love how you spoke about this week after Christmas. I would extend it for weeks if I could, but I tend to find myself with errands to run and things to do before school starts back.
My preference would be to have two weeks off before Christmas. One week to rush around and get things done, the other to relax and soak it all in!
Hey, blog hopping after quite a sabbatical :)
Glad to see you around yet! Happy New Year!
We're into our second week of this rest, and I am starting to feel myself! You're right, it's needed after the hustle.
Where I live now people take down their tree/decorations the day after Christmas. Where I grew up, people would leave things up until Jan. 6 - Epiphany. I miss that tradition!
So True ~so true! And I wish this for you dear heart!
I am in that mode this week, as I am home with my girls before we all go back to work. I am creating and we are watching movies and eating and reading....it's wonderful. It's also freezing cold outside, so we are enjoying staying IN!
Happy New Year!
ah yes...merry after christmas...
i like this...
:O)
Hi Relyn,
We have certainly been enjoying a week of innocent pleasures; chatting, laughing, eating and enjoying the company of friends. Snow outside and warmth inside, with nowhere to go and nothing to do except enjoy each other's company. Nothing better!
I totally agree...that is the best time! And to be lucky enough that we have jobs that allow us to do that- we are truly blessed! I love YOUR enchanted cottage glimpses!
Christmas is now long over and as I read this post, I kind of wish we could do Christmas all over again...right now. Just for the quiet time..the free time.
But January, in its newness, is just as lovely, isn't it?
Post a Comment