There is only 11 days until Christmas!  That's E L E V E N days!

Gulp.

I can't remember another year previously where I have felt so unorganised and exhausted this close to Christmas.  I've found myself just letting go - letting go of the expectations (most of them probably false ones that I've placed upon myself or imagined others have placed on me), letting go of the long to do lists and just learning to be.

It's hard - but I think it's essential to surviving the upcoming days without loosing my marbles!

There have been some beautiful things happening lately that I am so thankful for - so here's to remembering and celebrating those.  Things like...

Celebrating new life.  We recently celebrated this gorgeous lady and her wee one on the way soon.  So thankful for this awesome and much prayed for little life...

Loving my letterboard, and finding Christmas quotes for it...

School is out!  Our kids did well at our school's recent awards ceremony, which included our son singing acapella with a group of friends (click here for a snippet).  So beautiful!

Afterwards we tried to tick off one of our Christmas Bucket List items, which was visiting the Christmas lights.  We could only find a couple of houses this year (a wee bit disappointing), but still had fun (and someone got a bit emotional over it all too).

I've stopped to soak up beautiful sunsets...

We've had fun with dislocated patella's...

So over the next 11 days, may I encourage you to stop and pause more often, soaking up the beauty around you... which may be the people in your life, the memories being made, the sunset you glimpse or the smile from a little child.   May I also encourage you to be easy on yourself... that may mean putting aside the giant list of things to do, and choosing to keep things simple (I'm speaking to myself here!).  

For really, this season is all about celebrating a King who came down to earth as a child, born into an ordinary world... let's slow down and not forget why we celebrate and who we rejoice over.