Happy New Year

Lots of people are posting that they have Christmas packed away for another year. Some people had it all done by Boxing Day even.

Not me.

Our peaceful home, well, my Mum's home, anyhow, still has presents cluttering the dining room floor. And the bedroom. And the library. (Yep, the library.) We're much to busy having fun to tidy up - even if we wanted to, which we don't.

It took me a few years to train my Beloved to the fact that we liked having Christmas hanging around long after the 25th. We like munching on Mince Pies. We make a wish on the first 12 pies of the season. Superstitious nonsense, you might say, but we call it Christmas magic. We eat marvellous meals. We drink too much Champagne. Can you drink too much Champagne? Really? We read books. We do jigsaws. And more jigsaws. We hang out at the beach building sand castles. We see movies. We munch on Santa chocolates. We play Christmas music. And other music when we get sick of that. We sit around and talk to each other. About all sorts of stuff. Like memories of Christmases past, and which presents we are enjoying. We spend time with friends. At their place and at ours, where we eat too much and drink too much and talk too much. We've done a bit of shopping in the Sales. Only a little bit. I've had a haircut. Jemimah's taken photos on her new camera. Front of dogs. Back of dogs. Dog coming. Dog sleeping. Dog eating. Dog jumping. Close-up of dog. If you have a child with a new camera I guess you might know what I mean.

Some time soon after New Year we might get sick of picking our way through piles of wrapping paper to make our way from bed to bath. Then it will be time to tidy up. We'll pack the Christmas tree away in its box and find spaces for all the presents to live.

Then all the magic will be gone for another 11 months. Eleven months of reality. I'm not ready for that to come too soon. Not on Boxing Day. And not even today. Maybe next week. If we have time.

For the time being, we're just busy having fun and being a family and building memories of a happy and magical childhood. Reality can wait.

2011 has not been an easy year for our family. We've had far more lows that highs. But through it all we've learned to depend on each other, to be kind to each other, to be each other's bestest friend and greatest encouragement. Throughout the year, God has been good, and he has been faithful. He has kept us safe through all our tribulations. He has given us strength and wisdom and perseverence. He has given us family and friends. He has answered our prayers. He has been so very good to us.

Only he knows what is in store for us in 2012. Only he can rule the weather and the rains. Whatever it is though, he will be there with us, and with him by our side we will succeed.

Thank you all for your prayers, friendship and support throughout the past year. May the Lord bless you and keep you all through 2012, my friends, and thank you to each and every one of you from me.

For everything. But mostly for being you.

Happy New Year!