ANOTHER YEAR IS DRAWING TO A CLOSE
We're just back from a delightful week in Albany. We enjoyed it so much in March that we decided to return to our same accommodation (it was perfect for our needs) and relaxed by the beach, wandered around town, stopped at cafes and little shops, and toured around the southern tip of our State.
THE DAYS GO SLOWLY BUT THE YEARS GO FAST
I mentioned in last week's post that "the days go slow but the years go fast" which is a quote that often comes to mind in December. I feel like retirement tends to blur the days and weeks together, and time seems to slow down....but then I blink and it's December - where has the year gone?
That being said, it's now 10 days til Christmas, we have the Christmas tree and decorations up. I spent ages online a couple of years ago trying to find a replacement outdoors nativity scene for our house. I ended up giving up and choosing a banner instead - it turned out to be much better than I expected and I get to enjoy it during the days as well as the evenings.
WISHING YOU A HAPPY CHRISTMAS
I love Christmas for the joy and cheer and happiness that accompanies it. I love that we remember the birth of Jesus, that we get to share time with our kids and grandgirls, that there's presents under the tree and a fridge filling up with food for the family. I love that it's the end of another good year and we're able to look back with gratitude for this lovely life we've been given.
I hope that your Christmas is a wonderful one full of all that you heart needs to feel loved and happy. I know that it can be a hard time for some - I've had my share of Christmases that caused me stress - but I also know that we get to choose our expectations and our responses, that we get to choose whether to be upset or disappointed... or to look at what we do have, rather than what's missing. I hope you find many moments of Christmas peace and joy in the weeks ahead.
LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING BACK IN JANUARY
On that note, this is my last post for 2025. I'm putting my blog on hold while I focus on the world around me - our kids and grandgirls will be here on Boxing Day, there'll be extended family to catch up with, and lots to keep me busy.
I'll be back on Monday the 5th of January with my new Word of the Year and with a recap of December (if I remember to take any photos!) I hope you'll be here to share the journey into 2026 - it's going to be another good year - I can feel it - because there's always something good if we look for it.
Merry Christmas and see you in January! xx
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Ah that's a lovely banner there Leanne. I have had so many Christmas items in my house...way back and we gave lots away when we moved from Sydney. One was a wooden Santa and The Reindeer that used to go on the front verandah. It went to our daughter for 8 years. Now, in pieces but still very good, we have it back in a modified form and it's good to see it...25 years old. Thank you for your on-line friendship and connection over the years Leanne ...much valued. Will be back on Substack in the new year, with one post going for the last time as a link up.
ReplyDeleteEnjoy making those memories with the family... maybe just a couple of photos. I am going to ask our gang for one or two and then leave the phone alone!! Festive greetings sent from east to west to you and R from me and B. Denyse x
Hi Denyse - it's always lovely to have something Christmassy out the front of the house - and I love that yours has a long family history. Thank you too for your friendship and commitment to engaging in the comments - it seems to be a bit of a dying art these days, and it was one of the things I most loved about blogging. We'll keep the home fires burning and the connections real.
DeleteMerry Christmas to you and B - and enjoy every moment with your family, it's one of the things that makes Christmas so special isn't it. <3
Hi Leanne. It's been such a joyous year, for us, moving back to the states, and getting settled in to our new home. I hope it's been a good year, for you too. Enjoy your holidays. I look forward to reading your blog in the coming year. ❤️ Christina Daggett
ReplyDeleteHi Christina - I'm so glad you're feeling settled and at home again after being nomads for so long. Some ex-pats never return, but you seem to have done it with very little re-adjustment. Enjoy your Christmas and I hope you get to spend it with some loved ones - I'm so grateful to have our kids and grandgirls coming to share it with us. x
DeleteHi Leanne, Those are gorgeous photos from your visit to Albany! I love Albany too, it’s such a lovely place, and has a really nice feel to it. Your banner is great, it looks really good.
ReplyDeleteWishing you and your family a wonderful Christmas and I look forward to reconnecting with you in the new year. Sue x
Hi Sue - Albany was just lovely - weather in the mid 20's while Perth was in the mid to high 30's. We love the beach down there and how it's still a bit eclectic in who lives there - a bit of country still that Bunbury seems to have lost.
DeleteI hope you and your family enjoy Christmas and it's been such a pleasure "meeting" you - and I look forward to continuing that next year too. x
Looks like a lovely place to spend a holiday! Happy Christmas to you and your family! This year I think is the first year I'm getting the "feel" of Christmas since we moved away, hopefully that's a sign I'm more relaxed about it and more at ease with not celebrating Christmas with our families (which is sad but we enjoy Sweden more in the spring, autumn or summer).
ReplyDeleteHi Susanne - Christmas is a strange time isn't it? It comes with so many expectations, memories, and traditions - sometimes we just need to re-invent it all to suit who and where we are now and it all falls into place so much more smoothly. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and I'll see you in the New Year. x
DeleteHi Leanne, lovely photos from your break in Albany! The banner looks really good! I’ve enjoyed following along with you this year and look forward to 2026. I’m pondering my WOTY and can’t wait to hear yours! Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year, see you in January! Chrissie x
ReplyDeleteHi Chrissie - it's been lovely "meeting" you too - and thank you for your lovely, kind comments each week - I really do value them. I hope your Christmas is wonderful too and I look forward to swapping WOTY's with you in January. xx
DeleteMerry Christmas Leanne. Thank you for your blog . I hope you have a wonderful holiday with your family .
ReplyDeleteHi Rebecca - thank you so much for your kind words and wishes. I hope your Christmas and New Year are wonderful and I'll see you back here in January :)
DeleteWishing you a Happy Christmas with your family too Leanne. Albany looks like a lovely place to visit and you both look very happy. Enjoy your time off and I look forward to seeing what 2026 has in store for you!
ReplyDeleteHi Deb - Albany was lovely and relaxing - always a walk down memory lane because we spent our first year married there. We love the summer weather (it's cooler) and the beaches - just so very pleasant. Wishing you and Grant and the family a wonderful Christmas and I'm looking forward to another year of blogging connection in 2026 xx
DeleteAw, wishing you and your family a very merry Christmas as well!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much Jo - wishing you and your family a lovely Christmas and 2026 too. See you in January! :)
DeleteLeanne - I am so glad you are breaking off now and focusing on your family (and yourself!) over the next few weeks. Your posts over this past year have been insightful and inspiring, and I want to thank you for that. Please do have a wonderful holiday with your family, and I look forward to your posts in the coming year! Best always!
ReplyDeleteHi Kristine - thank you so much for your kind words. I do enjoy having a couple of weeks where all I think about is what's happening in my real life. I love my blog and the space it gives me to think through things, but it's also nice to just be in the moment with the people we love. I hope your Christmas is special too, and I'll see you back here in January - and on your blog when you showcase one of your rooms. x
DeleteHi Leanne, it's nice that you got in a little 'couple time' before the festivities begin. Thanks for all your words of wisdom and encouragement. You have a knack for saying just the right thing when I need it most. I love the banner. Wish I'd thought of that! We didn't hang lights because we won't be home to tend the ones that go out (which happens pretty often). Anyway, peace, love, joy this Christmas season. Enjoy your beautiful family. See you in the new year.
ReplyDeleteHi Suzanne - what a lovely compliment about my blog - I'm so glad that we're often on the same wavelength and get to share our journeys. This age and stage is such a joyful one (most of the time) and it's so good to be able to encourage each other along the way. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas together - and who needs Christmas decorations if you're not there to enjoy them? x
DeleteFeeling the joy of the season!!! I wish you a very Merry Christmas, Leanne. Will look forward to your blogs in 2026 and your word for the year.
ReplyDeleteHi Judith - and Merry Christmas to you and yours too. I'm looking forward to jumping back in when January rolls around, but happy to have a break and to spend some time with our kids and grandgirls - Christmas is such a great reason to get together. x
DeleteWishing you and yours a wonderful Christmas season!
ReplyDeleteRight back at you Pat - and I'm sending a Christmas wish that you'll be celebrating in your beautiful, brand new house in 2026 - with all the hassles behind you. x
DeleteI loved seeing your updates Leanne, and your photos from your week in Albany. The banner looks great, and likely even better in real life. I wholeheartedly agree with your phrase (and philosophy) ‘always something good if we look for it.’ We have a lot of good around here and I am always grateful. Merry Christmas, and I look forward to seeing/reading what you are up to in the New Year. xx Erica
ReplyDeleteHi Erica - so glad to hear that all's well in your world and that goodness is all around you. I'm so grateful for all the good days that I get to experience - I think I'm even more thankful because they were never expected....they just slowly arrived and now I look around and just treasure each and every day.
DeleteI hope you have a wonderful family Christmas - I'm sure it will be full of joy and laughter (how could it not?!) and I'll definitely see you next year - roll on 2026!! xx
Enjoy your family time and wishing you and yours all the best the season has to offer.
ReplyDeleteThanks Jo - it's always such a lovely time of the year and I think it's my favourite these days for time with the family, giving, eating, and laughter. x
DeleteHi Leanne - Glad to know that you had wonderful outing to Albany. The perfect way to wind down the year, I guess. You are right about the year going past us fast. We feel so because we are actively engaged every single day, savouring the little moments.
ReplyDeleteWishing you and family a Merry Christmas and a delightful 2026.
Hi Pradeep - Merry Christmas to you and your family too. Yes, the year just seems to have flown by and I can't believe it's almost at its end. Albany was a lovely way to take a breather before we launch into all the family and festivity of Christmas and Boxing Day. See you in 2026!
DeleteI love that banner, Leanne. I've never seen anything like that, but it seems a great replacement for a life-size nativity. I hope you had a lovely Christmas and Boxing Day celebration with your family. I look forward to "seeing" you back next week.
ReplyDeleteHi Christie - it's actually quite difficult to find tasteful nativity scenes - there's lots of santas out there, but not many stables. These banners are used on garage doors and other display areas - and this one just happened to fit our balcony perfectly. I'll probably get one more Christmas month out of it before it's too faded to use, and then I'll jump online and find a replacement - it's definitely a win for outdoor Christmas decor for us. Happy New Year and see you on Monday! x
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