Favorite Holiday Songs

Mildly to the frustration of my roommate, I love non-traditional Christmas music. Don't get me wrong, I think carols and songs by Bing Crosby are fantastic. But after three winters working retail, I got sick of hearing the same songs over and over again! But thanks to Noisetrade, I can get new music for free every Christmas. Here are some of my favorites from this year to enjoy during advent!

Christmas tree

In case you haven't noticed, I've been trying to do a photo-a-day thing. My friend April posted about it, and I thought I'd join her in it, because consistency is something I struggle with. At the same time, I enjoy the challenge of creatively capturing moments and sharing about each day. We'll see if I make it through the entire month! I'm surprised I've managed to make it this far.

I love our tree-it's slightly chaotic, but ended up looking beautiful anyways!

I'm beginning to feel a little concerned about getting everything done for Christmas. There are things that need to happen in January, books that I need to read and planning that I need to do that I know I'm not going to want to do over the holidays. We'll see how it goes tomorrow. Perhaps I'll get enough done to feel ready!

Family

My mom had surgery on her throat yesterday. They removed her thyroid, one parathyroid, and a large lump that didn't belong there. As I was talking to her today, I realized how much I miss my family at the moment, and how much I love them. It can be hard being away from family, especially during the holidays. This is my third Christmas away from home, and each one isn't nearly as hard as the one before.

And even though I'm missing my family back in Washington, I've got a fantastic family here. There's cuddles and laughter, dancing and debates, disagreements and reconciliation. It's a beautiful way to live, and I love sharing life with these wonderful people!

(Not everyone is in the photos.)