This past weekend one of my best friends from childhood, Julie, let me know that her grandfather passed away. I haven’t seen her for a few years and wanted to make sure that I took the opportunity to see her and extend my sympathy. I managed to make it to the visitation on Wednesday night and was able to see her and her whole family. It brought back so many memories as her family owned the Barrel Drive Inn in Clear Lake when we were growing up. We spent our summers working together at the restaurant waiting tables, doing dishes, and cooking. It was so nice to connect with her, and it reminded me to take time out of our busy lives to connect to those we care about.
Time flies and here we are in December already. This always seems like a crazy time of year, and I catch myself wishing the days to go quickly until school break or the next holiday. So this holiday season I am going to take time each day to think of one thing I am grateful for that brings me joy. Today, it is my puppy, Oakley. He is just over one, and he is such a sweet baby that I just adore. Sometimes the holidays are filled with quality time with family, but sometimes they are shadowed with loss. So this week my goal for you is to find something that brings you peace or joy and prioritize that into your schedule. Take time to make yourself the priority in the midst of all the chaos of the season.
