December was a lovely month. I was lucky enough to work with a family I used to nanny for most of the month which means lots of laughter, hugs, and snuggles from two cute kiddos and their Bengal cat. We made Christmas sugar cookies, snow-people, and snowflakes for arts-n-crafts as well as put together some very creative gingerbread houses. We took a bunch of nature walks where we would find mushrooms, fill brown bags up with seeds and flowers, then stuff our cheeks with yummy Kumquats as we made our way to their home.

I also got a call from a friend asking to keep her cute dog for a week while she was in Europe. The absolute joy I had with this toy Poodle was indescribable. For reference, I quit dog-sitting for friends last year. I felt that I was being taken advantage of when it came to my time, energy, and mainly the amount of clean up I had to do in my own home or the damage my clothing would take for larger dogs that weren’t kept in my home. Long story short, it was a lot! I turned down this friend a couple of months ago but her dog sitter canceled on her the day before she was leaving. So, I took the pup in and was very happy to have unconditional love for a few days.

I spent Christmas alone this year, the same as I did on my 31st birthday. I cleaned, watched movies, and ate junk food. It was not as bad as it sounds. A friend sent me a card from Indiana, and the family I worked with gave me a card, too. My grandmother sent me a gift box from The Swiss Colony and even though I am lactose intolerant, I will be devouring most of those cheese and sausage combinations!

I would like to think I spent this year’s holidays alone because I am making space in my life for those who will be there for the next phase of my life. One where I am focused and 100% me at all times. People that I have prayed for that will understand me, hear me, and cherish me. I have had many amazing individuals grace me with their presence in past years and for that I am grateful but I also know that many of our friendships and relationships were only for a season and reason. I keep those memories tucked away and hold them with gratitude but this blog is about my growth. For those of you reading and watching, I pray you to get to be as overjoyed as I will be when those people come into or back into my life.