Today is the last day of November. I am more than ready to welcome in December. This month has been a bit rough and I’m ready to move into the Christmas season as well as a brand new year.
Joining in with Sandra over at Diary Of A Stay At Home Mom for the Happy Homemaker Monday link up. And look, she changed the categories! I had a feeling she might, some fun ones for the Advent season as well.
The Weather
It certainly does not feel like the end of November around here! It was in the high 50’s yesterday but supposed to hit almost 70(!) today. Sunshine abounds. Such strange weather. Of course, usually warm spells in the fall and especially winter usually signal some cold stormy weather around the bend. We’ll see. I did take advantage yesterday with a long walk in the park. Sprinkling the pictures throughout this post.
How I Am Feeling This Morning
Tired with a slight headache (from lack of sleep I’m sure), frustrated and guilty over my inability to really help J in his struggle with anxiety and depression. Still trying to stay positive and working on getting him help. Add in annoyed with the million cyber Monday deals in my inbox to try and sift through while looking for more important ones. 
On My Mind
The on-line church sermon from yesterday. The bullet points: rejoice how God is using you, Praise God, Anticipate how God is transforming the world, and remember God’s faithfulness in the past.
Trying very hard especially with the first one but struggling a bit.
Something Christmas-Related I’ve Done The Past Few Days 
Attempted to re-arrange the entire living room to find a new place for the Christmas tree. It didn’t work. Advice: If you have a small living room, never and I mean NEVER buy a sectional. It only fits one way. On a happier thought, I had a small peppermint mocha yesterday morning and we put up the greenery around the doorway plus the tree (didn’t decorate it yet).
Christmas Movie I Watched
I usually don’t start watching Christmas movies until Dec 1. However, I did watch maybe 5 minutes of Robbie the Reindeer in Hooves of Fire. A bit too bizarre even for me.
What I’m Wearing Today
Black short-sleeved light-weight sweater, olive green pants, socks & tennis shoes. Not very festive.
On My Reading Pile
Lots of books! I went to the library for 2 hold pick ups and browsed a bit. Over Thanksgiving, I finished one of my holds: God of Lost Words by A.J. Hackworth. It was the 3rd and final installment in the Hell’s Library series. An interesting series for book lovers as long as you don’t get too bogged down in the semantics and ideas of the settings. It’s fantasy fiction and stays true to that genre, not for everyone but I enjoyed it.
I also (finally!) have the new Andy Weir book, Hail Mary, on my pile. He wrote The Martian so I’m super excited to read this. Then, I have a slew of other random books covering everything from “getting cozy” to a silly satirical book of 90’s movie reviews.
However, currently, I’m reading The Christmas Countdown by Donna Ashcroft on my kindle app because it’s the Christmas season!
On Today’s To Do List
- Breathe
- Complete this post
- Gather items for renewing my driver license (yuck!)
- Make some appointments for J/e-mail school (half-done)
- Do a bit more Christmas decorating
- Go outside and enjoy the beautiful weather!
On The TV
Not sure, probably just the usual stuff: The Voice, La Brea, Masked Singer, maybe The Flash. Christmas movies.
Listening To
At the moment, the clothes dryer. Might turn on some music later.
On The Menu
Tired of summer menu items but the weather isn’t cooperating for fall/winter menus.
MONDAY: turkey hot dogs on the grill, broccoli or I might make the minestrone soup I skipped over doing yesterday. Maybe both and I’ll just freeze the minestrone for a cold day. *J has a baritone lesson at 6:30*
TUESDAY: Roast in the crock pot, potatoes
WEDNESDAY: Pork chops with Asian flair, rice, pineapple (Freezer crock pot meal)
THURSDAY: Chicken strips, French fries *I work 8:30-5*
FRIDAY: Homemade pizza (carry over from last week)
From The Camera
Just more park pictures. I think the “all you need is love” tree must be some sort of geocache, marker in the park. Always interesting little treasures on it. And I couldn’t stand how the love banner fell so I moved it up higher on the tree again. 
Looking Around The House
Not awful, just need to decorate for Christmas. My husband did put our tv on the wall so now I have a bit more space for my Nativity scenes.
In Prep For The Holidays
This week is just going to be about decorating, maybe putting some cookie dough in the freezer.
On My Prayer List 
J that he’ll overcome this battle with anxiety/depression and once again feel happy. (And if you have a spare prayer, can I ask for some for us as well because it’s a little tough dealing with all this as parents)
Those dealing with heavy feelings and grief as they try to maneuver the holiday season.
Family, friends, strangers.
Sending positive vibes for your son.
What a nice thing with the ‘geocache’ tree!
Enjoy your weather and have a nice week
Lucie recently posted…Happy Homemaker 2021-11-29
Thank you! It is fun to see what new additions are added to the tree every time I walk at that park. As far as I can tell, people only seem to add to it and never take anything. Hope you have a wonderful week!
I don’t know if I have mentioned this or not before but essential oils can help with anxiety and depression. There are also natural alternatives. You can research magnesium and ashwaganda for anxiety and depression. I don’t know how you feel about cbd oil but you can research that too. Maybe some thing will help.
Tracy recently posted…Back Into The Swing Of Things
Thank you for the suggestions. We do use the essential oils diffused at night to help with sleep. I’ll have to check into the other things you mentioned. Hope you are having a terrific Tuesday so far!
Keeping J in my prayers as he works through his anxiety. Sorry to hear your furniture rearrangement didn’t work out – so frustrating sometimes. LOVE your pictures! Your weather sounds glorious! And I’m in awe of that sky picture – so gorgeous! Have a WONDERFUL week.
Tamy recently posted…HAPPY HOMEMAKER & MENU PLAN MONDAY with RECIPE LINKS week 49 of 2021
Thank you! Yes, we are “done” with our furniture over here. However, making due until we can find some items we both agree upon (so probably another 5 years of the same living room layout, lol). Hope you have a wonderful week as well. Really enjoying your Blogmas posts.
Hello Sweetheart!
I love your pics SO much in this post. That first one I could gaze at for hours. I love magical clouds.
I’m so sorry you’re struggling Love. You’re not alone. I think this time of year can bring that out in many of us. If you ever want to chat just email me and I’ll give you my phone number if you don’t have it? cbeargroup15@gmail.com
Have you ever thought about volunteering somewhere? It may sound like an overwhelming thing. But when I was going through all the issues with my ex and then the break up – I took that time to seek out volunteering in hospice. I had been interested in it prior but that motivated me because I needed to get out of my own head. And by seeing others in need and being there for them, even in small ways, it made such a difference for me. Just a thought. I also did therapy and that helped too.
The furniture tree thing can be such a pain! I’m glad you’re knocking out the decorating though.
Blessings to you dear Friend. xo
Carrie@northwoods scrapbook recently posted…Happy Homemaker Monday
Thank you so much for your kind words and offer. Things are looking up a bit this week. Sorry I’m so late replying, busy end of week/weekend around here. I wonder if the furniture tree thing is why people leave their trees up year-round? LOL. Hope your week is off to a wonderful start!