I love the month of December. It brings in my most favorite holiday. The weather allows us here in Tennessee to break from the heat and humidity that dominate 80% of the rest of the year. It’s also a time to look back on the year and recall the good, the bad, and the ugly. Well, maybe not so much the ugly.
New House
This was the year when we finally decided that we wanted to put down roots. Hubs and I are getting too old and tired to keep packing up and moving. We know we love the town we live in, so we decided to buy our first (and last) house. We threw away moving boxes and phone numbers of movers. We’ve been buying new furniture and leaving behind the old, garage sale items. It was time for a fresh new start.
New Car
Finally! Precious here finally got her new car. Well, new to me. It’s a 2018 model, but one that I have loved for years. It’s finally mine. Why a used car, you might ask? For one thing, I didn’t really like the style of the new cars these days. They’re just ugly and colorless. They all look dystopian. Also, I’ve grown too used to not having a car payment, so I was looking for a certain dollar per month limit that new cars could not meet. My car will be paid off within 3 years due to low monthly payments, and I will once again be debt-free. Except for the house payment, of course. I don’t really go anywhere, so I won’t be adding many more miles. In three years, I’ll still have a great vehicle with fairly low miles on it. Goals!
New Life Chapter
Losing my job was painful, but it ushers in a new chapter in my life. I’m still looking for work, but I’ve found something to fill my time while I wait. This blog and making jewelry, I love both! I can be creative, hopefully encourage someone, and offer beauty to someone who might be cheered by a colorful bracelet or pair of dangly earrings. Sparkly, of course! Who am I?
Family Time
December is a time for more family time, and I can’t wait! Christmas dinner will be at my dad’s house next weekend, and then we’ll have a quiet, peaceful Christmas at home with my husband and kids. It’s such a warm and happy time for me. I truly feel blessed because there are so many who don’t experience this kind of happiness during the holidays. For some, it’s a hurtful and lonely time. I pray for those people and hope that some of them will cross my path so that I can bless them in some way, helping them to feel even a glimmer of the magic of Christmas.
Also, it’s a sparkly time of year. What’s not to love?
Dipped In Sparkles 
Congrats on the new house and putting down roots and on the snazzy red car! Cheers to fun times cruising in it. Good luck on the job hunt.
Our house is paid off (after 29 years it better be! LOL–though it’s actually been paid off for about half that time). My Highlander was paid off when I ordered it custom (inheritance to spend) in 2008. It has less than 65K miles, runs like a dream, and at my age, I doubt I’ll ever buy another. Drover and I are old friends and settled in our ways. I even remember how to set the clock for stupid DST time changes. 🙄 My husband’s truck is also paid off. Considering we’re getting by on SSA and VA with a few royalty checks here and there, that’s all good.
True story: He was approached by one of those “we buy houses” groups wanting to come by and give us a price. We’d previously discussed maybe downsizing and moving closer to the Kids (they live in a different suburb so not like it’s a long drive LOL). He thold them he’d check with me. When he did, I looked around and said, “Do you really want to sort, pack, move, and/or get rid of 40 years (length of our marriage) worth of stuff? I mean, considering we haven’t cleared anything out since our last move 30 years ago…) He immediately called them back and said, “The wife said no way in hell but we appreciate your interest. Bye.” 🤣
Enjoy your December. It’s a time of year that should be filled with magic, love, joy, and lots and lots of sparklies! ✨✨ 🥰
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One more week til I see your face!!!! I cannot wait!
I also can’t wait to see your new home (yes, I will be planning a trip in the new year) and I love your car!!!! Certified used is BEST! Always!
It’s been my joy to see you all so blessed. To know where you’ve been and how far God has brought you. I love your generosity, your heart and your faith and to see it grow has been so encouraging to me. Even being a mom and watching you be a mom to your kids. We both have similar experiences and you challenge me to grow all the time.
I love you muchly and pray RIDICULOUS AMOUNTS of blessings on you and your family this Christmas and well into 2024.
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