I woke this morning with my mind already working on a million different tasks. Before the coffee had even been perked and my lips had wrapped themselves around the warm steamy edge of my very favorite coffee mug, my subconscious had pulled up a chair, sat down and proceeded to run through a list a mile long. By the time I had dropped Sweet Cheeks off at school tiny beads of sweat were collecting across my forehead, my stomach was tied in knots and I was in the midst of holiday chaos.
I was decking the halls that need to be decked.
Baking the goodies that need to be baked.
Wrapping the gifts that need to be bought.
Wait…
Writing the Christmas cards that need to be written, addressed, stamped and sent.
AND I achieved all of this while adding more lights to the already decorated tree that had a dark spot on the fourth branch from the bottom, 32nd branch from the top on the lefthand side.
*Breathe*
Did I mention that this all happened within a few hours?
In…my…head.
I mean seriously people. Self talk/mental-multitasking can be exhausting.
Do you know what saved me from myself? The mailman. The very same mailman that could have been delivering the invisible Christmas cards that I had written in my own head.
I heard the familiar sound of the mail truck squeak to a stop in front of my house and I instantly dropped all of the internal conversation and ran to open the front door with glee.
Only to run squarely into the wreath that was hanging there…
I’m pretty sure that I still have the glitter on my nose to prove it.
I was hit squarely between the eyes by what has been knocking on my door the whole time.
JOY.
Poof.
In an instant all of the stress, mental-multitasking and self talk just vanished. My mind filled with images of my precious children, loving husband, wonderful parents, incredible sister and the many joys that make my life complete.
I don’t know about you, but sometimes it takes a head-on collision with a wreath full of joy to make sense of it all.
So remember:
The halls will get decked. The goodies will get baked. The gifts will be bought. And the cards will get written.
For now I’m going to pour another cup of coffee and open the door to let all of the JOY in.
~Wenderly
Love.
So needed this. Been feeling a tad stressed about it all, but that’ll suck the joy right out of it all. Thanks friend.
Wow – thanks for the reminder. Can I just say, I’m so glad all of that was in your head? Whew, and 32 levels of branches on your tree, where do you live, in a tower? LOL Anyway, this served as another reminder of sorts. While you have Christmas JOY on your front door, I still have Autumn Greetings. The neighborhood birds sort of ruined last year’s Christmas wreath. Note to self: NEW CHRISTMAS WREATH!!! (love yours!)
Fabulous. So, so true and needed this time of year.
Coming here is like getting a big virtual hug, you always know just what to say. Grateful for you my sweet friend!
Wonderful post Wendy. I’m having that kind of week and I watched It’s A Wonderful Life for the first time and it gave me some perspective just like this post did ; ) Can’t wait to see you. xo
Truth! A friend and I were laughing the other day at how easy it is to get sucked into the craziness and busyness this time of year. And I said ~ I’m pretty sure Jesus would prefer we skip “celebrating” His birthday all together if it’s going to just stress us all out, because it means we are missing Him all together! LOVE this post. Merry Christmas!!!
You make me so happy.
Thanks for helping to keep things in perspective, all with a good laugh – I could picture myself running into that wreath!
Lovely 🙂
Breath of fresh air my friend – and quite beautiful too!! I will breathe . . .
I heart you and your nose full of glitter!
I think I need to print this out, tape it to my wall and review it every day for the next few weeks. 🙂
Beautiful, girlfriend. More peeps need to read this! Love you!
I love this post. I have fights with my self talk daily! Tomorrow I’m looking for a wreath full of joy. After a cup or 6 of coffee. Love this and thanks for writing it.
Such a cute post 🙂
This is *exactly*what I needed to read this morning. A a matter of fact, I might need to read it EVERY morning this December! It made me a little teary. You are a wise woman, Miss Wendy. 🙂
I have exhausting mental dialogues with myself. Who near just THINKING could wear you out! Thanks for the reminder about joy 🙂
You have it so right – we get caught up in the doing of Christmas, we forget the reason. One of the ways that I cope during the holidays is taking a moment to enJOY the tasks.
What a perfect post. Joy is everywhere if you really look! And you are so right. It does all get done. It does. And if by some chance everything isn’t done, no one really misses what’s there because they all focus on what is there!
You really got me thinking this morning and I took some time to write about your post on my blog. Hope you don’t mind me mentioning your blog.
Hi Heather!
Of course! I’m flattered! Thank you so much love!
Loved your post !!! ….Glitter on your nose….mailman….everything that happened in your head….toooooo funny ! Wishing you some peaceful moments of JOY. Fantastic wreath too !! Lynne xx
P.s. I found your blog thru Jessica ( I love her)…I will have to thank her for the connection. So happy that I found your blog.
I could use some glitter on my nose. Thanks for this reminder!
Yep . . doing the same thing. I so promised myself that I’d calmly get all my shopping done before Thanksgiving so I could enJOY the baking, the wrapping, the cards, the giving,the music, the season. But . . . it didn’t happen again. Best thing to do now is just enjoy it, you’re right.
I so needed to read this today! My mental list has me off in a corner whimpering and drooling. {{hugs}} & JOY!
Sometimes it takes getting knocked in the face with joyful glitter to get our attention.
Beautiful. Just beautiful. And how fitting that I would find your blog, with this post, just when I needed this very reminder. 🙂 Thank you!
Great post, Wendy. This is exactly why I decided to cut back on some of my Christmas baking this year and keep things a little more streamlined. I don’t want to hate it all!
Wonderful reminder to slow down and enjoy the holidays. Those halls will get decked sooner or later.
You are an angel bringing must needed messages of joy!
You know just what to say to a person. I’m letting my muscles relax right now…I hope my mind will follow!
Such a great post and reminder to slow it down, breathe and enjoy the moment.
Absolutely beautiful. I love coming to your blog, so much warmth and love. Happy Holidays ~ xo
Wow. I needed this post – at this very minute. Thank you for the reminder!
I love getting smacked in the face with JOY 🙂
Awesome seeing you this weekend! Hopefully a meet-up again soon. In the mean time I will think of you each time I pour that morning cup of java 🙂 xxoo
Beautiful! Love that last line about letting the joy in! Perfect!
Love this! I’ve been pretty stressed for a while, and this was exactly what I needed to read! I will also pour myself a cup of coffee and let the joy in!
[…] Joy is knocking at the door, no really it is, when you have a beautiful joy wreath like this one from wenderly.com […]
I’m having mixed feelings about holiday stress lately. I’m very aware of it, trying to manage it and really just shut the door on it. Then I realize that I haven’t been stressed for a couple days and I PANIC. sheesh. I feel like a wackadoodle.
I missed my joy this morning. I’m going to get it back tomorrow. Hope you are well friend. I needed this post.