Doesn’t it seem like time really accelerates about mid October? Once the fall festivals hit, it just seems like a roller coaster of events clear through to Martin Luther King Junior Day. We’ve already zoomed past so many fun events that I’ve failed to bookmark. Hopefully during the dreary days of February I’ll get a chance  and find those images to share.

Now that we’ve turned the Thanksgiving corner of the track, we’re hurtling straight toward Christmas and so far, it seems like our plans are right on track. This time last year we were dealing with insurance battles, MRIs, car repairs, and pain. In comparison, this year has been absolutely blissful and my family has been extremely fortunate to enjoy making some great memories early in the holiday season.

We began our Christmas enfestivation with a double duty birthday trip and visited Rock City’s Enchanted Garden of Lights. As always, the lights and views from Lookout Mountain stole our breath and gave us warm fuzzies to inspire Christmas shopping and party planning. We discovered a new favorite this year in the mushroom patch, and Ian set his heart on building a bear in the new area by the gem mining shop, welcoming “Greenie” to the family. Mogwai happily wandered the trail with us but had to wait outside while Ian ducked in to meet Mrs. Clause. The weather remained cool, but not cold, with a beautiful clear sky. In years past, we’ve had to bundle up in giant layers and stumble along awkwardly through the narrow passages, but instead, this time we wore long sleeves and vests and stayed fairly comfortable.

Meanwhile, back at home we’ve had a few goings on. Ian has been saving his chore money since summer towards the purchase of a John Deer “cornbine.” Through repeated trips to dump items on the compost pile, sweeping the porch, feeding the cow, putting away laundry, and checking the mail, the little man finally saved up the hefty price and we made a trip to Tractor Supply. While it’s awfully close to Christmas for toy shopping, he earned this one, and I would hate to have made him wait another month for the goal he’s worked so solidly towards.

While Ian has worked away at his chore list, Brinn has also been catching up on a few chores. Winter paddling season is just around the corner (if it will ever rain), so Brinn has been busy replacing gaskets on drysuits. Our living room has a nice aquaseal aroma to it if anyone needs a whiff for nostalgia’s sake. I’m sure now that Brinn’s removed the shredded gaskets and put nice tight ones on, the skies will open and keep the creeks filled all winter, right? Just like it never rains when farmers cut hay… Anyone else need a gasket replaced? Now’s the time to swing by the house. I’ve been roasting venison tenderloins to tweak a recipe and Brinn’s stretching latex amidst glue fumes…

Tomorrow will find us at another of Ian’s favorite holiday traditions. When we pick him up from school, he’ll join Marilyn and me at Walmart to help us ring the bell while asking for donations to the Cookeville Rescue Mission. I can’t remember the exact number, but I think they shared with us that thirty percent of their operating budget comes from Christmas bucket donations. That’s huge! Think of how many other organizations are out there ringing the bell this holiday season. It might not feel like the loose change rolling around in the bottom of your purse would actually amount to anything, but obviously it does! “Here is a boy with five small barley loaves and two small fish, but how far will they go among so many?” I think you know the rest of the story.