1400 miles in 81 hours

I love to think of Thanksgiving and Christmas rolled into one big holiday season of gratitude and merriment and exceptionally good stuff.  I love to slow down during this time of the year. Not that I actually get to slow down, but I adjust my mindset in order to slow down. However, this year the season has started off as a whirlwind and I'm trying to figure out how to s l o w  d o w n my favorite time of the year.

In 81 hours we...

• Drove 1400 miles.
• Climbed around in the Ozarks.
• Explored caves.
• Ate Thanksgiving dinner with family we haven't seen for over four years.
• Drove Scenic Highway 7.
• Jammed in Hard Rock Cafe St. Louis.
• Rooted for the Blues in Scottrade Center.
• Went to the tippy-top of the Arch.
• Tooled around the Museum of Western Expansion.
• Checked out Busch Stadium.
• Read two YA books.
• Swam with three kids in an Olympic size swimming pool.
• Wrote a few words (but not enough).
• Snapped over 300 photos.

And then, on Sunday...

• Taught high school Sunday School.
• Decorated for Christmas.
• Made my favorite stew.
• Watched 2nd grade basketball.
• Decorated more for Christmas.
• Packed bags for school.
• Made lunches.
• Tackled 6 loads of laundry.
• Read Christmas books at bedtime.
• Decorated even more.
• Finally watched my favorite show from last week.
• Crashed.

And I find myself spun around, feeling a little overwhelmed, ready to settle in to the routine of writing and teaching and documenting life in a way that makes me feel grounded.