I like January. January is a month of new beginnings, fresh starts, clean slates. Something about clearing away all the Christmas clutter offers a chance to look anew at my house and get ideas for how to make things warmer, cozier, homier. (The mantel needs new blue taper candles in the sconces and something green…so I have started ivy cuttings to plant.)

It’s time to relax after the Christmas hullabaloo. I have had time nightly to stitch while sitting on the couch, surrounded by dogs, near to my husband. It feels like a luxury after a month of a mindful of to-dos. Our calendar is fresh and uncluttered allowing us time to spend a whole day with friends. A chance to make a double batch of bread to share. A chance to take the home-grown frozen raspberries and turn them into a precious single-batch of jam. My heart finds such joy in simple things.

Simple things…like eggs. Farm fresh from our friends chickens. They are a small breed and therefore lay smallish eggs, but they are little and clean and delicious. Perfect.

Simple things like spending the night on the floor of my son’s room. No snuggling. No chitchat. Just the simplicity of being near each other.

Simple things like a comforting meal, a few minutes talking with friends, making a dog’s tail wag with a treat and a scratch and kind word.

Simple things…that I choose to fill my January with. Simple things that make my heart burst and sing to Him who made all things.