Seasonal goals has been perfect for me this year as I adjusted to having two children. I’m going to revamp my system for next year, though, so I won’t be making winter goals. More on my planning for 2015 soon.

>Run a 10k: I did this back in September. Although my running hasn’t progressed the way I wish it had, a 10k isn’t a big deal for me anymore and for that I am proud.

>Finish quilt: done! I have another one planned, but no idea when I’ll actually start it.

>Take the Grocery Savings Made Simple e-course: I did this, and it was really helpful and inspiring. There are still some tasks I need to complete. some systems I want to implement, and some things I want to try making from scratch, but at least I know what to do now.

>Christmas gifts done by the beginning of December: I got a lot of them, but not all. I still have a few left. Overall the holiday stress itself hasn’t been bad this year, it’s just other stuff that’s stressing me out.

>Read a parenting book: I read Raising Your Spirited Child and it was awesome. I had planned to write a whole series of blog posts based on what I learned, but that hasn’t happened yet. I do have extensive notes, but for now I’ll just recommend it highly if you have a child that is more intense than others.

Life lately:

Last week Meredith got sick a day after Liam, so I missed 2 1/2 days of work total. Thankfully they both rebounded in a day and currently everyone is healthy. (THIS IS A HUGE DEAL. I SHOULD BE MORE EXCITED ABOUT IT INSTEAD OF JUST BEING PARANOID.)

I dropped off homemade hot cocoa mix for the daycare teachers (all ten of them) and learned my lesson about sticking to gift cards in the future.

Over the weekend I got the rest of the Christmas shopping done. We have kept it as minimal as possible, but it’s still hard to keep track of everything. Unfortunately, I haven’t managed to wrap anything yet.

I can run a 30-minute 5k pretty easily now, even if I’m having an off day. My running buddy and I are making a point to do the long runs together and are increasing them by a mile each week, and it really helps. We had different schedules this past weekend so I did 8 miles by myself and finished up the Serial podcast. I felt good, but very achy in the joints. If you’re a long-distance runner, I’d appreciate any advice on how to prepare for long runs.

David’s truck overheated twice, and we had to have it repaired twice.

I finished the book Major Pettigrew’s Last Stand, loved it, and am reading Crow Lake this week for book club. I’m also almost done with Yes, Please on audio.

Lately I’ve been too tired, and I’ve been overreacting and losing patience and just being a grump with my family, especially with David, who is only trying to help me and be sweet to me. I have a feeling it has to do with a) lack of good sleep and b) my diet, which needs to be cleaned up again. Because really, there’s no need for this. I’m in the middle of choosing my One Little Word for 2015 and I’m taking into consideration how I don’t want to feel as well as what I do want.

Shopping with my dad this weekend buoyed my spirits, as did attending a Christmas show at their church. I love seeing the cards come in the mail (ours will be going out this week) and the holiday decorations everywhere.

I heard that Christmas (the feast of the Incarnation) was established on December 25 because it’s one of the shortest days of the year, in order to give us hope at a dark time. I’m so grateful for that, because my mood is definitely affected by the winter season, yet Christmas remains my favorite holiday. It’s so wondrous, and I don’t know about you but I need that hope more than ever.