It was a very pleasant Christmas day after a long night of sleepy stuffiness, coughing, and toddlers awake in the wee hours of the morning needing comfort and love. After warm baths and showers all around to ease away some of the sniffles and soothing milk bottles and fresh coffee, we sat down to open the “peh-sants Santa!” as my daughter put it.

Tyler can recognize his written name and knows that his sister’s name begins with letter “S”. I proudly watched my 3 1/2 year old tell his sister which gifts were hers and which were his. Sydney loves to rip the paper. (I wasn’t going to use wrapping paper this year, but my husband graciously took on the responsibility as head-gift-wrapper, and decided to use paper. Next year perhaps we will add a bit less to the landfills and stick to crafted ornaments and luxurious woven ribbons.) Nevertheless, Sydney is a ripper. Tyler-second-name-is-perfectionist, likes the paper off with no tearing whatsoever. Slightly impossible, but almost doable.

I was so filled with joy when I saw T & S smile broadly at my handmade creations. When Tyler saw his felt applique playmat lovingly named “Tyler Town” he immediately fetched his bin of cars to line up on the “race track road.” Trains also soon were running on the railroad past trees and the police station, and cars were lining up for a fill-up at the gas station.

Sydney hugged her stuffed flannel ladybugs close, squishing them with all her little might. And she even tried to feed her “baby” doll a felted strawberry from her new felt food collection.

One of the two gifts I purchased was for my husband. His gift was a certificate for a 90 minute professional massage and a coffee-shop gift card for a bit more relaxation and indulgence, free from the stress of kids, work, and chores. He is so wonderful to me, helping me get out the house for my own bit of peaceful-time-away, but he seldom gets the opportunity to just get-away. I believe everyone needs a bit of their own time, just for themselves.

He purchased for me just the thing I had been wanting for months now. I am wearing my new sporty, low-cost, kid-proof, watch as I am typing this. I am sure to be on time more often now that I have a timepiece again. Knowing the time is something I can’t live without.

I gave “rainchecks” to a few people whose gifts aren’t yet finished. As I sit on the sofa, with a box of tissues with lotion and a cup of hot tea, I am knitting that second sock in blue alpaca wool, and needle felting the last of my pine tree/chickadee design on that cashmere throw blanket, and tucking in those ends on the many mittens I knit for those who have grown close to our family this year.

As this year draws to a close I am reflecting on what I have learned, and what I am looking forward to in the new year. Blogging this year has taught me so much. Other bloggers have taught me how to feel, how to write, how to connect with others, how to explore many passions and avenues of creativity, how to remember others in this world, and how to live in the moment. I have learned that stress is my drug. I have learned perfection isn’t who I want to be. I have learned that as a parent I am still a student. I have learned that passion and enthusiasm are wonderful. And I have learned to reevaluate daily what I am putting first in my life.

I hope to continue writing in this space for me, and for you reading. I hope to share with you my travels as I organize what is meaningful in my life by exploring creativity, craftiness, nature, soulful living, and family life. We here at the Park household wish those of you reading a very happy, joyous, and prosperous new year. Keep Creating.