Overflow of blessings

My Christmas and New Year holiday was bliss. Simple as.

No amount of thank-yous could express my gratitude to God for some time to rest and just be.

I didn't venture into central London once. Nor did I go on the Underground. I'm not even sure I rode a bus. It was exactly what I needed - a true break from the rat race my life had become.

I won't pretend it was the perfect holiday. Those 11 days came with their difficulties.

Life always does.

But there was magic. Sparkle and bright. An overflow of blessings from above, poured straight into the lap of this wretched one.

I slept in and took long, glittery baths. I spent quality time with loved ones and knitted by the fire whilst watching Christmassy things. I ate and ate some more. I discovered the joy of a handmade Christmas. I cuddled babies and played with dogs. It overwhelms me to consider the good gifts God gave.

But I will try and count them, big and tiny. For such gratitide needs to be shared. Even if the result is a list of epic proportions ...

#258 The magical Narniaesque Saturday spent finding a tree - gazing open-mouthed at a powder-covered wonderland from inside our cosy car
#259 Finding our tree in a Christmas tree shop in the middle of actual forest
#260 Baking chocolate cookies in a vintage apron - the satisfaction of stirring love til the arms ache
#261 Strawberry toffees that remind me of long-gone childhood
#262 Oh Comely magazine
#263 People who use their time productively to make beautiful things with their hands
#264 Casting on by myself
#265 Soft winter-coloured yarn winding through the fingers
#266 The unexpected early arrival of my MyCakies cameo clip
#267 No less than four sit-down meals with family - normally a rarity
#268 Dragging my shopping trolley to the local supermarket for some Christmas Eve purchases
#269 Going to sleep without having to set my alarm clock
#270 Relaxing long in a warm tub of glitter
#271 Postal love from a new blog friend
#272 Taking more time than is necessary to shampoo my ebony curls - just because I can
#273 Warming homemade Christmas cards over the toaster (fancy embossing glitter, oh yes)
#274 The wonder that a simple partridge-in-a-pear-tree stamp really does beautify
#275 Late-night giftwrapping sessions
#276 Gingham and polka-dot ribbons that cover a multitude of sellotape sins ;)
#277 Magical crafter friend recycling said ribbons into brooches
#278 Secrets under the tree
#279 My parents' homecooked love; the lump-in-throat realisation that I'll never be too old for them to care that much
#280 Dad approving of his new shoes
#281 My beloved loving his scarf ...
#282 ... and his mother knitting a scarf for me. A shabby-chic wonder in purple and magenta and navy blue
#283 Receiving this on a scroll and relishing the way it speaks to my heart (even if every couple in my beloved's family got one!)
#284 A handcarved wooden heart, with love-filled dents and scratches that symbolise more than even my beloved understands
#285 Watching Casablanca with my father at long last
#286 Sweet baby nephews
#287 Snow
#288 The movie 'Up', which never fails to move me to tears for all the laughter it contains
#289 Making it home safely through heavy fog
#290 Oxford
#291 Visiting Britain's first museum
#292 Pub lunches
#293 Shopping with my mother
#294 Fabulous new plum-coloured shoes
#295 Ringing in 2011 with the three I love best
#296 Neighbours lighting fireworks in the street - in hindsight a little crazy but a secret joy to watch the thrilled look on their faces
#297 An adorable planner to make organisation a little more enjoyable - and beautiful butterfly post-its to add some fun
#298 Deciding on my One Word for the year
#299 Cute brooches from a wonderful friend
#300 Yellow roses to pour sunshine upon the first day back at work - and the beloved one who remembered he'd promised me them

Happy New Year! Here's to 2011 and embracing all it brings - Soli deo Gloria.