Whew.
Between Christmas preparations, home renovations, and growing a human, this season has been overwhelming and hectic for me. Rather than feeling joyous and grateful, I found myself withdrawing into a candy-cane-crusted ball of stress.
It all came to a crux last week. After four weeks of frantic shopping, cooking, cleaning, and strain, I desperately needed a breath.
So when I stepped out of the car at my office, I took a moment. I stopped in my tracks and was still, quiet, open. The bitter cold burned my nose and ears. The silence of the snow was deafening. Everything was foggy, frozen, muffled. Then, the softest hint of sunrise began to spill over the horizon and I felt peace wash over me.
A soul needs these moments.
There’s power in the pause.
Change is inevitable. I know that the next year will bring the biggest changes of Dairy Man and my 3.5 years of marriage (as if moving to the country or starting a dairy aren’t big enough changes). But I’m in no rush. I’m trying to savor each step, each present moment, because I know they will never be here again.
So, if you’re like me and feel overworked, under-appreciated, and want to scream if you see one more unfrosted sugar cookie:
Take a deep breath.
Pause.
Allow yourself to be silent.
It’s going to be ok.
Remember that even if the green bean casserole is burned, you forgot to get a gift for your cousin’s brother’s girlfriend, or you ate yourself into a sugar coma, a tiny little baby was born in Bethlehem.
Because this season isn’t about perfect homes, perfect gifts, perfect meals, perfect milk production (sorry, DM), or perfect people. We are flawed. We are human. We need the redemption that Christmas brings.
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” –Isaiah 9:6
I hope you take the opportunity to pause and soak in your own quiet moments this week.
Love and Merry Christmas, from our barn to yours.
XO,
MFW
Modern Farm Wife 
Jessica, Excellent blog and advice! Merry Christmas and best wishes in the coming year as you navigate through the life changes to come. Thanks for sharing!
Thanks, June. Merry Christmas!
I needed to read this right now. I just spent way too much time in line at the food store, felt overwhelmed and not at all in the Christmas spirit, now I will enjoy my coffee and sit next to my tree and breathe.
Nothing like the scent of coffee and pine to soothe your soul 🙂