January Joys

Can you believe January is nearly done?  This popped up on Facebook the other day.  It brought me joy.

This also brought me joy.  They had disappeared from Costco so I was pretty excited when I saw them back.  They are expensive but so, so worth it.  Do not use them for baking, just straight up eat them but not just out of the bag because it's really hard to stop.  I speak from experience. 

Our mild winter (so far) has brought me great joy.  We even had a big stretch of sunshiny days which is pretty unheard of in January.  My planter boxes from this summer are even looking somewhat okay yet.  I never even switched them over for Christmas.  Now that I typed this, we will probably get a huge snowstorm.

John came home from the Thirsty Badget the other night VERY joyful.  His team won trivia!  

Just in case you needed a close-up of the medal.  And yes, you do have to bring it back the following week.

Progress on the love shack (yes, that's what I am going to call the dilapidated barn that is in our woods) brings me great joy.   

Even more joyful-er than the progress is watching Gary and John work on it together.

A beautiful day to burn brought me much joy.

This Facebook post also brought me joy. Our Paige girl is rocking her last year of swimming for Dordt.  Her hair also looks especially great.  How does a swimmer have such nice hair?

And what could bring a future mother-in-law more joy than when her future son-in-law calls and asks if he can stop over because he is doing some training an hour and a half away and that's just too close to not stop in and say hi?  

And get fed. :)

Joy is also having all my bar stools full again (Katie had a friend over).

Snow does not bring me joy but seeing it on a mountain does.

And finally, I really did not want this cat but Keith brings certain members of my family lots of joy.

 

Just a Thursday Blog Post

Nothing exciting happening around here but in an effort to blog more, here we go.

Keith.  This cat is something else.  I certainly did not think we needed another cat but he is slowly creeping his way into my heart.  He was so excited to see me when I got home the other day, he couldn't even wait for me to get out of the car.

These delicious dark chocolate chips are back at Costco.  They are pretty spendy but really come in handy when your daughter convinces you to do no sugar (for the most part) January.

Working in a thrift store two days a week it's really hard to not bring junk treasures home all the time.  But sometimes I just can't resist.  This sign came in the other day and it was just so appropriate for my life right now that I couldn't resist.

Also could not resist this fart gun.  It will make an appearance next Christmas when we play Dirty Bingo which actually isn't Bingo at all so I'm not sure why we call it that.

That's all.  Have a great Thursday!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Yesterday I turned 55.  When I was a kid I thought people in their fifties were old.  I don't feel old in my head but then I'll try to read a label on a can or get down on my knees and then try to stand back up and my body lets me know that I truly am getting older.  

I'm making a big effort this year to eat better and move more.  I know, I know...you're supposed to set specific goals.  I do have specific goals but I am choosing not to share them here.  If you haven't heard yet, I have some big events coming up in the new year so I have some serious motivation.  So far, so good....10 days in.  

I had a good birthday.  I got lots of texts and a few phone calls from people I love.  I cheated on the diet and got myself a mocha freeze from Costco.  John took me out for supper and then we came home and watched the second "Wicked" movie.  Katie came along with was one of my favorite parts of the day.  We don't see her as much these days (I am convinced that is one of God's ways to prepare moms for their kids leaving the nest) so it was pretty sweet she gave up a Friday night with her friends to spend time with her old mom.  

I took this picture outside the restaurant.  Super thankful for being 55 and looking forward to the year ahead!

The first blog post of 2026

I really am going to try hard to be a better blogger in 2026.  I had extra inspiration the other day when John was complaining about the shoe build-up in the mud room.  Anyone else have this problem?  Like literally there was about 20 pairs of shoes in there.  Why do we have so many shoes?  Anyway, John was yelling at the kids (because it is mostly their shoes) and Katie said, "I was just reading mom's blog from a long time ago and it said Dad was complaining about all the shoes in the mud room."  

Trust me, I know some people reading this are thinking, "John should just cherish this time when there are lots of shoes in the mud room because someday soon it will just be his and Dee's shoes there and then he will miss them."  I don't think so people.  I think John is looking forward to less shoes in the mud room.

Anyway, the point it, Katie was looking back at old blog posts which made me happy and makes me realize that it is worth it to document life here at the Hiemstra House...even if it's just John's frustration over shoes.

John and I spent New Year's Eve at friend's house.  It was a small party but still lots of fun despite John burning the bottom of my pigs-in-a-blanket.  At 11:30, I asked him if he wanted to leave since I knew he had to get up early the next morning (him and the kids were going skiing) and I could hardly believe it when he said yes!  This was the first time in a VERY long time we were in bed before midnight.  I can't say I hated it.

John sent me some pictures from Mount Baker the next day.  Apparently, they had a great day - it was warm but the snow was good and it wasn't too busy.  And best of all - they all came home sore but in one piece!

John took us out to Texas Roadhouse one night.  I think we said it was to celebrate Sam's last official Christmas break but really it was just because I didn't want to cook.

Holly went to Florida to celebrate New Years (and a late Christmas) with James's family.  She's making me a little jealous sending me beach and sun pictures like this.

His mom got them matching Christmas pjs!  

I have to go clean up my shoes from the mudroom now.