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Writer's picturebrandipowell

Stroke of Midnight

With the start of this new year I have decide to take on a 365 writing challenge. The true challenge will be the commitment of finding the time to do it. It is important to me to grow as a writer and the only way to do that is to write and write often. It is something I have always loved. The past year I have lost all motivation to keep my blog up-to-date and I regret it. I feel like I am still recording our lives via Instagram so I haven’t written, but it’s not the same. Similar to pushing the boundaries and practicing outside my comfort zone with my photography, I hope for the same this year with my writing.

I found my daily prompts here.

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WHERE WERE YOU AT THE STROKE OF MIDNIGHT WHEN 2014 TURNED INTO 2015? IS THAT WHERE YOU WANTED TO BE?

It was always important for me to be home on Christmas morning when the kids are small. When racing to the tree to see what Santa left is still the best moment of the year in their little lives. I want my kids wrapped up in their blankies on chilly Christmas mornings dumping out their stockings while the fire warms them. I want them opening presents slowly. Able to take a break from the wrapping paper chaos for breakfast and more coffee. I have always wanted to be able to truly enjoy the time and the gifts. I don’t want to force them to hurry, to get dressed quickly so we can be somewhere on time. Christmas morning is for them and I have always made my wishes clear. We are lucky that our parents have always understood, as they have been in that situation and looking back they never really enjoyed having to be rushed away. Everyone will always be welcome here on Christmas, but we will not be traveling or chain-visiting.

With that said, we missed our families over Christmas. With new snow and bad roads we had no traveling visitors over Christmas.

On New Year’s Eve we traveled the 150 miles to Hometown to see our families. We had pre-scheduled our time to be sure we utilized every minute visiting and celebrating. There is never enough time to love on everyone. Three days just isn’t enough time. And for all of those that we were not able to see, you are in our prayers and always on our minds.

We arrived at Papa’s late, after a yummy Italian dinner out. Living where we live leaves us often craving different food. It is usually the first thing we do in the big town, eat!

Papa was as eager to see Addi’s new guitar as she was to show him. He has always played and I vividly remember him softly signing and playing throughout my childhood. Her tiny fingers contorted all over the neck trying to remember the three chords Papa was trying to teach her.


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We were tired, and figured it was midnight somewhere. After watching the iconic ball drop in NYC (on TV!) we all fell fast asleep hours before the stroke of midnight in our own time zone.  A side note: I’ve never fully understood the excitement of that large, shiny ball dropping. All those people crammed in together on a freezing street, looking at a large screen at the new year idol… the tradition totally escapes me. Just watching the commotion on TV is enough to make me shutter in a panic attack. However, I am sure Addison will try and talk us into it one year. To her, NYC is full of excitement and she is enthralled by just the sight of it! yikes

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Would I have rather been shivering on the streets of NYC, crammed in heels at a club or drinking fancy spirits at a New Year’s party? Really, really not. Tucked into my childhood room cuddling my boy while falling asleep to the hum of Netflix was just what I wanted. It would have been nice had my childhood room be located on Maui, but otherwise, I was perfectly content and so were my kids.

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