I sat down to create a fun Gathered Home holiday gift guide/wish list and I was just hijacked by emotion.
Unexpected.
Humbled. Grateful. Content. Blessed…
I felt like I was slapped across the face with the truth of this realization:
This year has been intense. Loved ones have hurt. I have hurt. At times I have been so swallowed up by the hurt of this year that I couldn’t see the joy and the relief and the love.
Loved ones have celebrated good things. I have celebrated good things.
And right now sitting and thinking about the sum of this year hurts, but in a good way.
Because of the love of family and friends that have been a sustaining force of good this year. Because love is everything.
And somehow pretty shiny things were just completely overshadowed… Because love is everything and I truly have all that I need right now.
I didn’t mean to get all mushy on you! But I want to thank you, friends, readers, for all the love I have received from you this year – for your grace and encouragement. It’s small token, but I want to offer you a free “Love Is Everything” printable and my wishes that your holiday season is just filled – overflowing – with love!
I’ll be back later this week with the usual Gathered Home fun!
i agree! love is all you ever need. we had so much fun this weekend and it was because we were with family…. the rest didn't matter. we did fun things and opened presents and celebrated christmas, but the highlights for me are the memories filled with love. my sister in law opening something i gave her and wrote an entire paragraph about the meaning and both of us crying…. playing trivial pursuit and laughing at ourselves and each other in a good way…. crossing the finish line and having my family there, but mostly my mother in law looking at me and just saying "i am so proud of you"…. sawyer coming home to tell me how much fun he had golfing with the men…. and then chris on the phone last night to his parents to let them know we made it home safely and thanking them for everything but telling them that the best thing was just all being together. i am sort of mushy this morning, too, as you can tell, so this post was perfect for me. 🙂 love that i have met you this year, and look forward to a continued friendship and our bright ideas and bright inner light. love you.
What a beautiful time Cassie! That just sounds so wonderful! My sister is having surgery again today and I just can't wait for Christmas so my whole family can get together again!
I'm so thankful for your friendship, sweet friend! Love you too!
Aww, Brynne. I'm so sorry for all the hurt. I hope 2015 is filled with even more Love for you!
Thank you my friend! I hope this upcoming year is full of good things for you as well!
I think it's so important to put posts like this out into the world when the mood hits you– I'm glad for many reasons this year is coming to a close, and I feel 2015 is going to have a difficult start, but the years will keep moving forward and a good one is on the way!!
Thank you Stephanie – I hope you are surprised by good things at the start of 2015!
I love this post so much more than any gift guide. Thank you for writing it my friend.
Thank you Kenz! <3
You're awesome. I'm so glad to have met you (albeit online) and witness the support and friendship you share with all of us. Much love to you!
Thank you Anna! Right back at you! <3
Such a great post. Love truly is everything. Unfortunately I haven't been feeling like this outside of our little family but I'm hoping if we can stick together like glue it won't matter what happens around us.
And I agree with Kenz, the post was better than any gift guide.
Aw, Julia, I'm sorry! You're a person who is just so full of love (more love for even stray cats than anyone else I know!) and I hope you feel all that love returned to you this holiday season! I'm so lucky to know you! Love, Brynne
It has been a rough year, but you are amazing! You've done incredible things, and there's more to come!
Thank you friend! YOU are amazing! 🙂
I love that you shared this. Such a good reminder of the real beauty of the season.
Thank you for sharing this!
A great reminder this time of year. Thank you! Merry Christmas!