Life on the Vine

Buon Natale!  Stockings are unstuffed.  Presents are unwrapped.  The boys are chewing on their new bones and our bellies are full from a Christmas breakfast.  There is still frost on the ground outside and we've got a fire going in the living room fireplace.  Church bells have rung, carrying their song through the chilly air.  Tom's wearing one of his Christmas presents...a new shirt from my mom.  I'm wearing some alpine slippers I picked up at the Bolzano Christmas Market on Saturday.  The Christmas tree lights are on and our bookshelves are framed with the Christmas cards we have received.  My coffee cup is full of Irish coffee and we're listening to Burl Ives Christmas album.  I want to sit here and enjoy the ambiance and music so I thought it might be a nice time to share some photos and reflect on our first Christmas in Italy. It's hard to believe we have been living in Italy for six months.  We're already halfway through our first year.  Time is flying! 

By nature I'm a bit of a homebody.  I like being home with my honey and the fuzzy kids.  Whether it's cooking in the kitchen, sitting around reading, or watching things on YouTube, I'm perfectly happy just being home.   But my desire and comfort with being at home now has to be counter-balanced with this amazing time in our lives when we have the opportunity to live and and work in Italy.  It's incredible and we are so blessed! I truly believe that we all need to recharge and relax so I don't feel guilty one iota if I spend a rainy Sunday in my jammies.  But I've just got to make sure that doesn't become my default on the weekends. I think Tom and I have been successful so far in setting an intention every weekend to do at least one new thing whether it's visiting a new store, going to a winery or taking the boys on a new hiking trail. This past week has been particularly full of fun, new adventures and great fellowship with new friends so I thou