Reasons to be Cheerful - Advent, Cakes and Walks

It's time to share another cheery update. I find this such a good practise to record all the things that I'm grateful for and I was listening to a podcast this week that reminded me that counting your blessings is one of the antidotes to leading a bitter life. I certainly don't want to go through life bitter, and I know I have a tendency for that, so here is my next gratitude instalment.

1. Beautiful winters days, with amazing skies but not too cold.

2.  Lockdown has finished and we are welcoming guests back to the centre where I live.

3.  I had a great walk with a friend along Bexhill seafront, it was good to chat and enjoy a hot chocolate.

4.  My girls filled an advent calendar  for me and the first day was a little note saying 'I love you', it's very cute

5.  I'm all finished with my Christmas shopping and have even started wrapping, it feels good to be ahead of the game

6.  The girls have found a girls football club to join, and they start next week

7.  I'm enjoying the book we're working through at church at the moment, it is certainly stretching me to learn more

8.  I had lunch with my boys at Toby Carvery and it was such a nice meal, I do love a good roast dinner

9.  We had some people over for dinner (who we live in community with) and it was a lovely evening. I cooked Indian food and it went down well.

10.  MIss M is singing in a choir and I'm really looking forward to hearing her solo.

11.  My husband and I had a nice walk around Bedgebury Pinetum. The Autumn colours are really lovely.

12.  I ordered myself a new bible, one with large print. I am having to give in and acknowledge the fact that my eyesight is not all it was!

13.  I've been baking again, this time I made a courgette and orange cake with a cream cheese frosting. It was good but not as good as I was hoping for. 

14.  I've just found 9-1-1 Lone Star and have watched the first couple of episodes. It is very good and I like the eye candy of Rob Lowe, he improves with age!

15.  I started to help with some community meals at church last week and it felt good to be volunteering for something worthwhile again.

16.  My Christmas cake has been baked and is ready for feeding with brandy for the next few weeks. I'm also thinking of making some easy shortbread, as that is a real favourite of mine. 

Sixteen things to be grateful for, that's not bad going, right? I suspect they'd be more if I started to think about the little things but it's getting late and I'll call it a day there.

I hope all is well in your world and you're not suffering too much with the measures in place at the moment due to Covid. 

Have a great weekend friends, Mich xx