Quite a year!!

Today marks the 1 year anniversary of

 Stay-at-Home Witchery!

I am beyond elated at how far this small blog has come and what I have learned in the process of writing it. I have been able to share so much of my life with my friends, family, and loyal readers. But more than that, I have found a deeper connection and understanding with my own beliefs, practices, and family.

This blog started as a way for me to pass the time while I was on bed rest while pregnant. As the posts progressed it took on a life of it's own and has become an important part of my everyday life. My family finds it funny when something happens and I run from the room with a "I have to write that down so I don't forget" and insert said event into my research/blog memo notebook.

More people that I could have ever imagined read my blog. My audience spans 17 countries and has more weekly visitors than I could have dreamed of. I am amazingly grateful for every single one of my readers and followers! It is my sincerest hope that you enjoy reading these posts as much as I enjoy writing them!

In other news... Solstice this year was very uneventful. I spent a decent chunk of time in front of our winter altar and said my thanks and asked blessings for friends and family members. Because I was completely by myself this year with just the baby, I didn't do anything more than that. Also, it was dreadfully dreary and raining outside. Oh yeah.... and Chubs was sick, too. Regardless, I celebrated my own way.

Christmas was stressful. Fun, but stressful. Because of the baby being sick for so long, and me being a horrible procrastinator, a lot of my plans got left for Christmas eve. We visited 3 different sides of our families, I was even wished a Merry Yule by one of Daddy's cousins.

New Year's Eve is coming up in a few days. I have no idea what is going on with that. Personally, I don't feel like doing anything! I just want to stay in pj's! Then again, that could be because I spent over 2 hours shoveling snow yesterday and I am sore beyond belief! (Daddy can't because of his back. Honestly, I do enjoy shoveling snow)

I'm starving and dinner is smelling delicious. Good Night, Readers!

Brightest Blessings!
       )O(

Just around the corner...

Well, it's that time of year again! Solstice and Christmas are just around the corner. Yes, we celebrate both in our house. We don't exchange gifts on Solstice, it's a time for family, giving thanks for the blessings we've received all year, and stories...oh yea, and food. There is always food :D.

I have a very overwhelming love for the holidays. I enjoy Christmas just as much as I do Solstice! We have totally different traditions for each. On Solstice we are very immediate family centered. We have a feast, tell stories, the boys get new pj's and we watch movies together after the Solstice ritual.

On Christmas we celebrate with our extended family. We do brunch and present exchanges with my side. Then we visit with Daddy's family and do a present exchange there. Christmas is when Santa comes for the boys. This year my grandmother asked if we (my parents, brother, and our family) would go to mass with her and Opa. I almost laughed when she asked me to go. Just because she made it sound more like asking my permission to even ask the question. She has an odd way of showing her respect for my religious views. But she tries and that is enough for me.  I'm actually looking forward to it.

I have always enjoyed church services in the Catholic church even though I don't agree with what they are preaching about.  I love the music and the energy vibe that the congregations give off. The one thing I miss is having a group of people who share my beliefs. I have some great friends who support me and are absolutely wonderful. But I would love to have a 'coven' with which I could hold rituals with.

*sigh* The joys of being a solitary practitioner. :)

Anyway, we decorated the house over the past two days. We have almost seamlessly melded both Christmas and Solstice in our home. I will have pics up tomorrow. The lighting wasn't all that great after we finished. Also, I FINALLY got my altar changed from fall to winter.

So, aside from getting gifts finished up, I NEED to write out my Solstice ritual. Last year I modified one written by my friend. This year I'd love to write my own but utilize some of the traditions that I started last year.

I will be busy busy busy for the next 4 days, plus I promised my mom I would go shopping with her tomorrow and also bake cookies this week.

A lot of people let themselves get too stressed around this time of year. Yes, I have tons to do. But I try to remember how much fun each individual thing is and not to stress about the few things that don't get done.

Well... pictures and more insight tomorrow. Sleep now.

Blessed Be
    )O(