.SOMETIMES RAW.

Hello!

You are HERE, right NOW, and this is all that matters. There are many ups and downs in our life but I think it is important to give thanks to what we do have already and start loving how we are – no matter what. 2015 is almost over and looking back at this year I have to admit that it has been some sort of wild ride with many great moments, sad moments, tons of traveling and loss. All this ups made me realize once again that every day is unique and special.

Some days are tougher than others but we have to keep in mind that even if we feel down we do need to look up again to see the bigger, brighter picture and that life goes on no matter what. Some things we cannot change and should stop worrying about. I lost a great friend this year through a motorcycle accident but I keep reminding myself of the wonderful times we did share all together. I remember how his wife, my husband, our son and I all sat together outside at the fireplace, eating cake and watching the stars as it started getting colder. I treasure all these moments because they had a great impact on my life and I am so grateful for that. I hope they will last forever.

There is always a lot of advice for tough situation and how to deal with them. But how can we really be thankful when it is so easy to complain about everything? Or how can we see the light when times get rough? I believe that it is a daily constant challenge and not easy at all. It is important for me to remember all the good times and that I am healthy, able to walk wherever I want to go and have a family who stands behind me no matter what. Also, my husband always tells me that the hardest, toughest situations in life build an opportunity for hope and even better, to build character. Nothing is perfect – well, nature is, but that is it. Everybody has some sort of untold sad story. Don’t forget this. And if you haven’t loved yourself enough lately or lost yourself in the last couple of days with all this Christmas insanity, just make some changes in the right direction. I will eat less, drink less and give myself permission to rest. Maybe at this place?  

I will turn down some of the outside noise and just focus on being good to myself. Through mediation I will be able to come home to my inner self. I remind myself that by calming down I am enough. That everything is okay the way it is.

How do you deal with bringing more love into your life? I wish you some great, restorative last couple of days in 2015.

Thank you for reading my blog.

Hello!

This is the most wonderful time of the year, right? There is always so much to eat. Everybody invites one to a delicious Christmas Dinner – and I don’t even mention the family Christmas parties. On Tuesday was my brother’s birthday party on top of it. He asked me to bake my world-famous Banana Cake for him. You guys, this cake is so delicious and easy to make and bake. You won’t feel stuffed after eating it and the texture is nice and soft. Overall- amazingly good! Here is the recipe for you to try. Eat this cake in the afternoon or bring it for dessert after dinner to your next Christmas party! Here is the recipe. Enjoy!

Thank you for reading my blog. 

Hello!

I took a walk today and thought how crazy it is that we almost reached the end of December without a single snowflake on the ground. We will not have a white Christmas this year which is sort of strange. We spent time at the Christmas Market with temperatures reaching almost 13 degrees Celsius (55 Fahrenheit). We did not feel like drinking hot mead or Glühwein, instead some cocktails with ice cubes. The weather is just weird this year.

I remember the Christmas traditions in my family which did not change too much in all those years. On Christmas Eve we used to attend the late afternoon service at the town church. After service, we walked back home and there was always a candle at the entrance of the house and dinner was prepared. My father usually stayed at home to set everything up for the “Christkind’s arrival” and the presents 🙂

We used to have dinner at home together with my grandparents and while we ate in the kitchen or living room, we heard a bell ringing outside. This was usually the sign that Christkind brought the gifts and we could look for ours under the Christmas tree. We would tear them open with excitement and compare what everybody else got while hurrying to the next gifts. After everything calmed down we used to sing Christmas songs and sometimes watched a movie when my grandparents left. It was nice and peaceful.

Many years passed and I was not able to celebrate Christmas with my parents. Many things happen; marriage, a move to another city, later country, a baby – just changes. But my family’s  tradition comes back to life whenever we are here which makes it so special. And of course, there was snow. Lots of snow – which made Christmas even better. As kids we used to go sledding in the park, built huge snowman or went ice skating. And of course waking up to a snowy Christmas morning is priceless. These days, when or more ‘if’  it is cold outside, we are wrapped in blankets at the fireplace in the living room drinking Glühwein and the world is okay. My son is able to spend so much time with all his Oma’s and Opa’s and I love to see how happy and content he is. The time in the States being alone with him was okay and we made the best out of the situation but I realized how important it is to have family close by. Being back at my parents place for Christmas with my husband and son makes me feel like a child again and there is this heartwarming feeling of happiness and calmness that is so great to experience. My family, these traditions, just minus snow.

Thank you for reading my blog.