I decided that I needed to give myself some grace. I discovered Liz Lamoreaux’s Here: Five Things in June. I’ve followed Liz off and on for years, first as a scrapbooker and then art journaler (at least I tried to be an art journaler). Then “life” happened. So, the Five Things came as a new discovery. In June, I had “social media envy.” I tried to create beautiful pages for my lists in a bullet journal. That lasted three days, and I gave up because I didn’t think my pages looked as wonderful as the ones posted in the Facebook group. (Can you relate?)

I tried again in October and decided to write my lists simply. Sometimes I add a photo that pertains to the lists’ themes. I post photos of my handwritten lists occasionally. I try not to compare my pages to others. Each of us has our own ways of doing things and using the lists. Perfection is over-rated. I know that sometimes I set my expectations for myself too high and I cannot live up to that level. Therefore, I need to give myself grace.

I am thankful for that grace.

I started a project in October of photographing the cherry tree in the backyard from the porch steps. I documented the tree’s changes from the green of early fall through the bare branches of winter. This week, I walked out to the tree, and lo! and behold! it was loaded with bunches of cherries. I don’t think they are edible, though. I am so thankful I saw those cherries. I am anticipating the white blossoms later this winter.

It has turned cold! Well, it’s cold for this South Carolina girl. Anything under 65 degrees is cold to me! My sasanqua is blooming, but the cold mornings and frost last week have turned the flowers brown. Still, I am thankful for those beautiful pink flowers and the reminder of my grandmother. Camellias were Grandma’s flower. My other grandmother grew dahlias the size of dinner plates. I haven’t had that kind of luck with those flowers. I think I will try again this spring, though. I am thankful for my grandmothers (and grandfathers) and for the legacies they passed to their grandchildren.