Happy 2020 and December Recap

We went to the Christmas eve service at a church we have attended a few times (and would like to begin attending more regularly as soon as Anthony’s work schedule allows it.) It was lovely, as Christmas eve services always are. I just love singing all the Christmas hymns. They hit me right in the feels every time.

If I’m honest, this Christmas felt a little weird. It’s my first living so far away from family and while there were a lot of phone calls both Christmas eve and Christmas day, I missed being with all of them. On top of that, it’s so warm out here in Okinawa! I’m a white Christmas kind of Chick, and I found it harder than I expected to get into the tropical Christmas spirit.

Even still, we did have a wonderful day celebrating our savior’s birth. Again, it was super low key. We stayed home just the two of us and (after having gone all-out for Thanksgiving) it was perfect. Lots of couch snuggles and a delicious dinner by candlelight.

The day after Christmas we went to the beach and had a quiet evening there swimming, collecting shells, and sitting by a little beach fire. A wonderful way to end the holiday.

If I’m honest, this Christmas felt a little weird. It’s my first living so far away from family and while there were a lot of phone calls both Christmas eve and Christmas day, I missed being with all of them. On top of that, it’s so warm out here in Okinawa! I’m a white Christmas kind of Chick, and I found it harder than I expected to get into the tropical Christmas spirit.

Even still, we did have a wonderful day celebrating our savior’s birth. Again, it was super low key. We stayed home just the two of us and (after having gone all-out for Thanksgiving) it was perfect. Lots of couch snuggles and a delicious dinner by candlelight.

The day after Christmas we went to the beach and had a quiet evening there swimming, collecting shells, and sitting by a little beach fire. A wonderful way to end the holiday.

What’s coming in 2020

Year 2020 brings one specifically huge change to our lives.

New years day puts me at 30 weeks pregnant. Crazy right?! This baby girl is moving around practically non-stop and I’m rounding out more all the time. I’m absolutely loving carrying her, SO worth the aches and lack of sleep. I don’t even mind those sharp kicks to the ribs! I can’t wait to meet her in March.

Aside from our growing family, I have some fun things planned for this blog in 2020 as well. I’ve never really been one to make resolutions, but a definite goal for this coming year is to continue to grow my blog and increase content and traffic to it. I need this blog at least supporting itself, but of course the plan is to expand even beyond that.

The That Jo Chick blog is young, I don’t mind coming right out with that, and my posts have so far not branched out much into the areas I love most. There are certain topics I’ve barely touched, if at all.

• Sewing and upcycling projects and tutorials
• My life in Okinawa
• Life on a Military base
• Family and relationship fun
• Celebrating random holidays
• and offering handcrafted items for sale

Between having recently got a new sewing machine and becoming a mama in just a couple months, there will be so much opportunity for me to expand into these topics.

Stick around and experience with me all the fun that’s headed this way.

Roaring 2020 here we come!