A weekend of baking, running and thoughts.

So, I was pretty busy this weekend. First, I made all of the drop cookies I make for Christmas. My Christmas cookies take several rounds, each seeming to progress in difficulty leading up to Christmas. So I made 5 different types - chocolate chip, peanut butter chip in a chocolate batter, mint chip in a chocolate batter, white chocolate macadamia nut and cinnamon oatmeal chip. I made a batch of oatmeal with cranberries and white chocolate chips the end of last week too, so I guess technically I made 6 batches. And then, to top it off, I made 2 loaves of bread and a banana nut loaf. The mixer and the oven were really working overtime! But I love baking. There is something comforting about the continual process of mixing, baking, cooling, tasting and then, ultimately, giving that is rewarding to the soul. I know my neighbors and friends appreciate the effort! And it's so much more personal than giving a bought gift because I feel like a part of me is in each package I give.

In the midst of all this baking, I took a break yesterday morning to take a run. It was a beautiful morning here and I was excited to have long sleeves on but was still able to wear shorts. I set out at a nice pace, enjoying the brisk wind around me and settling in to a faster pace as I warmed up. The park where I ran was pretty crowded but it was still spaced out enough to not feel cramped. Just feeling that wind on my face and legs but the warmth of the sun on my back was exhilarating . I felt alive. And I usually spend my longer runs thinking and thinking and then just to be sure, thinking some more. But not this run. This was a run of release. Letting go of the craziness of the upcoming holidays, the uncertainty of how to deal with my daughter being an adult and being on her own, the sadness for my son not making the basketball team, the weight on my shoulders of all of this stress and more that seems to land on me more often than not these days. I just let it all go for that 4 miles. And I felt good. I went home, took a shower and then tackled the rest of my weekend with a peaceful, and maybe just a bit more hopeful, heart.