![]() Merry Christmas Eve! For the past month, I’ve been procrastinating about blogging. “Have to add something to the blog.” “MUST add something to the blog.” I love my little website. That’s not the issue. The issue is being busy and preoccupied. Okay, okay… So playing video games doesn’t mean I’m “busy” per se. Though to be fair, I read that gaming is good for the brain and for overall well-being. If it makes me smarter, happier and is legal, I’ll do it. Um, I might want to rethink that sentence later, but it’s midnight-ish so please forgive me if forgiveness is required. :-) And disregard any spelling or grammatical errors. Being an early bird and a night owl takes a lot of energy. Especially now that I’m officially old. :-) Christmastime… It’s always been my favorite time of year. Is it yours? We all have different feelings about Christmas and the holidays in general. This year, it’s gathered the nickname “COVID Christmas 2021.” For some, it’s the “hap happiest time of year” (to quote Clark Griswold). For others, it’s a time of deep sorrow. For some, it’s a time of celebrating Jesus’ birth. For others, it’s quite different. For some, it’s healthy and happy. For others, it’s challenging health obstacles and depression. You see where I’m going with this, right? I could make comparisons `til the cows come home. They say it’s good for one’s well-being to list at least one happy thing each day. Thoughts. Feelings. Reflections. Blessings. I’ve been trying to do that. I’m not consistent with it, but when I actually do it, I feel good. My happy thing today is remembering Christmastime as a child. The best Christmases of my life were as a child. Before I entered junior high. That’s saying a lot considering I’m 46 now, but good memories are treasures so I’ll take what I can get. :-) Christmastime as a child… With fondness, here are some of the many memories I have of those years:
Relatable? Merry Christmas and God bless you and your loved ones! May your holiday season shine with joy and laughter and may peace, love and prosperity follow you always! Performed by LIBERA, from the 2019 album ‘Christmas Carols with Libera'
Conductor - Robert Prizeman Music - M Leontovych Arranged - Robert Prizeman Filmed at St Augustine’s church, Kilburn VIdeo director - Emyr Afan Video editor - Scott Jaeger ![]() Making cards and gifts for loved ones is a great idea, especially if you find yourself strapped for cash. There's such fulfillment in watching people light up with happiness. This year, the majority of gifts I gave were handmade. Custom cards. The "Love and Light" gift: a mason jar that could be filled with sand, water and or shells, complete with the forementioned materials (except for water), votives and matches. The "You Matter" gift: a design in a delicate frame with a purposely imperfect white tissue paper background. Here's a picture of that design (you might recognize the famous poem): PS: There's a new page under "My Art" titled "Gift Card Designs". Check it out when you get a chance!
May your holidays
be happy days, filled with love and laughter. And may each day bring joy your way in the year that follows after! ![]() Hey all, Christmas is just 9 days away! When I was a kid, I loved how Christmastime transformed everyone and everything. The season of love, joy and perpetual hope tends to have that effect...or it should. Christmas can be the absolute best or worst time of year for people, and this year I sense it's not the best judging by the environment around me. What can we do to warm hearts this season? Here are a few thoughts:
I hope that wherever you are, whomever you're with and whatever you're doing, that you're enjoying this beautiful season. If you find someone in need of cheer, don't be afraid to reach out. Sure, there's always the possibility that efforts will backfire, but there's always the possibility that you'll bring much needed sunshine to someone's day! Sending you love and happy hugs! Jen Gift of Magic and Love'Tis the season for warmth and cheer, To be with our family and those we hold dear. But what if we are miles away? What if we can't be there on Christmas day? We could send a beautiful Christmas card, A glittery ornament that shines like a star, A tin of cookies so warm and sweet, But there's only one gift that makes it complete. It's sent through the snowflakes in the air, Through an angel's peaceful and heavenly prayer, Through the verdant Christmas tree, Through the Holy Babe, sleeping peacefully. This gift is magical in every way. It only comes on Christmas day. It's what makes us truly rich; A heartfelt, loving Christmas wish. It's bright and big like the Bethlehem star. It stretches wide and travels far. It's the first snow of Christmas day. It's the sun's warm and hopeful ray. This precious gift I gladly send. It's a Christmas wish to my family and friends: May love, peace, and joy in your lives stay, And may you have a Merry Christmas - always! Poem source: Ciana R. Geckle
Graphic design: jen @ www.everythingunscripted.net ![]() 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse; The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there; The children were nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of sugar plums danced in their heads; And mamma in her 'kerchief, and I in my cap, Had just settled down for a long winter's nap, When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. Away to the window I flew like a flash, Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow Gave the lustre of mid-day to objects below, When, what to my wondering eyes should appear, But a miniature sleigh, and eight tiny reindeer, With a little old driver, so lively and quick, I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, And he whistled, and shouted, and called them by name; "Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer and Vixen! On, Comet! On Cupid! On, Donder and Blitzen! To the top of the porch! to the top of the wall! Now dash away! dash away! dash away all!" As dry leaves that before the wild hurricane fly, When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, So up to the housetop the coursers they flew, With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas too. And then, in a twinkling, I heard on the roof The prancing and pawing of each little hoof. As I drew in my hand, and was turning around, Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. He was dressed all in fur, from his head to his foot, And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, And he looked like a peddler just opening his pack. His eyes -- how they twinkled! his dimples how merry! His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry! His droll little mouth was drawn up like a bow, And the beard of his chin was as white as the snow; The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, And the smoke it encircled his head like a wreath; He had a broad face and a little round belly, That shook, when he laughed like a bowlful of jelly. He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself; A wink of his eye and a twist of his head, Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread; He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, And filled all the stockings; then turned with a jerk, And laying his finger aside of his nose, And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose; He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, And away they all flew like the down of a thistle. But I heard him exclaim, ere he drove out of sight, "Happy Christmas to all, and to all a good-night." Poetry source: Burton Egbert Stevenson
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May 2022
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