Christmas is coming...

 and there are so many sad faces... 

• Money is tight...
• Loved ones are spending their Christmas in Heaven...
• Those "around" you are mentioning the "cool" things they know they are getting...
• People you want to spend the day with have only limited time to spare...
• You don't have money for the things you would love to get people...
• You know your gifts to others will bring disappointment, even though they will try not to show it...
• There is so few days left to prepare and you feel overwhelmed...
• Life has brought changes into your life and holiday's only make that change more apparent and harder to bear...
• ...

These are a few of the things that I know personally are affecting those around me and myself this Christmas year. It breaks my heart and actually brings tears to my eyes knowing and seeing how sad a "holiday" has made others feel. There are so many expectations associated with this "holiday"... gifts, smiles, laughter, food... The expectations don't seem like a big thing if you take them one by one... til you combine them with the "holiday".  

I know there are those reading this that say this "holiday" isn't about what you get or give, it is about the birth of Christ, God's gift to man, etc.... Yes, you are right!!! But... as joyous as that is & as wonderful as that is... we are all human... we all have wants, desires, yearnings for something "more" to give, "more" to receive, on this day of the year! 

With tears in their eye & one of those dang fake smiles on their face, I have had  friends mention to me that they weren't going to let "circumstances" and "things" get in the way of their Christmas celebration. That they would celebrate with their whole heart Jesus's birthday & what that has meant for them and their lives!! That the gifts wouldn't matter, that the certain recipe not being made wouldn't matter, that others would be looking down from Heaven!! I know these people and I know they believe the things they mentioned!! I know the people will do their darnedest best to make that true!! But... I also know... that those "things" WILL affect their day! That those "things" WILL make their heart heavy on the day we celebrate Jesus's birth!

There are no easy answers... I can say and I WILL pray for them - and of course for myself and my family!... I can say they will be in my thoughts & I will reach out to them on that day! But... I can not take away that fake smile except for but a moment, I can not make the tears ones of joy, except for but a moment, I can not bring them laughter from the heart, except for but a moment... But damn it! THOSE MOMENTS COUNT!!! So............ REACH OUT people!! Give a SMILE! Give a HUG! Give some PRAYERS! Give some of your TIME! 

Make those moments happen!! 

BTW: My reply to each of the people mentioned above...."Are you daft?! Of course those things will affect your day ya Goof!" .....There's a smile... there's a laugh... just for a moment...

Grandchildren

When we have our children, God allows us to have a glimpse of Heaven & the wonders of it all. Sadly as our children grow & the hecticness of life interferes we tend to forget those wonders & the simplicity of life. Then... along come Grandchildren... and once again God sends us a reminder of the joys & wonders of the little things in life... Thank you Lord for children & the reminder of how much beauty there is in the world that I seem to have forgotten!

Alexxa & Elijah Oct 24th, 2010

It's been how long??? Wow!!

I happened upon a blog post tonight, of course I had to log in to comment - just one word - "Wow"... It is a must read, trust me on that one! My question to you & to myself...
What memories as a mom will you leave....
Click and read one man's story - you will not regret taking the time to do that!

I once quilted....

Such a sad statement :( Breaks my heart actually! I love viewing the online world of quilting and seeing everyone's progress and projects! But, alas.... I have 5 in "full" progress & about 4 in "wanna be progress" and have had them in "progress" for over a year, and no time to work on them!

I miss the days of matching colors, laying out rows, pinning.... okay, I don't miss pinning sorry! LOL Today I am dreaming of a day when I can find some time to fit in some quilting - never hurts to dream!!

changes....

Changes are happening constantly in our lives! Some of them we barely notice, some we fight for everything we are worth! Change in some instances is good, whether we are aware of it at the time or not lol Change is something that we NEED in our lives - I am not talking about clothing, well, yes, that needs to be changed often! lol I am talking about changes in our surroundings OR in our reaction to our surrounds...Change WITHIN ourselves! Change of the way we look at things or people! Those types of changes ARE needed! Partially it is a part of growing up, maturing, getting older. Part of it is to keep up with the times - like cell phones, email, blogging, etc... Once we accept that change is needed, and accept that change should be a welcome thing, then we have to figure out how we will handle the change that comes our way. Some changes are not for the better, some are. Some would harm our future, some would benefit our future. Do not fight change unless it is harmful to yourself or others. Embrace change as long as it appears to be beneficial and does not harm others. Go into your search about a change with an open heart and an open mind and lots of prayers! :)

Life has a way, of getting in the way of... life.

Do you ever feel like the days go by so fast that you feel a week, maybe months behind on your own life? That would describe the last year for me. Lots has happened, and in a lot of ways, nothing has happened - But, when I look back.... it brings joy & smiles to my heart!

~Daily routines that, yes, are monotonous are, in a lot of ways, just showing love to those around you... chores, work, yadda yadda... the to do list, is a list of love works! :)
~Momentous occasions are reminders of time flowing by and that we need to savor each and every moment we have! :)
~Changes come and go, and the reality of it all, is that our reaction is more of a change in our lives then the actual change. Sometimes ya gotta let go & let God!
~Plans made, plans cancelled, plans accomplished... goals made, goals forsaken, goals accomplished... just another way of life showing you that it will go on, with or without you.
~Life.............................................. is to be LIVED................................... not by just watching it go by................ but by LIVING each moment to the fullest....................... so that when you look back............ you have too many memories to remember them all............... but a smile on your face!