No doubt about it ~ the Christmas season has always been my favorite time of year. Everything, from the soft, peaceful music to the bright, colorful lights... The gathering of family and friends to the quiet, soulful nights... The laughter of children to the faces filled with silent wonder... Even the long lines and miles of traffic! Call me crazy!

This year, Christmas has been a complete mixture of sheer happiness, warmth and peace ~ blended with a little bit of worry and frustration. I never thought that what was waiting under the tree Christmas morning ~ or what wasn't ~ would have such a huge impact on whether or not I felt the Christmas spirit in my heart. I guess when that worry isn't there, it's easy to say it isn't about "things".

My faith and spirits were restored however, as blessing upon blessing came my way throughout the season. Family... friends... even STRANGERS, have come into my life and given me reason to give thanks. Love is all around me. Warmth is in my heart.

There is no greater gift, than this.

~ Merry Christmas ~

Christmas Ornaments

This week's challenge is Christmas Ornaments. I am looking for square photos, if you can, with either your favorite Christmas ornament or just an ornament. If you are not able to submit a square, I will crop to make it one (sorry ~ forgot this minor detail!). Like the last 2 challenges I will do a collage of all entries. Please post your entry between now & 12/18 no later than 9 PM EST, to be included in the Christmas Ornament collage. If you don't celebrate Christmas & would like to join in, you may include a decoration that would represent your holiday.

We finally put our tree up today. It was our first "real" tree in three years. I was really pushing for the fake one again ~ it's nice enough and saves money (even though secretly I would MUCH prefer a real one!). But the girls kept on insisting until I finally agreed. It was a gift from their father, actually, which I know made it even more special for them.

We have many beautiful ornaments. Some from Christmas long since past, and others that we've collected or been given over the years. One family friend has been bringing the girls special ornaments every year, beginning with their very first Christmas. Memorable little treasures to be passed on for what I hope will be generations.

From our family to yours, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

Life is filled with reasons to be thankful if we allow ourselves to be still enough to recognize them. And we should, every day. Several times a day, in fact. I know I don't do it often enough. Some blessings are more obvious than others: A hand to hold, a home filled with warmth, the kindness of others, food on the table. Things easily taken for granted that can be swiped away without a moment's notice if we aren't careful, and sometimes ~ even if we are.

My Thanksgiving prayer, is that even when the bills pile up, responsibilites seem endless and things aren't going right for one reason or another, I will find the strength to look deeper, see clearer and understand and appreciate better, all the blessings I've been given.

And that is my Thanksgiving prayer for all of you as well.

Wishing you and those you hold dear, a Thanksgiving Day to remember. May your hearts be light, your stomachs full and your blessings endless.

Every day of every year.

"The Gift"

Spoooooky....

Martha suggested our next Blogger's Community Photo Challenge be Spooky! It Could be something to do with Halloween, or something dramatic, haunting, mysterious, mysteriously strange, or eerie.

"Fear is that little darkroom, where negatives are developed....."
Michael Pritchard

Now, don't get me wrong.

I am as much a lover of words as the next person to post a blog entry. I have no intention of dismissing the beauty of a written (or typed) word here. On the contrary, i have more respect for someone who can draw me in with words alone than (almost) anything else.

But as most of us can know and appreciate ~ there's more.

Sometimes, it truly IS the image, that depicts the story or inspires the feelings and emotions of our hearts.


Thank you, to everyone over at CommunityPhotoChallenge, for continuing to keep things running as smoothly as possible. Things are really looking great over there, and I'm truly looking forward to seeing everyone come together to keep CPC alive and kicking in this new forum.


::sigh::

goodbye, "Reflections".