Bumming and reflecting..............

Today I took all of the ornaments off of my Christmas tree. Yes, I am aware of the date, but it is just a sad affair to dismantle a Christmas tree. The necessity of abolishing the tree to the garage each year is seen as sad and wasteful by the younger members of our family. With some haunted melancholy music, beautifully composed by Danny Elfman, playing in the background, I started upon my task. Our tree is packed full of ornaments, with the majority being homemade. I love the history and memories that the tree evokes each year as we joyfully hang ornaments, and note the growth that has taken place. Throughout the holiday season, new ornaments are added. Yet, packing them away is rather sad. Wrapping a popsicles sleigh with a second grader's picture on it, squeezes my heart. I know she will never be that age again. A name carefully written on a wooden angel with an unsteady hand is priceless to me. Ornaments from friends and loved ones are packed away and I wonder where these individuals will be a year from now. What will our world be like a year from now? I hope and pray that next year, as we pull the ornaments from the boxes, it will find us reaching new milestones, wiser from experiences, at peace with our decisions, and content with our lot in life.

Speaking with angels.........

I have been people watching lately, and I have discovered something astounding. The happy people, in particular the happy elderly people are individuals who are grateful. Life is a happy place for them to be, and they are just grateful for the opportunity to be a part of this thing we call life. I know, it is a bit 'pollyanish', but these people seem to just glow and I for one want to bask in all of that goodness. I've watched as these individuals deal with adversity, or just plain mean people. I couldn't help but notice that the good was always looked for first. If they were dealing with someone ornery, it was just assumed that that grouchy person was doing their best, and didn't mean any harm. If trials came their way, they counted their blessings, and thanked God for what they did have and would humbly ask for help. I'm tying it up into a neat little package, and probably treating it a bit lightly, but really, when was the last time you gave a prayer, the entire prayer, over to gratitude. Really took the time to thank God for each and every blessing. I imagine it would be a very humbling and sweet time of reflection. I, for one, intend to try it for who doesn't want that peace and contentment?

Too much of a good thing.............

Today was another beautiful, sunny day in the Southwest, and I am sick to death of it! Honestly, this is January and I am just having a hard time adjusting to the spring like weather. Last count it has been five months without any decent precipitation. I have to confess that I have been watching the news around the country with envy. The alarmed broadcaster speaks every few days of another blizzard. Pictures of icy roads, snowed in cars and buildings do not bring the sympathy and concern that are warranted. Instead, my children and I are glued to the screen practically salivating at a foreign land of white powdery snow. We know nothing of the shoveling, bundling, skidding, freezing, or power outages. All we see is snow, wonderful snow! Our weatherman is treated with contempt and scorn when he happily announces that we are in for "another beautiful sunny day!" There follows witty banter about how lucky we are to live in a place with so much sun! Humph! I'm thinking I might gather the children round the fireplace tonight and perform a snow dance. Google probably has some great ideas!