Thoughts on December . . .

I don't mind that the month of December opens the windows of the year to another wintertime . . . with it's wind and cold, rain, sleet, snow . . . December brings to me a spark of love and faith, for it heralds the Christmas Season, my favourite season of the year.

I am still a big child at heart, and there isn't anything about Christmas that I don't love. The decorations, the carols, the sights, the smells, the sounds . . . I find great joy and excitement in all these things. Living outside the actual city the way that I do, helps keep me close to the joy of yuletide, the real meaning of Christmas . . . and the hope and trust that come to one whose faith is based on the birth of the Christchild in Bethlehem. I am not really surrounded by all the commerciality of an urban centre and, if I didn't need to go into town for anything, I would not see any of it at all, especially if I chose not to turn on my television during this time of year.

In the corner of the livingroom stands our tree. I wish that it was a real one, with all it's evergreen smell, but it's an artificial one. I have it decorated from top to tail with gingerbread men . . . some I've made myself, and other's which I've bought through the years. there are also others which have been gifts from much beloved friends. Its' a tree filled with memories and love . . . and I feel really good sitting in my chair and gazing at it's branches laden with all my treasures, the colours of it's sparkling lights gleaming in the winter twilight.

Outside our house the hedgerow is ablaze with the red berries of the Holly, it's waxy green leaves shining and beckoning me to clip some, placing it throughout the house, adorning it with some medieval tradition that I know nothing about, but yearn to embrace. What would Christmas be without holly . . .

We don't have any snow. That is one thing I do miss at Christmas time. The countryside covered in a blanket of pristine white, shining like diamonds in the winter sun . . . glowing and sparkling when touched by the light of the stars high in the heavens. Back home, it most always snows on Christmas Eve . . . big, white, fluffy flakes falling softly down from the heavens like feathers, adding to the magic of that special night. But there is beauty anyways in the frozen ground over here and the frost that begins to gild the trees and hedgerows with their own special frosting on these colder winter mornings . . . 

Bells and carols spread love and joy and add to the true spirit of Christmastime. I have an extensive library of Christmas music, and I love to put it on during these December days and evenings . . . playing it low in the background, providing a wonderfully familial backdrop to all my December activities. As the winter birds visit the feeders outside my kitchen window, I hear this holy season of love in the songs that they sing. I believe that the Robin is prettiest at this time of year, it's rosy red little breast puffed up against the cold as it hops along our garden pathways seeking crumbs, it's beautiful song filling the cold crisp air . . . a most welcome garden visitor.

I need no other gifts as long as I have the love of family, my loving friendships, and all this beauty and song around me. I meditate and dream, of Christmas's gone past and present . . . the memories of Christmastime continue to point the way to the birth of our Saviour who promised eternal life for those who believe, and so I believe . . . this is the season of love.
 

 

Tina and Tony popped in the other afternoon with this beautiful Christmas Cake for us.  They do cakes every year for Tony's cousin and family and they made an extra one just for us.  I think it is gorgeous! Such a simple way to decorate it, but so pretty.  I am sure it is also very delicious!  I just have to keep Todd from digging into it early!  He loves fruit cake! 

I ended up not going to the Christmas party last night. I really don't like social situations very much.  I know that might seem a bit strange because I come across as being very outgoing on here, but really I am not.  I have people that I know well and I tend to gravitate towards them, especially in social situations.  By the end of the day I was also feeling very tired and not very sociable at all.  Zzzz . . . went to bed about 8:30, read for about half an hour, was falling asleep, so turned off the light, slept for half an hour and bang, I was dreaming something nasty and woke myself up crying for help. so then I read for another fifteen minutes or so, and then spent the rest of the night, dreaming and waking up, dreaming and waking up. 

Today I think I am going to clean the refrigerator and get it ready for Christmas.  Cleaning the fridge is not my favourite thing to do, but I always end up with  jars that only have bits of this and that in them, and they need to be tossed.  They take up so much room, room that is needed for other things.  Wish me luck! I am going to commandeer Todd to help me and I know he will be complaining about waste the whole time!  On second thought, I just might leave him out of the equation.  It will be more peaceful that way!

A thought to carry with you  . . .

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *I think as you grow older,
your Christmas list 
gets smaller,
and the things you really 
want for the holidays 
can't be bought.   •。★★ 。* 

 

Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  Bacon Ranch Chicken & Rice.  A delicious all in one pan supper.  I made a simple salad on the side.  

I hope you have a wonderful Wednesday!  Don't forget along the way of your day  . . . 

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And I do too!