A Blessed Christmas to You♡

Hello lovely lovelies♡ Christmas is but a few days away. Just sitting here and gazing upon the glimmering Christmas tree. Yes, I finally sprinkled a little Christmas joy about, but only a little. The days of going all out with Christmas decorating are gone. Nowadays there's just a little Christmas wonderful wonderment scattered around.

The adorning of my home for Christmas is much the same as last year, because, to tell the truth I love it just the way it was/is. A most different tree from those gracing most homes, but I do love it. We replaced a most elegant, 9 foot, green Christmas tree which our family had loved for many years, to the one which now graces our parlour; a bare branched tree, with not a Christmas pine needle in sight. 'We' and I mean mostly me, couldn't do the 'Christmas Tree Wrestle', tussling with lights and decorations anymore. Clambering up and down a ladder for hours on end  was just dandy in my younger, arthritic-free days but it became a wee bit tedious....and painful.  'We' and I mean 'me' are too old. In the good old days when I uttered "tis time to decorate the Christmas tree" 'he' would head for dem hills, quicker than quick. So, a new tree, which only takes a matter of minutes to set up and then a couple of hours to decorate now stands gloriously in the footprint of that Christmas tree of old; twinkling upon me and casting a sparkling glow within the room.  Oh, I change the mantlepiece here and there, but mostly all my pretties are the same, because I love them. I am not that gal who has to go out every year and acquire decorations  for  a new theme. Though, this year a few new birdies have fluttered onto the tree, and a troupe of ballerinas have pirouetted to join the feathered pretties; but beside these new stars all the pretty ornaments are much the same. As I sit here, my heart smiles as I look at my Christmassy pretties.  There is something reassuring to me when I revisit all my pretties each year.

I find myself escaping through the day to sit and drink in the beauty of this room. During the late afternoon, Old Man Sun darts beams of coloured rays of light here and there, ricocheting all over the room; shadows dancing across the walls. It is enchanting. But, the magic of the glimmering lights at night time is my favourite. Christmas trees with scintillating lights twinkling, is truly one of life's pleasures.

On the mantle sits a photo of my girls, my babies, when they were small. The angels are smiling kindly upon them. As I stroll down the glistening path of nostalgic Christmas memories, so many cherished memories revolve around my girls' delight and happiness on Christmas mornings, of days past. So many sweet reminiscences of my girls hug my heart. My girls.....how I miss them. Both are far away, following their dreams. One daughter is in San Fransisco, and the other daughter lives in Queensland, at the top of Australia. It will be another Christmas without embracing my girls in a mother's hug. I haven't hugged my girls for three years. Such are these times.  I suppose when we all finally hug each other again, at the airport, it will be akin to those airport scenes in the movie, Love Actually. Our borders have begun to open up again over the last week, and the news footage of loved ones finally being able to be with each other again, is just like the movie. They all hug for what seems forever. Airports paradoxically are joyous; and sad. Perhaps, this coming year my husband and I will find ourselves at an airport en route to our girls; or them to us.......perhaps, perhaps. Though, who knows, as the world's Petri dish of covid just keeps becoming more menacing.

As I look upon my girls I think about all those memories kept within the deepest part of me, making me smile and may I say, at times, teary. But all is well. Here in my little place there is peace; yes, my heart is peaceful as I think upon the many beautiful  blessings which fill my heart with gratitude. Such is life, isn't it; sadnesses, disappointments, regrets, hardships, adversity, not so good times.......co-exist with the little joys, big joys, peacefulness, gratitude, blessings; in the everyday of our days. In my little world there is  beauty all around me. God's glorious garden and creation encompass me. I feel blessed. Though sometimes difficult, I want to try to see the beauty in my everyday; all those little things that can go unnoticed, which can disappear before I catch them.....especially in these times.

There are those of you who I know Christmas will be a difficult one. To some of you it is perhaps the worst of times. My goodness, so many tragedies have happened this year. My prayer list seems to get longer with each new day. So many people are hurting, are travelling through deep waters. Sometimes I suppose deep waters which seem much too deep to wade through. Christmas for some is a time of much sadness and sorrow. Some whose Christmas dinner table will have an empty chair this year, where a loved one once sat. To those of you who feel no joy this Christmas, please know I am sending you a heart full of hugs from my little place to yours♡ May the precious memories of your loved one that are safely locked in your heart comfort you at this impossible time♡

For me, though I will miss my girls, I will spend a lovely day with 'My Pete'. We will enjoy a quiet Christmas celebratory lunch and be thankful for the many blessings God has given us. For there are many♡ Me thinks lunch will be served and enjoyed in The Fernery surrounded by happy plants with touches of Christmas wonderful wonderment, sprinkled here and there♡

We will exchange gifts. But, we will reflect upon the greatest gift of all; the gift of Jesus on that first Christmas all those centuries ago; Jesus' Birth-day. For me, this is the miracle of Christmas. Love and grace for all mankind; for you, and for me.  If ever there was a time in history where God's love and grace needs to be showered upon us, it is now. So, so thankful that in the storms of my life, the hardest circumstances that have come my way, Jesus has always gone before me and more often than not when I think it is all too much, He has carried me. My heart is forever thankful for that very first Christmas Day♡ So very thankful for Easter, too; because without Christmas there would be no Easter. So very thankful my faith sustains me, gives me hope, because quite frankly, I have no faith that mankind will get it right; will wake up one day and decide to do what is right, what is sensible, what is unselfish. Though the world is filled with beautiful people who every day in their own little world, show beautiful acts of random kindness, I am afraid the world also has much too many 'crazies'. What can I give Jesus this Christmas?? Why, I can give Him my heart♡ 

As my embroidered curtains in my little place draw to a close for another year, I would love to say a heartfelt thank you to each one of you who has visited my happy place throughout this year. Your beautiful visits are the loveliest of gifts. Your generous and lovely comments truly bless my days. A kind word, a word of encouragement, a heartfelt sentiment can be the difference in someone's day who is struggling, can it not?? My days are sprinkled with beauty and kindness each time you stop by to say hello. Your beautiful visits are precious to me. This blogging world in which you and I play is a gift, isn't it? A beautiful gift where we encourage each other, support each other, inspire each other, and always show random acts of kindness to each other. I know not what next year will bring to you and I; but let us keep on inspiring each other and make this world just a little cheerier. From my little place to yours, may your Christmas be a blessed one♡ For those of you who perhaps the Christmas star shines a little less brightly this year, may the love of your friends and family envelop your heart and make it smile, if only a little♡ God bless each and every one of you, lovely lovelies♡

There will always be Angels watching over you♡

Until next year♡