Have a Very Merry

It’s two days before Christmas and the windows have been open all day. The house smells fresh and crisp like an early spring afternoon. I smile, transported back to a time when livin’ life was simple: ponytails, runnin’ through sprinklers on the front lawn, slamming screen doors, ice cold bottled Coca-Cola, bare feet on warm asphalt, staying outside until sunset, unbridled laughter and innocence.

I can’t stop the flood of memories and I wish it felt more like the holidays of my youth with, first and foremost, cold weather, also firewood stacked by a roaring fire in the fireplace, caroling, the warmth of family Christmas parties, gettin’ fancy in holiday floor length girlie-girl dresses, homemade sugar cookies, stacks of Christmas cards, vintage Christmas tree ornaments, pine scented incense wafting from the Räuchermännchen and candles gently turning the Weihnachtspyramide. 

I’m grateful for so many things in this moment. 

I hope your Christmas is beautiful and happy and filled with love. I leave you with the lyrics of my favorite song of the season. 

Let your heart be light…

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Let your heart be light

From now on

Our troubles will be out of sight

Have yourself a merry little Christmas

Make the Yule-tide gay

From now on

Our troubles will be miles away

Here we are as in olden days

Happy golden days of yore

Faithful friends who are dear to us

Gather near to us once more

Through the years we all will be together

If the fates allow

Hang a shining star upon the highest bough

And have yourself a merry little Christmas now

#christmas #christmasmemories🎄 #nostalgia #holidays #holidayseason #memories #family #love #writer #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #blog #blogger #bloggersofinstagram #simplertimes #traditions #räuchermännchen #weihnactspyramide

Simple Life, Unimaginable Joy

Someone, somewhere is doing laundry, I can smell Bounce dryer sheets and it makes me smile. Clean clothes are one of life’s simple joys. 

Southwest rumbles low, on approach to Birmingham Shuttlesworth, the bold blue, sunrise yellow and warm red color scheme, unmistakable—happy landings! 

A very vocal crow caws incessantly in the distance. They do that now whenever they see me, probably because they want more food. Be careful making friends with crows, they have voracious appetites. 

Sweet, tiny, slate gray Junco birds come and go from one of the bird feeders, a brown thrasher waits patiently for his turn. 

A red paper wasp dive bombs me—I try not to panic, it was too close for comfort and having been stung once, I never want to be again. 

Valkyrie stands sentinel at the fence, waiting for a glimpse of the neighbor cat with the crooked tail who will blithely ignore her when she barks. 

These mild December days I don’t take for granted, but how I long for colder weather and maybe even a dusting (or more) of snow. 

Anyway, I hope you ventured outside today and Life gave you a reason to smile, just because. ♥️

#simplejoys #gratitude #solitude #itsthelittlethings #sundayvibes #birds #porchlife #appreciatewhatyouhave #milddecemberday #blog #blogger #bloggerlife #bloggersofinstagram #writer #writersofinstagram #writingcommunity #bloggercommunity #nature #dryersheets #southwestairlines #crows #cats #wasp #junco #birdphotography #brownthrasher #presentmoment

December? Already?!

Time, is speeding up. I think we all feel it. December is here again…how?! 

This year has presented me with some of the most profound and blissful moments of my entire Life. This year has also been filled with pain, feelings of helplessness, loss and struggle, but I don’t let negativity wear me like a second skin anymore. Understand, Life is balance. Good and bad, the moments come and go, and the journey to peace is to allow them to do just that. Feel them. Sit with them. Pause. Contemplate. Bitch a little if need be, thank the Universe, and keep going. 

Use your time wisely. These moments are fleeting and much too precious to waste. Welcome to December. 

I hope you all are well. 

#time #reflections #december #gratitude #bewell #timeflies #givethanks #balance #lifeisgood #focusonthegood #bekind #givethanks #keepgoing #youvegotthis #peace #spiritualjourney #spiritualgrowth #zen #presentmoment #presentmomentawareness #love