December ABC's...K is for Kids.

"While we try to teach our children all about life, our children teach us what life is all about." ~Anonymous

"The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him." ~Pablo Casals

"Children will not remember you for the material things you provided but for the feeling that you cherished them." ~Richard L. Evans

My kids = laughter, smiles, joy, happiness, hugs, kisses, fun, delight, kindness, silliness...and love!

December ABC's...J is for Joy.

"Somehow, not only for Christmas, but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others, is the joy that comes back to you." ~ John Greenleaf Whittier

I love words, so I thought I'd start a new tradition this year and add a "word" tree to our home. I found some ornaments that have words that inspire me...words like love, dream, laugh, peace, faith...and joy. One of my favorite words is joy...to me that's what Christmas (and life) is all about!

December ABC's...I is for Ice.

"Constant kindness can accomplish much. As the sun makes ice melt, kindness causes misunderstanding, mistrust, and hostility to evaporate." ~ Albert Schweitzer



I took a walk around the lake...it looked beautiful with a layer of ice over it (with only a small opening in the center). It was a cold and dreary day, but it was so tranquil at the lake. There weren't many other people out walking...the only movement was the geese flying overhead. Even in the coldest & gloomiest of days there is still beauty to be found...you just have to know where to look.

December ABC's...H is for Holly.

"Have a holly jolly Christmas...it's the best time of the year." ~Lyrics



I love having holly trees in our yard...they're a great (free) source of decorating over the holidays. All you need are some branches and some pinecones...and you can make a gorgeous centerpiece. I love bringing a little bit of nature indoors, especially in the winter!

December ABC's...G is for Gifts.

'Tis a gift to be simple,
'Tis a gift to be free,
'Tis a gift to come down
Where we ought to be
And when we find ourselves
In the place that's right
'Twill be in the valley
Of love and delight. ~Shaker hymn



This year for Christmas I'm giving myself some gifts...

The gift of simplicity...I'm using kraft paper & white paper to wrap presents...and for ribbon I'm using bakers twine and garden twine. I'm making paper flower "bows" out of recycled magazines & book pages and vintage buttons.

The gift of time...I'm giving myself permission to slow down and not "do it all".

The gift of gratitude...I'm finding something in every day to be thankful for.

The gift of quiet...I'm listening to the sounds of nature (like the sound of geese flying overhead).

The gift of mindfulness...I'm reminding myself of what this season is all about.

December ABC's...F is for Fortune.

"Character itself is a fortune." ~Samuel Smiles

"Every man is an architect of his own fortune." ~Unknown

"Only learn to seize good fortune, for good fortune is always there." ~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

"One thing I've learned for certain; I am not going to find my fortune in a cookie."
~Brian G. Jett

We love Chinese food, but we especially love it in the winter. There's nothing like a steaming cup of Hot and Sour soup to warm you up on a cold December day. This week we ordered some P.F. Chang's to take home...and this was the fortune inside the cookie that I got. At this time of the year, when we get so busy with holiday parties and social gatherings, it's good to remember that you don't have to do it all. It's okay to say "no" to an event. Spend time at home with your family...drinking hot chocolate...watching Glee together...playing games (cards, board games, ping-pong)...baking cookies. You can spend time with your family and have fun...without having to spend a fortune! Home really is where the heart is.

December ABC's...E is for Enlighten.

"The words that enlighten the soul are more precious than jewels." ~Hazrat Inayat Khan

"The greatest gift is to give people your enlightenment, to share it." ~Buddha

"To be enlightened is simply to be absolutely, unconditionally intimate with this moment. No more, no less." ~Scott Morrison


I love light and sunshine so, needless to say (although I'm saying it anyway), that when it's time to set our clocks back for Daylight Savings time I'm not a very happy camper! However, I'm helped with the transition by the lights on the Christmas trees. There's nothing more peaceful than sitting in a dark, quiet room that's lit only by the glowing lights on the tree.

December is filled with so much light...the light on the trees...and the outdoor holiday lights...and candles...and roaring fireplaces. Even the stars in the cold and dark night sky seem to shine brighter in the winter. We can try to shine brighter around the holidays too...be more appreciative of others...smile and laugh more...be nicer to the store clerks and postal workers...be grateful for the things that we have (because we really do have a lot)...find delight in the little things. Enlightenment starts from within.

December ABC's...D is for Drummer Boy.

"The manner of giving is worth more than the gift." ~Pierre Corneille, Le Menteur


"It isn't the size of the gift that matters, but the size of the heart that gives it." ~Eileen Elias Freeman


"But it is a cold, lifeless business when you go to the shops to buy something, which does not represent your life and talent, but a goldsmith's." ~Ralph Waldo EmersonWhen I think about all the different things that make up "December", watching the classic holiday movies is near the top of the list. As a child I remember anxiously awaiting "The Grinch" or "Rudolph" or "Frosty" to come on tv...because that meant that Christmas wasn't far away. I also loved the songs that went along with the shows...and "The Little Drummer Boy" is one of my favorites.


Now that I'm an adult (as I'm running around trying to find that perfect present), I try to remind myself of the story of the drummer boy...that the best gift isn't the most expensive or the biggest. The best gift isn't fancy...it's usually very simple (often homemade). The best gift is the one that's given from the heart. It's what the spirit of Christmas is all about...love.

December ABC's...C is for Candy Canes.

"We elves try to stick to the four main food groups; candy, candy canes, candy corn and syrup." ~Elf


"The children were nestled all snug in their beds, whle visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads." ~The Night Before Christmas

As far back as I can remember, we've always put candy canes on our Christmas trees. It's as much a tradition at Christmas as hanging our stocking or putting out cookies and milk for Santa. The smell of the peppermint brings back memories of making "reindeer" out of candy canes and pipe cleaners. We would usually find a candy cane or two in our stockings...along with other sugary treats like the Lifesavers Storybooks, hard candy lollipops (shaped like trees or snowmen), Swedish Fish, or Wrigley's gum. And to balance out all of the candy, we would find a healthy orange stuck in the toe of our stocking!

What were some of the traditional things that you would find in your stocking???

December ABC's...B is for Bells.

"Every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings." ~It's a Wonderful Life

"Though I've grown old, the bell still rings for me as it does for all who truly believe." ~The Polar Express

"I heard the bells on Christmas day; their old familiar carols play, and wild & sweet the word repeat of peace on earth, good will to men." ~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Jingle bells....Silver bells...Reindeer bells...Salvation Army bells...church bell choirs...

For our family, December and bells go hand-in-hand. Bells = Believe. Believe in the meaning and magic of Christmas...believe in family...believe in love...believe in peace...believe in hope.

December ABC's...A is for Advent.

"Advent is concerned with that very connection between memory and hope." ~Joseph Cardinal Ratzinger

"Life is a constant Advent season: we are continually waiting to become, to discover, to complete, to fulfill. Hope, struggle, fear, expectation and fulfillment are all part of our Advent experience...may this Advent season be a time for bringing hope, transformation and fulfillment into the Advent of our lives." ~Connections

I think that every December 1st starts out the same way...with me saying to myself "I can't believe that it's December...it seems like it was just summer!" Then my very next thought is to get out our advent calendar. We've had our little wooden advent cabinet since the kids were toddlers...it was a gift to our family and it's one of our favorite holiday traditions. Over the years we've had small toys, candy, money and notes fill the tiny drawers. My son opens the odd days and my daughter opens the even days...and together they open the 24th. Today there were some Dove chocolate bars in the drawer...and the Promises message inside one of the wrappers said "Joy to...you."

The word "advent" comes from the latin word "adventus", meaning "coming". For me, Advent is more than just the period of time that includes the four Sundays before Christmas...it's a time of anticipation, patience, peace and celebration. There are other words that I like to keep in mind throughout this month (when things can get a tad busy)...words like gratitude, wonderment, simplicity, joy, generosity, grace, love and hope. My goal for this season of advent is to appreciate the little things along the way...to enjoy each moment...and to find something to celebrate in each & every day. And really, truth be told, that's my goal for each and every day throughout the year.

Joy to you.