The First of December

Before I say anything else, I want to say a big THANK YOU to those of you who shared your wonderful comments on my last post. And the one before that... and the one before that... I've been receiving such warm and cheering feedback from friends not only here, but on Twitter, Facebook, and via email. It was quite lovely to hear from so many of you. For me, that is the joy of blogging... connecting with the hearts of kindred spirits and sharing the simple pleasures we treasure.

bing.com / clipart

It's hard to believe that we are welcoming December once again. With fog hanging in the air and prospects of snow from the weatherman, it's finally starting to feel more like winter around here. Not that I'm complaining about the milder temperatures, but we are happy to welcome the frostier, nippier degrees -- it's just not the same sipping mulled cider or thinking about Christmas shopping when it still feels like a mild autumn day.

I've always enjoyed that old Bing Crosby song "I'm Dreaming of A White Christmas". As a child growing up in northerly Alberta, Canada, there was never any chance of it ever being anything but a white Christmas. I couldn't even imagine a Christmas without snow, but in more recent years, with temperatures warmer than they used to be, well, sometimes, like Bing, we too have to dream and cast hopeful eyes skyward to watch for snow flurries come December.

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Early this morning I read my very first Christmas post of the season. Written by my lovely Facebook friend, Sandra, she told of a cherished childhood memory about how her mom would start off this magical month each year. It was a delightful post and I thought you might enjoy it too; you'll find the link here.

Sandra's mom often used the phrase "Scatter joy" in her conversations, and it would seem that Sandra has taken up that inspiring challenge, for both her blog and Facebook pages are like vases filled with joy drops waiting to be spilled out and scattered afield.

. . . S C A T T E R   J O Y . . .

I don't remember when I first came across those two inspiring words, but inscribed on a pretty note card they sat for years propped on my desk at work, a visual reminder of what I myself wanted to do in my own life. It turns out that Ralph Waldo Emerson authored that inspirational phrase:

“There is no beautifier of complexion, or form, or behavior,

like the wish to scatter joy and not pain around us.”

Whether our own pocketbooks have little or much to spend on spreading Christmas cheer from gifts purchased in department stores and online venues, thankfully, we all have the same opportunity to scatter the essence of those two little words, through our own utterances and deeds, thereby scattering a warm measure of cheer and joy to those who need it.

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My hubby and I celebrated our wedding anniversary a few days ago, and we visited our local conservatory just days before to take in their pretty Christmas display of poinsettias. Reminded us of our wedding day -- for eighteen years earlier we had our wedding photos taken in that very conservatory, and yes as you catch a glimpse, it was filled with poinsettias that day too.

Sorry it's blurry -- scanner isn't working so it's a pic of a pic -- didn't think you'd mind.
The little ones are my nephew and niece, now both in their twenties.

 A better view of the poinsettias

And here we are 18 years later ... during our trip to the UK in July

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Since the official countdown to Christmas begins today, I'm sharing the link to the Advent series I did a couple of years ago, now also available as a free PDF download ... in case some of our newer readers and friends haven't seen it before, or perhaps you'd like a browse through it again. Interesting little thing, even though I wrote these little entries and so know all about them, their messages still make me smile and bring me cheer all over again. Hope they will for you too.

 

 

Restoring the Joy Advent Countdown

 

PDF Download

Christmas 2015 Advent Countdown

On that note, I'm wishing you a wonderful day

and quiet patience as we await this beautiful Advent season.

With love and hugs,

Brenda
xox