Christmas Spirit

Into the Solstice

20141220_164617Last night I did what I like to do as Christmas day draws nearer and the solstice is just about upon us — and that is to turn off all the lights in my living room, except for candles and holiday lights.

With Gidget snuggled beside me, I listened to Stille Nacht by Mannheim Steamroller and gazed into the candlelight and every now and then would look out into the dark of the night through the patio doors.

I thought about the year that is now almost complete and the new year that lay ahead. My eyes filled with tears for situations I wish were different and for those that are now safely tucked in heaven.

This little ritual feels cleansing to my soul of those things for which I can’t control, but find the courage to look for blessings in each of them.

I silently give thanks for all that is beautiful and good in my life — of which I have so very much to be grateful for.

It is also a reminder of how short we truly have here on earth – truly just a blip in time. A reminder to live as fully as I can from what it is that calls out to my heart.

Those few moments of sitting in the quiet I feel the Spirit of Christmas flood my soul and look forward to the light that will slowly make its way to back to earth as I move through another season of my life.

I “stole” this quote from my friend Dawn’s newsletter as I thought it so perfect for the Solstice…

REST
by David Whyte
“Rest is the conversation between what we love to do and how we love to be.”Rest is not stasis but the essence of giving and receiving…

“To rest is to give up on worrying and fretting and the sense that there is something wrong with the world unless we put it right…

“To rest is to fall back… to a different kind of meeting place,
a living, breathing state of natural exchange…”

As always, feel free to leave a comment…

I Finally Got a Miniature Donkey – Come Meet Her!

delores the donkeyOkay, so if you’ve been reading my journal for awhile now, you know how much I love donkeys – almost as much as dachshunds.

So today I got one! Finally!  .

What do you mean you don’t believe me? Look at her! Isn’t she cute?

What do you mean she does not look real?

Well, okay, truth be told. I confess.

I was at our local Fleet Farm today finishing up last minute Christmas shopping. I headed down an aisle near toyland and there was a whole section of animals that caught my eye!

Giraffes, wolves, goats, chickens, dogs, cats and donkeys (oh my!). “I could finally get a donkey,”I thought. Oh, how I’d love to have one to love.

And yes, she is plastic. But I love her anyways.

I carried her oh, so gently to the checkout, beaming like a young girl, getting my first donkey.

I was in imagination heaven and loving every moment of it.

As I drove home, I found so much joy in this simple act of purchasing this sweet little toy just for me.

“What should I name her I thought?” a few names came to me, but didn’t feel right.

And then there it popped into my head and felt perfect (for whatever silly reason)— Delores!  Her name shall be Delores, and I will call her Dee for short.

As you can see, she does not mind the snow at all. She took right to it and is being a very good little donkey.

Ah yes, you see, this is the magic of Christmas Spirit!

As always, feel free to leave a comment…

Hoirzons4Girls & Gidget: The Christmas Spirit in Action.

rn 2As if I was almost swept back in time, visiting the rooms of residents at Rocky Knoll nursing home, I had sweet flashbacks of my work with Frankie when she was a therapy dog.

Though we didn’t visit Rocky Knoll, except for one occasion via a special request, we did visit on a monthly basis, a senior assisted facility, hospice, and our local hospital for over three years.

This special visit on Saturday, with Miss Gidget as my sidekick, we had the special opportunity along with Horizons4Girls to take part in delivering 72 dozen cookies and much joy to those in need. It filled my heart with what the Christmas Spirit is all about.

Miss Gidget made a special appearance as my sidekick, and the smiles she brought to many of the residents was absolutely priceless. I say “special appearance” because Gidget isn’t a registered therapy dog. But for this special occasion she was allowed to be a part of this mission helping the girls be of service in their community.

The above and below photos are three of my favorite from our visit. More photos are in an album I created on Facebook to mark this beautiful day.

**A VERY SPECIAL and GRATEFUL THANK YOU to all who sponsored cookies to help us complete this mission. You are all angels too in helping us make this a reality.**

RN 1

 

RN3

 As always, I welcome your comments…