Tuesday, December 24, 2013

All is Calm, All is Bright

"Fill me up with love, Fill me love, love, love." D. Matthews

It is Christmas Eve morning, I am sitting in my small kitchen sipping coffee and watching the clouds slowly pass by. It is mild and the snow is melting. My boys are playing quietly, together. I am enjoying the calm and stillness of this moment.

We are making christmas cookies today, the challenge will be not to eat all the dough before it is rolled, shaped and decorated. I have a holiday music playlist ready to go and we are awaiting the arrival of my Mom before we get started. My expectations are low, as it is not about the outcome but the time spent together. The gifts that are treasured the most are experiences filled with attention and love.

Enjoying holiday traditions with my boys, create memories that will hopefully bring back a feeling of warmth, happiness and a fondness for celebrating seasonal milestones. I love reading about how other families make their holidays special, and also how to make the most out of what we already have. This season, my oldest is almost 5, and it is the perfect age for enjoying everything, as it is all exciting and new. We cut out paper trees, wreaths and snowflakes to hang in our windows. Our sprightly elf is watching over us, we have candles and lights around the house and our vintage silver tree has only fallen over once, thanks to my little one. My boys are curious, mischievous and lively. Their eyes are twinkling, their dimples are merry! Their cheeks are like roses from running and playing, and their cherry red noses are drippy and stuffy!

Lots of questions come up surrounding the lore of holidays, I am feeling my way and allowing stories and experiences to be the segue into what we discuss. Santa Claus is on every street corner in December and it can be confusing to little ones who believe in the magic of giving. What a wonderful opportunity to strengthen the importance of charity and embrace the universal quality of being a part of this world. We filled 2 bags with toys and clothes and dropped it off to our local donation center. The entire experience took a day, and the extended discussion resonated. When my husband came home it was the highlight of our dinner conversation. Another holiday tradition built and strengthened with love.

Tonight, after our parties with neighbors, friends, and family, we will settle our sugar plums into bed. Our stockings hung on the woodwork with care, I'll snuggle up with my husband for a short winter's nap, and awake to the bells on Christmas day.


'I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day'

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along the unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bowed my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men.

Till, ringing, singing, on its way,
The world revolved from night to day, 
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men!

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow 1867

Saturday, December 14, 2013

Celebrate

"True living arrives by attending to the smallest moment and finding the eternal inside of it. S.M. Kidd"

37 years, 37 candles, 37 wishes, many more blessings than I can count. A snowy birthday with lots of love, sweetness and joy. Everyday is a celebration of life, my husband reminds me of this, and my boys are the examples. All you need is love, love is all you need.


Another year older,
Another year wiser.
My gifts are wrapped up as people.

Come into my life, laugh, smile.
Won't you stay a while with me?

Holding hands,
Singing songs,
Long distance calls.

My wish is for PEACE and LOVE,

HAPPINESS and HOPE.

Thanks for the time
Thanks for the space

Cheers to you and me
Cheers to you and me

Here's to you and me.


Michelle Heron
December 14, 2010