As the week has gone by I've been slowly gathering the assorted Christmas decorations from around the house and preparing to pack them up and say good bye for another year to the wonder items of the holiday season. I have come to realize that the joy that the glimmer and shimmer of these wonder inspiring items is truly just a reflection of the joy I feel in my heart at the fact that I get to celebrate Christmas. As I tidy up the candle holders that have wax on them, clean up any scraps of ribbons or paper, place laundered Christmas dish towels and hand towels next to my packing pile, I recall who's item it is I'm saving-mine, my grandma's or my mother's. Or is it a newly acquired item from my sister's Victorian and blue inspired Christmas themes? I think fondly of these strong women who have help me form my own concepts of Christmas, the faith behind the celebration and it has given me a keen awareness of how truly blessed I am.
To touch the creche that is dirty from grubby hands--mine I know touched it as a child--my knowledge that it was my mother's as a child makes me keenly aware of who may have given it to my mom. Crafted in Japan of hand painted figures-who are now losing their paint--it sits w/the Jesus in no crib, no hay--somehow it doesn't have the brown construction paper crib it used to have when I was a child--something to think on as I pack it away. The blue wooden letters spelling out 'W I N T E R' in my kitchen; with a snowman as the letter 'I.' This seems to have played as one of my favorite 'new' to me but old acquisitions this year. As my sister sifted her Christmas decorations this year I said I like your W I N T E R letters in the kitchen with the snowman for the 'I.' She said I have a smaller set that will fit in your kitchen. She searched and found it for me. For some reason this newly acquired 'old' piece holds a lot of meaning for me.
Maybe it is because it is from my sister. Who really is my sister in law; but is like a sister since she has been in my life since I was five years old. Maybe it's the word 'Winter.' Quite possible it's just the fact that someone I love dearly gave it to me from her Salvation Army donate pile. Maybe it's the idea that though I have been fortunate to live in Los Angeles where the weather has been in the eighties--I still feel like I am in a Winter season of my life. Knowing I carry with me the joy of all these material items and the many hands that have touched them, the many more eyes that have admired them, brings to my soul a deep love and joy.
This ritual of decoration and un-decorating; a lifelong ritual in my home reminds me to celebrate each and ever season of my life as if it were as precious and important as the next. The cancer survivor in me reminds me every holiday to cherish the time we have with friends and family. The faithful part of me reminds me to never stop celebrating that joy and love I have for life. I am reminded that in the face of great challenges and adversity I am able to sift through the season and find that which is truly always present in my life and without a season. Love. For that I am extremely grateful.
Lady Bugs...and environments update:
I set two more lady bugs free since last week-one was in the main of the studio an the other in the shower room. What can I say? Lady bugs multiply. I'm on day five of my 'exercise like tomorrow you are gonna die'--and well--some days I am sick of the physical pain--but meh--been here done this--easy shmeezy--as long as I continue to have fun I will be okay.
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