Contemplating.

Contemplating.
Wayzata, Minnesota

Wednesday, December 17, 2014

The Highs and Lows

December serves a mix of emotions for me.  I lost my father on December 5th the eve of St. Nicholas Day, (a major family tradition) so there's a wide mix of bittersweet memories.  Perhaps this goes for many of you reading this post as well. 

Still, every year the whisper of wonder grows deeper inside my spirit in a most stupendous degree, but time has a way of pushing a fretful strain on lots of our goals and ideas.
  
Wouldn't you agree?


December in our family has many adventures from birthdays to anniversaries, (happy and sad) so if you don't see me blogging as usual this month, that is the reason!

Even though both my parents are gone, I still carrying on the tradition of driving through neighborhoods, rejoicing in every oh and ah that now my little grand-delights are all excited about!  It's an old family tradition!  When the weather is pleasant we can walk around!  Even more exciting!


Less is better in my opinion!  Pretty isn't it?

Traditions and new additions are always the up front and center in my world!

I completely enjoy sharing that tingling little girlish feeling, in the hopes that other folks will experience it too.




It's easy for Frosty to wear a Happy Face 24/7- but when it comes to human beings, well-

We're only human, and sometimes what we, ourselves find so darn wonderful, can be terrifying to little ones.  Year after year.




Needing to, turn up the lamp of laughter!


It's easy for grown-ups to sometimes forget, while they're out laughing and toasting and getting all dressed up, (and yes running themselves ragged in shopping malls) our wee little munchkins back home, just might be stewing over some mysterious unknown situation, and simply, just freaking out about it too!



Like I said we have birthdays in December!   Jack is being ever so careful in lighting each candle!  Perfect Jack!




Sometimes we get ourselves in a jam.  We're all tied up!  Help, I can't even speak, thought the poor little Elf.  You should have stayed on the shelf, silly one!



Or, we're busy chopping things down!  



But here's the thing.  The ONE THING in fact.  Even through all our hustle and bustle, and all the - we have to do this, and gotta do that, and of course this and that-
never forget-

Invest in People rather that stuff.





Because you know it makes things better when you find yourself flat on your face-




and you don't want to miss all the wonderful music that always greets us especially this time of the year!  Being with friends and loved ones, makes everything brighter!


So Happy Quixotic days to all!
Don't forget to have fun!


17 comments:

TexWisGirl said...

i love your advice. beautiful.

the holidays are a very tough time for many.

The Silver Fox said...

I lost my mom five years ago on December 20th. It tends to put a damper on Christmas.

sage said...

Wonderful and the holiday season is one with a blend of joy and sadness, but then that is even true of the first Christmas as told in Matthew's gospel. Blessings!

Debbie said...

such wonderful advice!! we have had 2 drive arounds, looking at Christmas lights, one more to go. we always get hot chocolate and listen to Christmas music!!

my kids are 31 and 32 so we never did the elf thing and I just don't really get it!!!!!

Unknown said...

I'll contact the Elf Liberation Front (and the Union Of Magnetic Santas won't be pleased either)!

ifthethunderdontgetya™³²®© said...

Curious little elf
Abandoned his safe shelf
Alas his escape
Left him bound with tape
And he has no one to blame but himself.
~

Jenny Woolf said...

December and January are bad months like that. Yet even though you are remembering the bad things, your pictures show joy and happiness.

Cloudia said...

I love your words, and agree 100%.

You are just my sort: wise and silly.

Thanks for your beautiful friendship throughout the year, dear K


ALOHA from Honolulu
ComfortSpiral
<3

Author R. Mac Wheeler said...

Kilroy says, "You bein' awful filisopical."

DeniseinVA said...

A very sweet post Karen. Wise words and lovely photos, especially the family ones. I also was out last night taking photos of the neighborhood lights, mine weren't that good but I will be sharing them anyhow. It can be a sad time for those of us who have lost loved ones around this time of the year, but thank fully our family and friends get us through and as you say, makes everything all the brighter. Merry Christmas and A Very Happy New Year :)

21 Wits said...

You are absolutely right! I hope your holiday is filled with love and possibly some new sights in your new city! Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

21 Wits said...

Sounds like my kind of light celebration too! Hit chocolate a major must have too! The Elf thing is really for the munchkins and it's quite the talk at the bus stop! Comparing Elf notes! Very funny!

randy said...

Hi, very interesting post thanks for sharing. Can I contact your through your email. Thanks!

Randy
randydavis387 at gmail.com

Mike@Bit About Britain said...

Well, most of that strikes a chord! Lovely, insightful, post. It is a time of year to treasure what you've had, as well as what you have.

Unknown said...

I am glad you had a good relationship with your father. The relationship I had with my dad was strained at best, and what makes that even harder on me is that most of the trouble was my fault. Yeah, I know that I am forgiven, but it still causes me such grief to think about what a jerk I have been at times over the years.

Little Nell said...

Rejoicing in the Ohs and Ahs - that’s in a nutshell! Lovely sparkly pictures for us all.

Jeanie said...

I love this post so much, Karen. I think if we met, we'd be good friends, sharing many of the same feelings.

I'm sorry about your dad. I have trouble with December a bit too -- having lost my dad on 12/14. It was 21 years ago but you know, it still gets to me. I honor him with his own "tree" (fishing and outdoorsy ornaments) as I do my late mom with her tree (kitcheny things and her favorite fairy tale ornaments).

I'm so behind this year. Having to go to Vegas right after the flu knocked out two full weeks and even now I'm not back to steam. But I'm working on it and hoping to share Christmas with blogland soon!