Christmas cards, emotions and the holiday….

Really one of my favorite things about Christmas is receiving Christmas

cards with photos of my friends, family and their growing children.

  Having lived so many places, this annual tradition 

that brings me so much joy as I reflect on our time

in places we have lived and the precious friends we made.

The photo above is the card we sent this year of our

two girls - now ages 15 and 11.

Below is the card we sent exactly 10 years ago - when they

were 5  and 1…….ahhhhh, how time flies!

Being a mother to these two has been my greatest blessing.

Watching them grow up into really great people is such a joy!

But darn, does it all have to go so fast!

Long ago,  when I was a young momma, knee deep in sippy cups, the Wiggles and diapers, a wise {'older'} mother told me, "the days are long but the years are short".  I sort of thought, "yea, right!"

In my classic cynical {but endearing}way.

However, now that I am that 'older, wiser' momma, I say, 

"Truer words were never spoken!"

So much is expected during the holidays - mostly that we all 

share one emotion…..happiness, which I acknowledge is always

part of the Christmas equation.  However, like the tinge of sadness I felt

when I saw how these photos clearly point out the passage of time, 

or the void my husband might feel as he misses his dad this and 

every Christmas, or the stress of job loss a good friend is coping with…..

Christmastime also can make emotions stronger and losses more heavy.
Happiness in the Christmastime equation isn't at 100% for most -
and for some, they struggle to find where it might be found at all.

My wish for all of you is that joy and happiness are a bigger
portion of your Christmastime equation…..that any burdens
you are caring are comforted by the celebration of
Jesus' birth!  I hope that you feel the anticipation and
hope that comes with celebrating a new year!

Mostly, I thank you for coming here and supporting me!
Your friendships mean so much.
*****************
My posting over the next couple weeks may be sporadic as
I enjoy time with my family, including my parents who
will celebrate with us in Portland!