a giving-Christmas, a joyful-Hanukkah, a spirited-Kwanzaa....and blessed traditions that you hold dear to your heart.
This is a Season to include ALL. To want the very best for each and every human being.
And that means You and You and You.
Our Chicago, daughter and her daughter drove two days to come celebrate Christmas in our home.
Today there is much visiting, cooking, baking and time to see the movie, Moana.
Maryland daughter and hubby had to stay behind, as their lovable dog, Dulcita had surgery two days ago. All are doing well, but sadly can't travel.
Charlotte, daughter and family live around the corner, easy peasy to celebrate any day of the year.
Utah, son and family...get to enjoy SNOW and icicles, preparing meals for others, taking Swedish Oven pancakes to family and friends...yep, they ran out of eggs a few times. Borrowed from a neighbor and found that they were spoiled! Crazy-daisy experience.
And right now, waiting for a face time call from Shanghai, from son and family who are celebrating Christmas early.
We will watch them open gifts, chat, laugh and giggle, all thanks to the wonder of the internet.
Aren't we blessed? Indeed we are.
It has been an over flowing week, with such wondrous happenings.
Sweet friends full of kindness and good cheer visited, bringing their violins, keyboard and gifts to share the Christmas spirit.
There just had to be hot chocolate with mini marshmallows and peppermint sticks for stirring, topped off with German Lebkuchen heart shaped cookies and biscotti. No "sugar highs" in our home!
Hmmm, in fact, they do look a bit "sugared-out."
For those who love to bake, this month's edition of SIFT is crazy-daisy good. Even if you just look at it. The cooky tin I painted decades ago, seriously. I bring it out every Christmas.
Swedish embroidery, German cookies, Swedish Dala horse and a sketchbook of colorful traditions. The candlestick to the left, was a gift from a dear friend to me...she brought it from her recent trip to Denmark.
Painting surprise presents for moms and dad in my studio. We were busy busy busy creating ornaments and accompanying gift boxes. Then one cutie boy, decided he wanted to draw dinosaurs...Anything goes in this room.
Christmas tree elves pop up in the most unexpected places...we caught him before he ate the last of the lebkuchen cookies. Brazen elf.
Another gift, the Swedish braided heart from daughter and hubby...and the gift of a music program in Washington, DC, The Christmas Revels. An all Nordic, annual Christmas program of dance and song. (We took a train to DC last week and spent time with them, Dulcita and Lemon..(the pups.) They treated us to this program that is a 20 plus year tradition at Lester Auditorium in DC.
Last week was Santa Lucia, and I have already posted about this Furner tradition. My sister-in-law sent me this beautiful snowflake ornament, resembling a German cooky that is iced! Just had to put them all together: Sweden and Germany.
Tomptes can be rather mischievous, but they are less likely to do quirky tricks if stuck on a page !!!
Sending you all a happy heartfelt December.
One of my favorite passages set to music by John Rutter. Seems so appropriate today.
The Prayer of St. Francis
Lord, make me an instrument of your peace.
Where there is hatred...let me sow love
Where there is injury...pardon
Where there is doubt...faith
Where there is despair...hope
Where there is darkness...light
Where there is sadness...joy
Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek
To be consoled...as to console
To be understood...as to understand,
To be loved...as to love
For it is in giving...that we receive,
It is in pardoning, that we are pardoned,
It is in dying..that we are born to eternal life.
If you research John Rutter /this piece of music and word, you will weep with me, and your heart will be filled.
With love, Sharon
Your family Christmas sounds warm and wonderful! I did look up the John Rutter "Prayer of Saint Francis" and you're right, it is lovely. I love Rutter's music - his "Gloria" is a favorite. Wishing you and yours the very happiest of holidays!
ReplyDelete