An online journal sharing my interests in photography, nature, coffee life, journaling, fountain pens, spirituality and asking deep questions.
Met a friend in Old Town when I saw this figurine in the window of a gift shop that is decorated for the holidays. I just happen to have my camera with me and shot through the window, thus the reflection. And, a better photographer would not have cropped the wolf. Anyway, holiday music has been playing for more than a week while some of us are still eating pumpkin pie. Sheesh!
Wow, this is Christmas week! I must admit I’ve not had much of a Christmas spirit so far this season but that shifted some on Saturday evening. My good friend , Joan, and I made a visit to the Garden of Lights which is put on by the Gardens at Spring Creek. It is a wonderful way to excite all of us children at heart. Joan and I enjoyed walking along with a smile as we listened to the children “ooh” and “aah” or their excitement when they saw Santa or the reindeer. The Gardens had Christmas carolers and a magician. The young girls in the above image are enthralled as they get a look into Santa’s workshop. I think all of us kids had a good time. I know Joan and I did. In fact it lifted my spirits a bit. Have a great week!
I went to Old Town this past week to see Don Thurn play and sing at the Walnut Creek Gallery. I picked up a friend who went with me and found this Christmas Lighted truck and Santa parked on her street. Had to have a photo.
A friend of Don’s showed up and played her ukulele while Don assisted with vocals. Snacks were aplenty for those into grazing and even had drinks for those old enough. It’s one of those stores that requires a four hour visit because there is so much to shop for.
This is Carmen, one of Santa’s helpers. She was passing out Christmas cheer and her beautiful smile at one of the local coffeehouses.
I hope and pray everyone is enjoying family, friends and way too much food. And, if you’re traveling that you have a safe trip to and from home. It is a season to celebrate life. May the best gift you find be the love you give and receive. Merry Christmas!
There comes a time when we learn there is no Santa Claus or at least one that lives at the North Pole. I remember when I discovered there was not Santa Claus. I was in kindergarden when a classmate informed me and in the process laughed at me for not knowing. Since then I’ve discovered that Santa lives in people’s hearts, not at the North Pole. I wished that the toys we find on Christmas morning were made in Santa’s workshop rather than mass produced in China. As we get older we come to understand that Christmas is not about Santa Claus but about keeping the spirit of Christmas alive is within us.
A story not always told to our children or grandchildren is about a young man named Nicholas. After joining the church, Nicholas heard the sorrowful tale of a poor old man and his three young daughters. It seemed the man could no longer feed his daughters, and he feared he would have to send them away from him. Nicholas knew he could help this family.
That night, while the whole village slept, Nicholas crept up to the hut where the three sisters lived. He climbed up to the rooftop to find the chimney. There Nicholas dropped three bags of gold, one by one, down through the chimney stack.
Earlier that day, the three sisters had hung their newly washed stockings by the fireplace to dry. Each small bag of gold that Nicholas dropped fell into one of the stockings below.
The next morning, the girls were overjoyed to find gold coins in their stockings. “Father!” they called, running to wake him. “We have received a magical gift!”
As the story of these three sisters spread from village to village, other people began to hang their stockings by the fire, hoping to find a secret gift when they awoke the next morning. Though this was Bishop Nicholas’ most famous gift, it was not his first good deed. And it would certainly not be his last.
Bishop Nicholas enjoyed surprising people. He began to deliver his secret gifts of hope and joy only at night, while his friends were asleep.
People all over the world began to celebrate St. Nicholas Day. They hung their stockings by the fire the night before and awoke the next morning to find them filled with candy, fruit, nuts, or toys. St. Nicholas had left a magical gift at each home!
So the spirit of Christmas is about gifts, those we give and those we receive. I pray that everyone enjoys the Holiday Season. Merry Christmas!